The Nowhere Man

Book source ~ KU Audible

Orphan X, The Nowhere Man, Evan Smoak - they are all the same deadly man. Picked from a bunch of orphans in a group home, Evan is trained to be an assassin by his mentor, Jack. For years he worked in deep black ops, but he wanted out so he left. So far underground no one could find him. Until now. However, the ones who found him have no idea who he really is. But they’re about to find out.

I wasn’t sure the momentum from book 1, Orphan X, could carry over to this book. Would it be as good? Would it keep me on the edge of my seat? Would I still love Evan Smoak as much? The answer is - Fuck yeah! What a ride! Someone has kidnapped Evan and they think they have the upper hand. It sure seems to be true. But show more we’re talking about Orphan X. Never count him out.

I had no idea how Evan was going to get out of the predicament he’d gotten himself into. Because it’s his own fault he’s been taken. A little careless in his actions, but I forgive him because he’s usually so very careful. At least the flaw is discovered and he can cover his tracks better from here on out.

Awesome characters, great villains, excellent plot, and terrific writing makes this a thrilling, action-packed, military-ish book that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. I know I was. Once again, I listened to the audio while driving. This time with my husband to Ohio from our home in North Carolina. We finished it on our ride back and then he wanted to listen to book 1, Orphan X, so we did. I didn’t mind. You know, with my not-so-secret love of Evan and all. Scott Brick does a wonderful job of bringing Evan to life and now I’m even more hooked on the series. show less

Gregg Hurwitz doesn’t always get the attention that some other thriller authors like Lee Child and Vince Flynn, but he’s long been one of the best writers around and with his new Orphan X series, that attention should come. The Nowhere Man is the latest entry in a great new series.

Evan Smoak is known as Orphan X to the shadowy government branch that trained him as an assassin. He’s known to people in need of assistance and who are out of options as The Nowhere Man. Someone who will come to your aid and in lieu of payment, all he asks is that you give his number to someone else who needs his help. Evan had the good fortune to be trained by a man whose goal was to do the near impossible. Turn Evan into an assassin without destroying show more his humanity. When Evan finds out that the organization for which he was killing as Orphan X has been lying to him, he leaves that life behind and attempts to atone by fighting for the helpless as The Nowhere Man.

A fellow “Orphan”, Charles Van Scriver, now heads the Orphan program and is determined to eliminate former members of the program with Evan is at the top of that list. Evan is skilled at remaining hidden, but when in the midst of helping someone as The Nowhere Man he is caught unawares and kidnapped, there is a clock ticking down. When it strikes zero, either an innocent victim or Evan could wind up dead. Evan’s captors think that they have captured prey, but they don’t understand what a dangerous predator they have caged. With Van Scriver closing in and time running out on a victim trapped on a container ship, Evan has to use every ounce of skill and experience to escape, realizing that even that may not be enough.

Hurwitz manages to do something that a lot of other thriller writers don’t, and that’s surprise you. He shows that it’s possible to do everything right and still lose. His characters have a lot of depth to them which he displays both through their planning as well as with illuminating insights into their pasts. The investment he makes in his characters makes their fates that much more impactful.

The action sequences in The Nowhere Man are second to none. They come fast, furious and full of twists whether they take place in a gritty urban setting or a posh, snow-capped retreat. Even at such a breakneck pace, Hurwitz manages to throw surprise after surprise at you. The ending manages to top the surprises placed along the way and elevates an already outstanding book to another level.

Great characters, action and pacing make The Nowhere Man an amazing book. Gregg Hurwitz belongs in the upper echelons of thriller writers and Evan Smoak can easily stand alongside such great characters as Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp. This is a great series and one you don’t want to miss. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book show less

Orphan X, released this past January, is one of my absolute favorite books. Gregg Hurwitz had a lot to live up to in this sequel. I don't envy him, as he now faces persnickety readers (like me) who want perfection equal to or exceeding that first book. Such are the perils of success!

Evan Smoak is a brilliant character. He's a little bit Jack Reacher and a little bit James Bond, with a unique backstory and a fascinating, compelling, magnetic draw. He's a killing machine with a conscience and his own moral compass. Most importantly, he is memorable and, for me, totally addictive.

The plot is complex and action-packed. Some reviewers have complained that the plot is over-the-top, stretching credulity, which is true in the way thrillers of show more this sort often tend to be. Maybe we have trouble believing all this could happen because we've never seen it, not even on the news. But, really, we don't know about a whole lot of things that go on with black ops and underground crime, and if Evan Smoak was really out there, we wouldn't know about him either. The only niggling point for me came with Evan's attempt to escape his captors. My inner voice kept yelling, "Just steal a damn vehicle!" But Evan Smoak does things his own way, for his own reasons, and I got over my need to question everything.

The twists in this story, particularly toward the end, are stunning. I almost always see at least the hint of a twist coming my way. These twists totally blindsided me in the best of ways.

Gregg Hurwitz has mad writing skills. We are totally in his world, seeing things through Evan Smoak's eyes. I felt the adrenaline rushes, the sorrow, the fear, the desire, and the hope. Hurwitz gives us a full immersive reading experience.

The Nowhere Man can be read as a stand-alone. Hurwitz does a great job of incorporating bits of the vital pieces of Orphan X, without weighing down the story by recapping too much detail. Still, I think you'll have a better connection to and understanding of Evan Smoak's character if you start with the first book. Plus, Orphan X is simply too good to miss.

*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.* show less

Being a great fan of Gregg Hurwitz and his Orphan X series I have read most of the books, but for some reason I missed this installment. In “The Nowhere Man” a whole lot is going on - I looked down and I was at 42% and wondered how that was possible when so much mayhem had already occurred. Then I was at 79% and it seemed that Orphan X couldn’t possible absorb more punishment and manage to survive and yet he does, and on it went. Murder, diabolical plots, meticulous planning and mental capacity and I was captivated through it all. His cause never wavers, he needs to help the next one who reaches out and there was a very tricky ploy thrown in. The baddies are the worst, and there is never a lifeline for Evan Smoak except for his show more training and sheer determination to survive to answer the next call for help. The twists would have been mind boggling if I hadn’t read more of the books in the Orphan X Series.

It was a little difficult going backwards, having advance knowledge of the character and his future timeline, but it was interesting to see how the groundwork was being laid for the future stories. This, like all of Hurwitz’s books was well thought out, well written and very inventive. Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy. show less

The Nowhere Man was a slow read. I loved Orphan X and was very excited for the sequel. Gregg Hurwitz’s clever and resourceful protagonist Evan Smoak is a highly entertaining character who is prepared for anything and everything he encounters. Hurwitz’s meticulously crafts the descriptions of Smoak’s fortress-like apartment including his safe room which adds to Smoak’s mystique. In Orphan X, Hurwitz created a plot that utilized his main character’s skills and preparation in a highly satisfying manner. The Nowhere Man starts out strong, but soon the plot decelerates and sadly never speeds up again. Smoak tackles too many villains, and I thought he would never escape from the Chateau where he is imprisoned. Some editing down of show more this section would have been very helpful.

While I love Evan Smoak and am looking forward to the next installment of this series, I felt The Nowhere Man fell a little flat. Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. show less

As a twelve-year-old orphan, Evan Smoak was taken from a group home 6o be raised and trained as part of a special government group. The group’s mission was to eliminate enemies of the US. After he matured, he decided he no longer wanted to continue those assignments, broke away from the group, and disappeared.
In his new persona, he decided to use his talents and knowledge to rescue people trying to escape dangerous situations. When he completed a job, he gave the person his telephone number and asked that it be given to someone else who needed help.
Those in charge of the orphan’s group decided that he had too much information that could harm them and set out to kill him. He is captured and has to use his mental and physical show more abilities to save himself.
Interesting quotes:
“Most Americans seem to believe that safety assurances are awarded at birth like factory-issued warrantees. So far as I can tell, the only American growth industry is entitlement....For the sheep, moral outrage is the coin of the realm. They smother themselves in it.”
“One of the lesser-known benefits of Doritos is that they’re highly flammable.”
Part of the story is told as flashbacks. Overall, it is unrealistic. One person cannot successfully fight off so many attackers at one time, receive injuries, and yet go on as if nothing had changed.
The book was fast-paced and generally well-written but had too many unnecessarily short chapters. Overall, it is unrealistic. One person cannot successfully fight off so many attackers at one time, receive injuries, and yet go on as if nothing had changed. show less

This was an exciting continuation to the Orphan X series. I enjoyed seeing Evan Smoak develop the tiniest bit more as he continues to operate in his "mission first and only" mindset that has been drilled into him. Evan is going about rescuing those in trouble as usual whenhe is kidnapped by some super-bad guys and held in a remote location. Naturally, he must figure out how to escape, which takes up most of the book.

What I found most interesting was the development of Jack coming back and Evan learning he was alive. It's the complex personal relationships about this series that really interest me, and the way that Evan both craves and avoids them. The anger and hurt there was very raw. I look forward to seeing this further developed in show more book three.

Please excuse typos./name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less