Select language, opens an overlay

Comment

Feb 08, 2018
It is scorched earth time for Evan Smoak. He was originally known as Orphan X from his time as a deep black government assassin trained from childhood in the Orphan program. Later Smoak became known as The Nowhere Man, helping people who have nowhere else to turn. But now Smoak is out for revenge on his own account, in scorched earth revenge seeking the death of the twenty-five men who were involved in the death of Smoak’s beloved mentor, Jack Johns. A sort of perverse 47 Ronin. Johns has contacted Smoak minutes before his death by the hand of Charles Van Scriver who has taken over the Orphan program for his own aims. Orphan X has played the great white whale to Van Scriver’s Ahab, but this time Van Scriver has the highest backing and he can’t let Orphan X outsmart him again. To add to Smoak’s grief and anger, Jacks has left Evan a present in the form of a sixteen year old runaway from Van Scriver’s personally run Orphan program. To add to Smoak’s revenge he must keep the runaway, Joey Morales, alive with the goal of saving her from the Orphan program. The excitement starts from page one and just keeps on building. Evan is used to flying solo, this time he has to accept the aid of a friend and from his temporary ward. Hurwitz’s usual smooth writing is in evidence along with his intricate plotting and fascinating characterizations. This book is not all action; there are themes of redemption, sacrifice, and forgiveness. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.