Hellbent: An Orphan X Novel (Evan Smoak, Book 3)

I don't expect much from a book, much like I don't expect much from a movie. I want to be entertained by a quick plot and a satisfying ending. Kinda like fast food. This series of books fits the bill. You are gonna enjoy it want more and luckily there is more. Gregg Hurwitz don't be offended by this review... You've got this girl hooked!

Orphan X, always an exciting can't put it down book!!!

Keeps getting better. First 3 all first rate. If you like this genre of course. On to # 4. 👍

The Orphan X books are all excellent story telling at its best.

The book is a well-written thriller with a fresh twist on a old theme: super-talented guy helps the underdog. If you've seen The Equalizer movies, you'll know the general direction . The twist is that the hero is being enthusiastically hunted himself.There are the occasional odd blunders in the storyline. Example: when a bad guy (in this case, girl) stabs a man in the jugular, an arterial blood spray (author's words) occurs, and almost immediate death happens. The jugular is a vein, not an artery, so there is no arterial spray possible, such as with severing the carotid artery which is much deeper in the neck. And unconsciousness would come a lot later, as the blood supply to the brain is still intact.Also, a child who is a friend of the hero, and who lives nine stories below him in a high-rise, sends messages up to him by a small balloon. Question: where did an eight-year-old get a pressurized tank of helium?There are more such mistakes in fact. But the story is fun.

This had more changes of scenery, more traveling than the previous Orphan X novel. Although standalone, it builds on the previous book. Our deadly but human hero is thrown off by the domestic things he was never trained for - taking care of his mentor Jack’s protégé, Joey a 16 year old teenager girl and partially trained Orphan he has to protect.He is being hunted by Orphan Y, Van Sciver - the new head of the Orphan program, who has access to major resources including trained government agents, plus an Orphan or two.On top of that, some in need has called the Orphan X, “Nowhere Man” help line.I had to read the book in spurts, it really was so intense.

I liked this more than the last one. I mean, this whole series is unrealistic. Only Superman 🦸‍♂️ could do the things Evan does. But, I still love reading this series! Evan is becoming more human and I do hope Mia, Peter, and Evan eventually get together.

Strong 4.5 stars! This was my first Gregg Hurwitz read, and I was both surprised and delighted with the author's imaginative storyline and intense writing style. I'm sorry I hadn't found this series and author earlier.Orphan X, a/k/a Evan Smoak, is a renegade black ops group survivor, trying now to stay alive, while helping desperate people get out of impossible situations. It's easy to like him because the author skillfully lets us get into his memories, his mind, and his intentions.Even though I jumped right into the middle of the series, I found this book an exciting standalone read. Now, I plan to read the rest of the series in order---something I'm looking forward to doing.The author writes detailed but compact sentences, wisely adding specifics that add interest and momentum without detracting from the plotline. I found myself rereading several sections because of how well they were crafted. Wow! He made it fun to read so engaging content and dialogue.Although I'm not a fan of profanity and vulgar language, the author's limited use focused on specific characters and situations that did not detract from the storyline but were probably still unnecessary. Hurwitz's strong storytelling dominates the whole work, something that held my attention right up to the last page.Strong characters made the fast action story believable and compelling, while the many complications and twists only added to my reading enjoyment. I especially liked the book's Audible supplemental narration that added to the suspense and storyline drama. A worthwhile addition.Short chapters increase the story's tensions, making this fast-paced thriller a fun and intense read.It was much better than expected and a great escape read that will surprise and entertain you from beginning to end.

Absolutely thrilling book. I sat up all night to finish it and was never once distracted and I enjoyed every chapter. Smoak is a complex character, who is now coming to terms with his previous life as a government assassin.He is still Orphan X, with all the skills and experience to help others as the Nowhere Man but in this book, we see how he is becoming more human. How, he is developing and changing due to his personal relationships.His ongoing on/off contact with Mia and Peter develops further but it is his protection of Joey, another orphan, rejected by the programme that trained him, that gives him an added dimension.We now start to see, what his life might have been or could be in the future. But first, he has to tackle the founder of the Orphan programme - a man who has gone right to the top of the US political system.The President better watch out as Orphan X is out to bring him to justice. I can’t wait to read about that in Gregg Hurwitz next book about Evan Smoak and those he fights to defend.

A Great author, A great Character, great book, again so nearly a five star.They called him Orphan X, Evan Smoak, The Nowhere Man he used to be a government secret weapon.Then he ran and became the man you call on when you've nowhere else to turn too, The Nowhere Man.This time it's a teenage runaway called Joey.Like Evan she's no innocent: she was brought up inside the same programme that raised him.Now Evan must find Joey before those hunting her do.Which is where the trouble begins.Because this might not be about Joey at all.And if it's not, then it must be about Evan.But finding out why could kill them both ...But this time, the voice on the other end is Jack Johns, the man who raised and trained him, the only father Evan has ever known. Secret government forces are busy trying to scrub the remaining assets and traces of the Orphan Program and they have finally tracked down Jack. With little time remaining, Jack gives Evan his last assignment: find and protect his last protégé and recruit for the program.But Evan isn't the only one after this last Orphan - the new head of the Orphan Program, Van Sciver, is mustering all the assets at his disposal to take out both Evan (Orphan X) and the target he is trying to protect Joey.A plucky great character in this book is the young Joey, adds a great touch to this story adds humour and chaos to the well organised life of Evan Smoak, but they do make a great team.Orphan chasing Orphan, but more do you need to make an exciting story, more Orphans!Action, pace, humour as usual. Great four star book

I'm quite a fan of Gregg Hurwitz and, having read most of his works, I've found that even the poorer ones are still pretty good and many are absolutely excellent. With the series starring Evan Smoak, that began with Orphan X, Mr Hurwitz has hit a deserved seam of success. The three books to date have progressed the story and, good as Orphan X was, The Nowhere Man ws better and now, with Hellbent, a new pinnacle is reached.The action and sophisticated violence that are hallmarks of these novels are here too but, this time, Evan Smoak's icy cold facade is cracked and his innate humanity shows through. In short, there are more feelings on view here than in his previous outings and, here, it works really well. All of these books require quite a high level of suspension of disbelief but Hellbent does stretch that even further; there are some elements of the plot that are, genuinely, incredible. Not least is the timing that allows Smoak to destroy a whole criminal gang in one go.The character of Joey is extremely well crafted and the ending is such that the reader is teased into hoping to hear more of her in future works. Some of the other characters are less well fleshed out but the story doesn't suffer as a result.I absolutely loved this book and I'm sure that you will too but, if you haven't yet read the first two in this series, do so before reading Hellbent.

Where to start reviewing this book . Gregg Hurwitz is a writer of the highest standard. The plot , the story line, the dialogue are beyond perfect !!It doesn't matter whether Orphan X is dealing with Joey, with incredible sensitivity , whose been through HELL ,or dealing with his relentless pursuers, whose only thought Is to eliminate hm. Every character is so clearly defined that you know whose talking without being told who it is (ie . Then Joey responded to what Evan said to her....etc ,etc)IAll his Orphan X books are just amazing.

Being an avid reader of all book of this ilk..I can honestly say that these books hold some of the finest plots I've read and that Evan Smoak is one of the best and most complex character ever..I simply loved every page of this fast paced intensity....Please just read Orphan X.you'll be hooked for sure...