Review by Booklist Review
In 2016's Orphan X, Hurwitz introduced Evan Smoak, the former assassin for the U.S. government who left the top-secret program, took on a new identity, and dedicated himself to helping those who had nowhere else to turn. But his past didn't stay in the past. Now, in the tenth novel in the series, he has his sights set on an old friend. He doesn't want to, but he has to: Evan Smoak is a man of principles, and he will not allow anyone to violate them, for any reason. Early on in his career, Hurwitz built himself a loyal following with a succession of thrillers--mostly stand-alones--that showcased his gifts for action and character design. Evan is by far Hurwitz's most complex protagonist, a trained killer who would prefer never to have to kill again, a loner who's learning to cultivate friendships, a man who's loyal to the people who are loyal to him, and an unwavering enemy to those who cross him. This series shows no signs of slowing down.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Hurwitz's boilerplate 10th thriller featuring master assassin Evan Smoak (after Lone Wolf) offers more of the same--for better and worse. Smoak's traumatic youth, during which he was plucked from foster care at 12 by the U.S. Department of Defense and trained as "an expendable human weapon," set him up for a friendless adulthood. In his work as a private mercenary, however, he established a close connection with arms manufacturer Tommy Stojack. Their bond is threatened when Smoak learns that Stojack sold weapons to the Wolf, Smoak's nemesis, who used Stojack's artillery to try to assassinate Smoak. Devastated, Smoak tells Stojack that he's crossed a red line, setting the stage for a duel to the death the next time they meet. Their impending confrontation is complicated by the arrival of hit men, whose motivations and employer remain obscure, though they seem to be targeting Stojack, or somebody close to him. Hurwitz delivers serviceable action and a few surprises, but stilted prose ("If morning dawned again, it would dawn on the vast, great, true resonant promise of a future that was anyone's to force") and an air of resignation bring this down. It's strictly for the series' most dedicated fans. (Feb.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When the Nowhere Man is betrayed by his closest friend, the fallout is catastrophic. A dense but concise prologue sets the table for Hurwitz's 10th crackerjack Orphan X thriller. Fifteen years ago, Evan Smoak, "a throwaway child" trained as a ruthless killer via the top-secret Orphan Program, found an unexpected friend and something of a lifeline in Tommy Stojack, gunrunner and former Green Beret. Evan, once known as Orphan X, has left the program and is now the Nowhere Man, a freelance hunter who's being hunted himself. Tommy's complicity in multiple crimes, which violates Evan's personal code, makes a fatal showdown inevitable but thankfully long in coming. As the narrative jumps between Evan and Tommy, Hurwitz's snappy dialogue, propulsive prose, and larger-than-life characters consistently delight. In preparation for the culminating moment of truth are multiple episodes that introduce a rogue's gallery of miscreants, some from previous installments. For the most part, the villains are accompanied by attendant backstories, keeping even new readers in the loop. Notable nasties include the duos Hick and Red and Janus and Sir Rubin and the hulking Delmont Hickenlooper Jr. Hurwitz's Orphan X world is as sprawling and entertainingly populated as George Miller's Mad Max universe. Series fans will especially welcome the return of Orphan handler Jack Johns, wily octogenarian Ida Rosenbaum, and mentor Joey Morales. As it turns out,The Last Orphan (2023) fortunately wasn't. To quote the iconoclastic Evan, "What a mess intimacy was." The Orphan X world thrillingly expands with another wildly inventive episode. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
