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The Orphan Trilogy #1
The Ninth Orphan
How do you catch a man who is never the same man twice?
That is the question posed in The Ninth Orphan, a top-rated international thriller novel and the first book in The Orphan Trilogy.
An orphan grows up to become an assassin for a highly secretive organization. When he tries to break free and live a normal life, he is hunted by his mentor and father figure, and by a female orphan he spent his childhood with. On the run, the mysterious man's life becomes entwined with his beautiful French-African hostage and a shocking past riddled with the darkest of conspiracies is revealed.
But can the ninth-born orphan ever get off the grid? To find out you'll need to go on a tumultuous journey around the globe to such far-flung locations as China, France, the Philippines, Andorra, America, England, Germany and French Polynesia. The frenetic cat-and-mouse chase moves from airports to train stations and hidden torture prisons, taking the reader on a shocking, nail-biting ride into the world's closet of skeletons that goes beyond conspiracy theories to painful reality.
That is the question posed in The Ninth Orphan, a top-rated international thriller novel and the first book in The Orphan Trilogy.
An orphan grows up to become an assassin for a highly secretive organization. When he tries to break free and live a normal life, he is hunted by his mentor and father figure, and by a female orphan he spent his childhood with. On the run, the mysterious man's life becomes entwined with his beautiful French-African hostage and a shocking past riddled with the darkest of conspiracies is revealed.
But can the ninth-born orphan ever get off the grid? To find out you'll need to go on a tumultuous journey around the globe to such far-flung locations as China, France, the Philippines, Andorra, America, England, Germany and French Polynesia. The frenetic cat-and-mouse chase moves from airports to train stations and hidden torture prisons, taking the reader on a shocking, nail-biting ride into the world's closet of skeletons that goes beyond conspiracy theories to painful reality.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2011
175 people are currently reading
3136 people want to read
About the author
James Morcan
31 books1,316 followersNew Zealand-born actor/writer/producer James Morcan resides in Sydney, Australia. He has written two bestselling novels, performed in various international film productions and is a podcast host. His books have been translated into eight languages (Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian, French, Afrikaans, German).
Morcan's published titles include the new release horror Silent Fear (A novel inspired by true crimes) and the bestselling historical adventures White Spirit and Into the Americas. He also has several series on the market including The Orphan Trilogy, an international thriller series, the swashbuckling action-romance series The World Duology, and the controversial non-fiction franchise The Underground Knowledge Series. An additional non-fiction title, Debunking Holocaust Denial Theories, was written in collaboration with Holocaust survivors to document the genocide. These titles were all co-authored with his father Lance Morcan and published by Sterling Gate Books. Their production company, Morcan Motion Pictures, is developing Silent Fear into a feature film and Underground Knowledge into a TV series.
James' most recent acting performance was a leading role in the post-Apocalyptic feature film After Armageddon which he also wrote. The dystopian adventure film was shot in rural Australia and Morcan co-starred with Berynn Schwerdt (Wyrmwood). Other leading roles include the OZ-Bollywood productions My Cornerstone and Love You Krishna. Morcan also wrote the screenplays for both features which were filmed in Sydney and Mumbai and incorporated English and Hindi languages.
Additional productions he has perfromed in include a BBC TV series, several indie features and a live stadium production of Ben Hur headlined by Academy Award winner Russell Crowe. To date, his feature films have screened at cinemas in New Zealand, India, Australia, Italy and Cannes.
James is a podcast host on the YouTube channel Underground Knowledge: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX8s...
He co-founded one of the most popular discussion groups on Goodreads, also called Underground Knowledge, which has around 16,000 members: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Amazon author profile:
https://www.amazon.com/author/jamesmo...
IMDb filmmaker profile:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1909596/
Morcan's published titles include the new release horror Silent Fear (A novel inspired by true crimes) and the bestselling historical adventures White Spirit and Into the Americas. He also has several series on the market including The Orphan Trilogy, an international thriller series, the swashbuckling action-romance series The World Duology, and the controversial non-fiction franchise The Underground Knowledge Series. An additional non-fiction title, Debunking Holocaust Denial Theories, was written in collaboration with Holocaust survivors to document the genocide. These titles were all co-authored with his father Lance Morcan and published by Sterling Gate Books. Their production company, Morcan Motion Pictures, is developing Silent Fear into a feature film and Underground Knowledge into a TV series.
James' most recent acting performance was a leading role in the post-Apocalyptic feature film After Armageddon which he also wrote. The dystopian adventure film was shot in rural Australia and Morcan co-starred with Berynn Schwerdt (Wyrmwood). Other leading roles include the OZ-Bollywood productions My Cornerstone and Love You Krishna. Morcan also wrote the screenplays for both features which were filmed in Sydney and Mumbai and incorporated English and Hindi languages.
Additional productions he has perfromed in include a BBC TV series, several indie features and a live stadium production of Ben Hur headlined by Academy Award winner Russell Crowe. To date, his feature films have screened at cinemas in New Zealand, India, Australia, Italy and Cannes.
James is a podcast host on the YouTube channel Underground Knowledge: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX8s...
He co-founded one of the most popular discussion groups on Goodreads, also called Underground Knowledge, which has around 16,000 members: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Amazon author profile:
https://www.amazon.com/author/jamesmo...
IMDb filmmaker profile:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1909596/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
February 16, 2012
Pedemont Orphanage isn't a typical orphanage. The kids there are genetically designed to be faster, more intelligent, and able to be trained for anything. Twenty-three orphans were part of this program. Dissatisfied members of various Illuminati societies make up the Omega Agency who runs the orphanage. The kids are not allowed to use the names they have, they must use the numbers they were given. The Ninth Orphan decides he wants out. He goes through quite an elaborate plan to gain his freedom. While fighting for his freedom, he finds love, something his life has been without.
This book is action-packed and very well written. It takes you on a journey you can't imagine. You'll love the way this book takes you around the world and keeps you up close with next plan. I loved this book's message and characters. It made me stop and think how many programs like this could there actually be in the world that we know nothing about. Each step of the way I kept wondering how much could one person deal with. I was amazed at the depth this book had in it.
I couldn't find anything wrong with this book. It made me want to know more.
This book is action-packed and very well written. It takes you on a journey you can't imagine. You'll love the way this book takes you around the world and keeps you up close with next plan. I loved this book's message and characters. It made me stop and think how many programs like this could there actually be in the world that we know nothing about. Each step of the way I kept wondering how much could one person deal with. I was amazed at the depth this book had in it.
I couldn't find anything wrong with this book. It made me want to know more.
December 7, 2016
Another amazing book by these two very talented Author’s. It doesn’t seem to matter what genre they write, as I’ve been thoroughly entertained by every story I’ve read so far. The Ninth Orphan certainly caught my attention with the blurb, and it didn’t disappoint. A very good plot having 23 Orphans being trained as black op’s specialist. Sebastian hardly ever heard his real name being said out loud. He became an orphan at a very young age, and the man that looked after him and 22 other orphans called him by a number, and his number is Nine. For many years they had taught him and the other orphans how to be special operators in the Black Op’s world. However, now he’d had enough, and was ready to move on and lead his own life. Nine had been planning this for a while, and he knew the Omega Agency wasn’t going to let him go that easily. So he bought a small deserted island where he could hide in French Polynesia. The Omega Agency had sent him to the Philippines to track down the location of the Yamashita’s gold that had been hidden during World War II by the Japanese. Being worth over a trillion dollars, Nine decided this was his chance to make enough money and disappear forever to his island. Selling the co-ordinates to the treasure to the Chinese for 100 million is going to be harder than he thought. The Omega Agency really wanted Yasmashita’s treasure to secure their financial future, and they are going to do everything they can to track nine down. Special Agent Tommy Kentbridge knows how good Nine is after he trained him for so many years. One of Nine’s skills was changing his appearance, to become someone else. He does have one weakness though, and that compassion, which could be his downfall. Especially when he takes Vanessa as a hostage because she took a photograph of him, and he couldn’t bring himself to kill her. After reading this book you can see why so many other readers have given the Author’s 5 stars, thoroughly deserving. This really is an enjoyable book from start to finish.
April 4, 2016
I noticed via a google search that THE ORPHAN FACTORY, the 2nd book in this trilogy, is in the top 5 of all of the books rated on Good Reads, so I figured the trilogy must be outstanding. But after reading this dud, I'm not even going to bother with the second and third installments. The overall outline of this story is fine, but when it comes to the actual writing and presentation, this father-son team is terrible. I've read about 500 books over the last 20 years, and these guys are by far the worst writers of anybody I've seen. It's like reading a high school paper. I'm no writing expert, but words like heavy handed, robotic, clumsy, cliche and awkward come to mind. At one point in this one, the main character has dyed his hair green and is trying to escape a crowded subway. There's a sentence that reads, "With his green hair, he stood out like the balls on a dog." Seriously. And weird little phrases of that type show up on every other page. The book is riddled with hyphen errors; (he walked into a "dimly-lit room"). There are errors with words being capitalized. No character development. There's no meaningful research (no observations about any of these various cities that give any indication the writers have ever been there). It's completely linear (there are no side plots or seemingly insignificant events in chapter 7 that come back to being really important in chapter 17. It's garbage. These guys will never be anything close to being even half as good as writers like Harlan Coben, Clive Cussler, John Grisham, Ken Follett, Robert Crais, J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, Peter May, etc. They're terrible. Best I can say is that it's an easy read, and for reasons I can't explain it held my attention. I never had the urge to just quit on it. But I am not going to try the 2nd or 3rd books in the trilogy. My guess is that they are much higher rated than the first book because of the natural filtering process. Most people who read the second book in a series will have read and liked the first. If you look at the highest rated books on Good Reads (they've got a top-100 area), the vast majority are sequels in series. But trust me; this one is a clunker.
April 4, 2012
The Ninth Orphan ranks amongst the best thrillers I have ever come across and I am really pleased to have been given the chance to read it as I would never have naturally picked it up. With every emotion from pure fear to grief to even a little romance, this novel hits all the bases and doesn’t disappoint.
The Ninth Orphan is an extremely fast paced thriller as we follow the curiously named Nine as he attempts to free himself from the corrupt agency he was born into and begin again as a free man. The story follows Nine in the present but constantly we’re given crystal clear flashbacks to his childhood as part of the Pedemont Orphanage programme, where, along with twenty-three other orphans, he had a less than regular upbringing.
From the first chapter, we’re given a hint at the kind of character Nine might be, despite his future as a faultless assassin and as the novel continues so does our understanding and belief in his character. What I loved most about this novel was Nine’s fantastic chameleon abilities, which lead to the Chinese agents on his tail to dub him ‘Changing-Face Dragon’. Wherever and whatever he’s doing Nine is able to mould himself a new disguise from busty blonde to Sikh gentleman, the opportunities are endless and barely believable.
Once on the run, Nine finds himself in France and his mentor-cum-father figure Tommy Kentbridge is on his tail along with one of his fellow orphans, known by her number, Seventeen. Nine knows time is short and it isn’t exactly the moment to be getting caught up in romantic affairs yet this seems to be on the cards and when things don’t look like they could get any more complicated, they do.
Fast paced, full of twists and turns and exactly what anyone would want from a thriller – sensational.
Bethan Townsend, The Kindle Book Review
The Ninth Orphan is an extremely fast paced thriller as we follow the curiously named Nine as he attempts to free himself from the corrupt agency he was born into and begin again as a free man. The story follows Nine in the present but constantly we’re given crystal clear flashbacks to his childhood as part of the Pedemont Orphanage programme, where, along with twenty-three other orphans, he had a less than regular upbringing.
From the first chapter, we’re given a hint at the kind of character Nine might be, despite his future as a faultless assassin and as the novel continues so does our understanding and belief in his character. What I loved most about this novel was Nine’s fantastic chameleon abilities, which lead to the Chinese agents on his tail to dub him ‘Changing-Face Dragon’. Wherever and whatever he’s doing Nine is able to mould himself a new disguise from busty blonde to Sikh gentleman, the opportunities are endless and barely believable.
Once on the run, Nine finds himself in France and his mentor-cum-father figure Tommy Kentbridge is on his tail along with one of his fellow orphans, known by her number, Seventeen. Nine knows time is short and it isn’t exactly the moment to be getting caught up in romantic affairs yet this seems to be on the cards and when things don’t look like they could get any more complicated, they do.
Fast paced, full of twists and turns and exactly what anyone would want from a thriller – sensational.
Bethan Townsend, The Kindle Book Review
July 19, 2012
The Ninth Orphan was an interesting read for me seeing as my shelf of thriller novels wasn't as well stacked as other genres. The novel had me from page one, throwing us into the world's closet of skeletons, where conspiracies were reality for our main protagonist,Sebastian Hannar. Appropriately titled, the plot is about genetically enhanced orphans from an orphanage run by a top-secret-hush-hush-agency called the Omega Agency. The orphans are numbered, Sebastian being number nine, and trained by Tommy as agents and assasins, invisible to society.
Nine, unlike the other orphans who were literally inhumane *cough* Seventeen *cough*, has a bit more compassion for people and resentment to the Omega Agency for having his mother terminated. Discovering a deadly and very dirty secret that the agency keeps hidden, Seb decides to run and hide in some island in the middle of nowhere.
With a flashdrive holding contents of some hidden treasure, Nine decides to sell it to the Chinese to fund his island get-away.
Our other protagonist, Isabelle Alleget, the politicians daughter, unintentionally captures an image of Nine while he's on the run and becomes a liability to him, one he intends to remove immediately. Except, his human more compassionate side kept stopping him...as well as his male brain...
Nine and Isabelle are on the run with the Omega Agency at their heels, throw in near-sociopath Agent Seventeen, trainer and father figure, Tommy, a sex-crazed Chinese agent and we've got ourselves one hell of a great story. Well worth the read.
Nine, unlike the other orphans who were literally inhumane *cough* Seventeen *cough*, has a bit more compassion for people and resentment to the Omega Agency for having his mother terminated. Discovering a deadly and very dirty secret that the agency keeps hidden, Seb decides to run and hide in some island in the middle of nowhere.
With a flashdrive holding contents of some hidden treasure, Nine decides to sell it to the Chinese to fund his island get-away.
Our other protagonist, Isabelle Alleget, the politicians daughter, unintentionally captures an image of Nine while he's on the run and becomes a liability to him, one he intends to remove immediately. Except, his human more compassionate side kept stopping him...as well as his male brain...
Nine and Isabelle are on the run with the Omega Agency at their heels, throw in near-sociopath Agent Seventeen, trainer and father figure, Tommy, a sex-crazed Chinese agent and we've got ourselves one hell of a great story. Well worth the read.
July 28, 2012
He is only known by his number~Nine. Nine grew in Chicago, Illnois at the Pedemont Orphanage is really ultra secret organization of chameleon operatives. Nine only has one rival her number is Seventeen. Seventeen tries to eliminate and destroy Nine every chance she gets. Nine and Seventeen's mentor Tommy Kentbridge is the only father figure they have ever known. Kentbridge knows each and every operative of the Pedemont Project better than they know themselves. Nine performs one last mission for the Omega Group yet makes a bid for his freedom with what he knows. The Omega Leader Andrew Naylor is highly displeases that number Nine has gone rogue and he blames Kentbridge for this situation. Nine is holding sensitive information that Naylor desperately wants in his possession. Nine wants to trade what he knows but everything seems to be going wrong. Isabelle Allegets is out and about taking pictures minding her own business. Nine sees Isabelle right after she's taken his picture. This could be trouble Nine doesn't need. Nine take Isabelle hostage to protect himself and her as well. Will Seventeen and Nine's rivalry end? Will Naylor get what he wants? Will Nine ever be free? What is special about Isabelle? Your answers await you in The Ninth Orphan.
June 30, 2012
Sebastian George Hannar is the ninth orphan out of twenty-three from Chicago's Pedemont Orphanage. Now at age thirty-one years of age, Nine, as Sebastian is now called,is highly intelligent and a master at disguises as he has been trained by Tommy Kentbridge, an agent for Omega Agency, the creator of Pedemont Orphanage. Omega, allied secretly with the CIA and other governments' agencies, created the DNA on orphan boys and girls who have been born and bred to serve Omega.These specially-birthed children have been taught how to reach their brain frequencies and how to let the right part of their brains take over for the left.But Nine wants out of Omega, cuts the tracking microchip from his arm, and steals a flashdrive that tells where to locate the last Japanese hidden treasure from World War II. And this is only the beginning of this first-rate thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats as Nine escapes the ever-present forces of Omega. Great characters, great plot that's well-written and formatted. Who could ask for more?
February 17, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. Reminded me a lot of the Jason Borne movie series. I'm looking forward to reading the prequel and sequel set to come out this year. Fun book.
April 30, 2012
My first thriller and I am totally hooked. Superbly written and totally believable story.
June 28, 2012
Action packed - intense - gripping - edge of the seat
What a great book this was. Great plot - great story.
I can see this as a movie - James Bond (no Sebastian Hannar) that is.
What a great book this was. Great plot - great story.
I can see this as a movie - James Bond (no Sebastian Hannar) that is.
February 21, 2012
James and Lance Morcan’s, The Ninth Orphan, is a suspense-laden spy novel that keeps you engaged through every twist and turn in this fantastic maze of desperation and intrigue. Readers will love its brisk pace from start to finish, with cloak and dagger action and new dangers at every turn. Conspiracy fans will appreciate the Morcan’s efforts in developing the back-story and crafting the detail, making this a believable and gripping story of a rouge agent who simply wants a taste of freedom.
Nine wants out; a chance to enjoy a life, free from the Omega Group and the espionage and killing that are all he’s ever known. As a toddler in the Pedemont Orphanage, Nine grew from the Omega Group’s prodigal student to their most effective operative. But on his last assignment, Nine decides it’s time to make an exit. Poised to reach his goal, Nine’s plan unravels when he inadvertently crosses paths with the exotic Isabelle Alleget. As Omega agents and nearly every security and police element in France close in, Nine will have to tap into every bit of his substantial training and experience to reach his island paradise alive.
The beauty behind the Omega Group and its top agent, Nine, are built on the foundation of multiple conspiracy theories we’ve heard in the past. Many authors have tried to tie these together before but few have succeeded in writing a story that delivers the concepts in an entertaining package like James and Lance Morcan have done with The Ninth Orphan.
This is a four-star read for those wanting a story with a great mix of non-stop action and interesting characters whose conflicted personalities drive the plot along a razor’s edge.
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
Nine wants out; a chance to enjoy a life, free from the Omega Group and the espionage and killing that are all he’s ever known. As a toddler in the Pedemont Orphanage, Nine grew from the Omega Group’s prodigal student to their most effective operative. But on his last assignment, Nine decides it’s time to make an exit. Poised to reach his goal, Nine’s plan unravels when he inadvertently crosses paths with the exotic Isabelle Alleget. As Omega agents and nearly every security and police element in France close in, Nine will have to tap into every bit of his substantial training and experience to reach his island paradise alive.
The beauty behind the Omega Group and its top agent, Nine, are built on the foundation of multiple conspiracy theories we’ve heard in the past. Many authors have tried to tie these together before but few have succeeded in writing a story that delivers the concepts in an entertaining package like James and Lance Morcan have done with The Ninth Orphan.
This is a four-star read for those wanting a story with a great mix of non-stop action and interesting characters whose conflicted personalities drive the plot along a razor’s edge.
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
May 1, 2012
Our hero, Nine, is one of a collection of orphans, created and raised by a secret society bent on running the world from behind the scenes. These children are destined to be top assassins, but Nine is going against his programming despite being the teachers favorite.
When he has the opportunity to try and leave the organization with enough money to live out his life, he takes it. His bosses are not happy about this and send his mentor and Seventeen, a female orphan, to bring back the money he is making off with.
Mix in a beautiful girl who is first a hostage and then a lover, and the story has a nice mix of directions it can go.
This book is fast paced, and I mean fast. It read much like a TV episode, with lots of scene changes. Detail is sacrificed to keep the story moving at breakneck speed. I could have used a little more detail, but this did not significantly detract from my enjoyment.
The eBook formatting and editing was good.
When he has the opportunity to try and leave the organization with enough money to live out his life, he takes it. His bosses are not happy about this and send his mentor and Seventeen, a female orphan, to bring back the money he is making off with.
Mix in a beautiful girl who is first a hostage and then a lover, and the story has a nice mix of directions it can go.
This book is fast paced, and I mean fast. It read much like a TV episode, with lots of scene changes. Detail is sacrificed to keep the story moving at breakneck speed. I could have used a little more detail, but this did not significantly detract from my enjoyment.
The eBook formatting and editing was good.
February 18, 2013
Nine, as he was called due to being the ninth born orphan, was raised by a secret organization that was far underground. He and many others were genetic experiments that were made to become secret killers that can blend in like a chameleon and never be noticed.
Nine wants out and wants to be a free man.
Isabelle ends up in the middle of it and it's all sue to her photography hobby and she took a photo of a disguised man.
Nine takes Isabelle as a hostage but not because he has a choice. He didn't want to kill her, he didn't want to leave her for the Omega (the secret organization). He knew that if the Omega got her, she wouldn't stand a chance and already knew to much.
On the run for his life, with Isabelle in tow, he's fighting to keep her safe and himself alive.
Will he keep Isabelle alive? Will he find his freedom?
Find out when you read
The Ninth Orphan!
Nine wants out and wants to be a free man.
Isabelle ends up in the middle of it and it's all sue to her photography hobby and she took a photo of a disguised man.
Nine takes Isabelle as a hostage but not because he has a choice. He didn't want to kill her, he didn't want to leave her for the Omega (the secret organization). He knew that if the Omega got her, she wouldn't stand a chance and already knew to much.
On the run for his life, with Isabelle in tow, he's fighting to keep her safe and himself alive.
Will he keep Isabelle alive? Will he find his freedom?
Find out when you read
The Ninth Orphan!
November 26, 2012
I judge a book by its ability to paint a picture in my mind with the words the author chooses and The Ninth Orphan is a 3D blockbuster. It slowly draws you in and keeps you hooked until you realize you're at the end of the book. I started the book this morning and just couldn't put it down...good thing it was the perfect rainy day to get wrapped up in a good book. Can't wait to ready the next book in the Trilogy! The Orphan Factory
January 31, 2013
OMG! First of all, please know that this book is outside of the genre I have normally read. However, it will not be the last as I found myself unable to put it down. A very suspenseful spy thriller... don't start it when you need to get to sleep! The Ninth Orphan is the tale of one of a group of children who were genetically manipulated and raised from inception to be operatives for a clandestine organization in a very controlled environment. This is the tale of one of those children who makes a break from the organization that has been the only "parent" he knows. BTW, I've now started reading the prequel to this story (and it's awesome!) I look forward to more great reads from these authors!
April 21, 2012
This novel was partially set in my hometown of Chicago, so I found that aspect very cool.
The Chicago scenes are just the backstory though and this novel spans many different countries and corners of the globe.
Found this a seamless read and finished the whole book in under 4 hours.
Bottom line: A fantastic thriller!!
The Chicago scenes are just the backstory though and this novel spans many different countries and corners of the globe.
Found this a seamless read and finished the whole book in under 4 hours.
Bottom line: A fantastic thriller!!
December 8, 2015
I received a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Ninth Orphan is a fast-paced spy thriller about a man who was raised to be a ruthless assassin, but now wants to be free of what he's been trained to do all his life. To get what he wants, he'll have to fight against the Omega agency, the very thing that produced him, in what proves to be a great story of action-packed adventure at every turn.
Spy novels are often quite a difficult genre to write, at least not well anyways. But this novel does a good job of covering things that other books of its genre lack. It pays great attention to detail, and has a complicated, yet well written plot. There isn't anything that is left with no explanation, for example, near the beginning I wondered how Nine would carry around everything he needed for his disguises, only for my question to be answered not very much later.
The characterisation at times seemed a bit off for the main character, Nine. His personality would occasionally change from what it was described or shown to be and at the start of the story, his motivations weren't completely clear. However, more depth is brought to the character as the story goes on and we come to understand him much better.
Unlike the pace of this novel though, the romance didn't occur too quickly, and took time to develop, which made it a lot more believable and seemed more natural and not too forced. Other relationships are also explored, such as the one between Nine and his mentor, Kentbridge, although I felt that more background could have been given on this for us to understand things a bit better.
The writing style is direct and to the point. I noticed a few sentences that could have been rephrased to sound better and also a couple of typos, but they did not take much away from the delivery of the story.
Overall, The Ninth Orphan was quite an enjoyable story to read, and it does live up to the general expectations that come with its genre.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Ninth Orphan is a fast-paced spy thriller about a man who was raised to be a ruthless assassin, but now wants to be free of what he's been trained to do all his life. To get what he wants, he'll have to fight against the Omega agency, the very thing that produced him, in what proves to be a great story of action-packed adventure at every turn.
Spy novels are often quite a difficult genre to write, at least not well anyways. But this novel does a good job of covering things that other books of its genre lack. It pays great attention to detail, and has a complicated, yet well written plot. There isn't anything that is left with no explanation, for example, near the beginning I wondered how Nine would carry around everything he needed for his disguises, only for my question to be answered not very much later.
The characterisation at times seemed a bit off for the main character, Nine. His personality would occasionally change from what it was described or shown to be and at the start of the story, his motivations weren't completely clear. However, more depth is brought to the character as the story goes on and we come to understand him much better.
Unlike the pace of this novel though, the romance didn't occur too quickly, and took time to develop, which made it a lot more believable and seemed more natural and not too forced. Other relationships are also explored, such as the one between Nine and his mentor, Kentbridge, although I felt that more background could have been given on this for us to understand things a bit better.
The writing style is direct and to the point. I noticed a few sentences that could have been rephrased to sound better and also a couple of typos, but they did not take much away from the delivery of the story.
Overall, The Ninth Orphan was quite an enjoyable story to read, and it does live up to the general expectations that come with its genre.
January 23, 2016
THE NINTH ORPHAN is a slick spy thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story revolves around a secret organization, The Omega Agency, that has raised a genetically-enhanced group of orphans. From the moment they could talk, the children have been trained in all aspects of being a spy/assassin. In this Pedemont Project, no one has a name; they are referred to as a number. Nine has been the best of the best for years doing whatever his superiors have told him, but there is a crack in his perfect veneer. He wants out and that means all out war against the Omega group.
In his desperate attempt to escape the clutches of this evil group, he involves the beautiful daughter of a French politician, Isabelle Alleget. She has inadvertently photographed him in a Paris marketplace. There can be no record of him ever being there and now Nine is forced to deal with this unexpected development. And here is his conundrum--his cold and calculating mind cracks further and he cannot do what he needs to do.
The authors have done a good job of fleshing out Nine's character. He is the perfect chameleon changing disguises as easily as someone brushing their teeth although I did not find some parts believable that a ruthless assassin would cry--such a 180 degree turn in his personality didn't ring true for me. I would have also liked to be privy to the reason "why" Nine wanted out. What happened that tipped his hand after all these years? That would have helped me understand Nine's motivations better. However, despite this complaint, the story moves along like a bullet train of non-stop action. Throw in a bit of romance, a sex-driven Chinese agent and a ruthless supervisor who wants to kill Nine and you've got an enjoyable read for fans of spy/thriller stories.
In his desperate attempt to escape the clutches of this evil group, he involves the beautiful daughter of a French politician, Isabelle Alleget. She has inadvertently photographed him in a Paris marketplace. There can be no record of him ever being there and now Nine is forced to deal with this unexpected development. And here is his conundrum--his cold and calculating mind cracks further and he cannot do what he needs to do.
The authors have done a good job of fleshing out Nine's character. He is the perfect chameleon changing disguises as easily as someone brushing their teeth although I did not find some parts believable that a ruthless assassin would cry--such a 180 degree turn in his personality didn't ring true for me. I would have also liked to be privy to the reason "why" Nine wanted out. What happened that tipped his hand after all these years? That would have helped me understand Nine's motivations better. However, despite this complaint, the story moves along like a bullet train of non-stop action. Throw in a bit of romance, a sex-driven Chinese agent and a ruthless supervisor who wants to kill Nine and you've got an enjoyable read for fans of spy/thriller stories.
March 11, 2013
This is a good thriller. You jump right into the story, which has plenty of twists and turns. It wasn't one of those books that you just can't put down, but once you started, it was easy to reader for an hour and think its only been ten minutes.
There were times when the special talent of the main character was a bit overused, but it didn't deter from the story. And there were things the characters did that seemed far fetched, but that's to be expected in a story like this.
The character development was woven into the story, so the characters felt very realistic without large chunks of the book devoted to that.
This book is a fun read and would make a great James Bond or Mission Impossible movie.
There were times when the special talent of the main character was a bit overused, but it didn't deter from the story. And there were things the characters did that seemed far fetched, but that's to be expected in a story like this.
The character development was woven into the story, so the characters felt very realistic without large chunks of the book devoted to that.
This book is a fun read and would make a great James Bond or Mission Impossible movie.
March 17, 2013
Mr. Morcan has written an excellent novel about a group of children that are raised in an orphanage run by the Omega Group. They are trained to be highly intelligent, master of disguises, and to kill on demand from Omega leaders. The orphans had no childhood as we know it. One orphan, who is different than the others wants out to have what others in the world have-freedom. Freedom to be who he really is and not a puppet for Omega. The orphans are called by numbers, which is the order of their births. Nine has a very dangerous journey to find that freedom and not sure whether he can actually acquire it. Very exciting reading and leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat as he goes through one adventure to another. This is a Goodreads First Read book.
March 18, 2013
If you enjoy an action-packed spy thriller, then The Ninth Orphan is the book for you.
Nine is one of the genetically enhanced orphans that was raised by a secret organiztion called Omega to be a trained killer. He is a master of disquise, highly intelligent and referred to only by his number. Nine is tired of being a pawn to be used by the Omega leaders and is determined to break free.
The author did a great job developing each cahracter. I can see Nine as a combination of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible and Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. I enjoyed this story and look forward to the next installment.
Nine is one of the genetically enhanced orphans that was raised by a secret organiztion called Omega to be a trained killer. He is a master of disquise, highly intelligent and referred to only by his number. Nine is tired of being a pawn to be used by the Omega leaders and is determined to break free.
The author did a great job developing each cahracter. I can see Nine as a combination of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible and Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. I enjoyed this story and look forward to the next installment.
March 5, 2013
Quick, action packed thriller can be credited to the first book in the Orphan trilogy. I look forward to learning more about the main character, Sebastian in the other two novels.
February 14, 2016
The Ninth Orphan sits comfortably somewhere in between The Da Vinci Code and The Bourne Identity and has all the necessary ingredients for a good conspiracy thriller. Written in a clean, smooth, punchy style, the story starts in the middle of the action and keeps on running.
The protagonist Nine is one of twenty three orphans, raised by a secret organisation, to become highly advanced super spies, and now Nine realises he wants out.
One thing that sets this apart from other such thrillers is the weaving of real conspiracies/truths amongst the fictional story. It contains many references to things like the Bildeberg Group, the CIA's mind control project MKUltra, how Africa has been robbed of its resources by wars and big business, as is the set up of the whole world, and so on. (See the authors' non-fiction book The Orphan Conspiracies for a good compilation of such topics.)
The other thing that makes this different to your average thriller is the very concept of Nine and his fellow orphans. These are super spies, genetically enhanced, highly skilled, fluent in all languages, able to speed read/photographic memories etc. And, on Nine's journey, it's his being a master of disguise (or more: a chameleon, that can seamlessly blend into a new environment with the blink of an eye) that is most explored. The idea that he is always playing someone else and has never had a chance to become himself or know himself, is central, and as his captive Isabelle joins him for the chase, we see Nine alter in an emotive human way we can all recognise.
This is a really good book, but for me, there were a few things that stopped it from being superb. When there was so much originality surrounding the story, I felt a little disappointed at the times when it was all pretty standard thriller plot stuff, and those unique themes weren't explored more. Although Nine's childhood is often referred to, I felt there could have been much more- perhaps flashbacks like the prologue; I kept wanting to know more about the dark side of the orphans being raised. And when such potentially brilliant scenes arise like Cho Wu's acupuncture torture, I just wished the authors had taken things even further to create a darkly memorable scene such as Bond's torture in Casino Royale. (Cho Wu, by the way, is an excellent character- an agent with a sex addiction, which forms a neat little sub story with some much needed humour.) The Ninth Orphan nearly delivered on all cylinders, but just not quite, and I'm hoping that books two and three will satisfy my yearning for more.
Harry Whitewolf (Author of Route Number 11: Argentina, Angels & Alcohol).
The protagonist Nine is one of twenty three orphans, raised by a secret organisation, to become highly advanced super spies, and now Nine realises he wants out.
One thing that sets this apart from other such thrillers is the weaving of real conspiracies/truths amongst the fictional story. It contains many references to things like the Bildeberg Group, the CIA's mind control project MKUltra, how Africa has been robbed of its resources by wars and big business, as is the set up of the whole world, and so on. (See the authors' non-fiction book The Orphan Conspiracies for a good compilation of such topics.)
The other thing that makes this different to your average thriller is the very concept of Nine and his fellow orphans. These are super spies, genetically enhanced, highly skilled, fluent in all languages, able to speed read/photographic memories etc. And, on Nine's journey, it's his being a master of disguise (or more: a chameleon, that can seamlessly blend into a new environment with the blink of an eye) that is most explored. The idea that he is always playing someone else and has never had a chance to become himself or know himself, is central, and as his captive Isabelle joins him for the chase, we see Nine alter in an emotive human way we can all recognise.
This is a really good book, but for me, there were a few things that stopped it from being superb. When there was so much originality surrounding the story, I felt a little disappointed at the times when it was all pretty standard thriller plot stuff, and those unique themes weren't explored more. Although Nine's childhood is often referred to, I felt there could have been much more- perhaps flashbacks like the prologue; I kept wanting to know more about the dark side of the orphans being raised. And when such potentially brilliant scenes arise like Cho Wu's acupuncture torture, I just wished the authors had taken things even further to create a darkly memorable scene such as Bond's torture in Casino Royale. (Cho Wu, by the way, is an excellent character- an agent with a sex addiction, which forms a neat little sub story with some much needed humour.) The Ninth Orphan nearly delivered on all cylinders, but just not quite, and I'm hoping that books two and three will satisfy my yearning for more.
Harry Whitewolf (Author of Route Number 11: Argentina, Angels & Alcohol).
March 16, 2012
Four stars for a compelling read, interesting story and both characters and a world worth revisiting.
Ninth Orphan's storytelling and pacing reminded me a great deal of "The Bourne Identity." I've had a lot of people describe reading the Bourne books as "Running with Jason" and "Ninth Orphan" definitely made me feel as if I were "running with Nine." Fast-paced (as the "running would imply), it was compelling enough to read my way through in a day, although it certainly hadn't been my intention to get through it. The writing was overall very fluid, descriptive but without going overboard. Unfortunately, the book didn't leave me with either a rush or a lasting impression. I'm interested enough that I'd like to read the other books--a sequel and prequel due this year--but I'm not feeling that "What do you mean I can't have it sooner?" feeling that would give it a five star review. Oddly, I almost feel the book would benefit from being a little bit longer, allowing you to stay with the characters longer and really get attached to them deeply.
Overall, a very satisfying and compelling read, recommended to thriller and conspiracy-lovers.
Ninth Orphan's storytelling and pacing reminded me a great deal of "The Bourne Identity." I've had a lot of people describe reading the Bourne books as "Running with Jason" and "Ninth Orphan" definitely made me feel as if I were "running with Nine." Fast-paced (as the "running would imply), it was compelling enough to read my way through in a day, although it certainly hadn't been my intention to get through it. The writing was overall very fluid, descriptive but without going overboard. Unfortunately, the book didn't leave me with either a rush or a lasting impression. I'm interested enough that I'd like to read the other books--a sequel and prequel due this year--but I'm not feeling that "What do you mean I can't have it sooner?" feeling that would give it a five star review. Oddly, I almost feel the book would benefit from being a little bit longer, allowing you to stay with the characters longer and really get attached to them deeply.
Overall, a very satisfying and compelling read, recommended to thriller and conspiracy-lovers.
December 20, 2015
I read this book a long while ago, and it still remains with me as perhaps the main novel that gives me hope for humanity. Authors CAN be intelligent and aware of the realities of the world and boldly address them, trusting in readers to care about the corruption that goes unreported in the mass media.
I have immense respect for these authors and their calm and reasoned discussions of topics with their readers, their fearless concern with facts so many others won't touch. This can bring together a community of outlier readers and encourage other authors to go public.
Here is a blog post I wrote in which I mentioned the book: Amusement Ride or Museum - https://tantrabensko.wordpress.com/20...
I very much enjoyed reading it as entertainment, caring about the characters and the quest, turning the pages with heated interest, finding it clear and logical, dramatic, easy to picture, and compelling to recommend to friends.
I have immense respect for these authors and their calm and reasoned discussions of topics with their readers, their fearless concern with facts so many others won't touch. This can bring together a community of outlier readers and encourage other authors to go public.
Here is a blog post I wrote in which I mentioned the book: Amusement Ride or Museum - https://tantrabensko.wordpress.com/20...
I very much enjoyed reading it as entertainment, caring about the characters and the quest, turning the pages with heated interest, finding it clear and logical, dramatic, easy to picture, and compelling to recommend to friends.
March 21, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. The premise was unique, the characters were interesting and believable for the most part. There were a few parts of the book that didn't flow well - it seemed almost like the authors weren't quite sure how to get from one point to the next so they wrote an awkward 5 or 6 paragraphs to move the story to where they wanted it to go. Two things I was very appreciative of: 1. a character with a sexual fetish that could have morphed into explicit or erotic writing, but didn't (YaY!). and 2. there was very little swearing (which I feel often detracts from a book and almost never adds to a story). All in all, a very enjoyable read!
May 18, 2014
This book is an action-packed thriller - from the moment I started to read it, I was constantly wondering what would happen next. The story is based on a conspiracy theory that I believed might just be true. I was drawn to the main character's personality from the beginning and was captivated by him and the other "members of the cast" throughout the tale. What great imagination the authors have - I felt as though I was transported from my actual surroundings to the various places where the story is set. Although written by two people, the writing style is seamless - I have been fully entertained. Now I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 11, 2020
Quick update. Morcan mentions a conspiracy-linked book, "The Catcher in the Rye," and a movie about a conspiracy, "The Manchurian Candidate." Morcan had borrowed concepts from the movie, particularly hypnotism and mind programming. I watched the 2004 version last night. Wow. Hell of a good movie! I forgot I was watching a movie. I'm usually staring at my phone or plotting some existential problem related to women, or a lack thereof. I reserved the sixties version and hope to see it soon. Who knows, after that... TBR? Thank you for the leads Mr. Morcan.
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So, this is a tricky one for me. That line, ya know, between personal preference and giving others a recommendation. I'm in this phase right now. I'm hungry for different. Good/ Bad. Irrelevant. I just want interesting. I want experience.
Here's the thing. I read this a couple years ago, and gave it one star. Didn't finish. My speculation: many of my friends will do the same. Why? It doesn't meet "literary" standards. If you can't turn off your critical mind, you won't make it through this. But my mind has changed since I've been reading, particularly Bruce Lee and Krishnamurti. More Krishnamurti. I won't bore you with the details of that. I will only say: I'm looking for experiential knowledge rather than head knowledge. Knowledge accessed in the moment rather than stored to create a delusion of the self.
What's my point? Five stars. I loved this story. It was very cool! It gave me a great escape, great pleasure.
Why did I originally rate in one star? I don't know. I was spoiled. I only read Stephen King back then. Really, though, who can match Stephen King, especially if he is the only author you read. The man should have his own genre, as should Rowling for HP.
Morcan combines thrill, conspiracy, espionage, martial arts, "changing face dragon"s, plot twists, fast-paced scenes, guns, action, high technology. What more do you need?
Well, okay, the writing. But can't writing be compared to say, an ugly dude with a great heart? Or an ugly girl with a sexy science brain, or an ugly girl who writes like she is the satin her novels pull you into? It can go the other way you know. Kate Upton's body with the personality of Emperor Nero. You're happy to get a date with her until she gets kinky that night and douses you with kerosene.
Anyways, I liked it. A lot. Story: Five. Writing technique: One. Sorry to be harsh but really man, this needed some editing. It would have been worth the investment. Peace of mind, Anxiety relief: 5.
11/15. Comes to like 3.6666666.... stars.
I plan to read the next in the series.
------------
So, this is a tricky one for me. That line, ya know, between personal preference and giving others a recommendation. I'm in this phase right now. I'm hungry for different. Good/ Bad. Irrelevant. I just want interesting. I want experience.
Here's the thing. I read this a couple years ago, and gave it one star. Didn't finish. My speculation: many of my friends will do the same. Why? It doesn't meet "literary" standards. If you can't turn off your critical mind, you won't make it through this. But my mind has changed since I've been reading, particularly Bruce Lee and Krishnamurti. More Krishnamurti. I won't bore you with the details of that. I will only say: I'm looking for experiential knowledge rather than head knowledge. Knowledge accessed in the moment rather than stored to create a delusion of the self.
What's my point? Five stars. I loved this story. It was very cool! It gave me a great escape, great pleasure.
Why did I originally rate in one star? I don't know. I was spoiled. I only read Stephen King back then. Really, though, who can match Stephen King, especially if he is the only author you read. The man should have his own genre, as should Rowling for HP.
Morcan combines thrill, conspiracy, espionage, martial arts, "changing face dragon"s, plot twists, fast-paced scenes, guns, action, high technology. What more do you need?
Well, okay, the writing. But can't writing be compared to say, an ugly dude with a great heart? Or an ugly girl with a sexy science brain, or an ugly girl who writes like she is the satin her novels pull you into? It can go the other way you know. Kate Upton's body with the personality of Emperor Nero. You're happy to get a date with her until she gets kinky that night and douses you with kerosene.
Anyways, I liked it. A lot. Story: Five. Writing technique: One. Sorry to be harsh but really man, this needed some editing. It would have been worth the investment. Peace of mind, Anxiety relief: 5.
11/15. Comes to like 3.6666666.... stars.
I plan to read the next in the series.
June 26, 2016
This is the first volume of The Orphan Trilogy, and the only volume as yet available as a physical book. I look forward to reading Volumes 2 + 3, when they also appear in physical form.
An organization called the Omega Agency have “bred” a series of “orphans” with superior genes and trained them from birth to be cold and cynical assassins. They have been assigned numbers instead of names (presumably) to depersonalize them.
The book relates the story of the most gifted of these orphans, Nine. He has made the decision to flee the organization, find out who he really is, and make a life of his own where the Agency cannot find him.
The two leaders of Omega, Kentbridge, who had been a father figure for Nine, and Naylor, are hot on his trail, together with a female orphan, Seventeen, who had always been envious of Nine´s favoured position and wishes to “terminate” him.
Nine arranges the sale to the Chinese of a valuable treasure in order to finance his future secluded life on a distant island. However he finds himself obliged to take with him a desirable Frenchwoman, Isabelle, who inadvertently learns of his destination. He cannot bring himself to kill her and thus must drag her with him as he flees.
Nine´s escape is aided by his amazing talent for assuming innumerable disguises, as taught him by the Agency.
The book distinguishes itself by its not only being an exceedingly readable page-turner of a thriller but also being one in which the protagonist is portrayed not just superficially, as is the general rule in such books, but as a more fully rounded character, a young man who is attempting to become a normal person, despite his more than tainted upbringing.
He begins his first real relationship with Isabelle, and his feelings for her are reciprocated.
This is a work of fiction, but figures and organizations from real life, such as the notorious Bilderberg Group, are mentioned. Various aspects of life we are aware of from “conspiracy theories”, such as mind control, form part of the book´s content.
I hope that the main theme of the book, that of the existence of these trained orphan assassins, is fiction, but it would not surprise me if it were not.
The book is well-written, and is a joy to read, though the authors should perhaps brush up their basic French skills.
I strongly recommend that you read this thrilling and illuminating book.
An organization called the Omega Agency have “bred” a series of “orphans” with superior genes and trained them from birth to be cold and cynical assassins. They have been assigned numbers instead of names (presumably) to depersonalize them.
The book relates the story of the most gifted of these orphans, Nine. He has made the decision to flee the organization, find out who he really is, and make a life of his own where the Agency cannot find him.
The two leaders of Omega, Kentbridge, who had been a father figure for Nine, and Naylor, are hot on his trail, together with a female orphan, Seventeen, who had always been envious of Nine´s favoured position and wishes to “terminate” him.
Nine arranges the sale to the Chinese of a valuable treasure in order to finance his future secluded life on a distant island. However he finds himself obliged to take with him a desirable Frenchwoman, Isabelle, who inadvertently learns of his destination. He cannot bring himself to kill her and thus must drag her with him as he flees.
Nine´s escape is aided by his amazing talent for assuming innumerable disguises, as taught him by the Agency.
The book distinguishes itself by its not only being an exceedingly readable page-turner of a thriller but also being one in which the protagonist is portrayed not just superficially, as is the general rule in such books, but as a more fully rounded character, a young man who is attempting to become a normal person, despite his more than tainted upbringing.
He begins his first real relationship with Isabelle, and his feelings for her are reciprocated.
This is a work of fiction, but figures and organizations from real life, such as the notorious Bilderberg Group, are mentioned. Various aspects of life we are aware of from “conspiracy theories”, such as mind control, form part of the book´s content.
I hope that the main theme of the book, that of the existence of these trained orphan assassins, is fiction, but it would not surprise me if it were not.
The book is well-written, and is a joy to read, though the authors should perhaps brush up their basic French skills.
I strongly recommend that you read this thrilling and illuminating book.
October 20, 2012
This was a boring simplistic thriller written for 12 year olds. The premise interested me that's why i picked it up. Sort of a Ludlumesque Bourne thriller with Camreon's Dark Angel tv series thrown in - so I thought. After a few chapters though, I realized the writing is so simplistic. This must be a young (very young) teen book. It could've been edited or written better. The other thing that annoyed me was the way the authors kept shoving down our throats how a great master of disguise the protagonist is. Every time he put one on, there's a lengthy explanation of what he's doing - make-up, lipstick, false hair etc. - then in the end there's always some other character who oooooooohs and aaaaaaaahs about it and let us the reader know how masterful he is. After the first transformation, I think I don't have to be told of the next one in the same exact way... and the next.... and the next. A better way would've been to keep us, the readers, in the dark as to what his latest disguise is and be as surprised with the reveal as the person he is meeting. Like I said, written for a 12 year old. The story became predictable too so I stopped reading, checked how it ended and sure enough, I was right. Really, if you haven't read the Bourne series just read that. Your intelligence and vocabulary is better challenged than this book.
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