Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of Antihero.

I’m a big fan of Orphan X. I’ve read all the previous novels and short stories.

The beginning of the book with Luke Devine seemed slow. Once Evan started looking for the woman who was kidnapped, there was as much action and suspense as anything in the series.

It’s a very personal and evolutionary book with Evan still struggling with social interactions.

We haven’t seen much in recent books of Mia Hall. I’ve always hoped for her and Evan to get together. Their relationship certainly evolved in Antihero.

4 out of 5 stars.

I loved this book and this series. The Nowhere Man Evan Smoak has been called on to help a woman named Anca who has been gang raped. She makes Evan promise not to kill them. Joey and Candy have a pretty big part in this book and I enjoyed seeing another side to them. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for the next one.

Wow. This book was such a ride. I love Joey's growing role in Evan's missions, and their relationship continuing to grow and evolve. It was just beautiful to watch. And this mission requires both of them, and hits harder for Evan as he sees the pain this world can inflict on women. Anca was such a beautiful soul, it was heartbreaking to see her journey but also so inspiring how she fights through the pain in her own way.

This book wasn't an easy read due to the difficult topics, but it was so good. I couldn't put it down.

Evan Smoak is back with a new case. Only this time, the person needing help doesn’t want Evan to kill. He ends up tracking a woman that disappeared from a New York subway. He travels coast to coast to find the men who did unspeakable things. Warning to readers: there are some chapters that may not set well with you. Still a great story and classic Evan with even more character development.

Right-wing agitprop. It always was, of course, but it can’t be accidental that Hurwitz chooses this horrifying political moment to make it explicit. Shameful. And of course Greaney got there first.

I’ve read most of the Orphan X books, and I have to say—this one might be my favorite. Evan Smoak is such a layered character, and Antihero really brings out his depth. We always get glimpses of his softer side, but this book showed it in a way that hit harder than the others.

The villains? Dark. Twisted. Awful. And of course, Evan’s got his main mission, plus a couple of side ones. But the heart of this story is his work with Anca—a woman who’s been through something terrible. Helping her brings out a more vulnerable Evan, and I loved seeing that side of him.

Joey continues to be one of my favorite characters. Her relationship with Evan is just so good—it shows how much he truly cares. She’s more involved in the missions this time, and it made their dynamic even better.

Only downside for me? I missed Mia and Peter. They show up later in the book, and I wish we’d gotten more time with them. Evan’s bond with them adds so much warmth.

Bottom line: this action-packed thriller has heart, and it’s a must-read.

Thanks to @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Anticipated publication date: February 10, 2026

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

A mistaken identity attack in an East Los Angeles bodega leaves fifteen-year-old Lesandro Candella beaten and running for his life. A close encounter with a Ford F-150 allows his pursuers, members of the vicious Trinitarios gang, to catch up with him.

But the gang members are in for an unexpected discovery: Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X, aka the Nowhere Man, is the driver of the truck . . . and now Lesandro’s rescuer. After calling the authorities and making swift work of disabling the five gang members, Orphan X vanishes.

It isn’t long before Evan finds himself caught up in the case of Anca Dumitrescu, victim of a vicious gang assault. But she’s exacted a promise from Evan: he will find her attackers, but there will be no vengeance; he will not kill them.

Can Evan find justice for Anca and, as she’s insisted, find a way to equate his justice with mercy?

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Although “Antihero” is the eleventh in the author’s Orphan X series, the book has sufficient backstory to be read as a standalone for readers new to the series. Strong characters populate the telling of this often-disturbing but compelling tale, bringing readers everything they’ve come to expect to find in an Orphan X story.

Grabbing readers from the outset, the unfolding story keeps readers guessing as Evan finds himself struggling with a new experience: feelings. Throughout the story, readers are pulled into the eternal struggle between good and evil as the unfolding events lay out both the best and the worst of humanity. Readers will struggle along with Evan with the depravity of Anca’s attackers; they will chuckle as Evan tries to deal with Joey’s desire to be taken more seriously.

Readers who enjoy an action-packed thriller with unexpected revelations, intelligence, emotion, suspense, a story filled with characters to care about will find much to appreciate in this unputdownable tale of challenges and triumphs.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#Antihero #NetGalley

Gregg Hurwitz brings us the next book in the Orphan X series, AntiHero, and it delivers. The book kicks off shortly after the last one ends. Orphan X, Evan Smoak, finds himself looking for someone to help, someone to call to continue his life mission. After a frantic call from Luke Devine gets Evan to go visit him, he finds out not only is he going crazy, but a female tells him the story of a woman who needs his help. Using his experience and technology from Luke, he uncovers the identity of the woman and the tragic events that have fallen on her. Using his skills and the help of Joey and Candy, they hunt down the perpetrators and make them suffer for their crimes. All the while, Orphan X struggles with his humanity and the new sensation of feeling.
The way Gregg Hurwitz writes is all-consuming, bringing the reader into the story. He pulls you into the scenes and makes you feel for his characters. The dialogue is amazing, showcasing the different types of characters. His story flows, never leaving the reader with a fill-in chapter. Everything has a purpose. I would highly recommend this book, as well as others in the series
Thank you to Netgalley, Gregg Hurwitz, St Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read the advanced copy.

Gregg Hurwitz does it again with the next installment in the Orphan X series. Another spectacular story involving everyone’s favorite Orphan, Evan Smoak. This time, Evan needs to use all his cunning and Joey’s tech savviness to uncover a horrific attack against a woman on the subway. After a mental breakdown by Luke Devine, they use all his resources to find the unknown woman and the individuals who brought her the trauma. Evan follows his commandments to bring justice for the woman in the way only Orphan X can, while also gaining his humanity.
This book continues the fluidity of the series, picking up where the last one ends. Gregg Hurwitz does an amazing job keeping the reader engaged with his snappy word choice and great descriptions. There was not a word wasted in the novel; every scene had a purpose, and once again, he made you cheer for the unorthodox hero. As a fan who has read all this series, I highly recommend this book for anyone who has already read the books, but also anyone looking for something new. The book still works as a standalone, and I believe that after finishing it, you will want to read the rest. A great read that I would highly recommend to others.
Thank you to Netgalley, Gregg Hurwitz, St Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read the advanced copy.

Evan Smoak, also known as Orphan X and the Nowhere Man, is back in rare form as he’s called in by Luke Devine, a man he’s dealt with in the past who wields enormous power and wealth, to rescue him as he has fallen recklessly out of control due to both stimulant overdosing and a tyrannical rage. Luke has also summoned Orphan X to help a haunted young woman he’s hired for sex who witnessed, but failed to do anything to prevent, an epileptic young woman being kidnapped by a gang of teens off a subway car while in an epileptic episode.

Orphan X has both to wrest control from Luke as well as go on a hunt for the kidnapped girl. He brings along Josphine, a teen Orphan from the government assassination program that trained him, and who’s he informally adopted as a kind of niece. Orphan X needs her brilliant tech skills alongside him, but it’s the first time she’s been out in the field and that he has brought her along on one of his missions. He’s wary of both bringing her into Luke’s world of danger and exposing her to both sexual abuse the teens have perpetrated in order to sell views on porn sites.

In searching for the kidnapped girl, Evan relies on Josephine to tap into both Luke’s elaborate computer spy network and leverage his extensive personal connections with people in power. When he finally located the girl, she asks something of him in tracking down her assailants that confounds him. She’s very religious and thus it’s critical to her that Evan show mercy and not to kill them. Evan, who usually does away with the bad guys, has to pivot strategically to honor her request while also dealing with danger on all sides.

Fortunately the ever-resourceful Orphan X finds a way to make this work, elegantly and decisively, while hold firm to his moral compass of delivering justice.

An amazing 11th outing for Orphan X by Hurwitz!!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Lots of trigger warnings in the book.

Evan Smoak is back in his eleventh installment of the Orphan X series. Evan is called out to NYC to help Luke Devine, a prior character who is one of the most powerful people in the world, through a psychological crisis. There he learns of a woman with a seizure condition who was gang raped. I enjoyed Evan's emotional growth but the bad guys have gotten so deplorable and brutal it is hard to read.

I have been a huge fan of the NOWHERE MAN series and have enjoyed them all very much. However, ANTIHERO is now my favorite. We get to see a softer side of Evan Smoak emerge and it is so well written, it doesn't divert from his well-trained side at all. I highly recommend the whole series to anyone wanting a wonderful hero with a great story. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have been a fan of Gregg Hurwitz since the 1999 publication of his first novel, “The Tower” Looking back I almost always rated his books around 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Then in 2016, the Orphan X series begin and the 5 star ratings began rolling in.

The first 10 books in the series were all 5 star reviews.

I was fortunate to receive the ARC for “Antihero”, the 11 th book in the series.

It blew me away. I’ve watched Evan Smoak, “The Nowhere Man” evolve over the course of this series but “Antihero” is in another class of thrillers altogether.

Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up all night to finish it.

It redefines the “Thriller” genre and raises it to a new bar.

This book was the definition of “ true thriller”. Thank you Gregg for getting me out of my reading slump. Can’t wait for book 12.

Highly recommend 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Five stars with some reservations. "Antihero" is hands down my favorite book in the series and marks the pinnacle of the series so far. My hesitation stems from the deeply disturbing and unsettling evil of the antagonists. However, these characters lay the groundwork for the profound exploration and deeper understanding of Evan, Josephine, and Candy. Chapter 44 left me shattered with its poignant pain, while Chapters 49 and 50 were equally exceptional. The amplified contrast between humanity's best and worst, and the protagonists' struggle to grapple with the consequences of their choices, is incredibly profound with Hurwitz excelling at dissecting and distilling the essence of human strength in the face of confrontation.

This entire series is just complete perfection.

If you’ve never read an Orphan X book, I highly recommend you do so.

Thank you (times a million) to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Good read

I really like this series. I thought the last book was a little depressing, but this one is back on track. In it, Evan helped a woman who was brutally attacked while she was having a seizure. The attackers filmed the encounter to sell it to an on-line porn site. Lots of really good points were made about people not being willing to help fellow human beings. It also addressed the scourge of porn sites that trade in people enjoying seeing others being hurt and doing the hurting. This book, really the whole series, is not great for someone triggered by that reality. But, for others it is excellent.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of “Antihero” in exchange for an honest review.

Thankfully it is that time of the year again, with the release of a brand new Orphan X entry. As always, the best thriller series going today does not disappoint. This time around, Evan gets called out to Long Island to meet with his powerful frenemy, Luke Devine. Here, he is made aware of a woman who is missing and may be in trouble. Evan (with the usual invaluable assistance from his newly promoted sidekick, Joey) eventually tracks the missing woman down, but learns that she has been sexually assaulted in a heinous manner. Evan seeks out those responsible, with the caveat that he has made a promise not to kill them…..a difficult promise to keep given the abhorrent nature of their crimes.

This is yet another briskly paced, exciting, amusing, surprisingly moving, and supremely entertaining addition to this excellent series. Highly recommended.

Five stars.

I was given an early copy of Antihero from NetGalley for an honest review.

We see Evan fly out to New York to assist Luke Devine and once there, he quickly learns of a mysterious girl in trouble. Joey, for the first time, is in the field with Evan and because of the nature of the mission, really throws Evan and impacts him.

The mysterious girl, Anca, seems to impact Evan more than previous missions. For the first time, he is not abiding by a couple of his Commandments. His personality seems to be forced to change even more than in the past during this mission. He has to examine how he acts and we see him catching himself more than once, examining how he needs to act for the best outcome.

Throughout this, his phone is still ringing for help. Thankfully, these are quickly resolved and he is able to refocus again.

I struggled with this novel, only because of the nature of Anca's attack. I loved seeing how Evan was affected. I enjoyed how he was willing to change, to adapt, to be kind to her. We see a gentler side of Evan.

And even amidst all of that, we still see Evan being Orphan X. Recognizing threats and acting to alleviate the threat.
Without ginving a spoiler, the scene with Dirty Pete was written so well. How Evan was feeling, how he adjusted, how he fought, grabbed me and did not let go.

If this is not your first Orphan X novel, you will appreciate that there are many characters from past stories that make appearances. You will really appreciate the growth of Orphan X and I look forward to seeing how this changes him in the next story.

Just when you think the author can't top the last book, he puts out another banger! This one was one of my favorites. I love how X continues to have more "real" feelings and enjoy seeing how he learns how to process them. I'm also intrigued by his ever evolving relationship with Joey, and really all the women in his life. Watching X learn how to be a person is very entertaining. After finishing this one, I wonder if X will continue down the road to discovering more humanity or will something else bring him back to the X of old? I can't wait to find out and eagerly await the next in the series!

Thanks to St.Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Net Galley for this ARC! #antihero #netgalley

I love this series, and this was another great story.

Plot: Evan, a.k.a. the Nowhere Man, is called on to help a woman who was gang-raped. That impacts how he deals with Joey, the 17-year-old he treats like a daughter, and who's starting to grow up. He's also been called in to deal with Luke Devine, who has a good hand in controlling everything in the world and is trying not to explode it, and he's trying to see if he can go on a normal date with a woman he likes.

In other words, lots of action, but well-balanced with the emotional side of things. It's also intelligently written, with some lyrical prose that makes it a joy to read.

As usual, you feel like you're in an action film following Evan around while he takes care of the bad guys. It's formulaic, but in the best way, with a lot of detail that makes it stand out. Evan is like Batman, but much more realistic; he's not a superhero, but it feels like he is. It's hard to put this book down as you sit on the edge of your seat waiting to see how Evan finds the perpetrators and takes them down. I would point out that the bad guys here were really depraved, and it wasn't easy to read about their exploits.

Highly recommended if you love a fast-paced action story and a sensitive hero mixed with excellent writing and plotting.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Gregg Hurwitz for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.