I wonder if this is the last book in the Orphan X series. My money is on the last but one as there are several changes in Evan Smoak that suggest he is finding it harder to keep the human side of him shut out, he is a bit Jason Bourne-ish in character. He has also made a few errors, missing a shot for one example, but being caught by government operatives being the biggest, that also make him more human.

Smoak is the result of a program that he started when he wask taken out of an orphanage and put through a series of tests and training that created a flawless killer and then used by the government as a human weapon. The book starts with two seemingly disparate stories.

Story number one is based around Johnny Seabrook, a happy-go-lucky young man living on his looks and always ready to party. He attends one of Luke Devine's parties and ends up dead alongside a young woman.

Meanwhile, government agents are tracking down Smoak at the request of the president and her request will be that he is pardonned if he gets rid of Luke Devine. Smoak eventually finds a link between the two young people who were killed and Luke Devine and so takes the request to kill him. Devine is, however, a dark version of Smoak, although he operates in different ways and seems to be one step ahead of him.

Although a lone wolf, Smoak needs the help of several friends for this task and it is here that I think you can sense the ending of this series. Smoak needs to call on them much more and his techy, Joey a sixteen year old girl who has been through similar things to Smoak, needs him to help her emotionally.

These books aren't meant to deal with the big themes of the day, but it does touch on how the wealthy are treated and the links between companies and the military, always a murky area. What is not missed out of the book though are the fights, the violence and general thrillerness of this genre and so I thoroughly enjoyed it and will miss the series if it is to come to an end.
It turns out there is a book due to be released in 2024 - Lone Wolf - so this is not the last. ( )

I like these Orphan X books although I don't think they are perfect. Mostly I like heroes who are Bond-style indestructible and infallible and Evan Smoak fits the description. Although Evan has been trained to work alone, it's impossible to be invisible and alone in the real world and in the course of maintaining a pretend normal life, Evan has met Mia and her son Peter who live in his building and he has begun to care for them. This leads to him being captured by the spooky government services and coerced into working for them again. The moral pivot of the book is whether Evan will carry out assassinations just because he's told to.

This may not be the strongest Orphan X book but it moves along quickly and moves Evan's story forward.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley. ( )

Have read all orphan novels. After this was hoping that this had been the Last one. About time to end the story in a positive (a new life for Evan) or some more tragic way. ( )

Evan has slipped up, made a mistake and he has been captured. He is now back in government custody. And it comes with a price. He is offered an ultimatum. He must take out a powerful, dangerous man. The president does not care what it costs Evan. This man must go!

Evan is a conundrum. He has been from the beginning of this series. He is freaking tough and will kill at a drop of a hat. But, he has one of the softest hearts! Heck…I am more than halfway in love with him!

This story has everything you would expect from an orphan X novel….intensity, fear and definitely drama. I do not see how this has not been picked up for television or a movie!

This is one of my all time favorite series. I have read every one! But, I do prefer to listen to them. Scott Brick is one of my favorite narrators of all time. And he IS ABSOLUTELY Orphan X!

Need a fabulous thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

I loved this book, but maybe I'm biased. I love ALL the Orphan X books. In fact, I just sent the first one to my mother-in-law after reading this one because she has to start reading this series too.

Orphan X/Evan Smoak/Nowhere Man is a decommissioned government trained assassin from the now defunct Orphan program. Thankfully his handler/trainer was able to train him to be deadly but keep some strain of what made him human. Now he tries to stay off the government's radar, as they would like nothing more than to erase him, he uses his talents to help those who know one else can help.

However, in this installment it's the government who brings him in (following an amazing action scene!!) and want to use his talents again. However, he has a moral code that he will not abandon and their target does not meet that criteria. BUT, there is something there that he can not go by unchecked. And the Orphan X is back on his game. Most of the regular characters play their roles as well: sexy but deadly, Orphan V, almost Orphan/teenage hacker Joey (my favorite), weapons expert, Tommy Stojack, and Vera II (or is it III?) his plant. There is lots of action, violence, spy craft, vodka and comedy (Evan is a complicated guy).

I highly recommend starting at the beginning for this series. This one would be a tough one to jump in on without a lot of background as his history and the growth of his relationships with those in his inner circle. But you won't regret those first 7 as this is a fantastic series and should be fully absorbed. And besides this one isn't out until February 14, 2023 so start now and get a head start.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )