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Orphan X #12
Last Man Standing
Not yet published
Expected 9 Feb 27Evan Smoak, a.k.a., Orphan X, grapples with his most dangerous mission yet, the latest in the bestselling series.
Do you need my help?
Those five words are the first thing anyone hears when they dial the encrypted line of the man known only as the Nowhere Man.
For years Evan Smoak―once the government’s deadliest black-ops assassin, Orphan X―has answered that call. The number passes in whispers from one desperate soul to the next: people with nowhere else to turn, facing threats no one else can stop. He takes the job, he finishes it, he vanishes. No trace. No thanks. No mercy for those who deserve none.
But this life has carved deep grooves. Every mission costs him another piece of normalcy, another chance at a future. Now Evan stands at a turning point, weighing the toll of the impossible against the humanity he’s never known how to embrace. Then Brooke Hawthorne dials the number.
A young woman held captive, forced into a scheme so dark it nearly defies belief. The men guarding her are professionals; the operation behind them is worse. Getting Brooke out is only the beginning.
Because the moment Evan moves, he draws the eye of “Boz”―the cold, meticulous architect pulling every string. A man who has spent years building something monstrous, and who views the Nowhere Man as an unacceptable threat.
Boz does not tolerate threats.
To protect Brooke, to shield the handful of people he’s allowed himself to care about, and to preserve the thin line of justice he still believes in, Evan will have to do what he does best. Because when the Nowhere Man answers the call, there is no half-measure. There is only the mission.
And this time, the mission is everything.
Do you need my help?
Those five words are the first thing anyone hears when they dial the encrypted line of the man known only as the Nowhere Man.
For years Evan Smoak―once the government’s deadliest black-ops assassin, Orphan X―has answered that call. The number passes in whispers from one desperate soul to the next: people with nowhere else to turn, facing threats no one else can stop. He takes the job, he finishes it, he vanishes. No trace. No thanks. No mercy for those who deserve none.
But this life has carved deep grooves. Every mission costs him another piece of normalcy, another chance at a future. Now Evan stands at a turning point, weighing the toll of the impossible against the humanity he’s never known how to embrace. Then Brooke Hawthorne dials the number.
A young woman held captive, forced into a scheme so dark it nearly defies belief. The men guarding her are professionals; the operation behind them is worse. Getting Brooke out is only the beginning.
Because the moment Evan moves, he draws the eye of “Boz”―the cold, meticulous architect pulling every string. A man who has spent years building something monstrous, and who views the Nowhere Man as an unacceptable threat.
Boz does not tolerate threats.
To protect Brooke, to shield the handful of people he’s allowed himself to care about, and to preserve the thin line of justice he still believes in, Evan will have to do what he does best. Because when the Nowhere Man answers the call, there is no half-measure. There is only the mission.
And this time, the mission is everything.
448 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 9, 2027
About the author
Gregg Hurwitz
298 books7,212 followersGREGG HURWITZ is the New York Times #1 internationally bestselling author of over 25 thriller novels, including the Orphan X series. His novels have won numerous literary awards and have been published in 33 languages. Gregg currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Additionally, he’s written screenplays and television scripts for many of the major studios and networks, poetry, and is an award-winning documentary producer. Gregg has also written comics for AWA (including the critically acclaimed anthology NewThink), DC, and Marvel. Currently, Gregg is working against polarization in politics and culture. To that end, he's penned dozens of op eds and pieces for The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Bulwark, Salon, and others, and pieces of creative content which have won numerous industry awards and achieved several hundred million views on digital TV platforms. He also helped write the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup.
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August 16, 2026This entry in the series was fantastic! I love the character growth. All of the side characters make an appearance in this one as well. So much fun!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Orphan X is back! “Last Man Standing”, by Gregg Hurwitz, is the twelfth outing for Evan Smoak, ex-government assassin Orphan X who now goes by the title of Nowhere Man, a vigilante helping those who have been wronged by the powerful and have no place else to turn.
This time the call comes from a frightened young woman named Brooke, captured and forced to scam people out of their money, using AI to prey on their weaknesses and tailor their scam to each individual target. Trapped in an apartment complex with other women, she manages to get a burner cellphone and call the Nowhere Man as a last hope.
Attacking the guards and rescuing the women in this building isn’t the hardest part, for Evan soon discovers that this apartment building isn’t an isolated outpost, it’s part of a darker conspiracy run by the corpulent mastermind “Boz”, who has an even darker and more sinister plan brewing out in the Mexican desert. Calling on all of his friends and allies, can Evan stop the plan before it is unleashed on the unsuspecting world?
This chapter of the series is a lot more about emotional growth, and Evan moving from being a lone operator to depending on his friends and family(?). From the outset, he brings Joey along on the mission, something he has avoided religiously in the past. And yes, he calls on Candy (Orphan V), billionaire Luke Devine, FBI agent Naomi Templeton, and Aragon the ex-drug kingpin to all help in their own special ways.
But even more surprising, he invites Mia to come along, and that to me is the most shocking development of this book – it was VERY clear in the last book that Mia wanted no part of his life, and now she jumps into a plane and follows Evan across the country? Evan’s emotional growth is hard to swallow, but this 180-degree turn by Mia is absolutely mind-boggling and hard to swallow.
So, overall a mediocre outing this time. The villain was a stock bad guy, the action scenes were few, the ending was underwhelming. As I have said in a previous review, one does not read an Orphan X book hoping to focus on personal growth, and maybe this series is moving away from what made it unique in the past. We’ll see what happens next.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
This time the call comes from a frightened young woman named Brooke, captured and forced to scam people out of their money, using AI to prey on their weaknesses and tailor their scam to each individual target. Trapped in an apartment complex with other women, she manages to get a burner cellphone and call the Nowhere Man as a last hope.
Attacking the guards and rescuing the women in this building isn’t the hardest part, for Evan soon discovers that this apartment building isn’t an isolated outpost, it’s part of a darker conspiracy run by the corpulent mastermind “Boz”, who has an even darker and more sinister plan brewing out in the Mexican desert. Calling on all of his friends and allies, can Evan stop the plan before it is unleashed on the unsuspecting world?
This chapter of the series is a lot more about emotional growth, and Evan moving from being a lone operator to depending on his friends and family(?). From the outset, he brings Joey along on the mission, something he has avoided religiously in the past. And yes, he calls on Candy (Orphan V), billionaire Luke Devine, FBI agent Naomi Templeton, and Aragon the ex-drug kingpin to all help in their own special ways.
But even more surprising, he invites Mia to come along, and that to me is the most shocking development of this book – it was VERY clear in the last book that Mia wanted no part of his life, and now she jumps into a plane and follows Evan across the country? Evan’s emotional growth is hard to swallow, but this 180-degree turn by Mia is absolutely mind-boggling and hard to swallow.
So, overall a mediocre outing this time. The villain was a stock bad guy, the action scenes were few, the ending was underwhelming. As I have said in a previous review, one does not read an Orphan X book hoping to focus on personal growth, and maybe this series is moving away from what made it unique in the past. We’ll see what happens next.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of “Last Man Standing”.
One of the true great mysteries is how the Orphan X series has not yet been adapted into a movie or streaming series. For many years now, this has been the best thriller series going, and the latest (12th) installment, “Last Man Standing”, is no exception.
This time around, Evan Smoak receives a call from a young woman named Brooke, who is being held captive on Long Island. After rescuing her, he quickly learns that this is only one tentacle of an expansive and terrifying criminal operation, headed by the sociopathic “Boz”. To bring down this evil enterprise, Evan has to enlist the support of all of people that make up his small circle of confidants, including.his sidekick Joey, on again/off again romantic interest Mia, frenemy Luke Devine, fellow Orphan Candy, and Aragon, one of his few true friends.
As always, the action is intense, pacing excellent, and characters very well-developed. There is also the usual superb balance between the “mission” scenes, and the hilarious “fish out of water” scenes where Evan tries to navigate social situations that are well outside of his comfort zone.
Overall, another excellent entry into the series. Highly recommended reading for anyone looking for a Jason Bourne/Jack Reacher type of entertainment experience.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).
One of the true great mysteries is how the Orphan X series has not yet been adapted into a movie or streaming series. For many years now, this has been the best thriller series going, and the latest (12th) installment, “Last Man Standing”, is no exception.
This time around, Evan Smoak receives a call from a young woman named Brooke, who is being held captive on Long Island. After rescuing her, he quickly learns that this is only one tentacle of an expansive and terrifying criminal operation, headed by the sociopathic “Boz”. To bring down this evil enterprise, Evan has to enlist the support of all of people that make up his small circle of confidants, including.his sidekick Joey, on again/off again romantic interest Mia, frenemy Luke Devine, fellow Orphan Candy, and Aragon, one of his few true friends.
As always, the action is intense, pacing excellent, and characters very well-developed. There is also the usual superb balance between the “mission” scenes, and the hilarious “fish out of water” scenes where Evan tries to navigate social situations that are well outside of his comfort zone.
Overall, another excellent entry into the series. Highly recommended reading for anyone looking for a Jason Bourne/Jack Reacher type of entertainment experience.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Last Man Standing is the latest Orphan X thriller that explores the depths of human depravity.
Evan Smoak, aka, Orphan X and the Nowhere Man, receives a call on his RoamZone. In typical fashion, he answers with his "Do you need my help?"
What comes next is a cross country trip to rescue Brooke Hawthorne, a young women, trapped in a building, forced to defraud people around the country.
Using resources and can they now be called friends? Evan rescues Brooke and finds a system that is exploiting young women and stealing millions of dollars.
This is a classic Orphan X novel, with a greater conspiracy being unveiled as he helps those who call him. Not able to stand by, Evan dives in with both feet to help everyone he can, and destroy everything and everyone involved.
What began in past novels, continues in this one. Evan is forced to rely on others help throughout. Even more so than in the past. We see Joey accompanying Evan again on trips along with others that will surprise every Orphan X fan.
We see a new side of Evan. One willing to actually bush his personal boundaries, open his borders and allow help and even acknowledge his limitations.
Because of this, we see Evan in a new light. It is welcoming to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was hard to put down, has plenty of action, surprises and even moments of despair.
Highly entertaining.
Evan Smoak, aka, Orphan X and the Nowhere Man, receives a call on his RoamZone. In typical fashion, he answers with his "Do you need my help?"
What comes next is a cross country trip to rescue Brooke Hawthorne, a young women, trapped in a building, forced to defraud people around the country.
Using resources and can they now be called friends? Evan rescues Brooke and finds a system that is exploiting young women and stealing millions of dollars.
This is a classic Orphan X novel, with a greater conspiracy being unveiled as he helps those who call him. Not able to stand by, Evan dives in with both feet to help everyone he can, and destroy everything and everyone involved.
What began in past novels, continues in this one. Evan is forced to rely on others help throughout. Even more so than in the past. We see Joey accompanying Evan again on trips along with others that will surprise every Orphan X fan.
We see a new side of Evan. One willing to actually bush his personal boundaries, open his borders and allow help and even acknowledge his limitations.
Because of this, we see Evan in a new light. It is welcoming to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was hard to put down, has plenty of action, surprises and even moments of despair.
Highly entertaining.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Orphan X series is one of my favorites and admittedly, I have read some of the books more than once. Our main character, Evan Smoak, aka The Nowhere Man or Orphan X, now has a sterling reputation amongst the nefarious dudes most likely to encounter him as they pillage the world at large and threaten innocents. The Nowhere man seeks to rescue the innocent and correct the injustices perpetrated upon them. While he began this effort as a loner, he has accumulated relationships, often against his will. He was trained as a lone assassin and never developed social skills. Learning to embrace social niceties rather than just kill someone is an upward climb for him; yet he persists. And that really has become the plot of his later adventures, regardless of the menaces he tries to wipe out. LAST MAN STANDING has only a medium-interesting bad guy with a plan to overtake the world, but Evan’s growth and relationship building is wonderful. This book is best read as part of a series. Another fun and exciting book from author Hurwitz. I received my copy from the publisher though Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free ARC ebook of Last Man Standing from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Ah, Evan Smoak, how far you have come. This thrilling tale once again establishes Hurwitz as a wonderful writer. All of the Orphan X titles have danger and vodka, but this one provides Evan, the Nowhere Man, the opportunity to be part of a team. What once Evan thought to be unnecessary and distracting, turns out to be his strength and grit. As always, there are times Evan appears to be in a hopeless, impossible situation.
If you need something new to keep you up at night, then Hurwitz's tale of artificial intelligence in the hands of evil personified will make a great night's sleep a thing of the past.
Ah, Evan Smoak, how far you have come. This thrilling tale once again establishes Hurwitz as a wonderful writer. All of the Orphan X titles have danger and vodka, but this one provides Evan, the Nowhere Man, the opportunity to be part of a team. What once Evan thought to be unnecessary and distracting, turns out to be his strength and grit. As always, there are times Evan appears to be in a hopeless, impossible situation.
If you need something new to keep you up at night, then Hurwitz's tale of artificial intelligence in the hands of evil personified will make a great night's sleep a thing of the past.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Explosive and intense with plenty of heart, Last Man Standing is a propulsive thriller that keeps you in suspense and fill you with equal amounts of dread and hope. With this much-anticipated twelfth installment, Gregg Hurwitz raises the bar and once again proves why the Orphan X series stands among the very best in the thriller genre.
It’s another brilliant thriller knocked way out of the park by the masterful Gregg Hurwitz. A tape measure shot that long-time fans will drool over and newcomers to the series will marvel at, wondering how they have lived this long without Evan Smoak in their lives.
Explosive and intense with plenty of heart, Last Man Standing is a propulsive thriller that keeps you in suspense and fill you with equal amounts of dread and hope. With this much-anticipated twelfth installment, Gregg Hurwitz raises the bar and once again proves why the Orphan X series stands among the very best in the thriller genre.
It’s another brilliant thriller knocked way out of the park by the masterful Gregg Hurwitz. A tape measure shot that long-time fans will drool over and newcomers to the series will marvel at, wondering how they have lived this long without Evan Smoak in their lives.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having been with Orphan X since the beginning, I've seen the machine like assassin with very sharp and defined edges trying to fit into society. It's been difficult and a long trek, but he has arrived in his 12th mission. Many of his previous missions were also clear cut objectives with clear cut rules. This latest mission however, mixes things up. It's a techno novel about AI, a love story, it's Batman and Robin (with help from Alfred AKA Devine) versus Clay face, it's a memorial about lost relationships. But mostly it's about becoming human. All the Orphan X characters are present, though some are just memories. A wild ride that will not disappoint.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.
Last Man Standing brings back Orphan X and this series is always one of my favorites. Evan continues his evolution toward being part of a community and navigating the complexities of life — while he’ll still beat up the bad guys, he’s shifting more toward working as part of a team.
My absolute favorite books of the series might be behind me when Evan just brute forced his way through the bad guys, but the evolution over the past few books is still great and keeps me coming back.
An easy recommendation for Orphan X fans, and if you haven’t started the series yet, now is a great time.
Last Man Standing brings back Orphan X and this series is always one of my favorites. Evan continues his evolution toward being part of a community and navigating the complexities of life — while he’ll still beat up the bad guys, he’s shifting more toward working as part of a team.
My absolute favorite books of the series might be behind me when Evan just brute forced his way through the bad guys, but the evolution over the past few books is still great and keeps me coming back.
An easy recommendation for Orphan X fans, and if you haven’t started the series yet, now is a great time.
August 17, 2026
Any Orphan X new release is an instant must read. Gregg Hurwitz always knocks it out of the park. What I loved about this era in the Orphan X book is we get more of their “humanity” amidst their chaos. Overall well written and if i didn’t have patience, could have finished this in a day.
I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Evan is back fighting the bad guys with the help of his crew. His emotional growth continues and there were some very tender moments.
4.5 stars
Evan is back fighting the bad guys with the help of his crew. His emotional growth continues and there were some very tender moments.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews