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pilebythebed's review against another edition
4.0
Orphan X, also known as the Nowhere Man is back for a fourth go round. For those needing a catch up, once again Hurwitz provides a primer early on. A deep secret American project to take orphans and train them to be killers. Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X, turned his back on all of that and has been on the run ever since. As the Nowhere Man he also helps people in trouble (usually in LA) as atonement for his life of killing.
Only someone is killing the orphans and their trainers off and it turned out in book 3, Hellbent (spoile alert) that the man behind this is the President of the United States. Former head of the Department of Defence, the President has some skeletons in his closet, somehow associated with Smoak’s first mission in 1997. Smoak’s personal mission now is to find out what the connection is and to kill the President. But the President knows he is coming and releases one of Smoak’s nemeses – Orphan A – along with the might of the US security services to stop him. Not only is Smoak’s plan constantly portrayed as impossible, at the same time he has a mission to complete as the Nowhere Man for a man who’s life has been turned upside down by a viscous gang of drug dealers.
Evan Smoak is a classic thriller hero. He has a Jason Bourne-eque way of using whatever is to hand whenever making his escapes (in one case this is a table, a handful of salt and a green tea cha), trying not to kill anyone who is not his target. But he is also incredibly well planned, so that everything that looks like a setback turns out to be some sort of contingency-planned fakeout. And he is constantly trying to juggle his personal mission with his commitment to solve the problems of his most recent client and try to have a normal relationship with his neighbour and her 9 year old son. Smoak, still a relentlessly effective killing machine, is slowly becoming more human from one book to the next.
Out of the Dark will delight thriller lovers. With its mix of weaponry technobabble, well written action scenes, a sly sense of humour and likeable but tortured main character and some great side characters, it ticks all of the boxes. While it can probably be read as a standalone, Hurwitz economically fills in the blanks when characters from previous books appear, but the Orphan X books are definitely better read as a series and in order.
Only someone is killing the orphans and their trainers off and it turned out in book 3, Hellbent (spoile alert) that the man behind this is the President of the United States. Former head of the Department of Defence, the President has some skeletons in his closet, somehow associated with Smoak’s first mission in 1997. Smoak’s personal mission now is to find out what the connection is and to kill the President. But the President knows he is coming and releases one of Smoak’s nemeses – Orphan A – along with the might of the US security services to stop him. Not only is Smoak’s plan constantly portrayed as impossible, at the same time he has a mission to complete as the Nowhere Man for a man who’s life has been turned upside down by a viscous gang of drug dealers.
Evan Smoak is a classic thriller hero. He has a Jason Bourne-eque way of using whatever is to hand whenever making his escapes (in one case this is a table, a handful of salt and a green tea cha), trying not to kill anyone who is not his target. But he is also incredibly well planned, so that everything that looks like a setback turns out to be some sort of contingency-planned fakeout. And he is constantly trying to juggle his personal mission with his commitment to solve the problems of his most recent client and try to have a normal relationship with his neighbour and her 9 year old son. Smoak, still a relentlessly effective killing machine, is slowly becoming more human from one book to the next.
Out of the Dark will delight thriller lovers. With its mix of weaponry technobabble, well written action scenes, a sly sense of humour and likeable but tortured main character and some great side characters, it ticks all of the boxes. While it can probably be read as a standalone, Hurwitz economically fills in the blanks when characters from previous books appear, but the Orphan X books are definitely better read as a series and in order.
neesh_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I love these book so much. Evan has quickly become a big part of my life. Can't wait for the next one
abibliofob's review against another edition
5.0
Once again Hurwitz has delivered a great book. I am so glad I decided to try it out. Although I am a little sad I missed him when he was in Sweden. For those of you out there who have not tried the Orphan X series should really do it and start at the beginning. This is a different kind of hero and although he prefers vodka he's really cool.
pamseven's review against another edition
5.0
Strange as it might seem, there is nothing better to soothe my mind than an Orphan X novel. After a long time of wrong doing X has changed paths and is now making amends as well as dealing with the people who turned him into a killer. It’s great to read about someone driven by morality, trying to help others and do the right thing. These novels are fast paced but also have fantastic characters, Orphan X being the most interesting. In this installment, X is trying to take down the corrupt president while also protecting the sister of a young mentally challenged man whose entire family was savagely killed because he had done his job. I have enjoyed every book in this series and am already eagerly awaiting the next.
drdash's review against another edition
5.0
I think the best yet. Fast and fun with some good twists. All the orphan books have been great without being the same. Great reads.
pants2406's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another good book following Evan, the nowhere man.
Interesting twists and turns along the story and a little bit of his history for good measure.
Interesting twists and turns along the story and a little bit of his history for good measure.
caszriel's review against another edition
5.0
Everything that can be expected and asked for from an Orphan X novel; except this time, Evan's mission is the most high stakes it's ever been, as he goes after the President of the United States. Out of the Dark has a softer side too, as it further explores Evan's human side, and the relationships he forms with others. We get to see three other Orphans in action, and I greatly enjoyed seeing Evan interact with them even when they were on opposing sides. I'm certainly ready for Into the Fire to come out.