Evan Smoak is an assassin par excellence. He is the Orphan X, selected at a young age from an orphanage by a shadowy government agency and trained to be a highly-skilled assassin for the government. After having had enough of killing for the government, he becomes the Nowhere Man, the helper of desperate, persecuted people. But the government, not wanting to risk the exposure of such a sensitive asset, forces him to retire in return for letting him live. His retirement, an opportunity for him to get the first taste of a normal life, is cut short when he gets a call from someone who claims to be his mother asking him to help a man whose life is in terrible danger – a man whom Smoak might know from his past life in the orphanage. It is up to Smoak to unravel the conspiracy and stop some extremely powerful bad guys from executing their deadly plan, while dealing with his past that has come back from nowhere to haunt him.

Prodigal Son is my first experience with the hugely acclaimed Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz and it turned out to be so good that I have decided to read the five previous novels soon. This is an excellent book with the perfect mix of heart-stopping action, cutting-edge technology and a moving human element. While the breakneck narrative of Smoak’s adventure and the technological wizardry is exciting, his amusing interactions with his teenaged ward-cum-associate, Joey, and his little-bit-more-than-neighbour Mia and her son Peter, expose his hitherto concealed human side and lend this book a touch of tenderness. Smoak’s fight is as much internal as it is external and it is a lot of fun to watch the tough guy exploring the unexplored corners of his heart.

The writing of Prodigal Son is top-notch and the plot is crisp. The characters, even the ones with minor parts to play, are finely etched and the dialogues are enjoyable. Though this part of the story is finished satisfactorily, the novel ends in a cliff-hanger, forcing the reader to wait impatiently for the next one. On the downside, the technological angle feels a bit over-the-top and the skills of Evan Smoak and Joey, in their respective fields, are unbelievable at times. Also, the part of the killer twins, Declan and Queenie, could have been developed more. Apart from these minor flaws, Prodigal Son is a fantastic piece of fiction that is sure to light-up a dull day, and it deserves 4.5 stars out of 5!

I am grateful to Netgalley, Gregg Hurwitz, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

This is a fun book, it's part of a series, so having read previous books make understanding Evan a little easier. Notwithstanding the story is easy to follow. Orphan X is the result of Evan's special private training when he is taken from his foster home.
It has given him some special skills and changed him other ways that are not ok- but I sure would like to have him have my back.
Being asked by his long absent mother to care for a childhood friends, he finds himself in a world of hurt...some he gets and some he puts on others. When he reacts to an attack that ends up with knife penetrating his forearm, I am suitably impressed.
This is a great series, some fun characters, but I love the dog the best.

Gregg Hurwitz is a superb writer and I love the Orphan X series. This installment is as much a character study as it is a thriller and it is both thoughtful and thought-provoking. Of course, it has all of the requisite villains, conspiracies, gee-whiz technology, action and general mayhem that seems to follow Evan everywhere. My only disappointment is having to wait for over a year for the next title.

Another wonderful addition to the Orphan X series. While the series sagged a bit around book 3-4, it has picked up pace again with this one. I had started wondering after the last few books whether I want to dedicate anymore time to the series. I am glad I stuck to it for now.

This book picks up soon after the last one in the series where Orphan X gets a call from someone claiming to be his birth mother. From there, the book goes into the usual action packed thriller with a lot of technological marvels thrown in (some real, some not-so-real and some not-too-far-from-reality).

The difference between this book and the last few is the human angle (something that started with the introduction of Joey in book 5). This book is a lot heavier on emotions and the humane side of Orphan X.

Loved the book overall. A fast-paced ride that never relents. The setup for the next book in the series has me looking forward to it.

I was so excited when I saw that Gregg Hurwitz newest book about The NOwhere man ,Prodigal Son ,was avalible on NewGalley!. I check the library and other web sites to find books by Gregg Hurwitz since h,e is one of my favorite authors. This book is a little different since it begins with his life before he met Jack and was living at the Home for orphans. He also meets his mother and his brother. Evan realizzes he wants to form more satisfying relationships with them . He wants to change. so that he can be more friendly and social witht others. Towards the end of the book he is activly working on this..
I don't like the end of the book but hope there will be more stories about Evan so we can see how his is able to change his violent personality and become a man capable of love and strong helathy relationships.

I have really enjoyed this whole series. In this episode, former assassin Even tries to save a childhood friend, Andre. They grew up in a group foster home together until Evan was selected for his training, leaving Andre behind with what seemed to him to be no future. And a mysterious woman shows up and says she is Evan's mother.

Although the plot was good and it was paced well, some of the descriptions of Evan's skills and apartment seemed a little over-done and almost campy. If I hadn't read the other books they would have put me off.

If you are a fan of quirky tech whiz Joey like I am, she has a small part in this book as does bad girl Candy.

I recommend this book, but it really helps to read the series in order. Earlier books give a good basis of Evan's back story that make this book more enjoyable.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of PRODIGAL SON (Orphan X, Book 6) by Gregg Hurwitz in exchange for an honest review. Evan Smoak is trying his best to enjoy his presidentially mandated retirement. However, Evan is recalled to his role as the Nowhere Man by an unexpected source; he’s been getting calls on his business phone by someone claiming to be his mother. This mission will bring Evan full circle; he’s been requested to save the life of someone from Evan’s childhood who knew Evan before his recruitment into the Orphan program. As Evan’s past and present merge, he’ll confront what it means to be an adult, what gives meaning to life, and what makes life worth living. However, just as Evan is considering becoming a fully functioning human rather than an assassin with a remnant of humanity, the future of warfare may mean his end. So, past, present, and future all merge for an adventure that will change Evan’s life forever.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this series to fans of the old Equalizer television series (not the movies, never the movies). I also recommend this series to fans of spy/assassin/techno thrillers. I caution that this book has a cliffhanger ending which leaves the author the option of either ending the series (this is the obvious option) or continuing Evan’s story (an idea from a previous book). Since these books are a lot of fun, I vote for continuing the series.

#ProdigalSon #NetGalley

What are the events and experiences that make you who you are? With Evan, he has always been Orphan X. He has never experienced what his life could have been if he was never put in the system. As Evan stumbles through domestic life, he gets to be in a new “training ground” he has yet to fully experience in his sessions with Jack.

In Prodigal Son, Evan gets to confront someone who had the power to completely alter his life. Throughout the book, Evan grapples with this persons decision, and he is faced with his own internal battle of how to live with this.

It seems like every book, Gregg Hurwitz increases the anti for Evan. However, I can’t even begin to wrap my head around what Evan goes through in this novel! Hurwitz always adds a level of heart wrenching story line to all of his Orphan X novels, but he outdid himself here. We get the technical aspect that we’ve come to know and love, but we get this amped up level of gut wrenching in this installment. On top of all that, get ready for the ending! Although this will not be the first time I say this...the next Orphan X novel can not come fast enough!

Wow, what an amazing book. It continues the story of Evan Smoak, AKA Orphan X who was taken from a foster home in his early teenage years and turned in an unparalleled killer. This story continues his story arc as he grows close to his somewhat adopted child as she attempts to fit in in college while also helping X on his missions. The focus of this book is family and how far we all will go to maintain that connection. Orphan X is no different. This book he is against so serious hi tech bad guys and he must pull out all of his tricks to survive. I hope this series continues forever as I love these books and will read them as the come out in the future. Excellent book.
Thank you Netgalley, by Gregg Hurwitz, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC for my honest review.

Prodigal Son is an amazing novel, wherein author Gregg Hurwitz takes on the underside of military contractors with a bold imagination that one can only hope does not become reality. Orphan X finally confronts his humanity and his feelings as his mother introduces herself to him. The side characters, Mia, Peter, and Joey become more interesting as he discovers and expresses what they mean to him. All of this is done in stark reality, with no tear jerking! Thanks, Gregg Hurwitz for this wonderful novel and series. And thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Gregg Hurwitz continues not to disappoint with another thriller featuring Orphan X and his sidekick, Joey. This story is loaded with some interesting twists with learning more about his childhood; as well as trying to end an attack by micro-drones that are self-controlling and seemingly indestructible. Orphan X is one of the best continuing characters in a thriller series today. He's a trained one man army from when he was a child and only accepts missions from people who are in distress and need his help.

I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I happened on the first Orphan X book shortly after it's release, and completely by luck. I hadn't read any other books by Gregg Hurwitz (though I since have read several outside of the series), but immediately knew this was a character I wanted more of. The end of the previous book in the series (Into the Fire) left an incredible cliffhanger on the very last page. Needless to say, that cliffhanger sets up much of the premise for this sixth book in the Orphan X series.

I couldn't wait to start in on this book, and it didn't disappoint. Despite Evan's continued effort to "retire", he keeps coming back for more. This book moved quickly, and was indeed a page turner. The action didn't disappoint, and held up to the very last line, but what I loved about this one was the deeper dive into Evan, both for the reader, and for Evan himself as he's forced to take serious stock of himself this time around. Those who love Joey (like me!) will find this to be a great inclusion of her character, and Mia and Peter show up too.

Orphan fans will love this, and I can't wait for book 7.

Orphan X is the only spy thriller series that I read. Its because its packed full of action but also has heart and humor. Prodigal Son shows Evan Skoats in his usual badassery but also shows him struggling to accept a softer side of himself. This was an exceptional story.

Really excellent! Maybe the best of the series, with a great setup for the next one. Evan — the Nowhere Man, Orphan X — is blindsided by a woman who claims to be his mother and is launched into a situation that comes closer than any in the past to getting him killed. This installment sees Evan coming to grips with his long-buried emotional side. And dealing with the strange concept (to him) of family. Highly recommended.

Hold on tight to your book because the pace of The Prodigal Son will whip the Kindle right out of your hands or send your pages flying! Evan Smoak is back!

I've loved the Orphan X series since the first book and have given several copies away as gifts. I've enjoyed some of the stories more than others, but have never been disappointed. The Prodigal Son is definitely one of my new favorites. Readers new to the series can jump right in, because it reads like a standalone, though fans like me who have read the books from the beginning will feel comfortably at home.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest review.

Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz is book six in his Orphan X series.

"Evan receives a call from someone claiming to be his mother and asking for help from the Nowhere Man. Evan has retired from missions but agrees to look into this one - all while not violating the terms of his presidential pardon. what he finds is corrupt technology and an old acquaintance from his past. A past he has avoided as much as possible. To complete this last mission he'll need Joey and her scary hacking skills and another former orphan, who tried to kill him many times. But Evan feels pressure to stop this technology from being released and to save his old friend."

This is another fast-paced, action filled Orphan X story from Hurwitz. Evan is desperate to settle into a normal life with normal relationships. We see the dance between him and Mia. And the formidable skill set he just can't seem to put aside. there are flashbacks to the time at the group home when he was chosen by Jack - his interactions with the other boys. And a surprising revelation about Andre. I love when an author allows a character to grow and change and Hurwitz allows Evan to do that here - even making him try small talk with a resident in his building. Hurwitz shows us some scary technology and looks at an AI's ethics. If you haven't read the Orphan X series yet - why not? This is another great addition to the series from Hurwitz.

The Orphan X series is one of my favorite series so I was estactic when I was provided an ARC through NetGalley. "Prodigal Son", by Gregg Hurwitz, is the 6th installment of the series and I feel confident in saying it's the best one yet. It's so good I was mad I finished it. I didn't think Mr Hurwitz could top the previous book and I was proven wrong. Where "Prodigal Son" shines is the emotional aspect of how Evan Smoak (Orphan X) copes with feelings he's never dealt with before and the ramifications on his relationships while still being a total badass.

The worst thing about an Orphan X novel is when you finish one and your next thought is how long you are going to have to wait for the next one. In Prodigal Son, Hurwitz takes us far deeper into Evan's character and his journey of self-discovery than ever before. Yes, he confronts another horrible opponent, and, yes, he overcomes them once again (or does he?), and, yes, a variety of threads from previous books continue to spool out intriguingly, but what makes the Orphan X series special is the depth of the characters and the journey of our discovery alongside his. This is another great read.

Origin stories aren’t always captivating even if the character is; they can be hit or miss. With PRODIGAL SON, author Gregg Hurwitz provides readers with ample backstory while delivering a fast and furious thriller in real time. Our hero is working on a retirement that doesn’t quite fit him. Out of the blue he is contacted by someone claiming to be his mother. Why now, after all these years, has she appeared? In an effort to learn more, his past comes roaring to life in more ways than he could imagine. Whoever said retirement was peaceful didn’t know Evan Moak. This book is an excellent addition to the series and fans will love it. While it could stand alone, it is best when read with at least one of the other books. There are clever appearances and references to characters from other episodes. I loved this book and eagerly await the next. Orphan X remains one of my favorite series. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Prodigal Son is an action thriller that truly raises the standards for what encompasses a spectacular action-fest read with such a deeply resonating emotional core. It knocks out of the park all the previous Orphan X novels (no small feat) and establishes itself as THE BEST ORPHAN X NOVEL YET.

The storyline picks up with the shocking revelation at the end of Into The Fire where Evan Smoak gets a call from his mother. A mother he didn’t know he had. Meanwhile, following the events of Into The Fire, Evan Smoak is trying to adjust to a life outside of being The Nowhere Man. Trying to gain some semblance of a normal life and relationships. However, a sinister and dangerous plot involving drones being programmed to make ethical decisions on their own in terms of taking out targets without any human intervention or observation spins a web of a narrative that ends up becoming intimately personal for Evan Smoak, a narrative that digs deep down into Evan’s past as a little boy at the orphanage, and the ripple effects of his childhood extending to present day with some very startling discoveries about his real family, revelations that will surely leave you breathless while they hit like a freight train. The story is tied together with a component of a new danger in the form of self-thinking drones unlike anything Evan has ever faced before, mixing it with a gut-wrenchingly emotional story of family and decisions about responsibilities, making Evan face his deepest desires, taking readers on a journey of Evan’s emotional turmoil under the façade of coolness that Orphan X is known for.

The action, as ever, is absolutely praise-worthy with regards to interesting weapons details and vivid action sequences that are as fast-paced as they are brutal in nature. The finely described ARES 1911 pistol, Evan’s choice of weapon, is imbued somewhat with a sense of intimacy with descriptions about the weapon frame, bullet cartridges, and features such as slide locks and reloading techniques that give readers a great insight into just how deadly proficient Evan Smoak is with a weapon. The action sequences themselves are written with the beauty of allowing visualization of each and every move of Evan Smoak in tactical combat whether it is him breaking a guy’s spinal cord with a flashlight or shooting his opponents while taking a hostile as human shield.

There is also a focus on technological tidbits in this thriller, given that the book pertains to drones, and the technology described in the book is done so in layman terms, which if familiar to readers will jar their memories immediately, and if not familiar to readers, will explain promptly enough to take away any feelings of disarray with the narrative.

The relationship between Evan and Joey, a teenage former member of the Orphan program, is explored further beautifully, as Joey tries to become used to the life of a normal teenage girl, with Evan trying to work through his feelings of protectiveness for Joey. Their banters are warm and hilarious and it adds another level of emotional depth to the story.

Prodigal Son features enigmatic adversaries, both as brains and brawns, with brutal and unforgiving natures that make this arguably the most dangerous outing for Orphan X. Tech guru, murderous siblings, and microdrones capable of locking onto targets and not relenting until the target is destroyed. With a heart-pounding cliffhanger just when things start to seem happy again rocks the entire reading experience to the level of sheer excitement. A must read for action thriller fans for what will be one of the best reads of 2021 without any misgivings about this statement.