Dark Horse

By: Gregg Hurwitz

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

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

The Sunday Times best-selling series returns - and Orphan X faces his most challenging mission ever....

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 neighbour, 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 - supplying 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 18-year-old daughter, spiriting her away into the armoured 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.

©2022 Gregg Hurwitz (P)2022 Penguin Audio

The Best so Far

Thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Brilliant action and on the edge excitement with a look into X's soul. Well recommended

Excellent!

As always Gregg Hurwitz did not disappoint. It was a great story, with a lot of heart and emotions in. Joey was a bit irritating , but at least she didn't feature too much.
As always Scott Brick nailed it.

Orphan X at it again

Reading these books is like watching a child grow up. can't wait for the next one, though given it's a trip over old ground I hope it holds some great twists.

My Last Orphan X Book

The story itself wasn't too bad if only the author could skip most of the touchy feely stuff. It's just too much and quite unrealistic. As for the performance of Scott Brick: far too much pathos in almost every way. Being on the verge of tears when describing the making of vodka is the best example of his overdoing.
Also the book was advertised with a lenghts of 15h 7minutes. Half an hour of it was some interview at the end. when starting to listen to the book I had to put the speed to 1.20 to avoid falling asleep. That shortened the story by 3 hours! Intrestingly enough, for the interview at the end I had to put the speed back to normal.

Ruined a character for politics

It is with great disappointment that I write this review.

After listening to the first 6 books in this series in a row, I thoroughly enjoyed the Nowhere Man character.

This book however seems to have forgotten who it’s target consumer is… namely “men”. The Nowhere man is an assassin, you don’t have to belittle the character to make female characters stronger. There is no way two random men would ever make a bed together and two criminals would discuss coming out of the closet and how accepting everyone is and should be.

This is all fluff and takes away from the strength of the character and smacks of politics, and the addition/enforcing of PC guidelines from the publishers on the author. The editor should really have fought harder for the integrity and authentic of the the main character and his world.

Disappointing, I will be returning this book, for a book that I can read without having to endure politics and where it is okay to be strong man who isn’t belittled and lectured to.

My advice to the author: Fight for your character or you are going to loose your audience.