Book review: The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz

I bought The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz to download and read last weekend. I love(d) the Orphan X / Nowhere Man / Evan Smoak series but hadn’t seen the last two come out in Australia. I knew Hurwitz had released some novellas in the interim but when his upcoming novel Nemesis appeared in a new release catalogue I got from Penguin, I discovered I’d missed books 8 & 9 in the series so set about rectifying that. And it has to be said this is a timely read… given it’s centred around a mega-rich genius type trying to influence government through leverage obtained during parties where he caters to everyone’s very lascivious or illicit substance desire. A cross between that-person-that-shall-be-known-as-Leon and the former rapper and producer currently in police/FBI custody.

A heavily-armed counter-assault team, a convoy of tactical vehicles plus decoys, air support, a sedative more commonly used to knock out large animals, arm and leg restraints, a hood, mouthguard and a Secret Service Agent asking for a selfie.

This was not your average invitation to meet with the President.

But then Orphan X is not your average guest. The last survivor of the off-the-books programme that raised and trained him, Evan Smoak was sent around the world to do his government's dirty work. Until he escaped.

Now once again in need of his particular skill-set, the President tracks him down and offers him a deal: kill a man she deems too dangerous or be executed himself.

Evan must decide whether to accept. He's spent years trying to atone for his former life. But if by taking on the mission he must betray the very principles he now lives by, what is left?

I’d completely forgotten where #7 had ended with Evan’s neighbour and potential love interest, Mia, in a coma and her son living with her family. Weirdly I’d remembered however that Evan’s protege (also briefly an ‘Orphan’) Joey, was going on a road trip. I know one of Hurwitz’s novellas features her in a lead role so I must download that as she’s a fave of mine and I’m hoping for a spinoff some day when Evan’s done and dusted.

In the meantime, it has to be said that this outing whet every skerrick of my strong-and silent/bad-but-good hero-loving appetite almost boosting this to a rare 4.5 star-read. First of all Evan’s captured so there’s a vulnerability we haven’t previously seen and it results in some soul-searching. I guess we’ve been heading there given his feelings for Mia and Peter and Joey. I liked seeing that side and that human-ness is a bit of a theme here because the President’s target (Luke) challenges Evan in a way that and has him questioning his humanity.

The merciless required to get done what you get done – I’d imagine you pay a terrible price for it. I’d imagine you’d have to turn off many parts of yourself. p 234

And comparing the pair…

You only neutralize people for good reason. I only control them for such. p 255

As always Evan has the code his mentor and father figure Jack Johns forced upon him and he uses it to guide his decisions – including those that could mean life / death / captivity. As usual this book is filled with faultless detail in relation to fight scenes and weaponry, not to mention a foray into the world of high-tech and I must admit I loved that Joey eventually found a way into /past the target’s faraday cage by hacking an automated household appliance to access his servers.

Again Hurwitz ends this in a way that implies more changes are afoot for Evan in his next adventure and – excitingly for me (for a change) – it’s already out in the world!