* AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “This novel will be remembered as one of the best thrillers of the year.” –Associated Press “A shocking stunner in every way. The perfect thriller.” –Robert Crais When darkness closes in–he’s your last, best hope. Evan Smoak returns in Gregg Hurwitz’s #1 international bestselling Orphan X series in Out of the Dark. Taken from a group home at age … Out of the Dark.
Taken from a group home at age twelve, Evan Smoak was raised and trained as part of the Orphan Program, an off-the-books operation designed to create deniable intelligence assets–i.e. assassins. Evan was Orphan X. He broke with the Program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man, a man who helps the truly desperate when no one else can. But now Evan’s past is catching up to him.
Someone at the very highest level of government has been trying to eliminate every trace of the Orphan Program by killing all the remaining Orphans and their trainers. After Evan’s mentor and the only father he ever knew was killed, he decided to strike back. His target is the man who started the Program and who is now the most heavily guarded person in the world: the President of the United States.
But President Bennett knows that Orphan X is after him and, using weapons of his own, he’s decided to counter-attack. Bennett activates the one man who has the skills and experience to track down and take out Orphan X–the first recruit of the Program, Orphan A.
With Evan devoting all his skills, resources, and intelligence to find a way through the layers of security that surround the President, suddenly he also has to protect himself against the deadliest of opponents. It’s Orphan vs. Orphan with the future of the country–even the world–on the line.
more
Read this book. You’ll thank me later.
A shocking stunner in every way. The perfect thriller.
Seriously, is there a better hero than The Nowhere Man?! This is such a fantastic series – as I’ve gushed in my reviews of the previous books, TNM (aka Evan Smoak) is such a perfect amalgamation of Badass and Everyman that he catapults off the pages of these books. Hurwitz keeps finding new, even more harrowing, situations that demand a particular set of skills that only The Nowhere Man could believably possess. The plots should, by rights, be impossible to buy into – yet somehow, through the particular brand of magic that Hurwitz and this character seem to spin, the tales are not only credible but thoroughly engaging from the opening gambits to the final moves. The action is deeply personal this time (well, as personal as TNM gets) and its resolution changes the game going forward – here’s hoping that there are ever-more seemingly-omnipotent baddies on the horizon that we haven’t met yet, because I for one would be crushed if this was the last novel…
Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy!
Out of the Dark: An Orphan X Novel
(Evan Smoak, Book 4)
by Gregg Hurwitz
Out of the Dark is the forth book in An Orphan X series, a great addition to the series. A fast-paced thriller that gives readers the details that humanize the characters, characters that are elusive and deadly; each is very well-developed and working well with each other. With non-stop action and has an intensity that is continuously climbing; mixed with aspects of: hero, spies and a personal; keeping the readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish anticipating the next victories of the characters dilemmas.
Mr. Gregg Hurwitz has a writing style, that reaches emotional chords for his readers, with his unique touch for combining realistic characters and non-stop, believable action. Mr. Hurwitz has written some terrific books in this series, with each of the novels in this series; the author leaves an open door for the future books. Mr. Gregg Hurwitz is one of my new authors, with his Orphan X series, changing my cynicism of the genre; well done. Mr. Gregg Hurwitz is an amazing author, has made a series that I like, in this genre and keep his readers entertained.
An Orphan X series is an absolute must read, for all the enjoy reading this genre. While each of the books can be read as a standalone, I highly suggest readers start at the beginning of the Orphan X series as this is a continuing series, readers will not be disappointed. These are my personal thoughts and feelings about this book and the author, giving a 5-star rating. Well done.
Evan Smoak’s first mission as a nineteen-year-old in 1997 sent him to an Eastern European country to take out a general who was going to make the region unstable. Well, more unstable than it already was. At the time, current President Bennett was just an undersecretary at the Department of Defense who was secretly in charge of the Orphan program. At the time, Evan thought the mission went off without a hitch, but now he finds himself directly in President Bennett’s crosshairs. What about that mission is so dangerous to President Bennett now?
This conflict is personal, and Evan knows that it will only end with one of the two men dead. Therefore, Evan has to find a way to take out the most protected man in the world. With President Blank sending Orphan A after Evan, he must gather information quickly and quietly. Meanwhile, someone has called Evan’s phone requesting his help. And that help is on a deadline as well. Will Evan be able to juggle both missions and come out alive?
Even though President Bennett is obviously not any President in US history, I still had to overcome my issues with the premise when I picked up this book. Fortunately, that didn’t take me too long as I was soon hanging on. Yes, once again we have a fast-paced thrill ride as Evan faces one complication after another in an effort to save his life and protect his newest client. I loved his ingenuity in solving these problems against overwhelming odds. Evan continues to struggle with his humanity as he deals with real life, and I love the depth it brings to his character. The rest of the cast, whether new or returning, as just as strong. Naturally, this book does feature more language and violence than my normal cozies, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. While the book is an outgrowth of what has happened in the series so far, it really can be read as a standalone. We get the background we need without spoiling the twists and turns of the previous books. So pick up this thriller today and set aside enough time to read it. Once you start, you won’t want to put it down.
I’m a big fan of the Orphan X series and this one didn’t disappoint. What I liked in particular was the character development over the series. This isn’t the same Evan from the first book, and without giving away spoilers, there are some other characters from previous books whose character arc have taken on a surprising turn. Well worth the read if you like high octane thrillers.
All the Orphan X novels are great, but OUT OF THE DARK is the best yet. HIGHLY recommended.
Out of the Dark is a stunner. I thought Gregg Hurwitz couldn’t get any better, but his latest Orphan X novel proved me wrong. Shut the blinds, turn off your phone and TV, and get some sleep now, because once you start this book you won’t want to stop.
“Out of the Dark” is part of the “Orphan X” series, but it starts with a flash back that introduces Evan and details the relationship between Evan Smoak, Orphan X, and Jack. This gives new readers any needed background and adds new insight for fans of the series.
Evan had no idea why his first mission was so important to Jonathan Bennett, now president of The United States. Evan is one person, a representative of the children who had had been taken from foster homes, trained, indoctrinated, and spend their existence serving their country. Bennett is the president of The United States with unlimited power and resources. Ending Jonathan Bennett will be the ultimate Nowhere Man mission. However, killing the president is going to be a lot of work. Whether Evan is successful or fails, nothing will ever be the same for him again.
Intertwined story lines also include, Mia Hall with her nine-year old son, Peter, and someone else who needs Evan’s help, someone alone and desperate. Trevon Gaines walks from the bus stop to Mama’s place. He opens the door to find that everything and everyone he has known is gone, dead in a vicious bloodbath. He is alone and scared. 1-855-2-NOWHERE rings, and Evan answers. Now he is “The Nowhere Man,” called by someone in desperate need of his help, lending his services to a truly frantic young man, to someone who has nowhere else to turn.
Hurwitz transitions seamlessly between the multiple storylines, and readers easily get a feel for the complex plot details and the multi-faceted characters. They all have neighbors, acquaintances, everyday chores, responsibilities, and tasks that make them familiar and human. Readers also watch Evan changing, opening up to the world and all that is in it. He juggles personal issues and his professional life. Little everyday details bring Evan back to reality, and in his next life, he vows he will be a Starbucks barista.
Exacting descriptions allow readers to picture the participants:
“He was built like an anvil, a whisper over five-nine, broadened with veiny, bulging muscle.
The locations:
“The park bench by the artificial pond looked like a movie prop, set at an artful slant beneath a Rockwellian maple tree.
And to anticipate what will come:
Evan said, “I’ve killed generals. I’ve killed foreign ministers. I’ve killed captains of industry.” The voice came back, calm as ever. “But you’ve never killed the president of the United States.” Evan said “Not yet,” and severed the connection.
The details of the storyline are impeccably accurate. The equipment details are so specific and authentic that if one wants to buy a Santa Cruz Slasher sticker, some reinforced luggage, a RoamZone or expensive wine and vodka, all of Orphan X’s favorites are just a click away. Of course, the Tesla incident is every owner’s nightmare.
Hurwitz is a master storyteller and in true Hurwitz style, the surprise ending is intricate and startling. I received a copy of “Out of the Dark” from Gregg Hurwitz, Minotaur Books, and Net Galley. It is an understatement to say that it is compelling and action-packed. This is a book that grabs readers right from the start and never lets go.
Fills the Mitch Rapp void.
Gregg Hurwitz has been building his Evan Smoak character for many books now. Each one is awesome. Cannot wait for the next.
Read them in order but you don’t have to. Are there real people like this. Hmm
If you haven’t read Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series, start now. I find them well-written, full of action and real page-turners.
awesome action
This author is new to me, a very good read. I will read him again
I found the us against them theme a little creepy, but the careful building of incident and entrapment was skillfully done.
I love the Orphan X books. They’re auto-buys for me, and I once I start, I can’t put them down. Completely riveting.
Loved it!!
Gregg Hurwitz is one of my go to authors. “Out of the Dark” maintains his action- packed, heart-pounding, non-stop brilliance. Escapism at its best. Edgy, gritty, wild. Loved it.
Evan Smoak, Orphan X, The Nowhere Man lives by a rigid set of rules. Taken as a child in foster care and instructed in the Orphan Program to perform the blackest of black ops… assassination. He is now an independent contractor, helping those who need his services most, while ducking the target painted on his back.
This book was published after the 2016 presidential election in the United States; I believe those election results may have played a part in crafting this book. Although President Bennett’s career started in the Department of Defense and progressed to the presidency, he faces impeachment and is actively involved in covering up his past nefarious deeds. I will admit that I have tended to read all political thrillers through the lens of today’s political world climate. Malignant sociopathy has myriad faces. It is safe to say that a megalomaniac is dangerous no matter its stripe.
As I have read the books in this series, I have appreciated the descriptive language that draws the reader into the action without being overwhelming. These are stories where you can vicariously live every moment and viscerally feel what is happening. Greg Hurwitz embodies the spirit of ‘getting lost in a book.’
With each review, I have exhorted those who read them to read the series in order. If you don’t read the first book, you will miss out on quite a bit of character development; however, there are always a few pages at the beginning of the books subsequent to the first that give a small snapshot into Orphan X.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.