Orphan X #10
By: Gregg Hurwitz
Narrator: Scott Brick
ISBN: 9781250379993
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Minotaur Books | St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 02/11/2025
Duration: 15 hours
Format: Audio/Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
No greater friend. No deadlier enemy.
The explosive new novel in the New York Times bestselling Orphan X series is flipping the acclaimed series on its head. Find out why series superfans and new readers alike are calling it a “knockout” (firstCLUE).
Evan Smoak is a highly trained former government assassin who has survived for years by keeping his circle to a few trusted confidants and a strict code he calls “The Ten Commandments.” But when Evan suddenly finds himself at odds with his oldest friend, all the rules he lives by shatter—and the consequences are murderous.
Tommy Stojack might be Evan's best friend in the world. He’s a gifted gunsmith who has created much of Evan's own weapons and combat gear. But now, he has apparently crossed one of Evan's hardest lines and their argument explodes into open warfare. Now Evan has no choice but to track and face down his only friend.
In the meantime, Tommy has left town in order to honor his own promise to help a dead friend's son. While Tommy is fighting to save the son with everything he’s got, Evan arrives with vengeance in mind.
But as deadly as the former Orphan X is, there is an even more dangerous threat about to arrive on the scene. The only question left is will any of them get out alive.
My Review
Greg Hurwitz returns with his popular Orphan X series (a favorite) with #10, NEMESIS, taking us even deeper into the complex personality of Evan Smoak, The Nowhere Man, in this action-packed thriller, leaving fans anxiously awaiting the next in the series.
NO GREATER FRIEND.
NO WORSE ENEMY.
About...
If you have read all the books in the series as I have, you know Evan is a highly trained former government assassin who survived for years keeping a few trusted confidants and adhering to a strict code of "The Ten Commandments.
In this installment, Evan is at odds with his oldest friend, Tommy Stojack (we go back 15 years), and the rules are shattered. He is a gifted gunsmith who has created many of Evan's weapons, but now he has crossed a line. He has to track down this friend and face him face to face.
Tommy has left town to deal with a dead friend's son, and Evan is out to find him. But there is something more dangerous and sinister going down. Who will make it out alive?
My thoughts...
In NEMESIS, lines are blurred, and loyalties are tested with multiple enemies in this high-adrenaline action-packed installment. From trained killers, The Four Horseman, a crooked sheriff, and others.
We witness Evan grappling with the conflict between his Orphan Program training and his sense of humanity. He introspects and questions his friendships, and the ongoing inner turmoil adds emotional depth to this character we have grown to love.
The author brilliantly keeps his fans entertained, from the struggle between good and evil to exploring friendships and betrayals, emotions, soul searching, values, and rules. Evan, who has not had an easy life, faces his Nemesis, perhaps the most demanding challenge he has ever faced, showing us that personal growth is always possible.
In addition, fans will be delighted to catch up with Joey (age 17) as she struggles to find her place in society with social media and hatred.
Audiobook...
I enjoyed experiencing the audiobook narrated by the talented Scott Brick. His exceptional performance, with a voice that perfectly suits the story, elevates the narrative, bringing the characters, setting, action, and suspense to life. It's a must-listen for any fan of the series!
Recs...
NEMESIS is for fans of the Orphan X series and Greg Hurwitz as well as Evan and Joey and looking into the characters even more as we glimpse into characters and things they may hide from others. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for a digital advanced review copy and advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 11, 2025
Praise
"Nemesis is an excellent turning point in the Orphan X series with great story arcs that embrace meaningful and engaging themes distinct to each character and also opens the door for an even rawer and emotionally beaten Evan like you would never expect by the end of the narrative. Hurwitz throws a curveball that will leave you stunned for the better part of a day when you finally reach the end."
―Best Thriller Books
“Another knockout thriller.”
–firstCLUE
“This series shows no signs of slowing down.”
―Booklist
"Hurwitz’s snappy dialogue, propulsive prose, and larger-than-life characters consistently delight....The Orphan X world thrillingly expands with another wildly inventive episode."
―Kirkus Reviews
"[Evan Smoak is] a weapon of mass entertainment... the action never stops." ―
Red Carpet Crash
About the Author
GREGG HURWITZ is the New York Times #1 internationally bestselling author of 24 thrillers including the Orphan X series. His novels have won numerous literary awards and have been published in 33 languages. Gregg currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Additionally, he’s written screenplays and television scripts for many of the major studios and networks, comics for AWA (including the critically acclaimed anthology NewThink), DC, and Marvel, and poetry. Currently, Gregg is actively working against polarization in politics and culture. To that end, he's penned op eds for The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Bulwark, Salon, and others, and has produced several hundred commercials and creative content which have gotten several hundred million views on digital TV platforms. He also helped write the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup. WEBSITE
