Dark Horse: An Orphan X Novel

Written by Gregg Hurwitz

Narrated by Scott Brick

*NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

The New York Times bestselling series returns when Orphan X faces his most challenging mission ever in Gregg Hurwitz's Dark Horse.

This audiobook includes a bonus conversation between the author and Jack Carr.

Evan Smoak is a man with many identities and a challenging past. As Orphan X, he was a government assassin for the off-the-books Orphan Program. After he broke with the Program, he adopted a new name and a new mission—The Nowhere Man, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. Having just survived an attack on his life, and the complete devastation of his base of operations, as well as his complicated (and deepening) relationship with his neighbor Mia Hall, Evan isn't interested in taking on a new mission. But one finds him anyway.

Aragon Urrea is a kingpin of a major drug-dealing operation in South Texas. He's also the patron of the local area—suppyling employment in legitimate operations, providing help to the helpless, a rough justice to the downtrodden, and a future to a people normally with little hope. He's complicated—a not completely good man, who does bad things for often good reasons. However, for all his money and power, he is helpless when one of the most vicious cartels kidnaps his innocent eighteen year old daughter, spiriting her away into the armored complex that is their headquarters in Mexico. With no other way to rescue his daughter, he turns to The Nowhere Man.

Now not only must Evan figure out how to get into the impregnable fortress of a heavily armed, deeply paranoid cartel leader, but he must decide if he should help a very bad man—no matter how just the cause.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Feb 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781250787880

Gregg Hurwitz

Gregg Hurwitz schreibt neben Thrillern Drehbücher für die großen Hollywood-Studios sowie Comicbücher für prestigeträchtige Verlage wie Marvel (»Wolverine«, »Punisher«) und DC (u.a. »Batman«). Mit seinen Büchern hat er den Weg auf die New York Times-Bestsellerliste gefunden und seine 15 Thriller sind mittlerweile in 22 Sprachen übersetzt worden. Die Filmrechte an »Orphan X« konnte Gregg Hurwitz bereits vor Veröffentlichung an Warner Bros. verkaufen.

Reviews for Dark Horse

[Emily Lassiter Branch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Evan Smoak! I've been a fan of this series since I read the first one, Orphan X, a few years ago, and have anxiously awaited every subsequent installment of the series. This was no exception, especially after the explosive ending of the previous book. And Dark Horse did not disappoint. As usual the stakes are high. Evan chooses to work with a cartel kingpin whose daughter has been kidnapped by a rival cartel. Not his usual type of client, and one he chooses to help because of the teenaged daughter. In the process he gets to know the kingpin, and as he gets to know him he finds his feelings about him growing more and more ambivalent. At the same time, his relationships back home are shifting and changing. I like that we watch Evan evolve as he gets further from his life as a trained assassin and continues to help people who have nowhere else to turn. I also worry that as he loses the tight control he's always had over his life, he's in more and more physical and emotional danger. But the Nowhere Man basics are still here - there's plenty of action, lots of weapons talk and computer talk and some unexpected deep philosophical discussions. And I'm absolutely ready for the next installment!
I listened to the audiobook version, and as usual Scott Brick brings a remarkable sense of urgency when appropriate, handles the humor admirably, and does his usual exceptional job of narrating.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

[nicholas eger · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Hurwitz writing of teenage Joey is absolutely heinous. He writes how he thinks a teen age girl would act instead of a real teenager. Cartoon version of a teen. It’s so bad that I fast forward through her parts. I’d expect better writing from this author. Seems like the orphan X series is running out of gas. Ever since Hurwitz has inserted the Joey character the series has fallen flat. She’s 16 but crazy smart and happens to be Latina. Smarter than the main character. Seems like He’s intentionally adding her for cultural flair. Not a fan. The Joey character could be awesome if he toned down the trashy writing.

[sandra2sandradine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great treat from Gregg Hurwitz, read by the fantastic Scott Brick. This series gets better and better!