Lone Wolf (Orphan X #9) by Gregg Hurwitz
Publication Date: February 13th 2024 by Macmillan Audio
Pages: 400
Audio Book Length: 13hrs 13min
Narrators: Scott Brick
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★★
My Thoughts:
Lone Wolf is the 9th in the Orphan X series, and I’ve loved every installment! It’s a series best read in order, so if you haven’t started the series, go grab book one and prepare for an amazing, exciting ride!
Evan Smoak was taken from his foster home and trained as an elite assassin for a covert government operation and then left the program when his conscience demanded it. Now Evan operates as The Nowhere Man helping the helpless when they have nowhere else to turn.
In Lone Wolf Evan is at a low point personally, but he must quickly shake off his gloom when a young girl calls the hotline and asks for help finding her lost dog. Evan reluctantly agrees and “the case of the lost dog” quickly turns into sooo much more! Parts are extremely concerning as it mirrors real-life with AI and it’s chilling! As usual, Evan has his ever-growing collection of friends at his back, Joey, Tommy, and Melinda assist with the investigation.
I’ve said this before, but I think one of the reasons I love this series so much is because justice usually wins out. The baddies get retribution, something I long to see in real life, but doesn’t always happen. And Evan’s just so badass! Even when you think he’s cornered into a situation he can’t possibly get out of, he somehow prevails! Although, there was a comedy of errors when he gets his own line “Look at me closely. And ask yourself: Do I look scared?” back from nine-seven-year-old lady! It was a good lesson for him! Also, so many laughs over Evan having to endure looking through the many, many photos and videos of Sofia’s beloved, ugly dog!!!
The main conflict is resolved, but boy, that surprise at the end could change things! As usual, I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment!
I listened to the audiobook version, the way I’ve “read” the entire series. Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator, bringing Evan to life. He IS Evan Smoak to me even now. His female voices and accents are spot on, and his comedic timing is wonderful! I listen at my normal 1.5x-1.75x normal speed.
5 Stars
Book Description:
Once a black book government assassin known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak left the program, went deep underground, and reinvented himself as someone who will go anywhere, and risk everything to help the truly desperate who have nowhere else to turn. Since then, Evan has fought international crime syndicates and drug cartels, faced down the most powerful men in the world and even brought down a President. Struggling with an unexpected personal crisis, Evan goes back to the very basics of his mission - and this time, the truly desperate is a little girl who wants him to find her missing dog.
Not his usual mission, and not one Evan embraces with enthusiasm, but this unlikely, tiny job quickly explodes into his biggest mission yet. one that finds him battered between twisted AI technocrat billionaires, a mysterious female assassin who seems a mirror of himself, and personal stakes so gut-wrenching he can scarcely make sense of them .
Evan's mission pushes him to his limit - he must find and take down the assassin known only as the Wolf, before she succeeds in completing her mission and killing the people who can identify her - a teenaged daughter of her last target, and Evan himself. Matched skill for skill, instinct for instinct, Evan must outwit an opponent who will literally stop at nothing if he is to survive.
This sounds like such a solid series with a great blend of Evan's personal life and the cases he takes on. It's always so gratifying to see the good guys win in fiction. We can enjoy it in between pages even when it feels it short supply in real life.
ReplyDeleteI love this series so much! It's the story of Evan's character development with the backdrop of non-stop action.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
Evan is badass! I love how smart and resilient he is...and how he never backs down. One of my favorite characters. I've got this one on hold at my library and can't wait to read it when it comes in. :D
ReplyDeleteSo much of what you say about this series draws me in. I will definitely be hitting it for a binge.
ReplyDeleteSophia Rose
I didn't love the first book, and never continued the series. However, you aren't my only trusted book buddy who loves the series. I'm thinking I may need to try to listen to them instead of reading.
ReplyDeleteI can totally see this as a TV show. So glad the series has yet to disappoint. That's quite a feat
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this but it sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this series before. Good to hear you like it.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't really my type of read, but I have a friend who would probably like it. I'll probably share it with them since you like it. Great review!
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature