The Last Orphan

Orphan X #8

by Gregg Hurwitz

Evan Smoak returns in The Last Orphan , the next New York Times bestselling Orphan X thriller--when everything changes and everything is at risk.

As a child, Evan Smoak was plucked out of a group home, raised and trained as an off-the-books assassin for the government as part of the Orphan program. When he broke with the program and went deep underground, he left with a lot of secrets in his head that the government would do anything to make sure never got out.

When he remade himself as The Nowhere Man, dedicated to helping the most desperate in their times of trouble, Evan found himself slowly back on the government's radar. Having eliminated most of the Orphans in the program, the government will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat they see in Evan. But Orphan X has always been several steps ahead of his pursuers.

Until he makes one little mistake...

Now the President has him in her control and offers Evan a deal - eliminate a rich, powerful man she says is too dangerous to live and, in turn, she'll let Evan survive. But when Evan left the Program he swore to only use his skills against those who really deserve it. Now he has to decide what's more important - his principles or his life.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Action, Suspense

352 pages, Hardcover

First published February 14, 2023

About the author

Gregg Hurwitz is the critically acclaimed, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 20 novels, including OUT OF THE DARK (2019). His novels have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 30 languages.

He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOLY SMOAK!

Our lovable assassin is backkkk! Evan Smoak is most likely the only assassin who makes me feel warm and fuzzy. 🐻🥰

Taken from an orphanage at twelve, Evan entered a government's covert "Orphan" program trained to kill America's enemies. Evan's fortunate to have a handler who is like a father figure who trained him into a lethal killing machine but also taught him moral codes.

I feel that Orphan X must be one of the coolest assassins out there. (Someone, please make a TV series!!) X is doing his thing once again, helping those who need help through his 1-855-2-NOWHERE helpline. But not before he himself was in a hairy situation after being cornered to do yet another work for the POTUS. A complex situation. Would Evan break his ten commandments in exchange for freedom?

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!

I'm telling you if you enjoy thrillers/action thrillers with superb and complex characters and haven't tried Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X series, YOU. ARE. MISSING. OUT.

Orphan X is fun to read or listen to. The audio is narrated by Scott Brick and is top-notch including an exclusive author's interview with Lisa Gardner giving fascinating insights into the making and background of the series.

Thank you, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio. This is a book that's great in either format I highly recommend it!
Published Feb 14, 2023

[Holly B ( slowly catching up) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan Smoak is back in book #8 of the Orphan X series!

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.

So many of the beloved characters from the series are back, Even Orphan V!

As always the adventure is over-the-top, hair-raising and lively. X has a close call in this one and I found myself saying, "Nooooo, no, no..........." but his skills are worthy. He cats and mouses around with the baddie as he tries to assess his character. Is he truly evil or is he motivated by something else?

Evan is always stocked with the best caliber of vodka, is savior of the desperate and lost, and always wears the white hat!

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.

Wowza, what a cliffy hanger at the end! Now, the wait....

Thanks to Netgalley for my arc. OUT February 14, 2023

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 8 in this series and the only one that I have read. While there were references to events in the previous books, it worked for me as a stand alone.
Evan Smoak was an orphan who was trained to be a killer by a secret U.S. government program. He left the program and has been helping people who are being oppressed, including killing bad guys.
Then the government captures him and demands that he stop a sinister, shadowy figure who may ruin a cherished Presidential project.
But there are other reasons why he decides to investigate. How he manages to resolve these issues makes for an engaging read. I read it in 2 days.
Thanks to St.Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 8 of the Orphan X series.

After all his sacrifices can Evan finally win his freedom? Or will the government always have some control over his life?

Yet another great addition to a favorite series of mine. I love Evan’s character. Raised from childhood to become something of a one-man special ops mercenary. On the flip side, he has such a soft heart for those he begrudgingly allows into his inner circle.

Gregg Hurwitz has created a character that will appeal to virtually everyone! Men want to be him…and the women? Well, who wouldn’t want to date this soft-spoken warrior?

I loved Joey's character in this book…one day maybe she’ll assume a bigger role? Perhaps a spin-off series?💁‍♀️

As for Evan and Mia? No spoilers here. To discover her fate you’ll just have to read this installment! ❤️or💔 (You’re welcome!)

I read this book a few months back with Susanne and somehow my review got lost along the way.
Anyhoo….take two!😜

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The eighth book in the series and much better than number seven, thank goodness. From the title which uses the word 'last' and the return to the obsession with vodka (like the first book) I wondered if this was going to be the final book in the series, but it ends in a cliff hanger so........maybe not.

The Last Orphan picks up where the previous book left off. Evan is still living off the grid, knowing that the authorities are looking for him. Unfortunately his love for Mia and Peter lands him in the worst possible situation, and the rest of the book is about how he attempts to get out of it. The action is tense with lots of violence, but also with love and some humour to lift things up.

The author has developed Evan's character in every book and now it seems he is fearful of losing his edge. There is quite a lot of self doubt and more reaching out to others to help him. I enjoyed the strong parts played by Joey and Orphan V.

Altogether a very readable book which I raced through in one afternoon. Please keep them coming Mr. Hurwitz!

[Theresa Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved this series from the start, and this eighth installment is no different. If you’re a fan of Evan Smoak, you’ll remember that when he was a 12-year-old pipsqueak, he was plucked from an orphanage and trained to be a killing machine, learning all manner of fighting techniques, tactical evasions, and extensive use of weaponry so he could grow up to be an unofficial assassin for the U.S. government. Eventually he broke free and went deep underground, transforming himself into the Nowhere Man, a way he could use his skills to help people in dire need. The government was not happy about this career change and would do anything to stop him.

Though he managed to stay under the radar for a while, the government has found him and given him an ultimatum: Kill a powerful man of face the consequences. Evan has a code to only kill if the person really deserves such a fate, so he investigates this man and finds a great deal of corruption that requires him to use his fighting skills. Hurwitz goes into a lot of detail about these hand-to-hand combat sequences. Now that Evan is a little older, he feels he’s just a little less sharp than he used to be. Maybe because of his age, his knowledge of technology isn’t the greatest, so he relies on his 16-year-old ally Joey, who we met in book three. She’s such a great character and foil to Evan. Other members with unique skills also reappear in this book to help out.

TRIGGER WARNING: One of the bad guys in this rapes women at every opportunity. There isn’t a ton of detail about his villainous acts, but it’s more than I needed.

Except for that cringe-inducing character, this is great escapist fun. NetGalley provided an advance of this novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 14, 2023.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated 2.11.23 to include notes on the audiobook edition.

Even though I received a digital ARC of this book and read it at the end of 2022, I felt this uncontrollable urge to listen to the audiobook as well. For me, Scott Brick is Evan's voice. I needed to HEAR his voice, especially for his scenes with Joey. I was nearly brought to tears when I read the book, but when I LISTENED to the book, I actually did cry. Mr. Brick just kills it when he's performing Orphan X and that's all there is to it, period. As a result, I gave the audio 5 black, smoking stars, for the wreckage that X often leaves behind.
*Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the digital audio download in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*


Admittedly, I have become an Orphan X addict, almost against my will. A new Orphan X book became available on NetGalley and any reservations I might have had went out the window. Now I say unashamedly, My name is Char and I'm an Orphan X addict.

Accidentally having listened to the 7th book in the series before reading the rest, I liked it but some of the characters annoyed me. I was interested in those characters enough to start a proper read of the previous novels, via the audios narrated by Scott Brick. As Ray Porter is the voice of Joe Ledger to me, Scott Brick is the voice of Evan Smoak aka Orphan X.

As I progressed through the series I became more and more invested in these characters, and this installment plays upon those feelings. X is finally caught, and now, instead of the promised retaliation from his captors, he is given an impossible task. Will X's commitment to his personal moral code be sorely tested? Yes. Will he emerge triumphant? You'll have to read this to find out!

For me, the plot here felt a bit worn, but the scenes with the main villain were fascinating. It's been a long time since X sat with someone face to face like this, where X wasn't extraordinarily secured, and rightfully so. I also felt that in this volume, the relationship between Joey Morales and Evan went to a deep familial connection heretofore unreached and I AM HERE FOR IT. It's odd to me that it was this very relationship that I was annoyed by in my first, (but what was really the 7th), Orphan X book, that I now love the most. Yes, X has had a few relationships where he was accessible and even maybe vulnerable, but there's a scene here, well...if you don't at least tear up I don't want to know you.

I had some trepidation that I may not like reading this novel, rather than listening, as I have all the others. I need not have worried. I read Evan's dialogue in Scott Brick's voice in my head, (LOL, but really) and I enjoyed reading this just as much, if not more than I would have had I listened.

Because the depth of the characters was really expanded here, and in a direction I loved it to go, I gave this four stars, even though the plot was a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, the action and the planning on X's part are all here, but I found the denouement kind of frustrating. After that though, the final sentences have me feeling ASTRONOMICAL excitement as to what happens next!

"Ask yourself the question: Do I look afraid?"

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

[Marialyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orphan lovers gear up for Evan is back with more spine crunching thrills and chills. Evan is once again a man on the government's list and is to be found and detained as quickly as they can. Of course, the government has a reason for their once again interest in Orphan X.

When he is captured, the president offers him a deal, and that is to eliminate a powerful ultra wealthy man and the action and Even moves to the very rich sands of Southampton, New York. Evan through his wills and of course with a little help from his friends (hi Joey, Dog, and Orphan V), get into the high tech ultra guarded mansion and meets this man who becomes his nemesis. On the way there are a few scuffles with henchmen of course! Orphan X's mantra of doing no harm, unless a person deserves punishment, is put to the test in this one.

In this installment, Even starts to view himself as growing older and perhaps not the killing machine he once was. We also see his growing attachment for Joey and hers for him. They try to hide it but they are starting to feel hope that a loving relationship is developing. I want to see where Mr Hurwitz takes us next on this perilous journey with Evan Smoek.

Thanks Gregg Hurwitz, always excited to read a new Orphan book, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this exciting story.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everyone writes a clinker now and then. For Hurwitz' Nowhere Man this is a nowhere story. If there's a sound, cohesive connection here, I failed to discover it. 2 of 10 stars

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent installment in the series. I put this review off for a little bit because I wans't sure what I wanted to say about it. I love this series. I always wonder what will happen next and in this one I was a little surprised, in a good way, with part of the ending.

I enjoy Hurwitz's writing and I am really glad that he didn't try to continue to make the situations Orphan X finds himself in get progressively worse. Honestly, I think he hit a peak with the targeting, explosive bugs and more than that would have caused the series to start to get too unbelievable. In this one, X finds himself in sticky situations, but we are starting to see more reliance on others, slight signs of aging, and introspection on relationships. This gives X more depth and adds a touch of realism to the story as well. Don't worry; it's still full of crazy action scenes and all that brings to the series as well.

I did have a couple of minor issues with the story. First, I'm starting to like Joey less and less. I find her to be grating. She is getting older, but acts less mature and more whiny. I'm hoping that she has a breakthrough soon because otherwise I feel like her emotions are going to cause her to have a breakdown soon. Second, I don't want to hear any more women say things like, "As a liberated woman, I should (or I think..., etc)." Liberated (or progressive, etc) women don't generally refer to themselves as such and more than one woman did this in the story. It gives the feeling of a man trying to write a strong woman from a woman's perspective, which it is, but it shouldn't read that way.

I love that Hurwitz is including Candy and others in the series. I like to see this network of independent people forming deeper relationships and depending on each other.

Once again, I listened to Scott Brick narrate the book. He is just amazing and I can't read a physical Orphan X book now without hearing his voice.

Also once again, I can't wait to read the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with complimentary electronic copies of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I can't wait for this one! I love this series!

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan Smoak (Orphan X) is Back!

This time, the President demands his help, and she's not exactly asking. The President would like his help eliminating someone with connections whose agenda differs from her own. Evan however, has something else in mind.

Evan, Joey, and Orphan V investigate. As the body count rises, so does the tension.

Can Evan save everyone who is in harm's way and save himself in the process? Time will tell.

I loved the fact that Joey, Dog, and Orphan V were featured and have hope that a romance will brew between Orphan X and Orphan V (sorry to all the Evan and Mia fans out there!)

Another fabulous installment in the Orphan X series that kept both Kaceey and me on our toes! So grateful that Kaceey and I have read this entire series together!

Thanks to Minotaur Books via NetGalley for the arc.

[Terence M - [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] · Rating 5 out of 5]

5_Stars - "It Was Amazing!"
The Last Orphan (Orphan X, #8)
Such an excellent "Orphan X" audiobook!
My enthusiasm for Evan Smoak waned a little after "Dark Horse, (Orphan x, #7)", disappointed me to the extent that my rating of 4_Stars was my first "non-5_Stars" rating for an Orphan X series book.

A proper review will surface just as soon as I can get it done!

[Donne · Rating 5 out of 5]

HE”S BAAACCCKKK!!!!! Yep, Evan Smoak is back on the hunt! I was so excited to get this eARC for the newest installment of Orphan X. The gangs all back too, Joey, Dog, Tommy, Mia, Peter, Orphan V as well as Agent Templeton, who is STILL trying to capture Evan. This time she does capture her man, briefly😊

The book summary pretty much lays out the first part of the story, that picks up shortly after the last one. Mia is in Cedar Sinai and has just come out of her coma, and Agent Templeton had several military commando teams waiting for Evan at the hospital as he tries to go and visit Mia. In a moment rarely ever seen by X fans, Evan makes a mistake, a mistake that he is dumbfounded that he made, one that led him to be captured. However, in typical Evan manner, the containment, at the Beverly Hills Hotel, is brief, and Evan is rescued by none other than Orphan V, a woman that Evan once tried to kill, but now they’re allies (a whole other story).

During his brief containment, Templeton and the President pretty much order Evan to get rid of a problem of theirs. While Evan agreed to help them, he told them he would do it in his own way without their interference. Shortly, thereafter he escapes and proceeds to do what he promised he would do. The rest of the story revolves around Evan and his crew proceeding with the new assignment, in their typical covert, quasi black ops manner: Joey, hacking any site they need info from, Tommy, supplying anything and everything that requires any kind of weaponization for the job, and Aragón Urrea (a whole other story), taking care of all the air travel. None of this is a spoiler since it’s all revealed pretty early in the story.

However, there is a secondary storyline that comes up in the second half of the story that allows Evan to step back into his Nowhere Man role: Evan helping someone who needs his brand of help. This is something that Evan agreed to stop doing in the last book when the President gave him a conditional pardon (a whole other story). So, while Evan is working his assignment for the President, he is also working on a new Nowhere Man assignment. These two assignments provide all kinds of trouble for the “bad guys” and for them to come after Evan and for Evan to utilize his bad@$$ Orphan X training and skills to put them down. For anyone who hasn’t read the previous series installments, when Evan is in Orphan X/Nowhere Man mode, he’s like Dirty Harry/Die Hard/Superman dangerous. Eventually, the two storylines begin to merge, which puts Evan in a position that he wasn’t trained to do, something that he has only learned recently to do, and it troubles him. I loved the very end, made my eyes feel a little watery😊

One of the things that I love about this series is the way that Evan’s emotional growth has evolved over time. Evan is a VERY complicated and deeply flawed man. However, throughout the series, Evan has allowed people into his life and over time, he has allowed them to get to know him and it has irrevocably changed him and his life – and he’s ok with that (I think).

Personally, I don’t think any of the series books should be read as a standalone. In just this one review, there are so many things that a reader, who had not read the previous books, would not know, or understand about Evan, his crew or any of the previous events in his life to make him the character that he is. At this point in the series, it's not even about the action-packed, fast-paced missions anymore (at least for me). Don't get me wrong, I still love all the crazy $#!^ that Hurwitz puts Evan through in every mission/book - LOVE THAT STUFF!!! However, I also love all the personal and emotional stuff that Hurwitz has put Evan through. I look forward to hopefully more of that. Hurwitz is an incredible writer and an amazing storyteller, and while he does provide some additional background in every book, it simply isn’t enough to understand “who” Evan is and why he does what he does. JMHO😊

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

@NetGalley @St Martin’sPress @MacmillanAudio @TheLastOrphan

[Lisa Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge Orphan X fan, as in count down the days to the next release. This latest addition doesn’t disappoint and including Candy, made me so happy. Orphan X may think of himself of a loner, but his tight inner circle are some of the most interesting (and possibly homicidal) people around.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wickedly paced and perhaps my favourite so far. Just a great series which is not seeming to let up at all.

There have been so many books and reviews on this series so I think it is safe to say that most know Orphan X ceased working as a government sanctioned hit man. Due to all the atrocities he committed on behalf of his government he has decided to put his skill to use in that he is for hire for those who are truly desperate and facing some type of evil in their lives. His persona for this vigilante is The Nowhere Man.

This book seems to go back to its roots. Chapter one is titled Hold my Vodka. I should mention that X is a vodka aficionado. The author Gregg Hurwitz does a great job in providing details of a fine Vodka. I actually picked up a new brand as I knew I would be reading this. Yet in the last few books Hurwitz was kind of light on the vodka aspect. I was glad to see he started his book this way and he even ventures later in the book to some rare and exquisite Chernobyl vodka with just a hint of radiation to boot, lmao! The way he does all this is quite natural and just a fun aspect of the series. I am not even a vodka fan and I thoroughly enjoy this aspect of the series.

Off of the previous book X's love interest is in a coma in the hospital. Her son Peter has a special bond with X. Her son Peter is tenish I believe. Also X is on the lamb running from the government. He was given an ultimatum to stop his vigilante style work but he broke that deal. He actually spoke to the president directly re all this. So they are now after him. When X gets a message that Mia is out of the coma X is dying to visit her. He also knows the risks of being out and about. The visit to the hospital is a great chase scene. X visits, notices things aren't right and the fight with the govt agents ensues. It is a great ride and very well paced and action packed. Yet X is caught and that never happens.

So the real reason X is approached is that their is an ego maniac who has extreme, extreme wealth and power. Luke Devine is made out to be a monster by the president when she speaks to X. Devine throws outrageous parties where key politicians and other influential people are exposed to alcohol, drugs and women. The things that take place at these parties are crazy and everything is captured by Devine on cctv footage and with that footage he controls the individuals who he needs to control/blackmail. The president is offering X another pardon meaning forgiveness for breaking his deal. The president wants X to eradicate Devine and once done X is to cease his vigilante ways again. So its a deal with a catch in the presidents favour both ways - dealing with Devine and then having the Nowhere Man cease his activities......................hmmm

X is torn re the offer. He is also torn about being captured and put in this position. He blames himself. He missed a 20 foot shot that should have been taken for granted. He failed himself and now doubt is all in his mind. Is he ageing, is he slipping? How the hell did he let himself get caught? Again Hurwitz plays on this throughout the book and does a great job of X doubting himself as well as his key friends fearing he may be slipping.

As the proposed mission looms X has some inner turmoil. Luke Devine has done nothing to him. X could care less about govt and its workings and the blackmail and such involved. However, X becomes aware of a murder at Devine's house and the guys sister is pleading for help advising the murder was buried by authorities which fits right in to the kind of power Devine has. He can make things go away.

Devine is quite the character and one of the key paragraphs describing him so transfixed itself to the way I am that as soon as I read it that paragraph alone was worth a five star rating, lol. X also recognizes him as a different type of adversary and the two eventually engage with Devine wanting X on his team. Devine makes a very compelling argument.

So does X take out Devine? Well I am not giving that away but suffice it to say that Devine has one of the best security details in the world as he can afford it. He has X type people employed for him and that sets up a great stage for X and Hurwitz to deal with.

Again the pace of the book was fast. The writing clean and extremely well done. So much action, quite a few twists. An easy read and an easy five stars. Keep X coming Greg Hurwitz, keep X coming!! I know I am one behind so I do have another to get too and so look forward to it!!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evan Smoak aka Orphan x is kidnapped by President Victoria Donahue-Carr and offers Evan a deal. Eliminate a powerful man she thinks is a danger to her own re-election and to the world and in exchange she'll let Evan live and restore his full pardon.
But Evan has his own moral compass and he holds those standards very high.
Will Evan take the President's offer and eliminate Luke Devine or does Evan think his principles are more important and let Luke walk away?
This was a bit different from the other books on the series. Evan is starting to show his age. And a lot of soul searching for both Evan and Joey.
Is this the last mission for Evan as the Nowhere Man? The title seems to imply that. If so it will be interesting to see where Gregg Hurwitz takes the series from here.
A good read but not the strongest book in the series. But still recommend the series. 3.5 stars.
Now the wait begins for the next in the series.

[Linda Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Orphan X series with one of my favorite characters, Evan Smoak. This one starts out at a glitzy, glamourous drug party of the rich and famous, ending in a gruesome murder. The action quickly moves to an Icelandic glacier where Evan Smoak has travelled on a holiday for the single purpose of enjoying a rare vodka, distilled to perfection from the simplest of ingredients.

Gregg Hurwitz has created the most exciting character in modern fiction: Evan Smoak, also known as Orphan X or The Nowhere Man. The story is as enthralling as the character. I highly recommend you start with the first in the series, but this one met all my expectations and more.

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Look at me closely. Ask yourself: Do I look scared?" -Evan Smoak

[Jeremy Peers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gregg Hurwitz continues to outdo himself. Like the previous 7 books, The Last Orphan is a topnotch thriller with literally something for everyone. In The Last Orphan we find Evan Smoak (Orphan X) in a bit of a pickle. The President of the United States has given X an ultimatum: assassinate one of the richest men in the world or lose your life. The President says this billionaire is an existential threat, not only to the U.S., globally. X isn't so sure. Taking the threat under advisement, X must choose whether to go against his principles or tell the president to eff off and take his chances.

The Orphan X series is something I look forward to each year. It is also probably the series I have recommended the most. The Last Orphan might not be my favorite Orphan X book but it is close. What started out as an all-out action series that never left off the gas, the Orphan X series has morphed into a kind of character study with intense action strategically placed. Hurwitz has created a series that cannot be pigeonholed into a single genre and appeals to readers across a range of genres. The "personal growth" of Evan (and Joey) is what really propels the story forward and is essential to keep readers engaged. Orphan X is basically a kid learning about social norms, how people interact with one another, and learning to trust and connect emotionally with another human being. A kid who happens to be a world-class ass kicker.

It is this dichotomy, the deadly assassin who has no fear and the man who fears living in normal society , is what makes Orphan X so relatable. Maybe not the world-class assassin part but we have all felt the same fears and trepidation Orphan X is experiencing. Sure, the action and gadgets are cool but the personal and emotional growth of X is the real star of the show. If you've never read an Orphan X book, you are missing out on one helluva show.

My sincere thanks to Gregg Hurwitz, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading a galley of The Last Orphan!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have just read The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz.

This is book number 8 in the An Orphan X Series.

I have read all of the books in this series, and have enjoyed each of them, some a little more than others.

The new book does not disappoint and is an over-the-top action-packed story.

This book has the main character Evan Smoak, who is known as The Nowhere Man under the control of the president

He helps those in desperate situations..

Great book.

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Gregg Hurwitz and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for my advanced copy to read and review!

#NetGalley

[John (JC) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed every Orphan X novel. This one was good but lacked the panache that the prior novels exhibited. I do know if the author is rounding a curve towards the conclusion of this series or if his endeavor was a new approach. The associates of Evan never cease to be entertaining. They are indeed an odd but efficient group, each having their own contributions to his life. It will be interesting to see where Hurwitz goes from here.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of this series since the very start. This one, the 8th, is a bit different. Evan Smoak is beginning to show his age, for one thing. And for another, the tone is different here. Evan is coerced to take on a job not to his liking. Will he follow through for his own self-preservation, or will he adhere to his own personal moral code?

I received an arc of this new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks, as always! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed all the Orphan X stories and his sidekicks. You can always count on lots of action and espionage. 🧐 This book was no exception - high on the thrill factor!

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Cliff Bailey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to think NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book. I have a been avid fan of this author and series since the beginning, I read and reviewed the last book in this series and did not like it very much. But the book ended on a semi cliff hanger with a teaser of the new book that sounded really promising.

I am sorry to say that promise was not kept. I hate to write a bad review, because I do not have the talent to write anything and the effort it must take to do so is something to be envied. This book is really not worth reading.

Spoiler Alert
The Premise is so bad the only word to describe it is Ridiculous. The President sends a huge special ops team to capture Evan Smoke just so that he can Kill lobbyist, Luke Devine. who is trying to stop a trillion-dollar environmental bill that will not do anything for the environment but will get her re-elected.
The Orphan can re-instate his “fake truce” with the President and all he has to do is kill Devine. He is captured by one of the only two honorable characters in the book, the true-blue FBI Agent Naomi Templeton who willingly tosses out her convictions and loyalty to the law to help him kill the lobbyist. The After escaping from her custody his embarks on a completely nonsensible quest to determine if the lobbyist deserves to die or not,
During second half of the book, he enlists Tommy, the wheelchair bound armorer, Orphan V Candy McClure who in the last several books has had a sole mission to hunt down and kill Evam Smoke Orphan X because he caused her to become badly burned while he was trying to escape from her and the other renegade Orphans. He also enlists his protege Joey who can “hack” into any computer network with just a few keystrokes.

After solving a cold case killing at the Lobbyists mansion, he decides that the Lobbyist does not deserve to die but that all of his security details do, so he spends the rest of the book killing them one by one in increasingly gruesome ways.

Throughout the entire book he thinks about his drunken ex rodeo bronc father trying to decide if he wants to track him down or not

There is no real point to the book. I am sorry to say that this will be my last read in this series.

[John Paxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the eighth Orphan X (supposed to stop at 5) this installment was entertaining as expected. However, the plot is now circling back and recycling the President thing and a few other other themes I wont reveal. This is for me the biggest drawback on the series.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Smoaks!! Evan is back!
This was another entertaining, action-packed, high octane installment in the Orphan X series! I loved seeing how much Evan’s changed over time. Not dealing with everything by himself, the support is there ... Joey, Candy (a favorite), and Tommy! Yeah we come up on a cliff-hanger that leaves us tapping our foot but that is what keeps bring us back for another exciting Smoak ride!

Now on the run full force for the US President, he is pushed to carry out an assassination that doesn't really align with how he believes ... his moral compass. Eliminate a powerful person that is extremely dangerous and in turn she will let Evan survive. As he sets out on the mission he feels it to his very core. For Evan, what is more important? The best part about the Orphan books is the action of course ... non stop yet never over the top.
Hold my vodka ...
This book should be at the top of your wish/TBR list!

Special shout to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley ... thank you for the advance digital copy!

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Last Orphan Evan’s pardon has come into question, because as we know, he hasn’t exactly lived up to his end of the bargain he made with the President. If someone calls and asks for help, he’s not the type just to ignore it. Things get dicey for Evan, and I was on the edge of my seat!

I’m always amazed by Evan’s abilities and his talent to prevail even when it looks like he’s up against a no-win situation! Love it when this line comes out: “Look at me closely. And ask yourself: Do I look scared?” I know some much deserved smackdown is about to be served and it puts a smile on my face every time!

I think one of the reasons I love this series so much because justice usually wins out in some form eventually. The baddies get their comeuppance, something I long to see in real life, but don’t always get.

In the past Evan has been mostly on his own, but gradually he’s collected a sort of family, people he cares about and who he can count on. Joey, Tommy, Mia and even (gasp!) Candy! Going from a mostly lonely existence to inadvertently and reluctantly adding these people to his life has been heartwarming!

As usual this “case” wraps up, but I wonder over a new character and how they might play into future stories.

The Last Orphan was full of danger and action, but also laughs and emotional moments! Orphan X has quickly become a favorite series and I eagerly await the next installment!

I listened to the audio version of The Last Orphan, which I highly recommend! Scott Brick’s voice is Evan Smoak to me. His performance of Evan is perfection! I enjoy his other characters voices, as well, and his comedic timing is spot on. I listened at my usual 1.5x-1.75x normal speed.

A copy was kindly provided by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.