ANTIHERO, An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz

5 stars

Evan Smoak, also known as Orphan X and the Nowhere Man, is back in rare form as he’s called in by Luke Devine, a man he’s dealt with in the past who wields enormous power and wealth, to rescue him as he has fallen recklessly out of control due to both stimulant overdosing and a tyrannical rage. Luke has also summoned Orphan X to help a haunted young woman he’s hired for sex who witnessed, but failed to do anything to prevent, an epileptic young woman being kidnapped by a gang of teens off a subway car while in an epileptic episode.

Orphan X has both to wrest control from Luke as well as go on a hunt for the kidnapped girl. He brings along Josphine, a teen Orphan from the government assassination program that trained him, and who’s he informally adopted as a kind of niece. Orphan X needs her brilliant tech skills alongside him, but it’s the first time she’s been out in the field and that he has brought her along on one of his missions. He’s wary of both bringing her into Luke’s world of danger and exposing her to both sexual abuse the teens have perpetrated in order to sell views on porn sites.

In searching for the kidnapped girl, Evan relies on Josephine to tap into both Luke’s elaborate computer spy network and leverage his extensive personal connections with people in power. When he finally located the girl, she asks something of him in tracking down her assailants that confounds him. She’s very religious and thus it’s critical to her that Evan show mercy and not to kill them. Evan, who usually does away with the bad guys, has to pivot strategically to honor her request while also dealing with danger on all sides.

Fortunately the ever-resourceful Orphan X finds a way to make this work, elegantly and decisively, while hold firm to his moral compass of delivering justice.

An amazing 11^th outing for Orphan X by Hurwitz!!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.