Forced into retirement, Evan Smoak gets an urgent request for help from someone he didn’t even suspect existed—in Prodigal Son, the next New York Times bestselling Orphan X book from Gregg Hurwitz.As a boy, Evan Smoak was pulled out of a foster home and trained in an off-the-books operation known as the Orphan Program. He was a government assassin, perhaps the best, known to a few insiders as … best, known to a few insiders as Orphan X. He eventually broke with the Program and adopted a new name—The Nowhere Man—and a new mission, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. But the highest power in the country has made him a tempting offer—in exchange for an unofficial pardon, he must stop his clandestine activities as The Nowhere Man. Now Evan has to do the one thing he’s least equipped to do—live a normal life.
But then he gets a call for help from the one person he never expected. A woman claiming to have given him up for adoption, a woman he never knew—his mother. Her unlikely request: help Andrew Duran—a man whose life has gone off the rails, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, bringing him to the deadly attention of very powerful figures. Now a brutal brother & sister assassination team are after him and with no one to turn to, and no safe place to hide, Evan is Duran’s only option. But when the hidden cabal catches on to what Evan is doing, everything he’s fought for is on the line—including his own life.
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“Prodigal Son” by Greg Hurwitz is part of the “Orphan X” series, but it does not start where the previous book ended. Instead, it goes back in time adding new background information for all readers. Evan Smoak confronts the past he did not even know he had and struggles with a vision of the road not taken. He must reevaluate his life, integrate the past into a now unfamiliar present, and anticipate a complicated new future.
Regular readers find all the familiar characters: Mia, Peter, Joey, Dog the dog, as well as some new ones to complicate Evan’s existence: Veronica, Andre, Candy, and Jacob. In addition to mystery, there is action beyond comprehension, abundant explosions, seven-figure hit men and women, ghost artillery, and innovative technology that readers hope is only fiction.
“Prodigal Son” succeeds because of the superb writing skill of Greg Hurwitz. The book is much more than just weapons, danger, death, and insects. Every word paints a picture; every depiction sets the stage, and every description expands the action. There are no extra words just to fill up the pages. Sensory details pull readers into the action from the boots crunching on broken bits of shattered stained-glass windows and the scent of poinsettias riding the thin breeze, to the sun like a klieg light in the east.
“Prodigal Son” is compelling, exciting, and shocking from the first page to the last. No spoilers, but, the ending is unexpected, actually everything is unexpected. Readers should plan their reading time wisely because once they start reading, there is no stopping until the end. The last page leaves readers yearning for the next book.
Another boffo Orphan X tale that will keep you turning pages late into the night, featuring what may be X’s most terrifying villain to date. More importantly, he (and we) learn more of his backstory and how it shaped him into the killing machine he is today.
The Nowhere Man is officially retired now, at the order of the president, and trying to figure out what a “normal” life means for him. I don’t want to give away any spoilers from #5 but at the end of that novel there was a mysterious phone call that threw Evan Smoak (X) for a loop–something not easily done, and, as any savvy reader can figure out, it’s going to put his precarious freedom and attempt at normality into the blender of life.
The Orphan X books are for anyone who loves Batman, Person of Interest, John Wick, and a television show from the 80s, STINGRAY. The violence is portrayed in graphic detail, but that’s part of what makes the series work. It’s an ugly world out there, and wouldn’t it be something if you could call on a mysterious paladin (another homage) who would save you when there’s nowhere else to go?
The ending is also guaranteed to keep fans on tenterhooks awaiting Orphan X #7, and I’ll be ready to autobuy as it’s available.
This is not typically a genre that I read a lot of, but my dad introduced me to this author and he has become a favorite. This is the sixth in the series and this book lives up to the rest. We all thought that Evan retired at the end of book 5. Surprise, he is back and this time with to help out a friend of woman claiming to be his mother. What? The storyline is terrific and in keeping with his character. Lots of twists and turns along the way. I love a character who is willing to do whatever is necessary to save someone desperately in need of saving through no fault of their own no matter the personal expense. Its an easy gripping read that will keep you at the edge of your seat until the very last page. I am hoping for more in this series.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review. My thanks to net galley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Press
Prodigal Son is the next thrilling ride in the Orphan X series. The worst part of reading an Orphan X novel is waiting so long for the next one. Evan, the Nowhere Man, is in a forced retirement via the President of the United States but when a woman claiming to be his mother asks him to help someone what else is a man to do but jump in head first. Evan quickly breaks his own commandment of never letting anything get personal as he gets in touch with his feelings. Action packed thrills that read like a movie script, the story catches the attention and demands to be read from cover to cover for another addictive chapter in the Orphan X saga and one of my favorite series of all time. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz
Orphan X #6
Intense, gripping, action-packed, and thrilling – this series always grabs me, draws me in, and keeps me engrossed from beginning to end.
What I liked:
* Evan Smoak/The Nowhere Man/Orphan X: an orphan that was molded into a lethal weapon but who still has a moral code. He fascinates me. This story gave more of his backstory and introduced potential for future stories in the series. Evan is conflicted between doing what he does well and was trained to do OR staying in retirement. I am hoping that he will eventually find a way to have a bit more “normal” life in the future.
* Andre Duran: the man that Evan is asked to help by a woman who claims to be Evan’s mother. Andre and Evan have more in common than they realize when they first meet in this story. I kept hoping that Andre would make it through to the end of the book and have potential for a future.
* Joey: young woman, hacker extraordinaire, taken under Evan’s wing and coming into her own…with Dog the dog. I look forward to hearing more about her in the future.
* Mia and Peter: Neighbors of Evan. Mia could be a love interest and in some ways Peter reminds Evan of himself but with a the stability that Evan did not have.
* The writing, plot, intensity, and sci-fi aspects of the story though some of the computer jargon was a bit over my head.
* Candy McClure/p V: I remember her from a previous book and wouldn’t mind seeing more of her in the future.
* Tommy: a good friend with interesting helpful gadgets that Evan often needs in his work
* The mysterious woman, who she ended up being, and the information she had to share about Evan’s origins.
* The bad guys…so easy to dislike! There were a couple that had a rough childhood but that did not condone their adult choices.
* Thinking about how this could be made into a movie and who I might like to see playing the various characters.
* Knowing that there will be a book seven…
What I didn’t like:
* The bad guys…I really wanted them erased!
* Thinking about the what-ifs of having the sci-fi aspects of this story becoming a reality.
* Knowing how rough Evan had it as a child
* Having to wait till book seven is finished to find out what will happen next.
Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Would I read more by this author? Without a doubt!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Evan, or Orphan X, or Nowhere Man, has been in retirement. Now, out of the blue, he receives a call for help. This call came from someone he had no idea existed…his mother. This stirs up more feelings than he expected but he has to reel them in to save Andrew Duran.
Andrew has gotten himself in a mess and he has no idea how he got there. My heart went out to Andrew from the first paragraph. He is a guy with a heart and just pure bad karma. And the mystery surrounding Andrew and Evan kept me fascinated. And how does Evan’s real mother fit in…must read this to find out.
I love the Orphan X series. No, I have not read them all and I need to fix this soon, especially after reading this novel. I love Evan. There is not a better strong, silent type than this character. Plus….he is smart and he can fight! The fight scenes in a book are usually ones I kind of skim. But not when it involves, Evan. He truly takes no prisoners.
Need a quick, fast paced thriller…oh boy! You do not want to miss this one.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
What can I say about Prodigal Son, the latest installment of the Evan Smoak series, except Hurwitz has outdone himself this time! And that ending! I will be on tenterhooks waiting for the next book to come out.
You must suspend a lot of belief when reading these books, but this one, in particular, has the most over-the-top plot. At least, I hope so, because if this stuff is real, we are all in big trouble! Evan, forced to retire his Nowhere Man persona, meets the woman who gave him up for adoption. She asks him to help a troubled man, which, of course, leads him into all kinds of trouble.
What didn’t I like about this book? Well, nothing. What I loved most was Evan, grappling to come to grips with his emotions and deep feelings for those closest to him.
The story winds up with a nail-biting, explosive end, and with Evan once again saving the day. My pounding heart had just settled down, and bam!
Oh, please, Gregg Hurwitz, don’t leave us waiting too long! My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. I gave it five stars!
What a totally unexpected book. This book starts in a Boy Group Home and it really is very sad situation. Then you learn about Andrew a guy hanging on by a thread financially, struggling to pay child support to his daughter and now feeling good enough to even see her. Andrew also battling with alcohol. Then you learn about Evan a smaller boy from the group home that managed to be selected at a young age to group up into a man no one would ever want to mess with.
This story goes in directions I never expected and has you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. When a woman reaches out to Evan and ask him to help Andrew, it will take him on an unexpected journey, and he will discover more about his past than he has know in all his life. Add in some intriguing new technology and you have the makings of an amazing story.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a well written adventure that really will keep you reading.Thank you to Netgalley for this complimentary copy. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz is book six of the Orphan X series but the first of this series that I have read. Mr. Hurwitz gives enough background to help you understand what is happening but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous novels. At the beginning, the story goes back to Evan’s time in the orphanage, how he gets picked out of all the boys for “The Orphan Program” and how he got his name, the Nowhere Man. I really enjoyed the intrigue, high octane action and the richly developed characters in this book. This novel takes you from the past to the present and then the two overlap as this assassin comes out of “retirement” when he receives a strange call “from his mother, Veronica, asking for his help. His life changes drastically as he gets involved in the case and with his mother. He seems to develop as a person right in front of your eyes. The Prodigal Son is an entertaining thriller that keeps you looking for more.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early reader copy of Prodigal Sun!
I had forgotten just how much I like Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series, and Prodigal Son is just as good (maybe even better!) than the previous books in the series. Full of snappy dialogue, fun and interesting characters, wonderfully farfetched (I hope!) scenarios Prodigal Son takes us back into Evan Smoak’s past.. his time in foster care, how he ended up as part of the Orphan program…and then connects that to present day, and the call he gets for help. Theoretically in retirement after a secret pardon (as long as he doesn’t help anyone else), Evan is working on living a normal life. When he gets a strange phone call and witnesses a bizarre assassination in a junkyard, Evan is drawn back into his past with completely unforeseen consequences, which will change his life.
All of my favorite characters are here (in addition to the Nowhere Man): Mia and Peter, Joey, Tommy, as well as some new villains (of course! the Nowhere Man needs someone to save someone else from!). I never know quite what genre best describes the Orphan X/Nowhere Man (sci-fi? spy?)but I do know that it’s a great read. That and the totally surprising ending will keep you reading and then impatient for the next one!
This story and series are so unique. The author has created a character that is like a machine. But a machine with flaws, wants, and needs that he cannot grasp.
Little by little Evan is cracking; bored and restless, he needs something in his life. Then he gets a call that is intriguing and will change his path and the readers path as well.
This is no ordinary thriller. This is a precisely structured book that is well researched and meticulously detailed with deep imagination and insight. This is a book that will keep you reading late into the night just to see what comes next.
With characters that are remarkable and intriguing along with a mission that becomes an edge of your seat ride, this mission Orphan X takes on becomes personal. Personal and intense. Hurwitz really starts tieing things together as this is supposed to be the end of this series. But I simply refuse to believe that he would allow the crazy ending to stay as it was written…. gasp!
From the group home where Evan grew up to secret military installations, we follow along as he fights to protect others and his own life too. Hurwitz gives our hero a heart of gold, full of protectiveness and caring which is unexpected yet humanizes him. But a wicked sense of right and wrong with badass strength and unbelievable moves.
Prodigal Son is a game-changer in this series and a book to remember for a long time to come. I can only hope that Hurwitz brings Evan into future series as his complexities and missions are simply brilliant.