My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Gregg Hurwitz and Netgalley.
This is my first Orphan X book. It will not be the last. Hell, I ended up enjoying it so much that as soon as I get signed up at the library in my new town of Missoula, Montana I will be checking them out!
I was initially a wee bit put off by this Smoak character. He came off more super hero than human, but he slowly snuck his way in! I ended up enjoying this book a whole heck of a lot more than I would have thought.
3 1/2 stars!

This is the second Orphan X book that I have read. I can see why Evan Smoak is such a beloved character. Hurwitz has a fantastic writing style giving us characters with depth to them, as well as excellent action sequences. In The Last Orphan, Smoak is against a potential foe who has him stripping away his training and rethinking everything. He is seriously rattled. It was fun to see him reach out to another member of the fabled Orphan Program for assistance when the odds were so stacked against him. I am impressed with the humanity he is learning about, and trying to embrace where up to this point in life he has been content being in solitude as he was trained/raised to be. All in all, this is an excellent read. It is not necessary for readers to read the series in order. I am going to go back and read all of the books because I have been blown away by the last two installments.

The Last Orphan
Orphan X #8
Gregg Hurwitz

Personal Note:
I LOVE this series, I came late to the party at book 6, The Prodigal Son and was HOOKED from page one and knew I had to go back and start from the beginning because I needed to know more about Evan and what makes him tick. I also started with the Macmillan audio version of The Prodigal Son and was also hooked on Scott Brick’s remarkable, talented rendition so much so that now when I think of Evan or The Nowhere Man it’s Scott’s voice I hear and he’s ruined me for any printed version of this series.

Gregg Hurwitz’s The Last Orphan is a titillating thriller, a non-stop edge of your seat, one sit read that’s bound for bestsellerdom that once again digs deep into Evan Smoak’s complicated OCD plagued psyche and strips him bare in the emotion department. Readers/Listeners once again are gifted with experiencing the slow continuing metamorphosis of Evan’s humanity, showing what a lonely existence his is and just how much he must sacrifice to protect those he cares for. The audience also gets to see sixteen-year-old, soon to be seventeen super hacker Joey grow up just a little, unravel just a little, showing her normal teenaged side just a little and letting readers/listeners see hers and Evan’s relationship become more solid. There’s of course the paradigmatic bloody, deadly battle scenes that are not for the feint of heart that pits Evan, part McGyver part 007 part vigilante, up against incredible odds hoping he’s the last man standing. Fans of this incredible series and other thrillers will find this unputdownable.


Evan Smoak used to be Orphan X part of the Orphan Program, a clandestine, super secret government organization that trained young orphans to be sanctioned assassins. He was good at his job but was on a very short leash and when he started questioning his handlers and didn’t like the answers he left turned into a ghost and reinvented himself into The Nowhere Man, a man who if you have his number and are worthy of his help he’ll make things right. Then the government decided they needed The Last Orphan for one more sanctioned assignment and on a day that Evan was just a little off they caught him and gave him an ultimatum, help or die. But the agency taught him well and with the help of a small group of trusted associates that he’s collected over the years Evan escapes but the assignment intrigues him so he decides he’ll look into it himself and he’ll be the one to make the ultimate decision.

Evan Smoak - wowzers just a guy you would love to know let alone have on your side. The President has him in a little situation. She wants something from him and knows that he, and only he, can deliver, but Evan has a moral compass. He doesn't stray from his commandments and his standards are high. X is always X-ing, slightly OCD, may be allergic to patterns, and is always figuring out his next move. He may be down, but never out. This one is for those who love X, action-packed pacing, good vs evil, and plenty of hold your breath fighting. The Last Orphan is another well-crafted book. The story in Southampton was good but didn't stand out compared to some previous ones. I enjoy Evan's interaction with his inner circle more in this book. As a badass assassin, you can feel how nervous he is being around ordinary people like his 10-year-old neighbor, Peter. I love how Joey's attitude and personality drive him crazy and vice versa. Dog, the dog. It's nice to see old friends again, Tommy and Candy! This a cliff hanger and loved the action. These books just don't get old.

My sincere thanks to Gregg Hurwitz, Minotaur Books and NetGalley.

3.5 stars

In this 8th book in the 'Orphan X' series, the American president wants Evan Smoak to assassinate a man who imperils her political career. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is beneficial.

*****

When Evan Smoak was a scrawny twelve-year-old living in an orphanage, he was removed and placed in a black ops program that trained orphans to be highly skilled assassins. Evan was dubbed Orphan X.

After doing his assassin job for many years, Orphan X left the black ops program and set himself up as 'The Nowhere Man', a badass who helps people in trouble. When a person in dire straits is given Evan's number by a former client, the call goes to Evan's uber-encrypted RoamZone phone, which he answers with the phrase "Do you need my help?" The 'help' always involves Orphan X killing people, so it's frowned on by the authorities.

After being pursued by government operatives for years, Evan made a deal with President Victoria Donahue-Carr, who agreed to pardon Evan if he gave up being the Nowhere Man. But in a world full of people in trouble, Evan can't keep his word. So President Donahue-Carr has Evan abducted and offers him a deal: IF Evan agrees to kill a billionaire business mogul/political influencer named Luke Devine, who threatens Donahue-Carr's re-election, Evan's unofficial pardon will be reinstated. If not, Evan will go to prison.

Orphan X has scruples, though, and needs to do his own investigation of Luke Devine....to see if the tycoon deserves killing. As it happens, a young man and woman were murdered at one of Devine's hedonistic parties, and Evan must find out if the mogul was implicated in their deaths. This requires Evan to infiltrate Devine's huge mansion, which is guarded by tough, sadistic security guards.

Orphan X's cunning plans and physical prowess help him further his program and get him out of VERY dangerous situations. Evan is also assisted by his sixteen-year-old protégé Josephine (Joey), who can hack into any computer anywhere, including those in Luke Devine's well-protected property. Joey is a sarcastic smart-mouthed teen who more than holds her own bantering with Orphan X....but is very sweet with her canine named Dog.

The story also has appearances by other favorite characters, including Candy McClure - formerly Orphan V, who uses her sexy wiles to advantage; Tommy - an accomplished gunsmith who provides Evan with cars and weapons; Mia - a pretty district attorney Evan is attracted to; and Peter - Mia's school age son.

The story is action packed, with one exciting scene after another. As always the Nowhere Man leaves heavy casualties in his wake, but - after all - it's him or them.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Scott Brick, who does an excellent job.

As a bonus, author Gregg Hurwitz and suspense writer Lisa Gardener have a conversation at the end of the book, where they discuss audiobooks.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gregg Hurwitz, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

Gregg Andrew Hurwitz is one of my all-time favourite authors and I loved this 8th book in his "Orphan X" series!
The Secret Service are sent to capture Evan and he is offered a deal by the President. He is to do away with a billionaire who is a threat to the U.S. President's re-election. Evan quickly discovers and investigates the murders of innocent people somehow involved with this elusive billionaire.
A fast-paced and thrilling novel with recurring characters that I have become quite attached to.
With each book I love this series more and more! I can't recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Every since I read the first Orphan X thriller, I have been absolutely hooked. You have a protagonist who, because of the way he was raised and the life he lives, leads a lonely life. However, he is always willing to help those out who find themselves trapped in truly awful sorts of situations. That is again the case in this book--but no spoilers. However, this book is again high octane.

3.5 stars = Good+

I have mixed feelings about this one. I LOVED: the usual, familiar characters; plenty of LOL moments; good personal growth threads for Evan and other characters. I hated the main villain, but not in a good way. His scenes always left me wanting to skip past them. Instead of wanting to see justice, I just wanted him to go away. He felt like a drag on the story.

Series fans, especially those who love thrillers like this will probably enjoy this more than I did. This is not my favorite genre. (I read one of these because my husband loves them, and I stick with them for Joey and her scenes with X as well as the fascinating character growth pieces. But these books run a little too far on the gross and gory side than I generally prefer.) But there were pieces here that I loved - and I think series regulars will find things to love, too.

I do not recommend newcomers start here. I think there's a lot that references the past and the journey that new readers will have trouble reconciling. If you have a firm foundation in the series, but maybe have missed a couple books, you can probably jump in here without issue. (Language, sex and sexual references, reference to sexual assault, violence and gore.)

I just love this series! You just can't help but feel that what Evan stands for is good and just. I want to say this was one of my favorites of the series, but I don't think I can pick a favorite!

The Last Orphan
Gregg Hurwitz
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads
Thank God he’s back! Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X, returns for a highly anticipated 8th high octane, break-neck paced thriller.

Reading an Evan Smoak tale is truly a guilty pleasure, like eating dessert before dinner. Evan isn’t a superhero, but rather a cross between Jason Bourne and Batman, He’s a highly skilled assassin, but with a moral compass and highly honed desire to retain his humanity.

Evan was a twelve-year-old boy, rescued out of the projects of East Baltimore, only then to undergo a seven-year grueling training course under the tutelage of his handler Jack Jones. Jack was the closest thing to a father and family he had ever known. This was part of a clandestine black ops, “Orphan Program” created by the Department of Defense, creating a cadre of assassins of unparalleled abilities that were both deniable and expendable. Each sent out on a mission to destroy a high-value target without backup.

As his trainer, and a man of principle, Jack knew it was easy to train Evan to kill, but hard to have him retain his sense of humanity. (Which is a basic tenet throughout all the Orphan X novels.) Eventually Evan wanted out after a decade of covert killing, no longer wishing to be a lethal weapon of the government. He was one of only a few Orphans with an actual conscience. He embarked on his own program as a pro bono freelancer, helping those innocents who found themselves in an impossible situation. He became known by his enemies as The Nowhere Man. Evan remained on call 24/7 for the unfortunates, awaiting a 1-855-2-NOWHERE call on his high tech, untraceable, and indestructible RoamZone phone. Evan always answers his phone: “Do you need my help? Several years ago, he was issued an informal pardon by President Victoria Donahue-Carr (installed and not elected) if he refrains from pursuing his career as the Nowhere Man. Evan has found this impossible and continued to answer both his RoamZone and the pleas of the helpless and innocents caught in ruthless situations. Evan is uncharacteristically captured at the hospital by Special Agent Naomi Templeton and a massive cadre of agents and police, as he attempts to reconnect with MIa, as she has just emerged from a lengthy coma. Rather than interrogate or execute him, Evan is surprised when the POTUS makes another offer to reinstate his pardon if he accepts a new assignment. He is to assassinate a man named Luke Devine. A billionaire who has attained an unprecedented degree of power and influence, and has proved to be a master-manipulator, even extending to several Senators. Apparently he is a direct obstacle in the POTUS’s ongoing agenda to implement a trillion-dollar environmental bill. He is told that this a direct threat to national security and the nation’s health and survival. (Not to mention her re-election). He insists that he must thoroughly investigate the man before he agrees to once again become an operative of the government. Does this target align with his core beliefs? Will he abandon his beliefs to regain his pardon? The government is hesitant of accepting his conditions. While the situation is in limbo, Evan is rescued and escapes this maximum detention situation by none other than his ally, and beloved character from previous books, the gorgeous Orphan V, aka “Candy.” Evan is under 24/7 surveillance, while being shackled at the wrist, zip-tied behind his back, and wearing an explosive-type ankle bracelet. The shenanigans and ensuing cinematic exploits of his rescue is alone worth the price of admission. Now, on his own with the help of a few of his friends, he is able to fully investigate Devine, and decide if he deserves elimination.

As the investigation unfolds, Hurwitz is able to reprise the roles of many of his beloved multi-layered characters. He is aided not only by Candy, but by Joey, her dog, “Dog”, and Tommy.

Joey is a welcome reprise and a fan favorite. Now, seventeen-years old, this feisty, smart aleck, is the smartest hacker Evan has ever known. A wash-out from the Orphan program, Evan has befriended and guided her, assuming an Uncle-like role. “Dog” is her tag-along pet that frequently provides comedy relief. Tommy, the somewhat loquacious armorer, can supply and outfit Evan with anything and everything in the manner of vehicles and weapons necessary for the “job.” In the course of his investigation into the life of Devine he uncovers details of a brutal murder of two young innocents, tangentially connected to Devine. This allows Evan to step back into the role of The Nowhere Man, and provides a second storyline. Eventually the two storylines will merge and intertwine into unexpected consequences.

Hurwitz proves to be a master storyteller as he uncouples this riveting barnburner of a thriller. This tale is exquisitely plotted with unexpected twists and deceptions, laced with cinematic fight scenes, brimming with violence and suspense. Each sequential episode of Orphan X reveals the emotional growth in this complicated and flawed man. This eighth installment can certainly be enjoyed and devoured as a standalone, but will force the reader to quench their thirst with the previous novels. Personally , I switched back and forth between reading the book and listening to the audio… but the last half I couldn’t tear myself away from the audio, narrated by the amazing Scott Brick. Scott is a multi-award winning narrator of over 800 books, with a background as an actor, and writer. His wonderful voice inflections brought the multiple characters to life in the “theatre of my mind” …. he is a natural storyteller with a mesmerizing quality that reflects the ongoing emotion and passion of the tale.

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for supplying an Uncorrected Proof and an Advance Audio version in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Orphan is another thrill-ride Orphan X novel which is everything you have come to expect from Gregg Hurwitz. In this novel you can really see the transformation taking place in Evan Smoak, he is becoming less of a killing machine and more of a person who can connect with others around him. Being the Nowhere Man has definitely been beneficial to his growth as a person, even if his skills are slipping, a little, as a result.

I can't wait for the next book! 4-1/2 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for giving me this ARC, and in exchange, I am voluntarily giving my honest opinion.

Phew. Let me begin by saying I was afraid this was the last book in this series. I mean, I'm still not 100% sure why it's called "The Last Orphan," except the president calls Evan Smoak, the Nowhere Man the last orphan in a conversation.. I always, always enjoy reading these novels and always, always do so in a day or two at most. The plots are uneven, but Hurwitz is a gifted writer who will always pull me into the story. These books all have cinematic, violent scenes, creating movies in our brains of horrible, challenging situations that only Orphan X (also Evan Smoak, the Nowhere Man) can survive. Fans, like me, know Evan's whole backstory as a bright and athletic foster kid who gets trained, largely by Jack, his mentor, to be a stone cold killer for the government and eventually ditches that to become the Nowhere Man. In this persona, he helps people who have no place else to go for help, often experiencing serious injuries and risking death.

The returning characters in the Last Orphan include another retired orphan, Candy McClure; Tommy, the guy who gets the right jazzed up truck and various arms to Evan when he inevitably loses a truck to destruction and ditches guns; Joey, his sort of adopted teenaged girl that Even rescued in a prior novel and her dog, Dog; Mia and Peter, his neighbor, off and on girlfriend and Naomi Templeton, gifted FBI agent with a semi-respectful relationship with "X." Bottom line in this case is that the President tries to blackmail Evan into going after a charismatic guy, Luke Devine, who is messing with an environmental bill she is trying to get through Congress. Naomi is supposed to get his cooperation. Evan, as is characteristic when someone pushes him, balks.

Still, Evan begins to do some background work, getting leads on people who have known or been impacted by this Devine. In the course of all this he connects with the family of a young man whose murder may or may not have been at the behest of Devine. The victims sister has been threatened for asking too many questions. Evan, in his Nowhere Man persona, is concerned and he moves further along with his look see at Devine. The fabulously wealthy Devine has an impregnable security system and uses sophisticated technology to gather personal information on his guests for use in making his billions grow. He has a lot of goons/bodyguards who are pretty unimpressive, which often happens with pretty much any security team Evan encounters. He's good, but they are never as good as he is. Still, Devine himself is a cipher. He is described as getting inside people's heads, and Evan quickly understands this is true about him. He is fascinated and put off by Devine. He remains unsure whether he should carry out the President's wishes and whether Devine "deserves" to be killed. There is a ton of humor in this series, even when things are going wildly crazy. Evan has lots of idiosyncrasies, like a single aloe plant he considers something of a pet, a habit of burning his clothes, then dressing in an identical set of clothes and a love for rare vodka. He is OCD. Joey is messy. Their relationship is a lot of fun. Evan doesn't play well with others, yet Jack helped him retain his humanity and he is interacting with people in ways that matter and that create lasting relationships. These relationships and the people he interacts with are often amusing. In a different writer's hands, this series would be too much. It is Hurwitz's writing that makes this series. I am glad that, once again, he has set us up for the next entry at the close of this novel.

(Copied from my review of the audio version)
This is the third book in the Orphan X series that I have listened to. Scott Brick’s narration was okay in the first book, but this being the most recent book in the series, I think, over time, he has gotten WAY over dramatic in his reading. Fortunately Netgalley provided me with the written version as well and I switched to that. I have binged three of these books in rapid succession. So my weariness for the usual tropes the author employs is probably due to that. I like that our hero now has some go to associates. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

Orphan X, Evan Smoak faces his toughest adventure yet in this 8th book. This time he must decide if what he is doing sits okay within his moral code and he faces some hard choices. Chock full of action and intrigue!

Published by Minotaur Books on February 14, 2023

After an uncertain start, the Orphan X novels have followed an upward trending arc. Gregg Hurwitz continues that ascent in The Last Orphan.

The action begins when Evan Smoak visits the hospital where the woman who won his heart is receiving care. Despite taking precautions, Smoak is captured after a chase through hallways and stairways and streets and a parking ramp. His captor is Naomi Templeton of the Secret Service. Being captured, even by an elite team of counter-assault agents, makes Smoak wonder if he’s losing his edge, as does missing a small target from a distance of twenty feet, a shot that he is fully capable of making.

Smoak is on a sort of special parole, the terms of which he has repeatedly violated. Rather than sending him to Gitmo, Templeton puts him on a video call with the president, who wants a favor from Smoak — a favor he can trade for his freedom, albeit on a leash. Smoak, of course, will immediately slip the leash.

The favor involves finding and assassinating Luke Devine, a wealthy man who might be a psychopath but is certainly a narcissist. Devine is skilled at manipulating others to get what he wants. Deniable blackmail is one of his tools. The president believes Devine has become too powerful. Perhaps he is simply inconvenient. In any event, Smoak agrees to make his own assessment.

The story reunites Smoak and sixteen-year-old wunderkind Josephine Morales, who has been exploring her boundaries since the end of the last novel. He also gets an assist from Candy McClure. Both Jo and Candy are, like Smoak, former participants in the Orphan program that trained them in the art of killing.

The story features the usual blend of Jo’s computer hacking and Smoak’s exploits as an action hero. The plot becomes a bit deeper than controlled mayhem when Devine makes a credible case that the president has not ordered his assassination with clean hands. How Smoak will process that information sets up the novel’s resolution.

Smoak continues to develop as a character. Smoak alternately enjoys and is irritated by Jo’s teen snark, but she gets under his skin in ways that make him question his life. Smoak is anal and compulsive — traits that probably keep him alive — but his emotional limitations also limit his ability to connect with others. As he confronts the fury that drives his life, he begins to suspect that his hatred of feeling vulnerable is standing in the way of the openness to others that demands vulnerability.

The action scenes are on a par with Reacher and Gray Man novels — making the story fun to read and easy to visualize — but Smoak is developing a stronger personality than most other fictional tough guys. The novels are moving away from their unoriginal foundation — Jason Bourne meets the Equalizer — and are carving out a unique space in the action hero genre. Smoak’s continued evolution as a character makes the series a good choice for action hero fans.

RECOMMENDED

This is the second book I have read with Orphan X. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommend. The characters, in my opinion, are well developed and complex.

I remember finishing a book in this series a while back and worrying that the author might run out of places to take the story. I know better than to worry about that now. I hope it keeps going for awhile.

Other than one part at the beginning that seemed a little hard to follow (high can be confusing to understand, apparently) the story was solid. While reading this book I kept taking guesses at real world people that might've inspired certain characters. I have my theories. Evan keeps developing as a person, which makes him more interesting, and maybe more vulnerable as well. A few of my favorite characters spent some time in this story, which was nice as well.

The story left off on a little bit of a cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to jumping back into the series as soon as the next book is ready.

We received a digital copy from Netgalley and then were contacted through the marketing campaign to get a hard copy in the mail for our review.

To say my husband and I are Orphan X fans is an understatement. We have enjoyed every single book and have loved talking about the adventures as they have happened. In turn this has led us to asking ourselves a ton of questions about what we would do in this situation.

We have enjoyed watching Evan grow as a character. His moral values and the way he sees himself, grows through every book. He challenges himself against the situations or missions that he is in while keeping up with the commandments and being able to keep his sh@t together. (Very impressive )

While every book has a mission to complete, each character becomes more familiar and interesting and unique with each volume.

And fill disclaimer- I totally have a crush on Orphan X.

I enjoy this series so much - and I especially love how all of the characters have developed and grown, yet stayed true to themselves.

In this book Ethan is tasked by the President of the United States to perform a mission he's not sure about. I don't want to say any more about the plot except it is a pleasure as always to see Ethan's meticulous planning, and even more his attention to people. Mentioning any of those people by name could spoil previous books in the series, so we will leave it at that :)

I loved The Last Orphan because Evan feels so vulnerable in this book. Of course, he was beyond competent and 3 steps ahead like 98% of the book, but still, his rawness showed through. Loved the cameo with Candy.