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Orphan X #10
Nemesis
No greater friend. No deadlier enemy.
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.
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.
Audiobook
First published February 11, 2025
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About the author
Gregg Hurwitz
304 books6,864 followersGregg Hurwitz is the critically acclaimed, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 20 novels, including OUT OF THE DARK (2019). His novels have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 30 languages.
He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles.
He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,021 reviews
December 1, 2024
Ready to see a very different side to our Orphan X?
Evan Smoak, known to the rest of the world as Orphan X and The Nowhere Man, lives by a certain set of rules and values. Near the top of that list is loyalty. So when Evan feels betrayed by his best friend, Tommy Stojack, he finds it necessary to end the friendship in the most permanent of ways. It’s an unthinkable war between the two friends.
To say the least, Evan has not lived an easy life as Orphan X. Now, facing his Nemesis may be the hardest challenge he’s ever faced.
It’s time for Evan to do some deep soul searching, questioning everything. It’s a fight he never wanted or saw coming. Will the Nowhere Man come out the same by the end?
He isn’t the only one questioning his own beliefs. Joey is struggling as well, trying to find her place in a society fueled by social media and hatred. At age seventeen she is learning some valuable life lessons.
This is book ten of the series. And it’s a new favorite. I love a book that’s not only action-packed but does a deep dive into the character's souls. Gregg Hurwitz delivers big time on both. I feel like I got to see a side of Evan and Joey they’ve managed to keep hidden from themselves and each other.
What’s next for our favorite superhero? I can’t wait to see where Gregg Hurwitz takes Evan (and Joey) next!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press
Evan Smoak, known to the rest of the world as Orphan X and The Nowhere Man, lives by a certain set of rules and values. Near the top of that list is loyalty. So when Evan feels betrayed by his best friend, Tommy Stojack, he finds it necessary to end the friendship in the most permanent of ways. It’s an unthinkable war between the two friends.
To say the least, Evan has not lived an easy life as Orphan X. Now, facing his Nemesis may be the hardest challenge he’s ever faced.
It’s time for Evan to do some deep soul searching, questioning everything. It’s a fight he never wanted or saw coming. Will the Nowhere Man come out the same by the end?
He isn’t the only one questioning his own beliefs. Joey is struggling as well, trying to find her place in a society fueled by social media and hatred. At age seventeen she is learning some valuable life lessons.
This is book ten of the series. And it’s a new favorite. I love a book that’s not only action-packed but does a deep dive into the character's souls. Gregg Hurwitz delivers big time on both. I feel like I got to see a side of Evan and Joey they’ve managed to keep hidden from themselves and each other.
What’s next for our favorite superhero? I can’t wait to see where Gregg Hurwitz takes Evan (and Joey) next!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press
January 11, 2025
Another action packed X adventure!
This one felt ultra intense with some scenes that gave me "fight or flight" feelings with a rush of adrenaline. Oh, my heart went out to the situation between Evan and Tommy Stojack. They have been best friends and now something bad has happened and they are both watching their backs.
This is #10 in the series and one of the most heart racing imo. The conflicts, the good vs evil, and the anticipation of how things would play out had me on edge for much of the book.
I'm still thinking about the end. My 🩷
I think Evan will be back in full force for book eleven! Recommend reading this series in order!
Thanks to NG for my ARC! OUT Feb 10, 2025
This one felt ultra intense with some scenes that gave me "fight or flight" feelings with a rush of adrenaline. Oh, my heart went out to the situation between Evan and Tommy Stojack. They have been best friends and now something bad has happened and they are both watching their backs.
This is #10 in the series and one of the most heart racing imo. The conflicts, the good vs evil, and the anticipation of how things would play out had me on edge for much of the book.
I'm still thinking about the end. My 🩷
I think Evan will be back in full force for book eleven! Recommend reading this series in order!
Thanks to NG for my ARC! OUT Feb 10, 2025
February 11, 2025
Evan Smoak is back and he is raging!
As fans of Orphan X already know, Evan has dedicated his life to helping people. Call 1-800-2- Nowhere if you need help with a problem. The only fee is that you must give the same number to someone else that needs help. Each of these books are about those calls. Not this one.
This time Evan has to confront his long-time armorer, Tommy Stojack. Tommy is also Evan's friend. His ONLY friend. Life as an Orphan doesn't allow much time for relationships. Tommy has grown on me over the years, almost as much as Josephine has. And Dog, for that matter. Other than these 3, (and Vera, a plant), Evan has no one else.
This is the most introspective I've ever seen Evan. He has personal commandments. These were part of his training in the program and he NEVER veers from them.
In this book, Evan is thinking mostly about commandment # 4: "Never make it personal." But this IS personal. Evan's trainer in the program was doing his best to be sure Evan retained his humanity in the face of all the ugly things he would be asked to do. I think this book proves that his trainer was successful. At the same time, I hated that he agonized over Tommy. I also loved him even more because of it.
There is a subplot here regarding Josephine, (Joey), as she works her way through college and trying to fit in. Due to her past, she doesn't have much social experience and gaining that experience is often painful. I enjoy her character, always, but Tommy and Evan steal the show in this book, no doubt about it.
The tension ramps up to intense levels around 75% through and doesn't let up until the finale. I feel all tough when I read these books, like I'm absorbing some of Evan's personality somehow, but this denouement? I admit that I teared up just a little. Maybe ugly cried for a moment. Maybe.
Once again, Evan Smoak doesn't disappoint and neither does Gregg Hurwitz. Scott Brick narrates all the Orphan X books, and when I have a choice, I choose to listen. His voicing is emotionally charged and gets through all the technical jargon regarding weaponry, data extraction, and whatnot perfectly, and the action scenes? Well, he just nails them. As a result, when I do READ these, it's in the voice of Scott Brick.
If you can't tell by this point, I loved this book. It's another excellent Orphan X entry from Gregg Hurwitz. Now I eagerly await the next!
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher
As fans of Orphan X already know, Evan has dedicated his life to helping people. Call 1-800-2- Nowhere if you need help with a problem. The only fee is that you must give the same number to someone else that needs help. Each of these books are about those calls. Not this one.
This time Evan has to confront his long-time armorer, Tommy Stojack. Tommy is also Evan's friend. His ONLY friend. Life as an Orphan doesn't allow much time for relationships. Tommy has grown on me over the years, almost as much as Josephine has. And Dog, for that matter. Other than these 3, (and Vera, a plant), Evan has no one else.
This is the most introspective I've ever seen Evan. He has personal commandments. These were part of his training in the program and he NEVER veers from them.
"How you do anything is how you do everything."
"If you don't know what to do, do nothing."
In this book, Evan is thinking mostly about commandment # 4: "Never make it personal." But this IS personal. Evan's trainer in the program was doing his best to be sure Evan retained his humanity in the face of all the ugly things he would be asked to do. I think this book proves that his trainer was successful. At the same time, I hated that he agonized over Tommy. I also loved him even more because of it.
There is a subplot here regarding Josephine, (Joey), as she works her way through college and trying to fit in. Due to her past, she doesn't have much social experience and gaining that experience is often painful. I enjoy her character, always, but Tommy and Evan steal the show in this book, no doubt about it.
The tension ramps up to intense levels around 75% through and doesn't let up until the finale. I feel all tough when I read these books, like I'm absorbing some of Evan's personality somehow, but this denouement? I admit that I teared up just a little. Maybe ugly cried for a moment. Maybe.
Once again, Evan Smoak doesn't disappoint and neither does Gregg Hurwitz. Scott Brick narrates all the Orphan X books, and when I have a choice, I choose to listen. His voicing is emotionally charged and gets through all the technical jargon regarding weaponry, data extraction, and whatnot perfectly, and the action scenes? Well, he just nails them. As a result, when I do READ these, it's in the voice of Scott Brick.
If you can't tell by this point, I loved this book. It's another excellent Orphan X entry from Gregg Hurwitz. Now I eagerly await the next!
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher
June 2, 2025
Hurwitz's Nemesis takes it to the next level with this super-charged and emotional latest edition in the Orphan X series.
Unbelievably, Evan (Orphan X) no longer views Tommy as his best friend and long time mentor. He's become nothing more than someone to be extinguished ... His Nemesis.
Early on we learn Evan only knows one side to the story and isn't interested in hearing Tommy's. What ensues is some of the most intense and action packed battles to date. And all culminating with an ending so shocking it felt like a one-two punch.
Highly recommend. Cannot wait to find out how it plays out in book eleven.
Narrator Scott Brick is (as always) a phenom. He is why I will only listen to this series. Many accolades.
Unbelievably, Evan (Orphan X) no longer views Tommy as his best friend and long time mentor. He's become nothing more than someone to be extinguished ... His Nemesis.
Early on we learn Evan only knows one side to the story and isn't interested in hearing Tommy's. What ensues is some of the most intense and action packed battles to date. And all culminating with an ending so shocking it felt like a one-two punch.
Highly recommend. Cannot wait to find out how it plays out in book eleven.
Narrator Scott Brick is (as always) a phenom. He is why I will only listen to this series. Many accolades.
February 21, 2025
How would you feel if one of your few trusted friends betrayed you? Evan, Orphan X, is facing this quandary. Was he really stabbed in the back by his trusted friend,Tommy,the producer of the tools of destruction needed for his missions, the one that had his six,his trusted friend?
Complicating his life more is Joey. She is still trying to fit in with a world she is unaccustomed to participating in at the age of nineteen. Evan is not the most sympathetic person when it comes to living in the mainstream of the world. Thus the anger between them. Due to his reaction to her plight, she shuts him out of her life, only continuing to support him on his current mission.
Tommy heads out of town to help a friend. He quickly finds the task at hand is almost insurmountable. He is dealing with young men who practically raised themselves, developing a corrupted school of thought and are prone to violence. They have formed their own opinion of life which includes racism, hatred, violence and death. This includes the death of a Hispanic father, mother, their son who was in the military service and the 8 year old nephew. Evan gets wind of this heinous act of violence, creating his next mission. Tommy’s endeavor to do a favor for a friend and Evan’s mission are on a collision course.
This book is a hot mess of emotional stew causing a bending of some of Evan’s life rules. There are points where the reading will slow down but never boring. The action is plentiful in this convoluted plot. It is a very worthy read for it will leave the reader exhausted from the emotional pull and a gaping mouth from the incredible ending.
To my fellow GR friends, enjoy the ride.
Complicating his life more is Joey. She is still trying to fit in with a world she is unaccustomed to participating in at the age of nineteen. Evan is not the most sympathetic person when it comes to living in the mainstream of the world. Thus the anger between them. Due to his reaction to her plight, she shuts him out of her life, only continuing to support him on his current mission.
Tommy heads out of town to help a friend. He quickly finds the task at hand is almost insurmountable. He is dealing with young men who practically raised themselves, developing a corrupted school of thought and are prone to violence. They have formed their own opinion of life which includes racism, hatred, violence and death. This includes the death of a Hispanic father, mother, their son who was in the military service and the 8 year old nephew. Evan gets wind of this heinous act of violence, creating his next mission. Tommy’s endeavor to do a favor for a friend and Evan’s mission are on a collision course.
This book is a hot mess of emotional stew causing a bending of some of Evan’s life rules. There are points where the reading will slow down but never boring. The action is plentiful in this convoluted plot. It is a very worthy read for it will leave the reader exhausted from the emotional pull and a gaping mouth from the incredible ending.
To my fellow GR friends, enjoy the ride.
January 24, 2025
I love Evan Smoak/Orphan X and he and the gang are back with Evan trying to make sense of the revelation from the end of the previous installment. On that note, none of the Orphan X installments make for good standalones. A reader would miss SOOO much if they weren’t read in order. JMHO I don’t want to say too much because it would truly be a spoiler for those who are reading the series in order and haven’t gotten to the Lone Wolf (#9) yet.
The book summary introduces the two primary storylines; one of Evan and Tommy being at odds with each other, which also alludes to the ending of the Lone Wolf. The other one is of Tommy trying to keep a deathbed promise to a dear friend. The issue between Evan and Tommy is a HUGE one; a total violation of their 15yr friendship that has literally blown up their friendship. Kind of reminds me of that CJ Box quote (sort of) with this small revision:
“Nothing spells trouble like two feuding best friends and a rocket launcher.”
Suffice it to say, if your ex best friend fires a rocket launcher where he thinks you have taken cover in order to take the perfect kill shot at you, there is probably no hope for “working your differences out”. So, it’s game on and Evan chases Tommy across the country in order to get retribution for the hit squad that tried to kill Evan when he showed up at Tommy’s Vegas armory compound to talk to him. In typical Orphan X fashion, Evan took the hit squad down – except one, Janus
The story flips back and forth between Evan, Tommy, Joey, with some of Evan’s chapter flipping back and forth between present-day and back when he first entered the Orphan program and was being trained by Jack, his father figure. There was also a smattering of chapters from the Four Horsemen, who are a team of assassins fulfilling a contract from Janus. Evan tracks down Tommy, who has fled Vegas, and has gone to honor a promise he made to a dying naval buddy, Delmont. Seems Tommy promised Delmont that he would look out for Delmont Jr if he ever showed up asking Tommy for help. Well, more than a decade later, Jr comes calling, asking Tommy to help him out of a jam he’s in. Seems Jr and his white supremacist friends are in trouble for mowing down, in a Charlottesville style terrorist attack, a bunch of Hispanic people attending a quinceanera in a park.
Most of the story has Evan in Nowhere Man mode (taking down murderers of innocents, especially kids) with his sights on Jr and his accomplice, and Tommy trying to teach Jr to account for his actions and behavior (ie. turning himself in). Evan and Tommy sort of come to a “cease fire” agreement on their own issues until a later date. There is also a secondary storyline of Joey dealing with the aftershocks of her involvement with a women’s empowerment group, which has caused some friction between not only Joey and Evan, but also between Joey and a group of female UCLA students that Joey has apparently offended with the work she was doing for the women’s empowerment group. Joey, an Orphan program dropout, and Evan’s quasi little sister, struggles to make friends and the women’s group were the first friends she ever had and now they are upset with her.
The end of the Tommy/Evan storyline comes in typical fashion for the series, in a bunch of intense and scary scenes with a growing body count of the bad guys. Just when I think the story is going to end the way that I wanted it to, the way I was hoping it would, Hurwitz decides to go with an ending that just broke my heart, tears and all! 😢 NO!!! I DON’T UNDERSTAND!!! WHY!!!
The continuing characterization of Evan, Tommy and Joey was so well done, even if I don’t understand some of it. All three of them are outcasts and as such, it was heartbreaking when their relationships with each other became challenged and vulnerable. They’re all they have. Life in Evan’s world will never be the same again. I’m not sure what to make of this installment. Something seems ominous about it going forward. The pacing was steady to fast, and very interesting, even if a little disturbing at times. The writing was good, for the most part, but, again, kind of sad and disturbing at times. I flipped back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook, and the narrator Scott Brick was as phenomenal as ever. LOVE his Evan and Tommy voices!!! I’ve said this before, but it bears mentioning again, Brick is the absolute PERFECT choice for an Orphan X story! I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.6 that I will be rounding up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #Nemesis
The book summary introduces the two primary storylines; one of Evan and Tommy being at odds with each other, which also alludes to the ending of the Lone Wolf. The other one is of Tommy trying to keep a deathbed promise to a dear friend. The issue between Evan and Tommy is a HUGE one; a total violation of their 15yr friendship that has literally blown up their friendship. Kind of reminds me of that CJ Box quote (sort of) with this small revision:
“Nothing spells trouble like two feuding best friends and a rocket launcher.”
Suffice it to say, if your ex best friend fires a rocket launcher where he thinks you have taken cover in order to take the perfect kill shot at you, there is probably no hope for “working your differences out”. So, it’s game on and Evan chases Tommy across the country in order to get retribution for the hit squad that tried to kill Evan when he showed up at Tommy’s Vegas armory compound to talk to him. In typical Orphan X fashion, Evan took the hit squad down – except one, Janus
The story flips back and forth between Evan, Tommy, Joey, with some of Evan’s chapter flipping back and forth between present-day and back when he first entered the Orphan program and was being trained by Jack, his father figure. There was also a smattering of chapters from the Four Horsemen, who are a team of assassins fulfilling a contract from Janus. Evan tracks down Tommy, who has fled Vegas, and has gone to honor a promise he made to a dying naval buddy, Delmont. Seems Tommy promised Delmont that he would look out for Delmont Jr if he ever showed up asking Tommy for help. Well, more than a decade later, Jr comes calling, asking Tommy to help him out of a jam he’s in. Seems Jr and his white supremacist friends are in trouble for mowing down, in a Charlottesville style terrorist attack, a bunch of Hispanic people attending a quinceanera in a park.
Most of the story has Evan in Nowhere Man mode (taking down murderers of innocents, especially kids) with his sights on Jr and his accomplice, and Tommy trying to teach Jr to account for his actions and behavior (ie. turning himself in). Evan and Tommy sort of come to a “cease fire” agreement on their own issues until a later date. There is also a secondary storyline of Joey dealing with the aftershocks of her involvement with a women’s empowerment group, which has caused some friction between not only Joey and Evan, but also between Joey and a group of female UCLA students that Joey has apparently offended with the work she was doing for the women’s empowerment group. Joey, an Orphan program dropout, and Evan’s quasi little sister, struggles to make friends and the women’s group were the first friends she ever had and now they are upset with her.
The end of the Tommy/Evan storyline comes in typical fashion for the series, in a bunch of intense and scary scenes with a growing body count of the bad guys. Just when I think the story is going to end the way that I wanted it to, the way I was hoping it would, Hurwitz decides to go with an ending that just broke my heart, tears and all! 😢 NO!!! I DON’T UNDERSTAND!!! WHY!!!
The continuing characterization of Evan, Tommy and Joey was so well done, even if I don’t understand some of it. All three of them are outcasts and as such, it was heartbreaking when their relationships with each other became challenged and vulnerable. They’re all they have. Life in Evan’s world will never be the same again. I’m not sure what to make of this installment. Something seems ominous about it going forward. The pacing was steady to fast, and very interesting, even if a little disturbing at times. The writing was good, for the most part, but, again, kind of sad and disturbing at times. I flipped back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook, and the narrator Scott Brick was as phenomenal as ever. LOVE his Evan and Tommy voices!!! I’ve said this before, but it bears mentioning again, Brick is the absolute PERFECT choice for an Orphan X story! I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.6 that I will be rounding up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #Nemesis
March 21, 2025
My ratings history for this series goes up and down like a yoyo and this book is unfortunately on the down side. There was far too much violence for me, and it seems that Evan now only has one answer to everything which is to kill anyone who was vaguely responsible.
I very nearly gave up on finishing it, but about halfway through things picked up a little and I made it to the end. There was a small promise then of changes happening in Evan's outlook on life which might make the next book less of an ordeal for him and me! The man really needs a hobby.
I can only give Nemesis three stars but I still hold out hope and will read the next book when it is published.
I very nearly gave up on finishing it, but about halfway through things picked up a little and I made it to the end. There was a small promise then of changes happening in Evan's outlook on life which might make the next book less of an ordeal for him and me! The man really needs a hobby.
I can only give Nemesis three stars but I still hold out hope and will read the next book when it is published.
August 16, 2024
‘No better friend; No worse enemy.’ Evan Smoak—Orphan X—confronts his armorer and his only friend, Tommy Stojoack. Tommy committed an unforgivable sin in Evan’s eyes by supplying the weapons that killed innocents. Evan must mete out the same justice. But Tommy isn’t like the others. The turmoil Evan experiences is unlike any he’s felt and causes his unflappable discipline to flap. Nemesis is a story of friendship, forgiveness and most importantly—assuming nothing.
Gregg Hurwitz melds intense fight scenes, breakneck pacing, and emotional depth and growth. The evolution of X (and Joey) is fascinating, hard to read, and also hopeful. An unstoppable weapon who is learning how to be a real-life boy while facing off with neo-Nazis, racist incels, and other assorted assholes.
Hurwitz’s ability to write well-researched, engaging thrillers that forces introspection is unique. One of my favorite series just got better with Nemesis.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Nemesis via NetGalley.
Gregg Hurwitz melds intense fight scenes, breakneck pacing, and emotional depth and growth. The evolution of X (and Joey) is fascinating, hard to read, and also hopeful. An unstoppable weapon who is learning how to be a real-life boy while facing off with neo-Nazis, racist incels, and other assorted assholes.
Hurwitz’s ability to write well-researched, engaging thrillers that forces introspection is unique. One of my favorite series just got better with Nemesis.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Nemesis via NetGalley.
March 6, 2025
I’m a huge fan of this series but this one really fell flat for me. I love this series because I love Evan Smoak, the Nowhere Man, and his sidekick Joey. I love his righteous pursuit of justice for those who need it. This installment mostly focused on Evan’s equipment specialist Tommy Stojack and his side quest to help out his friend’s white trash son and his racist friends and family. There were too many long drawn-out conversations held by these ignorant racist assholes, whose big talk just showed how stupid they are and Tommy trying to talk some sense into these morons. Like I’m just supposed to eventually see them as wayward children who are really good boys deep down and just need some straightening out to help them see that brutalizing the non-white people in their community is a bad thing. Come on! Just off these losers and move on!
This book was so excruciating to listen to. Even expert narrator Scott Brick couldn’t save this one. I would have absolutely DNFed it 25% of the way in if I wasn’t such a fan of the series and had to write a review in exchange for my gifted copy of the audiobook. Definitely skip this one. It’s an ugly mark on an otherwise fantastic series.
Thank you @Macmillan.Audio and @NetGalley for my gifted copy.
This book was so excruciating to listen to. Even expert narrator Scott Brick couldn’t save this one. I would have absolutely DNFed it 25% of the way in if I wasn’t such a fan of the series and had to write a review in exchange for my gifted copy of the audiobook. Definitely skip this one. It’s an ugly mark on an otherwise fantastic series.
Thank you @Macmillan.Audio and @NetGalley for my gifted copy.
July 19, 2025
I really struggled with this one. This is just such an excellent series and out of the first 8 I have four 5 star ratings and the other half are all 4. But something was off with this one. Orphan X (Evan) was a lethal govt assassin who opts out of that way of life to become the Nowhere man and takes on cases for the strongly disadvantaged who desperately need his skills. The Nowhere mans cases usually have a strong element of Evan's good vs some real serious evil. So for the first 120 pages I am simply not buying in to the things being sold. Why is Orphan X so upset with his best friend Tommy who happens to be his armorer. X has always known what he does for a living and has to know he arms everyone including some bad people. So why is he so upset that Tommy armed a person called the Wolf. More importantly why is X ready to destroy his friendship with Tommy and perhaps even kill him though that would not be the easiest of things.
So frustrated was I with it all that I looked up the reviews to see if I was alone and in so doing I came upon the problem. I fn missed book 9 which just happens to be titled The Lone WOLF. So right there and then I got so pissed as clearly this book feeds off that one as a character called the Wolf came into being the previous book and I know nothing about it. Yet I instantly assumed some very wild crap went on in the book I missed and it warrants X's frustration with Tommy. So it was easy for me a long time fan to buy in to what the author Hurwitz was selling. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Ps I really screwed up with this series as I found out I have two copies of book 8 The Last Orphan. Like what was I on here, lol?
So when X confronts Tommy about all his concerns they basically terminate their friendship with the threats of them trying to kill each other. Tommy tells him to never come to his property again. Yet the next day X is back at Tommy's place and gets shot at by a sniper who he believes is Tommy. He thinks Tommy set him up and when he flees to safety there are six guys he has to fight for his life and man does he ever. Such a cool sequence.
Unbeknownst to X, Tommy was not even there as he fled to a small hick town called Calvary to help out the teenage son of a former comrade who is begging for his help. Tommy's comrade passed and Tommy promised him to look after his son. In Calvary we learn that the son who is cleverly called Hick by the author is living with similarly aged hicksters who hate the Mexicans in the neighbouring town and have formed a militia to make sure they do not enter their town. One night Hick and and his friend Red go to their towns park where some Mexicans are partying. A family of Mexicans and they end up driving over the family and killing 4 people. The story line here was kind of cool because Tommy is not buying in to their racist crap. Tommy has served with Mexican Americans. Tommy has fought alongside Muslim's overseas. Tommy knows that there is good and bad in all cultures and tries to instill his view into this band of six sick militia members but this clearly not going to be an easy task.
Just a side note on this theme. My wife and I started watching Late Bloomer last year which in season one was a comedy about a Sikh family whose late 20 year old son quit medical school to be a comedian podcaster. So admittedly we knew nothing about Sikh culture and there is a ton of it in this excellent series. I am first generation Italian and my wife was actually born in Genoa, Italy. So we were floored by the Sikh culture portrayed in the show as the Sikh's are more Italian like than Italians, lmao. Maybe as peoples we should look at what we have in common versus our differences. Like seeing the virtual similarities between the Sikh and Italian culture was crazy. His Sikh parents and the way they were and what they emphasized for their kids was identical to our parents. Focus on the commonalities my friends. Forget the small differences!
Apologies for the rant. So when X finds out Tommy is in Calvary he wants to settle the score for what he believes is Tommy's attempt to kill him. When X gets to Calvary he quickly finds out about the sick act that Hick and Red committed which involved the killing of an 8 year old as well. Well X morphs into the Nowhere man and is intent on making those responsible pay in the worst ways. This line of his thinking is only reinforced when he finds out the local police are in fact hiding evidence and protecting the idiot militia so as to protect their own vs doing justice.
So several confrontations take place between X and the militia and X and Tommy and Tommy is trying to buy time for the kids and is pleading that X let him handle it. Tommy wants the boys to learn the error of their thinking in general and has a plan to have Red and X turn themselves in and be accountable for their actions. No easy task but he slowly does make headway.
Through one of their conversations X learns that Tommy was the target of what X confronted on his property. That a bad ass that Tommy wrongly got involved with wants him dead. X is well aware that the leader of the hit known as Janus is a serious bad ass. They both are aware that Janus has a living contract out on Tommy so killing Janus is not really an option either as someone will always come for Tommy. And those someones are currently in play with Hurwitz showing how evil and ruthless a group known as the Four Horsemen are and they are going to Calvary.
So X and Tommy team up to handle the Four Horsemen and again such great action but its a quick fix, way too quick. I am currently reading the book I skipped The Lone Wolf and when we are first introduced to the Wolf there are 60 pages of insane action. X saving a 17 year old girl who the Wolf so wronged after killing her father in their home. X battling the Wolf, X battling tons of police who he will not kill, X in high speed chases trying to elude police. The sequence in the book The Lone Wolf might be the best I ever read by Hurwitz and again its 60 pages or so of non stop continuous action. In this book things just seem so to be to easy and not the awe inspiring writing Hurwitz has delivered time after time.
And again the buy in of X and Tommy being at war. Poppycock! Had the two simply discussed things as they do in the end here there would have been no friction between the two. In the end I thought book 11 would be all Janus focused but no that does not happen and in quick short order the resolution to Janus is resolved in a way too easy way. I would have preferred another 60 page ending re Janus than the short descriptive narrative we got. Again I thought Janus might be the focus of another book the way the Wolf had segway into this one.
In the end I just so love this series and as per usual there is a ton of action here but it just seemed handled in a subpar way but I honestly think that my first gut feeling of not buying into the Tommy and X disruption was spot on especially after the ending discussion between the two. I really think that's the main thing that held me back on this one. Ps we do find out how the two met in the prologue and it is pretty cool and comes full circle in the end. Also the subject line of racism and prejudice was just hard to stomach though it is a very admirable subject to confront. You just get frustrated with the militia's views but admittedly those views are out there and in a big way. A not so easy four stars.
So frustrated was I with it all that I looked up the reviews to see if I was alone and in so doing I came upon the problem. I fn missed book 9 which just happens to be titled The Lone WOLF. So right there and then I got so pissed as clearly this book feeds off that one as a character called the Wolf came into being the previous book and I know nothing about it. Yet I instantly assumed some very wild crap went on in the book I missed and it warrants X's frustration with Tommy. So it was easy for me a long time fan to buy in to what the author Hurwitz was selling. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Ps I really screwed up with this series as I found out I have two copies of book 8 The Last Orphan. Like what was I on here, lol?
So when X confronts Tommy about all his concerns they basically terminate their friendship with the threats of them trying to kill each other. Tommy tells him to never come to his property again. Yet the next day X is back at Tommy's place and gets shot at by a sniper who he believes is Tommy. He thinks Tommy set him up and when he flees to safety there are six guys he has to fight for his life and man does he ever. Such a cool sequence.
Unbeknownst to X, Tommy was not even there as he fled to a small hick town called Calvary to help out the teenage son of a former comrade who is begging for his help. Tommy's comrade passed and Tommy promised him to look after his son. In Calvary we learn that the son who is cleverly called Hick by the author is living with similarly aged hicksters who hate the Mexicans in the neighbouring town and have formed a militia to make sure they do not enter their town. One night Hick and and his friend Red go to their towns park where some Mexicans are partying. A family of Mexicans and they end up driving over the family and killing 4 people. The story line here was kind of cool because Tommy is not buying in to their racist crap. Tommy has served with Mexican Americans. Tommy has fought alongside Muslim's overseas. Tommy knows that there is good and bad in all cultures and tries to instill his view into this band of six sick militia members but this clearly not going to be an easy task.
Just a side note on this theme. My wife and I started watching Late Bloomer last year which in season one was a comedy about a Sikh family whose late 20 year old son quit medical school to be a comedian podcaster. So admittedly we knew nothing about Sikh culture and there is a ton of it in this excellent series. I am first generation Italian and my wife was actually born in Genoa, Italy. So we were floored by the Sikh culture portrayed in the show as the Sikh's are more Italian like than Italians, lmao. Maybe as peoples we should look at what we have in common versus our differences. Like seeing the virtual similarities between the Sikh and Italian culture was crazy. His Sikh parents and the way they were and what they emphasized for their kids was identical to our parents. Focus on the commonalities my friends. Forget the small differences!
Apologies for the rant. So when X finds out Tommy is in Calvary he wants to settle the score for what he believes is Tommy's attempt to kill him. When X gets to Calvary he quickly finds out about the sick act that Hick and Red committed which involved the killing of an 8 year old as well. Well X morphs into the Nowhere man and is intent on making those responsible pay in the worst ways. This line of his thinking is only reinforced when he finds out the local police are in fact hiding evidence and protecting the idiot militia so as to protect their own vs doing justice.
So several confrontations take place between X and the militia and X and Tommy and Tommy is trying to buy time for the kids and is pleading that X let him handle it. Tommy wants the boys to learn the error of their thinking in general and has a plan to have Red and X turn themselves in and be accountable for their actions. No easy task but he slowly does make headway.
Through one of their conversations X learns that Tommy was the target of what X confronted on his property. That a bad ass that Tommy wrongly got involved with wants him dead. X is well aware that the leader of the hit known as Janus is a serious bad ass. They both are aware that Janus has a living contract out on Tommy so killing Janus is not really an option either as someone will always come for Tommy. And those someones are currently in play with Hurwitz showing how evil and ruthless a group known as the Four Horsemen are and they are going to Calvary.
So X and Tommy team up to handle the Four Horsemen and again such great action but its a quick fix, way too quick. I am currently reading the book I skipped The Lone Wolf and when we are first introduced to the Wolf there are 60 pages of insane action. X saving a 17 year old girl who the Wolf so wronged after killing her father in their home. X battling the Wolf, X battling tons of police who he will not kill, X in high speed chases trying to elude police. The sequence in the book The Lone Wolf might be the best I ever read by Hurwitz and again its 60 pages or so of non stop continuous action. In this book things just seem so to be to easy and not the awe inspiring writing Hurwitz has delivered time after time.
And again the buy in of X and Tommy being at war. Poppycock! Had the two simply discussed things as they do in the end here there would have been no friction between the two. In the end I thought book 11 would be all Janus focused but no that does not happen and in quick short order the resolution to Janus is resolved in a way too easy way. I would have preferred another 60 page ending re Janus than the short descriptive narrative we got. Again I thought Janus might be the focus of another book the way the Wolf had segway into this one.
In the end I just so love this series and as per usual there is a ton of action here but it just seemed handled in a subpar way but I honestly think that my first gut feeling of not buying into the Tommy and X disruption was spot on especially after the ending discussion between the two. I really think that's the main thing that held me back on this one. Ps we do find out how the two met in the prologue and it is pretty cool and comes full circle in the end. Also the subject line of racism and prejudice was just hard to stomach though it is a very admirable subject to confront. You just get frustrated with the militia's views but admittedly those views are out there and in a big way. A not so easy four stars.
February 10, 2025
Orphan X aka The Nowhere Man aka Evan Smoak returns with a vengeance in NEMESIS, the tenth book in Author Gregg Hurwitz's explosive Orphan X series. Evan, once a highly successful black ops government assassin, now operates under the radar as The Nowhere Man, a protector of innocent victims only an anonymous phone call away. He lives a rigid, solitary life driven by a strict code of conduct known as the assassin's Ten Commandments. His strong belief in these commandments drive his every move, every decision, and he believes it's his duty to not only obey the commandments but to also enforce them by going after anyone who breaks one of the codes. Much to Evan's chagrin, his longtime friend and armorer Tommy Stojack has apparently broken a code by providing weapons to an assassin who targets innocents. In spite of the internal turmoil it creates within Evan, he has no choice but to have it out with Tommy. His strong moral beliefs will not allow him to let it slide. What ensues threatens everything Evan has ever known and believed to be true, turning his world upside down while leaving him questioning exactly who he is and what he's doing. Commandment #4 says: Never make it personal, but it doesn't get more personal than this for Evan. Going up against one of the only friends he has allowed into his solitary world guts him, throwing him off his game and messing with his ability to focus leaving him vulnerable to other outside deadly threats currently slivering through the shadows. When the smoke settles, who'll be left standing? Will Evan be able to live with the consequences of his actions?
Author Gregg Hurwitz knocks it out of the park with this addition to the highly successful, epic Orphan X series. Through introspection, readers are allowed inside to witness Evan's inner turmoil and moments of self-reflection as he deals with personal issues he usually keeps locked away. It's a side of Evan fans of the series haven't seen before - a crack in the armor of this cold, deadly assassin, and it's a reminder that he is indeed human. Side plots involving Tommy honoring a promise to an old friend and Joey dealing with her own identity crisis while trying to fit in add to the suspense while driving a fast and furious pace forward through revelation after revelation. The action is nonstop, as always, from the first page through to the last, and the tone is dire. This reader refused to put the book down until the dust settled at the end.
NEMESIS is a story of friendship, self-reflection, loyalty, forgiveness and emotional turmoil. It's a lesson in making the correct decision based upon one's interpretation of the fine line separating right and wrong and knowing the difference. New readers to the series will have no issues reading NEMESIS as a standalone as the author does a fantastic job of filling in the blanks with any needed backstory. However, this is an outstanding series that is best consumed one book at a time - beginning with ORPHAN X, book one. Not only is the character development important, but the books build one upon the other, and you'll be missing a great reading experience if you choose to skip previous books. Highly recommended to fans of the series and readers who enjoy intense, high action, fast paced suspense thrillers.
Many thanks to publisher Minotaur Books for a complimentary arc of this title which is scheduled for release on Feb. 11, 2025. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. All opinions expressed are my own.
Author Gregg Hurwitz knocks it out of the park with this addition to the highly successful, epic Orphan X series. Through introspection, readers are allowed inside to witness Evan's inner turmoil and moments of self-reflection as he deals with personal issues he usually keeps locked away. It's a side of Evan fans of the series haven't seen before - a crack in the armor of this cold, deadly assassin, and it's a reminder that he is indeed human. Side plots involving Tommy honoring a promise to an old friend and Joey dealing with her own identity crisis while trying to fit in add to the suspense while driving a fast and furious pace forward through revelation after revelation. The action is nonstop, as always, from the first page through to the last, and the tone is dire. This reader refused to put the book down until the dust settled at the end.
NEMESIS is a story of friendship, self-reflection, loyalty, forgiveness and emotional turmoil. It's a lesson in making the correct decision based upon one's interpretation of the fine line separating right and wrong and knowing the difference. New readers to the series will have no issues reading NEMESIS as a standalone as the author does a fantastic job of filling in the blanks with any needed backstory. However, this is an outstanding series that is best consumed one book at a time - beginning with ORPHAN X, book one. Not only is the character development important, but the books build one upon the other, and you'll be missing a great reading experience if you choose to skip previous books. Highly recommended to fans of the series and readers who enjoy intense, high action, fast paced suspense thrillers.
Many thanks to publisher Minotaur Books for a complimentary arc of this title which is scheduled for release on Feb. 11, 2025. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 15, 2025
Not one of my favorite "X" stories, but the end raised its score.
April 22, 2025
No Better Friend No Worse Enemy
Evan Smoake, a.k.a. Orphan X has had a falling out with his armorer, Tommy Stojack and it isn’t pretty. X went to Tommy’s shop to see if they could work things out and was attacked inside. To make matters worse, there was a sniper on the hill outside. Evan knows his friend is a skilled sniper.
This episode of X adventures has a bit more drama and a lot less of the kind of X-ploits we usually get from these books, yet somehow it worked. Satisfying and yet so unsatisfactory. Always a five star experience.
Evan Smoake, a.k.a. Orphan X has had a falling out with his armorer, Tommy Stojack and it isn’t pretty. X went to Tommy’s shop to see if they could work things out and was attacked inside. To make matters worse, there was a sniper on the hill outside. Evan knows his friend is a skilled sniper.
This episode of X adventures has a bit more drama and a lot less of the kind of X-ploits we usually get from these books, yet somehow it worked. Satisfying and yet so unsatisfactory. Always a five star experience.
September 18, 2025
5.?/10: 2.55⭐️’s rounded up to 3⭐️’s.
What a GINORMOUS bucket of miscommunication.
Well, I have finally finished this. I did not cry. Shocking actually with how emotional these books can make me and with how emotional I have been. I did not enjoy most of the book🫤. Which makes me very sad. I am not sure what to rate it, the last little bit was better than the first whole bunch.
I still love this series. And look forward to the next because it won’t be this one!!😂. I listened to part of it (Scott Brick amazing of course!) and read part of it. I won’t ramble on about not being able to speed up the cd’s or the scratches and skips with some of them. I am simply happy to have completed the book. the storyline was not attention grabbing and a bit boring and annoying at times. (My opinion, not statement of fact. You, review reader, may find it quite wonderful). But the writing was still good, if that can make sense with my previous comments. Evan really quite frustrated me in several parts of this book. I am surprised by how much at various points. In fact, dare I say, he might have disappointed me. Oof….that did not feel good to say.
I am so happy this is not the last book in the series. And this does not take away from my overall recommendation or love of the series as a whole. It is in a higher tier (in my head this makes sense) than most other books and series I read/listen to.
I still miss Mia and Peter😞.
Shoot, I hope I have not ruined this book for anyone. Not that I gave any spoilers, but that I was maybe too honest in my opinion of it. It’s hard to love a series, not like a book and be disappointed in a character you love, (granted he is an assassin….but it’s Orphan X. It’s Evan. It’s the Nowhere Man.) write a not so super positive review about the book and sincerely really and truly want others who love this series to read it and really love it. And to want other people who have not tried the series to give it a try after reading
what I have just said. It’s so contradictory. And I think I have confused myself and don’t really know what I am saying any more. It’s one of those reviews…..🙄.
Random jumbled mess of thoughts originally posted: 9/17/25
Two minutes later:
I decided i do need to rate this or it will bother me. So I guess ignore my comments about not rating it! 2.55 (so that I would have to round it up to 3 and not sit here for an hour going back and forth with rounding up or down. Sort of kind of cheating, but it’s orphan X…..)
Slight edits later in the evening when I was half asleep so I guess I will find out tomorrow if they actually make sense: 9/17/25 pm.
What a GINORMOUS bucket of miscommunication.
Well, I have finally finished this. I did not cry. Shocking actually with how emotional these books can make me and with how emotional I have been. I did not enjoy most of the book🫤. Which makes me very sad. I am not sure what to rate it, the last little bit was better than the first whole bunch.
I still love this series. And look forward to the next because it won’t be this one!!😂. I listened to part of it (Scott Brick amazing of course!) and read part of it. I won’t ramble on about not being able to speed up the cd’s or the scratches and skips with some of them. I am simply happy to have completed the book. the storyline was not attention grabbing and a bit boring and annoying at times. (My opinion, not statement of fact. You, review reader, may find it quite wonderful). But the writing was still good, if that can make sense with my previous comments. Evan really quite frustrated me in several parts of this book. I am surprised by how much at various points. In fact, dare I say, he might have disappointed me. Oof….that did not feel good to say.
I am so happy this is not the last book in the series. And this does not take away from my overall recommendation or love of the series as a whole. It is in a higher tier (in my head this makes sense) than most other books and series I read/listen to.
I still miss Mia and Peter😞.
Shoot, I hope I have not ruined this book for anyone. Not that I gave any spoilers, but that I was maybe too honest in my opinion of it. It’s hard to love a series, not like a book and be disappointed in a character you love, (granted he is an assassin….but it’s Orphan X. It’s Evan. It’s the Nowhere Man.) write a not so super positive review about the book and sincerely really and truly want others who love this series to read it and really love it. And to want other people who have not tried the series to give it a try after reading
what I have just said. It’s so contradictory. And I think I have confused myself and don’t really know what I am saying any more. It’s one of those reviews…..🙄.
Random jumbled mess of thoughts originally posted: 9/17/25
Two minutes later:
I decided i do need to rate this or it will bother me. So I guess ignore my comments about not rating it! 2.55 (so that I would have to round it up to 3 and not sit here for an hour going back and forth with rounding up or down. Sort of kind of cheating, but it’s orphan X…..)
Slight edits later in the evening when I was half asleep so I guess I will find out tomorrow if they actually make sense: 9/17/25 pm.
December 29, 2024
This was another great addition to the Orphan X series. This one showed a lot of the internal struggles for Evan and Joey as they both try to find their places in the world. I don't want to say too much about the Tommy situation, but I will say that this story moved away from all the high tech and government involvement that previous books included. Basically, if you are a fan of the series you are going to read it and it is worth it. If you have not read the series, definitely start from the beginning.
I listened to the audio of this story narrated by Scott Brick. He has narrated the entire series and is the voice of Evan even when I'm not listening. He does an excellent job and I would highly recommend the audio.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I listened to the audio of this story narrated by Scott Brick. He has narrated the entire series and is the voice of Evan even when I'm not listening. He does an excellent job and I would highly recommend the audio.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 10, 2025
I had mixed feelings about this latest Orphan X book and found it hard to read--and I've read them all. Gone was any humor and at certain points, it felt like Evan Smoak, our hero, was the bad guy. The story went off in several directions and some were very violent and disturbing. I decided to rate the book fairly high because the plot really makes the reader think--about evil, racial hatred, forgiveness, restitution, and even one's right to judge others. Not every moral issue is just black or white. What led a person to act as they did?
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
September 18, 2025
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ebook format 📖
All the stars. I love this series!
I was reading Nemesis on a plane heading to a work conference and I knew I had about 150 pages left. I just blew through it while I was 30,000 feet in the air!
I couldn’t put it down and when I got to the end, I was overwhelmed with tension and trying not to cry next to a stranger!
Each one of the Orphan X books puts me into a book coma after finishing. I’m finally coming out of it three days later.
Go check this series out if you love bad ass characters, nonstop action and plot threads that get it right.
They’re not preachy, too political, and have a level of common sense that we could all use at the moment.
Ebook format 📖
All the stars. I love this series!
I was reading Nemesis on a plane heading to a work conference and I knew I had about 150 pages left. I just blew through it while I was 30,000 feet in the air!
I couldn’t put it down and when I got to the end, I was overwhelmed with tension and trying not to cry next to a stranger!
Each one of the Orphan X books puts me into a book coma after finishing. I’m finally coming out of it three days later.
Go check this series out if you love bad ass characters, nonstop action and plot threads that get it right.
They’re not preachy, too political, and have a level of common sense that we could all use at the moment.
July 5, 2024
Orphan X is back in “Nemesis”, the 10th action-packed installment from Gregg Hurwitz. Following up from the revelations at the end of the previous book (“Lone Wolf”), Evan Smoak, ex-government assassin Orphan X, has to go after his longtime armorer and friend Tommy Stojack.
Evan has a strong code of right and wrong, which helps him remain human as opposed to just being a heartless killing machine. It seems like Tommy has broken this code, providing weapons to an assassin who targets innocent victims, a line Evan does not cross. After a painful and emotional confrontation, the two warriors have retreated back to their homes, realizing that the next time they meet it will be as enemies.
Tommy has his own problems to take care of. He promised an old Army buddy who died in his arms that he would help his son if called, his son has now called in that favor. Off Tommy goes to a small town seething with hate and anger: corrupt cops, young boys running wild, and escalating tensions between the Hispanic immigrants and the old time residents, resulting in the death of innocent civilians. Tommy is trying to keep his promise, see that justice is done, and keep everyone alive. But with the entrance of Orphan X into the mix, that’s not going to be an easy task. If that wasn’t enough, four world-class assassins have their sights on Tommy as well. Bullets will be flying, but who will remain standing when all is said and done?
The action in this book is what we’ve come to expect, fast and furious and quite detailed, a bunch of fun. But it’s the rest of the story that gets in the way. It is hard to believe that Tommy and Evan just decide to throw away their years together because of pride, when a few sentences in their initial discussion would put everything into a different light. The introspection and internal discussions get to be quite disruptive to the story, one does not read an Orphan X book hoping to focus on personal growth. Joey has her own problem-of-the-month, and her scene with Orphan V felt quite awkward and unnecessary. Mia and Peter are long gone and only mentioned briefly. And the Four Horsemen, who have a fabulous build-up, end up being quite a letdown in the end.
But I guess what disappoints me the most is that over the last two books we seem to be moving away from the premise of the Nowhere Man, the protector of innocents at the other end of an anonymous call. Sure, Evan has problems in his world, but it’s the setting aside of those and helping a stranger that made these books such an interesting premise. As I said in the previous review, The Nowhere Man / Orphan X had always followed the rule “Don’t make it personal.” Unfortunately for Evan, this time it’s all personal.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Evan has a strong code of right and wrong, which helps him remain human as opposed to just being a heartless killing machine. It seems like Tommy has broken this code, providing weapons to an assassin who targets innocent victims, a line Evan does not cross. After a painful and emotional confrontation, the two warriors have retreated back to their homes, realizing that the next time they meet it will be as enemies.
Tommy has his own problems to take care of. He promised an old Army buddy who died in his arms that he would help his son if called, his son has now called in that favor. Off Tommy goes to a small town seething with hate and anger: corrupt cops, young boys running wild, and escalating tensions between the Hispanic immigrants and the old time residents, resulting in the death of innocent civilians. Tommy is trying to keep his promise, see that justice is done, and keep everyone alive. But with the entrance of Orphan X into the mix, that’s not going to be an easy task. If that wasn’t enough, four world-class assassins have their sights on Tommy as well. Bullets will be flying, but who will remain standing when all is said and done?
The action in this book is what we’ve come to expect, fast and furious and quite detailed, a bunch of fun. But it’s the rest of the story that gets in the way. It is hard to believe that Tommy and Evan just decide to throw away their years together because of pride, when a few sentences in their initial discussion would put everything into a different light. The introspection and internal discussions get to be quite disruptive to the story, one does not read an Orphan X book hoping to focus on personal growth. Joey has her own problem-of-the-month, and her scene with Orphan V felt quite awkward and unnecessary. Mia and Peter are long gone and only mentioned briefly. And the Four Horsemen, who have a fabulous build-up, end up being quite a letdown in the end.
But I guess what disappoints me the most is that over the last two books we seem to be moving away from the premise of the Nowhere Man, the protector of innocents at the other end of an anonymous call. Sure, Evan has problems in his world, but it’s the setting aside of those and helping a stranger that made these books such an interesting premise. As I said in the previous review, The Nowhere Man / Orphan X had always followed the rule “Don’t make it personal.” Unfortunately for Evan, this time it’s all personal.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
March 15, 2025
Oh man, I'm disappointed! My expectations were just too high. As a big Tommy Stojack fan, I've been on pins and needles waiting for this novel to come out. Mild spoilers below.
At the end of Lone Wolf, X discovered that the killer he was after was using weapons supplied by his own armorer, Tommy Stojack. For Evan, this is an unforgiveable breach of their friendship. This is my first wtf?! thing - X knows that he isn't Tommy's only customer. Who else buys black market superweapons but bad people? At the start of Nemesis, Tommy and Evan meet to discuss the situation. Tommy's position is that it's his life choices and his business model to do what he does and sell to whom he sells (all very obvious and imo, didn't need to be said). Evan thinks Tommy is morally required to be more discerning of his clientele; I guess that means just selling to collectors who keep their purchases in a display case? Evan's position is just dumb.
Anyhoo, what I wanted was a big Orphan X vs. Tommy Stojack showdown - trained superassassin versus weapons master! That is what I paid to see (or would have, if I bought books). Instead, we get a few scenes where these two ruffle each other's feathers. *sigh*
Predictably, these frenemies become embroiled in a Nowhere Man-type scenario, except this time it's Tommy playing hero. The son of a deceased war buddy calls him for help, and he drives to the middle of BFE to save him and his friends from the mess they got themselves into. Still feeling pissy, Evan chases him to the tiny town and they wind up on opposing sides of the situation. THAT is how their enemyship plays out: using other people as a proxy.
In a subplot, 17yo protege Joey gets involved with a protest group at college, and Evan takes the totally wrong approach in trying to steer her away from it. His childhood indoctrination of Jack's commandments + OCD = a highly rigid adult with arrested emotional development.
So, I wanted to see a real showdown and didn't get it. Most fans would be relieved that things never go that far, but I'm not most fans. In any case, the novel ended as I expected it to, and the series will be diminished for it.
P.S. I'm not even gonna touch on all of Gregg Hurwitz's soapboxes; I love this series too much to allow it to turn me off.
At the end of Lone Wolf, X discovered that the killer he was after was using weapons supplied by his own armorer, Tommy Stojack. For Evan, this is an unforgiveable breach of their friendship. This is my first wtf?! thing - X knows that he isn't Tommy's only customer. Who else buys black market superweapons but bad people? At the start of Nemesis, Tommy and Evan meet to discuss the situation. Tommy's position is that it's his life choices and his business model to do what he does and sell to whom he sells (all very obvious and imo, didn't need to be said). Evan thinks Tommy is morally required to be more discerning of his clientele; I guess that means just selling to collectors who keep their purchases in a display case? Evan's position is just dumb.
Anyhoo, what I wanted was a big Orphan X vs. Tommy Stojack showdown - trained superassassin versus weapons master! That is what I paid to see (or would have, if I bought books). Instead, we get a few scenes where these two ruffle each other's feathers. *sigh*
Predictably, these frenemies become embroiled in a Nowhere Man-type scenario, except this time it's Tommy playing hero. The son of a deceased war buddy calls him for help, and he drives to the middle of BFE to save him and his friends from the mess they got themselves into. Still feeling pissy, Evan chases him to the tiny town and they wind up on opposing sides of the situation. THAT is how their enemyship plays out: using other people as a proxy.
In a subplot, 17yo protege Joey gets involved with a protest group at college, and Evan takes the totally wrong approach in trying to steer her away from it. His childhood indoctrination of Jack's commandments + OCD = a highly rigid adult with arrested emotional development.
So, I wanted to see a real showdown and didn't get it. Most fans would be relieved that things never go that far, but I'm not most fans. In any case, the novel ended as I expected it to, and the series will be diminished for it.
P.S. I'm not even gonna touch on all of Gregg Hurwitz's soapboxes; I love this series too much to allow it to turn me off.
April 18, 2025
4.5★s
Nemesis is the tenth book in the Orphan X series by best-selling American author, Gregg Hurwitz. Dangerously distracted during his latest mission by thoughts of a recent betrayal, Evan Smoak decides he must confront the man he has, for fifteen years, considered a friend. Tommy Stojack tells Evan he’s gotten soft in ways he doesn’t understand and, with a final, regretful embrace, orders him never to come back, because if Evan tries to lay hands on Tommy, “there’ll be slow singing and flower bringing.”
But Evan is too disturbed by the whole situation to let it go, needs to speak again to his one-time friend, face to face. Not a great idea, it turns out, and the body count rises. Back in LA, the antics of his building’s HOA manage to divert him momentarily, but his mind can’t dismiss what has happened, and his hard-won equilibrium suffers.
A very blood-thirsty initial one hundred pages with a not-inconsiderable body count, and Evan, who doesn’t have a lot of them, and has managed to cancel one friendship, puts another off-side with some ill-considered criticism.
Meanwhile, Tommy Stojack heads out of state to Calvary, where the son of a man he served with in the Middle East is in a spot of bother. He promised a dying Delmont Hickenlooper that he would look out for the boy, so is answering a call for help. Turns out Hick Jr.’s ’89 Dodge Ram was involved in an incident that saw four Mexicans killed. When Tommy finally tracks down the kid in hiding, he’s keeping company with a bunch of dumb rednecks who are forming their own militia. Can he get them to see the error of their ways?
That’s not Tommy’s only problem. An apparent history with a character called Janus sees him the target of a very nasty killer-for-hire quartet calling themselves The Four Horsemen. They’re heading for Calvary as soon as they complete their current kills. Looks like they’ll run into Evan there as well: he’s tracked Tommy down for that FTF.
Joey Morales, now seventeen, is feeling her way at college and thinks she’s made friends, but their little Women’s Empowerment Group stunt, made highly effective as only Joey can, goes viral and backfires badly, and she is left to carry the can. Her advice scene with Candy McClure is entertaining, as is the notion that Tommy and Evan team up to dispense with the Four Horsemen so that Evan can mete out what punishment he feels Tommy deserves, himself.
Evan does a fair bit of angsting, Joey isn’t far behind him, an even Tommy does his share. A handy nearby ghost town is the scene of one civilised and one very bloody confrontation. There’s plenty of action as well as a good few doses of dark humour. Less suspension of disbelief is required for this one, but it’s still advisable to do so where necessary and just enjoy the ride. Hugely entertaining action drama.
Nemesis is the tenth book in the Orphan X series by best-selling American author, Gregg Hurwitz. Dangerously distracted during his latest mission by thoughts of a recent betrayal, Evan Smoak decides he must confront the man he has, for fifteen years, considered a friend. Tommy Stojack tells Evan he’s gotten soft in ways he doesn’t understand and, with a final, regretful embrace, orders him never to come back, because if Evan tries to lay hands on Tommy, “there’ll be slow singing and flower bringing.”
But Evan is too disturbed by the whole situation to let it go, needs to speak again to his one-time friend, face to face. Not a great idea, it turns out, and the body count rises. Back in LA, the antics of his building’s HOA manage to divert him momentarily, but his mind can’t dismiss what has happened, and his hard-won equilibrium suffers.
A very blood-thirsty initial one hundred pages with a not-inconsiderable body count, and Evan, who doesn’t have a lot of them, and has managed to cancel one friendship, puts another off-side with some ill-considered criticism.
Meanwhile, Tommy Stojack heads out of state to Calvary, where the son of a man he served with in the Middle East is in a spot of bother. He promised a dying Delmont Hickenlooper that he would look out for the boy, so is answering a call for help. Turns out Hick Jr.’s ’89 Dodge Ram was involved in an incident that saw four Mexicans killed. When Tommy finally tracks down the kid in hiding, he’s keeping company with a bunch of dumb rednecks who are forming their own militia. Can he get them to see the error of their ways?
That’s not Tommy’s only problem. An apparent history with a character called Janus sees him the target of a very nasty killer-for-hire quartet calling themselves The Four Horsemen. They’re heading for Calvary as soon as they complete their current kills. Looks like they’ll run into Evan there as well: he’s tracked Tommy down for that FTF.
Joey Morales, now seventeen, is feeling her way at college and thinks she’s made friends, but their little Women’s Empowerment Group stunt, made highly effective as only Joey can, goes viral and backfires badly, and she is left to carry the can. Her advice scene with Candy McClure is entertaining, as is the notion that Tommy and Evan team up to dispense with the Four Horsemen so that Evan can mete out what punishment he feels Tommy deserves, himself.
Evan does a fair bit of angsting, Joey isn’t far behind him, an even Tommy does his share. A handy nearby ghost town is the scene of one civilised and one very bloody confrontation. There’s plenty of action as well as a good few doses of dark humour. Less suspension of disbelief is required for this one, but it’s still advisable to do so where necessary and just enjoy the ride. Hugely entertaining action drama.
November 14, 2024
Wow, what a story. Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz is the X novel of Orphan X or Evan Smoak that some of us calls him. What a great look into how he met Tommy Stojack. I had as I usually do a great time reading this book and if there is a thriller fan out there that still hasn't started this series I say shame on you. This book does not have the standard phonecall, instead it evolves in a different way, don't worry it's a great story and it sure is hard to put down. I feel somewhat worried for the future for Evan after the way this ended but I will not tell you, you have to read it yourself. Hurwitz is a favorite author of mine and he has earned it by the way he writes and the character he creates. I can only say, well done. I must thank Minotaur Books , Macmillan and Edelweiss for letting me read this advance copy. The book hits the stores on the 11th of February 2025.
October 16, 2024
I will always enjoy a good Orphan X story! This one seemed a bit lighter on the vodka emphasis (good) but very heavy on morals (bad, in a strange sense). I enjoyed getting a little more from Joey and Tommy. Honestly I would read a whole series based on them.
Overall a solid action, shoot ‘em thriller! These books could all be stand alone, but I recommend reading in order for the strong back story.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
Overall a solid action, shoot ‘em thriller! These books could all be stand alone, but I recommend reading in order for the strong back story.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2025
Couldn’t finish this stupid book. I’m mad I paid my hard-earned money for it. I should have known what was coming when the whole thing started with a quote from that “importance of order” asshole Jordan Peterson. This book was all rah rah USA lectures and no action. “The best version of any country that has ever been”. The best in what?!? School shootings? Healthcare bankruptcies? Maternal mortality rates in a developed country? It would be embarrassing if it wasn’t so pathetic. No more Orphan X for me.
September 9, 2024
Immediately going back to start at book 1.
February 22, 2025
This has become my all-time favorite series. And like so many of the other books in the series, this novel is a five star read. I wish I was starting on book one for the first time, rather than knowing I have a year to wait for the next one. So if you’re just starting the series, I envy you.
February 9, 2025
4.25⭐
When February, my least favorite month of the year, rolls around, at least I have one thing to look forward to...a new Orphan X/Nowhere Man. Ten years into the series and Hurwitz still manages to make it like the return of a friend, yet still fresh every time. What Evan considers a moral failure, tantamount to betrayal, has set him on the path of retribution against his armorer and friend, Tommy. As always, an insane amount of action, but continuing the trend from the last few books, we see both Evan, and Joey, trying to figure where or how they fit into this world. Always a thrill ride, but now showing more depth and complexity. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
When February, my least favorite month of the year, rolls around, at least I have one thing to look forward to...a new Orphan X/Nowhere Man. Ten years into the series and Hurwitz still manages to make it like the return of a friend, yet still fresh every time. What Evan considers a moral failure, tantamount to betrayal, has set him on the path of retribution against his armorer and friend, Tommy. As always, an insane amount of action, but continuing the trend from the last few books, we see both Evan, and Joey, trying to figure where or how they fit into this world. Always a thrill ride, but now showing more depth and complexity. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2025
I did not love this book. It did not keep my attention and just seemed to drag on. I did finish it, but throughout the audiobook, I just kept thinking, "get to the point!" I feel like it would've been a better movie or extended TV series as the plot itself wasn't bad, but the delivery just wasn't my cup of tea. I'd like to maybe read a physical copy of another book by this author to see if a physical book might be better.
#NetGalley #Nemesis #GreggHurwitz #Goodreads
#NetGalley #Nemesis #GreggHurwitz #Goodreads
March 25, 2025
At the end of the previous book Evan Smoak AKA Orphan X AKA The Nowhere Man discovered the weapons employed by his opponent dujour were supplied by his only friend and personal armorer Tommy Stojack. This doesn't sit well with Evan.
Evan's rule #1 is assume nothing. This would have been something to remember.
Evan's rule #1 is assume nothing. This would have been something to remember.
March 1, 2025
Gregg Hurwitz is one of my all-time favourite authors and I loved this 10th book in his "Orphan X" series!
"No better friend. No worse enemy."
Highly trained former government assassin Evan Smoak has survived for many years by keeping to himself with only a few trusted friends and strict rules he calls "The Ten Commandments". But when Evan suddenly discovers his oldest friend has crossed one of his hardest lines their argument explodes into rage and Evan vows to end him.
There is so much more to this fast-paced thriller with recurring characters that I have become quite attached to. With each book I love this series more and more!
I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
"No better friend. No worse enemy."
Highly trained former government assassin Evan Smoak has survived for many years by keeping to himself with only a few trusted friends and strict rules he calls "The Ten Commandments". But when Evan suddenly discovers his oldest friend has crossed one of his hardest lines their argument explodes into rage and Evan vows to end him.
There is so much more to this fast-paced thriller with recurring characters that I have become quite attached to. With each book I love this series more and more!
I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
September 17, 2025
I don’t know what to say as I sit here having just finished this one. Each book in the series seems to get better as we go, and this one was terrific start-to-finish. I’m going to be feeling the ending of this one for a long time to come, I’m sure.
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