This most recent (#8) in the Orphan X novels, THE LAST ORPHAN, is something of a disappointment. Evan Smoak seemed to have had a code he live by, but in the previous novel, he found himself working with drug lords. He chose to go with the less bad one. OK--but does he have to use that same drug lord for access to private jets and such?

I would wish to see much more of Joey and even Candy. They seem the most interesting characters in the novel.

Thanks to NETGALLEY for the ARC.

Another continuation in the Orphan X series which is always an enjoyable read. I didn’t think that the story of this book was as interesting as the previous books in the series but it was still filled with action.

His sidekick, Joey, the young 17 year old female hacker is always a welcome addition to his books and her part of this story was well done. The banter between him and Joey is always clever dialog.

If you’re a fan of the prior Orphan X books you will enjoy this one as well.

I received a free ARC ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Orphan X has returned in another adventure that reveals X's growing humanity in the midst of violence. X, aka Evan Smoak and Nowhere Man, has violated his agreement with POTUS. He had continued his missions helping the helpless and violated. Utilizing his skills as a badass assassin, Evan hoped to remain under the radar of the immense power of the President. But, uncharacteristically, Evan is captured and offered a new deal - eliminate megalomaniac Lucas Devine and his pardon would be reinstated. But, of course, Evan must determine the justness of such an act.

Seemingly, Devine is no innocent. Two murders appear linked to him and while gathering information on these murders, Evan reveals much about his own character to readers. Each revelation is another brick in the making of Evan as someone deserving of love.

Evan's relationship with Joey, his "niece" and former orphan, reaches new emotional strength and affection. This relationship softens Evan's gruffness.

The Orphan series is a great read.

Wow! I can’t say enough good about this series and this book! I absolutely love the main character and this book does not disappoint. What a great read. I didn’t want it to end. It was full of suspense.

OMG! What more can I say. Another great thriller from Gregg Hurwitz.

I am forever grateful to receive a free copy and it did not disappoint. It starts simply enough - Evan in Iceland having one of the finest vodkas known to man. In the blink of an eye, it shifts to a stunning attack by the government with a promise of freedom if he does one favor for the president.

What proceeds is a cat and mouse thriller as Evan does what he does best. With the help of Joey and Candy, this thriller comes to a riveting conclusion.

The storyline is solid and the plot moves at an incredible pace. As always, this was an all nighter where I swore I would go to bed at the end of a chapter, but the action kept sucking me back in.

Wish I could give it 10 stars!!

The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz continues the Orphan X series. While this installment is an engrossing and interesting read with fully detailed characters and plot, I do wonder when Hurwitz will bring the series to an end as the plot lines are starting to be derivative.

Hurwitz has written another crowd-pleaser with THE LAST ORPHAN. His voice and style grow stronger with each book. They're all such a pleasure to read. This installment has all the usual characters, but as always, Evan outshines them all. I really dig his moral code and skill with meditating - so refreshing in a thriller.

With a publication date of February 14, 2023, the Last Orphan is the eighth novel in Hurwitz’ Orphan X series. If you were to go by what you find in novels these days, the entire world is populated by super-trained assassins and spies who can take on any odds no matter how stacked against them the odds are. Here, the conceit is that Evan Smoak (aka Orphan X) is such a former assassin, plucked from foster care by a CIA-type agency and trained in secret to save the world one assassination at a time. Evan, however, eventually rebelled against following such orders and, with his special skills, amassed a formidable fortune so he never has to worry about money again or where to find the highest quality vodka. He has a secret identity in Los Angeles where he has fortified his batcave as it were in a high-rise Westwood condominium against intrusion and has put out the word that, for anyone who needs help against evil, all they need to do is call his toll-free number and he will be there. He is basically a superhero with a secret identity without the goofy tights and cape and has been undefeated up till now.

This novel has Evan face-to-face with his old agency and they intend to use him again for one last campaign. The idea that he has remained for years under their radar is, of course, absurd, but go with it. This campaign, of course, coalesces with a call for help that he gets on his special phone which has Evan delving into the lifestyles of the rich and debauched where the rich think all others are toys to play with, to break, to humiliate, and to throw away. It is not clear why the plot had to include Evan having to bargain with his old agency rather than just following the call for help.

This novel has very little to do with his life in the batcave and his relationships in his civilian life with Mia and her son, Peter. Indeed, as the story opens, Mia is still in a coma and stands little chance of fully functioning again and Peter is living with relatives. Two operatives from Evan’s old life play a significant role in the story. Joey is his right-hand girl Friday and is the wizard of anything technical. Candy is equally as deadly as Evan and appears several times in the story when help is needed.

Overall, this novel feels as if it is a notch below the previous novels in the series, perhaps because it has two parallel stories rather than focusing like a laser-beam on one plot. Perhaps though it is time to move Evan to an entirely new location for future releases.

No man or woman among us is immune to the ravages of time. Senses dull, reflexes slow, and what once seemed inconsequential becomes more important than ever. While the passage of time may only result in the loss of fractions of a second, to a highly trained assassin a fraction of a second can be the difference between life and death or spending the remainder of one’s life in a maximum-security prison. Author Gregg Hurwitz returns to the world of Evan Smoak, known by his enemies as Orphan X, and by the helpless as The Nowhere Man, in this eighth installment of the Orphan X series, “The Last Orphan.”

Readers familiar with the series will remember that Evan’s precarious truce with the President of the United States has been sacrificed to his calling as the Nowhere Man, leaving Evan waiting for the full force of the U.S. government to descend. Evan’s luck runs out when the humanity he has held at bay for so long lands him in the custody of the Secret Service and at the mercy of a vengeful president. His only hope to obtain immunity once again from the government is to accept an assassination contract on a man he may not have otherwise targeted. While a master-of-the-universe-billionaire, and apparent thorn in the side of the president, the target may not be quite as evil as the president claims and may not be deserving of Evan’s wrath. When Evan’s research uncovers two young murder victims, it’s up to the Nowhere Man to figure out who is responsible for their deaths and exactly where to direct his vengeance.

When Orphan X burst upon the literary scene in 2016, author Gregg Hurwitz introduced a dynamic and nuanced character that could easily hold his own among the assassins created by Baldacci, Flynn, or Thor. Layered with introspection and guarded humanity, Evan Smoak is as engaging a character as exists within the thriller subgenre. Like any character experiencing the longevity of eight novels, the question becomes is there any new ground to be covered, or will this be more of the same? Happily, while Evan Smoak’s world is familiar, this eighth entry still feels fresh and shows the reader there is much more to know about Orphan X. Time, age, and internal reflection are catching up with Orphan X, and self-doubt is creeping into his psyche. Maybe he’s not as fast as he once was, maybe he can’t immediately recognize all the angles he once saw, maybe the personal relationships he’s allowed into his life are eroding the edge of the blade upon which he once lived his life. Evan is forced to explore these questions while on the hunt for a sadistic killer. The result is a perfect balance between heart-pounding action and personal reflection, and a thriller that blends perfectly with heart and compassion. Die-hard fans of Gregg Hurwitz will recognize the nearly de rigueur inclusion of Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru making their signature appearance to reinforce Evan’s inability to turn a blind eye to evil and his ongoing struggle between fighting for righteousness or the possibility of living what he sees as a “normal” life with Mia, Peter, and Joey.

Characterization within the narrative is a mixed bag. On the one hand, Evan Smoak and Joey Morales anchor the narrative with an odd-couple, unconventional father-daughter relationship, both at the top of the food chain in their chosen specialties; Evan as a world-class assassin, Joey as a world-class hacker. Their unusual and more-often-than-not strained relationship shines as a stark contradiction to the typical action thriller. With authentic feeling father-daughter angst and unexpected tender moments, like an impromptu 17th birthday party for Joey and a surprisingly heartfelt gift from Evan, the relationship between these two characters firmly grounds an otherwise unknowable world of murder, political manipulation and assassination in a world that is both familiar and accessible. While protagonists shine as examples of how to perfectly humanize extraordinary characters, comparable lengths are not taken with the antagonists. While the antagonists are interesting, they are far from fleshed out in a way that makes them truly compelling. For the first time in the eight novel Orphan X run, there is not a readily apparent villain Evan is hunting. While there is a looming evil, the identity of said evil goes largely unknown, especially to Evan, for the bulk of the narrative. The lack of a clearly identified source of menace transformed much of the mission into an esoteric search for a concept of evil that fails to land with the full force of previous entries.

Character dialog perfectly reflects the characterization of Evan & Joey, and to a lesser degree the antagonists and supporting characters by bringing authentic distinctions to what could have been generic caricatures of assassins, hackers, soldiers, or billionaires. Hurwitz strikes a wonderful balance in his descriptions to tear down the boundaries between Evan’s exotic lifestyle and the mundane lives of the rest of the world. His descriptions peal back a layer of clandestine operators to make them more knowable to lay readers; from weapons and tactics to next-generation surveillance and technology. The familiar tone of the series fits the narrative like a warm blanket; distinctly menacing and underscored with ruthlessness by antagonists and protagonists alike, this is clearly an Orphan X novel.

Gregg Hurwitz, like many of his contemporaries, faces an inherent challenge when a long-running novel series approaches double digits. There are many modern authors that have a tough time staying relatable when a series runs for too long. Fortunately, Hurwitz is able to successfully maneuver through the minefield of redundancy and creates a fresh and engaging novel around a character that has far from run his course. Insightful, compelling, and fiercely entertaining, Gregg Hurwitz remains at the top of his game. Fans of the series will get exactly what they’ve come to love from the series, and newcomers will have no choice but to go back and see what they’ve been missing. Very well done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early read of the next Orphan X title. This series ranks high on my list of favorites, so I will glad to dive in early, even though that means an even longer wait for the next one!

Evan Smoak (aka Orphan X) hears news that he has long been waiting for - Mia has finally come out of the coma she has been in since life-saving brain surgery. As he approaches the hospital, he sees a few oddities that send his senses into alert. And right he is - the federal government is coming for him. Captured and transported to a holding facility, he is given a choice - help the President eliminate a man she deems as a threat, or have his unofficial pardon rescinded. He agrees, but then makes his own plans, eliciting the help of the only two other orphans still around - Candy (Orphan V) and Josephine (his young ward). With their help,, Evan will do his own research on the target first - he will not take a life just because he can. He left that behind him when he became the Nowhere Man.

Hurwitz does not disappoint with this latest Orphan X title (#8 in the series and still going strong!). There is the usual action, and the usual awe at how Hurwitz always devises a way for Evan to come out on top. What I like about this series, though, is the ongoing evolution of Evan Smoak as a character. He still has his hard edges and coolness under pressure, but there are cracks in the armor, especially when it comes to Mia and her son, and to Josephine. They have reminded him that he is human, which also reminds him that his actions have consequences, and maybe a cost to be paid. This latest ends with a promising hint that we will learn more about his past in the next book. As always, I can't wait!

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC which I received return for an unbiased review. This is #8 of a really magnificent series that began in 2016 with Orphan X, highly original and, for me, absolutely addictive. It is the continuing story of Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X, aka The Nowhere Man. If you have not read the earlier books in the series, this is not a good choice, I think, as a stand-alone. When I saw it on Netgalley, I was really excited; it will not be released until 2023. Plenty of time for you to read the first seven that come before it!

This outing is a bit different from previous books because Evan always goes after truly evil people and here, we spend a lot of time while he struggles with that question. He doesn't care about politics or the opinions of others, but will risk his life again and again and even kill for an innocent who really needs his help. This time the issue is whether the person he is asked to eliminate is an evil who caused the innocents to be harmed or killed. Still not so sure I liked the change. It did make the story feel very different from previous books in the series.

It still, in my humble opinion, deserves a rating of five stars. There is still plenty of action - it is certainly not all introspection. As in every outing, we also learn a bit more about our hero. I and many, many other fans, love this series. It is worth a try by any "constant reader" who loves action and the search for justice. But, I recommend you start with the first one. Sadly, now that I have read #8, I have much longer to wait for the next. Hopefully, this genius author will keep them coming.

In The Last Orphan, Evan Smoak continues his progression toward being a fully realized human being. From the first tension filled pages as Evan attempts to avoid capture to his decision to undertake a new, somewhat cagey assignment from President Victoria Donahue-Carr, he is still in control of following Jack’s commandments. This novel shows Evan cracking more snark, and actually relating to the people around him. He finds another family to observe and interact with. He enlists the help of Orphan V, Candy McClure, realizing this assignment is more than one lone wolf can handle and acknowledging her skill set as equal to her own. Also, has he found a new attraction for her?

Mia and Peter are minor characters in this book, perhaps a welcome pause to that relationship that Evan needs to carry out this mission. Joey and Dog are present and Evan now accepts they are family. I admit I found this book better than Dark Horse and I appreciate where Hurwitz is taking Orphan X in character development. How often do we dive into the mind of a skilled assassin? It’s fascinating.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read/review The Last Orphan.

X is back but off his game.

3.5 stars

The Last Orphan, Book 8 in The Orphan X series, finds Evan out of his comfort zone as he is forced to take on a case in exchange for his freedom. With a new kind of villain to contend with, Evan is taken out of his element, putting his morals and skills to the test.

This addition to the series is fast-paced and action-packed, as usual. It’s a little over the top, but it works.

*This book can be read as a standalone, but one will appreciate the characters much more if the series is read in order*

There are some intriguing developments concerning certain plot lines, but the most significant is that Evan is not as sharp as he once was, which was an interesting change.

Joey, Dog, and Orphan V were the highlights for me. Mia’s fate is revealed, but there is not enough of Peter and some of the other regular characters. This installment felt a little tired. I feel like the series needs a reboot, which maybe is what Hurwitz is hinting at with Evan’s unexpected challenges. I have no idea where this series will go next, but I look forward to finding out.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of the Orphan X books and short stories up to this one. I was worried after "Prodigal Son" that the series was over, but I'm glad it's continuing. You do not need to read the earlier books to enjoy this one, but it would add context to the characters. Evan Smoak is a character very similar to Jason Bourne but even more exciting with his computer skills and helpers, Tommy and Joey. The latest installment is brings Evan into a situation that could very possible be real ... especially if you believe in conspiracy theories. The story is definitely action packed and enthralling. Any fan of Jason Bourne or Jack Reacher will enjoy this story and series. I look forward to hopefully more Orphan X books

The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz is number 8 in the Orphan X series. I had only read book 1, so I was familiar enough with the backstory to understand the story. It was fast paced, violent, and you get enough on the motivation of Evan to make me appreciate his character and what he was trying to accomplish. I would recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

*4.5 stars rounded up! <b>Gregg Hurwitz delivers another fascinating entry in the Orphan X series with The Last Orphan.</b> Highly recommended for fans of action-packed thrillers.

One of the things I'm most impressed with is how Gregg Hurwitz consistently comes up with fresh, clever story ideas for this long-running series. Eight books in and not a single entry feels repetitive or formulaic.

The Last Orphan is especially unique considering the call for help isn't from a civilian in danger but none other than the President of the United States, who feels threatened by a powerful businessman. In typical Nowhere Man fashion, Evan agrees to look into the individual and see if the President's request meets his threshold for executing a mission. When he discovers a potential connection between the man the President wants eliminated and the unsolved murders of two young adults, it's time for Evan to tap on his network of friends for help and see if he can bring families some justice before making a final decision on the President's request.

There are so many great elements to unpack in this novel.
-Evan's back-and-forth with the President and her offer to pardon him really increased the stakes to new levels.
-His relationships with Joey, Mia, Peter and even Candy are a joy to read. His emotional growth from book to book is something that truly sets the Orphan X series apart from other thriller series.
-The "villain" of The Last Orphan is one of the most interesting ones Gregg Hurwitz has written. It's hard for both Evan and the reader to know whether he truly deserves to be eliminated, which makes this mission very interesting to read.
-The pacing is really different from any of the other Orphan X novels and I appreciated the change of pace.

<b>I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Orphan, and think it makes a great read-alike for fans of Netflix's adaptation of <i>The Gray Man</i> (or the series that movie is based on).</b>

I'm very curious to see where Gregg Hurwitz takes the Nowhere Man next.

<i>Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Gregg Hurwitz for the chance to read this digital ARC.</i>

I absolutely loved this book. It was action packed the entire way through. Evan(THE Orphan X is a complete badass. I loved his story and how the author described his way of thinking. I was entertained the entire way through and couldn't wait to see what happened next. I will be recommending this book in all my book clubs. I would love to see it on the big screen someday as well. Thanks Net Galley for giving me a chance to read this book and give an honest review.

For all of you James Bond fans who are grieving because 007 is now dead, you need to give Evan Smoak, who is Orphan X and the Nowhere Man, a try. You won't be disappointed. Like all really good suspense novels, this one is classic good vs evil. But it may have you asking the question: Where do you draw the line?

This book is a definite "must read" for fans of this series by Gregg Hurwitz and anyone else who loves high action, pulse pounding, adventure and excitement. I loved seeing the continuation of other great characters in the story alongside Evan, such as Joey, his sixteen-year-old hacker friend, Mia, a DA and possible love interest, and her ten-year-old son, Peter, along with Tommy and Candy. I am repeatedly astounded by the knowledge that this author has and the research he has done when it comes to the specifics about armament, surveillance equipment, subterfuge, and fighting techniques. This series is at the top of my list for great espionage fiction thrillers, and I will be eagerly waiting for the next one.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC e-book to read and review.

I've always been a big fan of the Orphan X series and this one only further solidifies my enjoyment of them. It's been great to see how X grows as a person throughout the series and this continues the trend. This mission seems more personal and that he is more evenly matched than in some of the others. Well worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Evan Smoak was a member of deep, dark secret government entity known as The Orphan Program. He was taken from a foster program and turned into a killer. He was dispatched around the world to assassinate various people. Now, he is attempting to atone for those killings by helping anyone who needs him. He is The Nowhere Man. He is kidnapped by the FBI and ordered to assassinate a man the President believes is plotting against the government. Evan is promised immunity is he does this. He is forced to choose between the principles he lives by or his life. When he discovers the target has taken the lives of innocent people, he believes he can choose his principles. Another great adrenaline line in this series.