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The Nowhere Man
Written by Gregg Hurwitz
Narrated by Scott Brick
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"Will keep readers on the edge of their seats." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Who is THE NOWHERE MAN?
He is spoken about only in whispers. He comes to those in greatest need of his protection. There is no enemy he cannot fight. He lives by his own code. He takes no prisoners. His name is Evan Smoak.
Taken from a group home when he was young, Evan was raised and trained as an Orphan, an off-the-books black box program designed to create the perfect deniable intelligence asset: An assassin. Evan was Orphan X-until he used everything he'd learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. But now, his new life has been interrupted by a surprise attack from an unlikely source. Captured, drugged, and spirited off to a remote location, Evan finds himself heavily guarded from everything he knows. His captors think they have him trapped and helpless in a virtual cage, but they do not know that they're dealing with one of the deadliest, most resourceful men on earth.
"Superb on all levels and a must-read for all thriller fans." -Providence Journal
"A masterpiece of suspense and thrills." -Associated Press on Orphan X
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
The Nowhere Man
Written by Gregg Hurwitz
Narrated by Scott Brick
Description
"Will keep readers on the edge of their seats." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Who is THE NOWHERE MAN?
He is spoken about only in whispers. He comes to those in greatest need of his protection. There is no enemy he cannot fight. He lives by his own code. He takes no prisoners. His name is Evan Smoak.
Taken from a group home when he was young, Evan was raised and trained as an Orphan, an off-the-books black box program designed to create the perfect deniable intelligence asset: An assassin. Evan was Orphan X-until he used everything he'd learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. But now, his new life has been interrupted by a surprise attack from an unlikely source. Captured, drugged, and spirited off to a remote location, Evan finds himself heavily guarded from everything he knows. His captors think they have him trapped and helpless in a virtual cage, but they do not know that they're dealing with one of the deadliest, most resourceful men on earth.
"Superb on all levels and a must-read for all thriller fans." -Providence Journal
"A masterpiece of suspense and thrills." -Associated Press on Orphan X
About the author
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Reviews
I really enjoyed Orphan X due to its fast pace and intriguing character Evan Smoak. He is the typical macho man who drinks vodka and makes smartass comments, I loved it. I wanted to read the rest of the trilogy, but did not want to wait so long between books, so with Hellbent coming out at the end of this month, I picked up Nowhere Man. The story picks up where Orphan X left off. Evan is still helping those in need, but in this story, he is actually captured by a psychopath and has to escape. There was a lot of violence in the story as he kept killing guards and they kept being replaced. The story was fast paced for the most part and kept me in suspense although knowing there was a third book meant he was going to get away. Some of the characters from the first book make a reappearance and we learn a bit more about Evan's early life. Of course Van Sciver is still trying to find Evan a erase him which only adds to the action. A good thriller but if you do not like violence, then do not pick this one up. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for us. Based on the ending of this one, it is going to be another good ride.
Rating: 4Evan Smoak returns, this time to help fifteen-year-old Anna Rezian and to destroy Hector Contrell’s brutal sex trafficking ring. But a mysterious businessman waylays him when he drugs and kidnaps the Nowhere Man and holds him prisoner. Former Orphan Charles Van Sciver, determined find and kill Evan, adds to Evan’s problems. Will Evan be able to escape the clutches of his sociopathic kidnapper and evade Van Sciver’s continuing attempts to eliminate him or has the Nowhere Man finally met his match?Evan’s desperate situation quickly ramps up the suspense for the reader while the frenetic cat-and-mouse game between the Nowhere Man and his captors builds the tension. Surprising reveals keep the narrative moving while the plot twists in unexpected ways and the story races toward its climatic resolution. Readers will find this thrilling, chilling, inventive tale just as captivating as the first book in the series; although reading the books in order is preferable, there’s sufficient backstory here for readers who have not yet read “Orphan X.” Fans of the captivating Nowhere Man will find much to appreciate in this unputdownable tale.Highly recommended.
Rating: 5Even better than the firstI love this book. It’s an incredible, taut thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Evan is still up against Orphans V and Y, while battling a true villain worthy of the best James Bond films. And the ending? I need the next book NOW!
Rating: 5Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz is a 2017 Minotaur Books publication. This second book in the Orphan X series picks up pretty much where the first book left off. Evan Smoak is doing what he does best, helping people out of hopeless situations. In this case, a young girl is victimized by an online sex trade operation. But, when she tries to get out of the situation, her family is threatened. This is where Evan steps in. Once order is restored to his client he learns there are more victims of this scheme and he begins an urgent race against time to save a teenager being held in a shipping crate. But, before he can complete his mission, he is ambushed and held captive by a strange, twisted man only out to drain Evan’s substantial bank account. But, with Evan Smoak, he may have gotten more than he bargained for. As Evan plays a cat and mouse game with his captors, he learns some shocking information about Jack, his handler, and the man who raised him like his own son. This second outing is not quite as tight or atmospheric as the first book, but is perhaps even more action packed, with evil, diabolical bad guys and many more fantastical twists and turns. Now, if you are a stickler for realistic crime thrillers, this one might not be for you, as this set up really does require an ability to suspend belief. But, I am at a point where I don’t know if I really need every book I read to be purely realistic. I’m thinking our insistence on that point could stymie the creativity and imagination that makes fiction our first choice. Besides, this series was never meant to be your normal, run of the mill thriller. So, buckle your seat belt and fall into Evan’s murky world of rogue government operatives and sociopaths, and allow yourself to jeer at the bad guys and cheer for the good ones. Enjoy the action, the suspense, and the non-stop thrill ride and take a break from hardcore reality for a while! As the book winds down, and Evan turns introspective, allowing himself to believe he can live a normal life....We get a little bit of a cliffhanger ending- a ‘to be continued’ kind of thing to ensure readers will tune in for the next episode. I don’t normally like that kind of strategy with books, but I didn’t mind it so much in this situation because it means Evan will be back and may face a challenge more personal than any he’s encountered thus far. Can’t wait!!
Rating: 4Evan is my new favorite cloak & dagger guy. A Robin Hood for the oppressed, think Jason Bourne crossed with Leverage.
Very creative, kept me guessing, well researched; looking forward to more.
Rating: 4Very creative, kept me guessing, well researched; looking forward to more.
In this, the second book in the Orphan X series, Gregg Hurwitz again gives us a fast-paced story, with his fascinating main character, Evan Smoak, doing some soul-searching in between dishing out punishment to those who've earned it. Evan Smoak has transformed himself into the Nowhere Man, who uses the "particular set of skills" he learned in a rogue government program to privately help ordinary citizens who find themselves in extreme danger. All he asks in return is that they “pay it forward” by passing his phone number on to one person who needs his help. This time, though, he finds himself held captive by an extreme narcissist who wants to access his money (of which he has a considerable amount). Evan spends a fair amount of his captivity drugged up, and a fair bit wreaking havoc on his guards. At the same time, he's also being pursued by another orphan, who's been tasked with eliminating him. There's a lot of action, and once again the ending of this one left me ready to move on to the next one (Hellbent). Well done, Mr. Hurwitz, well done!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
Rating: 4Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
A damn fine novel. I'm officially a Hurwitz fan now
Rating: 5wow! once it starts ... you can’t put it down!
Rating: 5
Love the reader , the author is very detailed and the story lines are so good they keep me hooked with every plot twist!
Rating: 5One of my new favourite series! Well written captivating plot with great characters. This one kept me guessing I kept wondering where it was leading. Looking forward to the next one!
Rating: 5The mental & physical combat scenes are explosive and great from the edge of my chair.
Terrific!
Rating: 5Terrific!
I think the first book was better. 75% of this book was focused on him trying to escape twenty different ways and failing each time. Then in the very last few chapters he gets to be the “nowhere man” again. I honestly had to force myself to finish this one.
Rating: 3I love this series. There’s a lot of action and it really keeps my interest.
Rating: 5Smoak has so many near endings that I found myself hoping to put an end to MY misery. Soooo melodramatic, so overplayed. I thought I would enjoy this book based on the premise of the main character helping others, but even that aspect was mawkish with the walk down memory lane.
I'm disappointed. I hoped for a new series.
Rating: 2I'm disappointed. I hoped for a new series.
I enjoyed this one so much more than the first book. Orphan X was a good book, but this one was great. You would think I would have liked the first book more considering one of the things I loved about it was how fast-paced it was. This one is much slower, but there is still some great action. And of course, Evan Smaok.The Nowhere Man pulled me in from the first sentence and didn’t let go until the end. I did not want to put this one down and I made every excuse I could think of to be alone so I could read.This book was incredible and I can’t wait to get into the third book, Hellbent.
Rating: 4"Do you need my help?" Evan Smoak answers the phone and once again he is alerted to another endangered soul needing assistance. Gregg Hurwitz's first novel "Orphan X" was amazing; this book is even more so. He went much deeper into Evan's "humanity" which I believe strengthened the book and character. A must read!!
Rating: 5Evan Smoak, a/k/a Orphan X, continues his aid to those in need in this sequel. In this book, however, he becomes one who needs rescuing, and the rescue comes from an unlikely source. Simply put, this is a story filled with action and twists, making it hard to put down.
Rating: 5Orphan X, released this past January, is one of my absolute favorite books. Gregg Hurwitz had a lot to live up to in this sequel. I don't envy him, as he now faces persnickety readers (like me) who want perfection equal to or exceeding that first book. Such are the perils of success!Evan Smoak is a brilliant character. He's a little bit Jack Reacher and a little bit James Bond, with a unique backstory and a fascinating, compelling, magnetic draw. He's a killing machine with a conscience and his own moral compass. Most importantly, he is memorable and, for me, totally addictive.The plot is complex and action-packed. Some reviewers have complained that the plot is over-the-top, stretching credulity, which is true in the way thrillers of this sort often tend to be. Maybe we have trouble believing all this could happen because we've never seen it, not even on the news. But, really, we don't know about a whole lot of things that go on with black ops and underground crime, and if Evan Smoak was really out there, we wouldn't know about him either. The only niggling point for me came with Evan's attempt to escape his captors. My inner voice kept yelling, "Just steal a damn vehicle!" But Evan Smoak does things his own way, for his own reasons, and I got over my need to question everything. The twists in this story, particularly toward the end, are stunning. I almost always see at least the hint of a twist coming my way. These twists totally blindsided me in the best of ways.Gregg Hurwitz has mad writing skills. We are totally in his world, seeing things through Evan Smoak's eyes. I felt the adrenaline rushes, the sorrow, the fear, the desire, and the hope. Hurwitz gives us a full immersive reading experience.The Nowhere Man can be read as a stand-alone. Hurwitz does a great job of incorporating bits of the vital pieces of Orphan X, without weighing down the story by recapping too much detail. Still, I think you'll have a better connection to and understanding of Evan Smoak's character if you start with the first book. Plus, Orphan X is simply too good to miss.*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.*
Rating: 5Gregg Hurwitz doesn’t always get the attention that some other thriller authors like Lee Child and Vince Flynn, but he’s long been one of the best writers around and with his new Orphan X series, that attention should come. The Nowhere Man is the latest entry in a great new series.Evan Smoak is known as Orphan X to the shadowy government branch that trained him as an assassin. He’s known to people in need of assistance and who are out of options as The Nowhere Man. Someone who will come to your aid and in lieu of payment, all he asks is that you give his number to someone else who needs his help. Evan had the good fortune to be trained by a man whose goal was to do the near impossible. Turn Evan into an assassin without destroying his humanity. When Evan finds out that the organization for which he was killing as Orphan X has been lying to him, he leaves that life behind and attempts to atone by fighting for the helpless as The Nowhere Man.A fellow “Orphan”, Charles Van Scriver, now heads the Orphan program and is determined to eliminate former members of the program with Evan is at the top of that list. Evan is skilled at remaining hidden, but when in the midst of helping someone as The Nowhere Man he is caught unawares and kidnapped, there is a clock ticking down. When it strikes zero, either an innocent victim or Evan could wind up dead. Evan’s captors think that they have captured prey, but they don’t understand what a dangerous predator they have caged. With Van Scriver closing in and time running out on a victim trapped on a container ship, Evan has to use every ounce of skill and experience to escape, realizing that even that may not be enough.Hurwitz manages to do something that a lot of other thriller writers don’t, and that’s surprise you. He shows that it’s possible to do everything right and still lose. His characters have a lot of depth to them which he displays both through their planning as well as with illuminating insights into their pasts. The investment he makes in his characters makes their fates that much more impactful.The action sequences in The Nowhere Man are second to none. They come fast, furious and full of twists whether they take place in a gritty urban setting or a posh, snow-capped retreat. Even at such a breakneck pace, Hurwitz manages to throw surprise after surprise at you. The ending manages to top the surprises placed along the way and elevates an already outstanding book to another level.Great characters, action and pacing make The Nowhere Man an amazing book. Gregg Hurwitz belongs in the upper echelons of thriller writers and Evan Smoak can easily stand alongside such great characters as Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp. This is a great series and one you don’t want to miss. Highly recommended.I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book
Rating: 4As a twelve-year-old orphan, Evan Smoak was taken from a group home 6o be raised and trained as part of a special government group. The group’s mission was to eliminate enemies of the US. After he matured, he decided he no longer wanted to continue those assignments, broke away from the group, and disappeared.In his new persona, he decided to use his talents and knowledge to rescue people trying to escape dangerous situations. When he completed a job, he gave the person his telephone number and asked that it be given to someone else who needed help.Those in charge of the orphan’s group decided that he had too much information that could harm them and set out to kill him. He is captured and has to use his mental and physical abilities to save himself.Interesting quotes: “Most Americans seem to believe that safety assurances are awarded at birth like factory-issued warrantees. So far as I can tell, the only American growth industry is entitlement....For the sheep, moral outrage is the coin of the realm. They smother themselves in it.” “One of the lesser-known benefits of Doritos is that they’re highly flammable.”Part of the story is told as flashbacks. Overall, it is unrealistic. One person cannot successfully fight off so many attackers at one time, receive injuries, and yet go on as if nothing had changed.The book was fast-paced and generally well-written but had too many unnecessarily short chapters. Overall, it is unrealistic. One person cannot successfully fight off so many attackers at one time, receive injuries, and yet go on as if nothing had changed.
Rating: 3Orphan Evan Smoak was raised as an assassin in a secret government project but now, rich and contrite, he uses his training to help anyone in need. Evan has just bust a child sex slave ring and is on his way to rescue their final victim when he is kidnapped and held captive in a luxurious mansion where he is every desire is met – except freedom. Nowhere Man is the second in the series that started with Orphan X: fast-paced, slickly-written and with unremitting action, this is a wonderful old-fashioned escapist adventure where the baddies get their just deserts and good triumphs in the end.
Rating: 3The Nowhere Man was a slow read. I loved Orphan X and was very excited for the sequel. Gregg Hurwitz’s clever and resourceful protagonist Evan Smoak is a highly entertaining character who is prepared for anything and everything he encounters. Hurwitz’s meticulously crafts the descriptions of Smoak’s fortress-like apartment including his safe room which adds to Smoak’s mystique. In Orphan X, Hurwitz created a plot that utilized his main character’s skills and preparation in a highly satisfying manner. The Nowhere Man starts out strong, but soon the plot decelerates and sadly never speeds up again. Smoak tackles too many villains, and I thought he would never escape from the Chateau where he is imprisoned. Some editing down of this section would have been very helpful.While I love Evan Smoak and am looking forward to the next installment of this series, I felt The Nowhere Man fell a little flat. Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3A graphically violent book centered around a former "Black Ops" assassin and attempts by his underworld victims to mete out revenge. Many of the characters are just too unbelievable. The lead character gets into deeper & deeper jeopardy but miraculously manages to escape death & fight on. When it seems like he is finally out of all options he is saved by his mentor thought dead over 8 years ago - artificial and unrealistic. The book is loaded with action but goes "nowhere".
Rating: 2At this point, I think I've heard enough from Evan Smoak, the hero of Greg Hurwitz's Orphan X series. Evan is portrayed as a combination of Reacher, McGyver, Bourne, 007, and God knows how many more action heroes in contemporary fiction. That's not necessarily a good thing if you want to read a novel that has some relationship to reality.'Nowhere Man', Hurwitz's latest, reminds me of a movie that's constructed of a whole lot of explosions and special effects. Some folks like that type of thing, while others may view it while thinking the whole time how unrealistic it is. Compounding the silliness of the extreme set of skills and tools possessed by Orphan X, a.k.a. the Nowhere Man, a.k.a. Evan Smoak, is the nefarious nature, and likewise massive physical and mental capabilities of his opponents.The plot of Nowhere Man is fairly simple. Evan Smoak's in the process of tracking down human traffickers but is kidnapped himself by a really strange guy who wants to clean out one (of many!) of his secret bank accounts. He's held captive somewhere in the mountains by his kidnapper's team of 'narcos'. Smoak manages to keep killing his captors while still being held captive. In the meantime, he realizes he has a deadline to stop a shipment of a child 'slave' being made to a port in Florida. While all this is occurring, his ex-boss, the head of the 'Orphan' program, is pulling out all the stops to find his former charge and eliminate him. Whew. The remainder of the novel involves multiple attempts on Smoak's life, Smoak killing a few more of his captors while continuing to be held captive, and the clock still is ticking. The conclusion is about as incredible as most of the other action preceding it.The writing in Nowhere Man is competent, dialogue ranges from laughably overwrought to bland, action sequences are described in more detail than necessary, and characters are caricature-like. The Orphan X series is now 2 novels deep and here's hoping some of its excesses are pared back in future installments.
Rating: 2