Into the Fire

An Orphan X Novel (Evan Smoak, Book 5)

By: Gregg Hurwitz

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

* A Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller *

“Read the Orphan X series. You’ll thank me later." ―David Baldacci

Gregg Hurwitz's New York Times bestselling Orphan X returns - just when Evan Smoak thinks he's done, his deadliest job yet pulls him back Into The Fire...

Evan Smoak lives by his own code. 

Once he was known as Orphan X. Trained as an off-the-books government assassin and spoken about only in whispers, Evan Smoak was one of the most talented - and most feared - men in the Program. But he broke free and reinvented himself as The Nowhere Man, a figure shrouded in mystery, known for helping the truly desperate.   

If anyone is truly desperate, it’s Max Merriweather.   

Max is at the end of his rope. His cousin has been brutally murdered, leaving Max an envelope that contains nothing but a mysterious key. However, someone really wants that key, badly enough that Max - and anyone he turns to - is in deadly danger. What seems like a simple job for The Nowhere Man turns out to be anything but. Behind every threat he takes out, a deadlier one emerges and Evan Smoak must put himself in greater danger than ever before as he heads once more Into The Fire.

©2019 by Gregg Hurwitz. (P)2019 by Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic Reviews

"No matter the subject, Scott Brick brings incredible passion to every audiobook he performs. Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X series is top-notch storytelling. Combine the two, and you have audiobook gold." —AudioFile Magazine

Loved it!

Gregg Hurwitz has done it again! I wasn’t sure if he would be able to come up with a storyline that could top or at least equal the intensity of his previous book. He has! The publisher’s summary gives a very good comprehensive overview so o don’t want to expound on the story itself. What I will say it that this is a very well written book. It has a very intricate plot with a few subplots. The amount of detail combined with the vivid descriptions makes this a hard book to put down. Anyway, trying not to give anything away but this book has a great ending and a surprising cliffhanger. I almost thought this series was wrapping up until the last line. Can’t wait for the next! Scott Brick does a wonderful job narrating as always. This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. If you found this review helpful please indicate so. Thank You.

Unputdownable, as always

Into the Fire is the 5th awesome novel in the Evan Smoak series of unputdownable thrillers from best-selling author Gregg Hurwitz. His writing style is absolutely amazing, his characters and locations spring to life in Scott Brick‘s perfect performance and this audiobook production is a tour de force from the first second to its last. Once again, we follow Evan Smoak a.k.a The Nowhere Man. He is a skilled assassin trained in the, now defunct, off the books, Orphan program. Usually, Evan uses his knowledge, resources and talents to help desperate people that have no one else to turn to. Evan has to find solutions for their, seemingly, unsolvable problems by putting his life in peril at every step of the way. In Into the Fire, our beloved hero takes on a seamlessly easy job, trying to help a man that’s hunted by some unsavory individuals, but every time he thinks the mission is complete, a new target arises, more ruthless and deadlier than the one before it. The brilliant narrator, actor and VoiceOver artist Scott Brick returns once again to this series and he delivers a superb performance. He is clearly enjoying these stories and there’s no one better to be named Orphan X in his place. Scott brings tension, urgency, emotion and style to an already fantastic adventure, raising the level of immersion to the max for the listener, making the audiobook version of Into the Fire better than the printed one. For those who don’t know, today is Scott’s birthday and I hope that he will be around for many more years, delighting us with his warm and friendly voice. He is one of the best narrators in the Audiobook Industry, and for Thriller fans he brought to life during his illustrious career such renowned characters as Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, Jack Reacher, Dirk Pitt and many, many others. Happy Birthday, dear Mr. Brik! So, if you are looking for good thrillers, twists and turns, non-stop and over the top action, a hero with a good heart and truly hateful villains, I can’t recommend enough Into the Fire and the entire Evan Smoak series by Gregg Hurwitz. If you liked this review please vote Helpful below and find more of them here and on theAudiobookBlog. I also post honest reviews at the author, narrator or publisher's request, you can get in touch with me for more details. Thank you, Victor

WOW! Just WOW!

There have already been several outstanding reviews posted. INTO THE FIRE continues Gregg Hurwitz's incredibly outstanding Evan Smoak series. All five novels as well as the short stories in the series have maintained the wonderful story and the intense suspense. Narration by Scott Brick is superb as usual.

Surpassing

I know when I pick up a new offering in this series I’m in for a rip roaring good time... Take a bow Mr. Hurwitz, you never disappoint, nor does The Nowhere Man... As usual the thrills and suspense simply amaze... This is my fave now, ahead of Hell Bent and Orphan X... Yes, I said it, better than the best of the series... I feel a deeper connection and emotion in this maturing Evan Smoak... He has become iconic... There’s also a nicely dry wit and situational snarkiness I adore, and even though the events and happenings are out on the fringe you can’t help to relate and empathize w/ so many of the wonderfully crafted characters....

Best Orphan X yet

The Orphan X series is severely underrated. I forget how good they are until I read them again. This book was superb. I'm constantly amazed and impressed by how great of a writer Hurwitz is. He can make a scene feel so real. His metaphors and vivid descriptions make you hear the same things Evan Smoak hears. The story, also, was incredible. As usual, Orphan X gets a phone call and has to assist. From there, it's non-stop a** kicking. I thought this was the best, most well-rounded plot in the series. Hurwitz also keeps revealing more about Evan Smoak, giving us a small glimpse here, a small glimpse there, which in turn makes Orphan X one of the most interesting and intriguing characters in the thriller genre. This will be up there with one of the top books of the year, which I know might sounds strange in January of 2020, but it's that good. Finished it in about 24 hours, and it was fantastic. Scott Brick as Orphan X is perfect. Brick really found the perfect way to narrate the character, and I wouldn't want any other narrator doing this series.

Is Hurwitz Concussed?

I'm an avid fan of the Orphan X series. I'm a big fan of Gregg Hurwitz. Im a huge fan of Scott Brick's performances... But this concoction of the three just didn't work. I've got to give Brick props for doing his thing as he always does. Sometimes a bit dramatic but his voice is what kept me listening until the story ended. For Evan smoke to run around doing what he does with a concussion is the most annoying thing to listen to. I realize this is fantasy and fiction and everything he does is super human. But in this case he seems like this week dude who just kept getting lucky. I don't wanna hear about is throbbing head and his blurry vision and all of these situations he got himself into because of one ridiculous parking lot fight with somebody who he would normally kill with his pinky. Maya and Peter, whatever, there's usually something else he can do with that but her wits just didn't do it. Ida Rosenbaum was really the best part of this book, and that was just a little comic relief that took us away from the main story. And speaking of the main story, pure ridiculousness. I'm sorry. The dogfights, the gangs, the politicians, the city Council, the C4 in the conference room, all it was just a bunch of silliness. It wasn't typical Evyn smoke serious business. And then to end on that phone call with mom, come on. Dumb. Hi Joey bringing the dog and messing up his apartment and Evans meticulous living space had dog piss and hair everywhere. It's just not what I want to listen to. Thinking back, the prison scene was pretty cool, a little far-fetched but really cool nonetheless. He got very lucky. So I'm still a fan, I just can't wait for the next book. Sorry Gregg Hurwitz Don't rush the stories. Give us some more situations where he's on more serious missions but encounters silly things like helping the guy in the HOA group With the street thugs. I'm not sure which book that was but that was a cool scene. You know, let some people who don't know Evyn catch a glimpse of what he can really do. Let there be a little bit of overlap between reality and his assassin world. That's the fun stuff to read. That's the stuff that real people can relate with. Hey, this is just my two cents, but I don't want to hear this bad ass running around with a concussion hoping he can get the job done. And the seemingly little job turned out to be the biggest thing in the world. Blah blah blah. Just not believable. I'm not proofreading this so sorry for any typos. Well done Scott Brick! I'm not concerned about the next book or my losing interest in this series. Ask yourself one thing, do I look scared?

Eliminate the F word and an excellent story

I would give this book a 5 star - however; I did not like how the F word was interjected into an otherwise excellent book.

Orphan X, one of my favorite series!

I've listened to all of the series. It's by far one of my favorites. Awesome author, awesome narrator. This one is just as good as all the rest.

My Favorite Series, Author and Narrator

NO SPOILERS! Every time I listen to an Orphan X book, I end up being mad for not pacing myself but the series is soooo good, I find it impossible to stop listening. This story sucked me right in again and Scott Brick is truly the best narrator for the series. If you have never listened to the series make sure you listen to them in order. I have recommended this series to men and women in the past and they ALL love the Evan Smoak series. I recommend this to anyone who loves smart writing, mysteries, suspense, and tons of twists. Bravo again Gregg Hurwitz! More please!!

Worth the read, but a weak Orphan X novel.

The suspense and tension that exists in the other Orphan X books just isn't here. Scott Brick is excellent, as always, but that's not enough to carry the weak story. I'm glad I read the book; it's just not as compelling as the others in the series.