Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz.
They called him when they had nowhere else to turn.
As a boy Evan Smoak was taken from an orphanage.
Raised and trained in a top-secret programme, he was sent to terrible places to do things the government denied ever happened.
Then he broke with the programme, using what he'd learned to vanish.
Now he helps the desperate and deserving.
But someone's on his trail.
Someone who knows his past and believes that the boy once known as Orphan X must die . . .
A good read. Slow in places. 3*.

One of my top 10 reads or 2018. I wont go into detail about the story as i dont want to spoil the book, but i will say that I wouldn't normally read this kind of book but I fancied a change of genre and i can honastly say this surprised me. I enjoyed the story and i felt connected with the characters. Pleaseantly surprised and brilliantly written, a must read for sure.

I am sorry to say that this is one of the very few 2 star books I've read recently. It is very, very hard to keep track of a story where the 'hero' needs to tell us constantly every detail about his house, his guns, more guns, more techno-thingies...
Throw in a few clichés as the intelligent young-woman-with-an-adopted-son, the beautiful but utterly dangerous and criminal woman, and some men who are obsessed with wanting our poor Evan Smoak dead.
Yawn.
I gave up after reading the biggest part of the book, because it made me fall asleep at times.

Fantastic first book in the series. Not my usual type of book but it was very good. Full of action and very well written. Loved the ending and will definitely read the next one.

With a wealth of hero, avenger, adventurer type fictional character’s out there picking up on a new one you like is not so easy. Orphan X I like. Yes he is a tech, ballistic one man army but it’s the writing that creates the character and storyline and the research that helps creates the credibility. If you read a book and it’s OK you remember the character, if you read a book and think wow that’s good you also remember the author and go looking for more. Grateful I had the opportunity to pick up on Orphan X and Greg Hurwitz and look forward to following both!

Brilliant start to a series. Evan is a fascinating character. I was hooked from the first page. I really like how every detail is described. I could visualise everything which meant I felt totally immersed in the story. The characters are cleverly written about and believable. There is a brilliant backstory to Evan. As the book progresses he is drawn deeper and deeper into a well planned series of lies. He does not know who he can trust. The ending is really good and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I first encountered Evan Smoak in Hellbent, the third in the series. I enjoyed it so much I wanted to read the two previous novels, Orphan X and the Nowhere Man. In Orphan X we get to meet the character Evan Smoak and his former handler Jack Johns. Evan having escaped from the Orphan programme lives a hunted existence as his life is under threat from the very creators of the programme itself. He atones for his former misdeeds by helping anyone desperate enough to have called him on his RoamZone phone, a number only ever given by the previous client. A thriller which sets the pace for the series.

Having read (and been blown away by) a previous novel by Gregg Hurwitz, I suspected this one may be good and it certainly doesn't disappoint.
Whilst there will always be comparisons made between Orphan X and Mitch Rapp, Jack Reacher, Ben Hope and Carl Logan, there is a slight deviation here as he has such an interesting past. (Which incidentally is explained but also leaves just enough hints that we may find out more in the next two books.)
I really enjoyed it. It's my kind of novel. Highly skilled former assassin turns hero and in the process also finds some humanity that he suspected he didn't have. Brought out by the most unlikely people.
Some great humour in there too in the form of his neighbours who haven't got a clue as to just who is living amongst them and I laughed out loud at their attempts to get him to the residents' meetings while he's still trying to cover up the blood stains on his suit.
I'm already looking forward to No. 2 in the series. (For some reason I bought No. 3 by accident instead but hey ho, it'll keep.
Many thanks.

Evan Smoak - even his name makes him sound like he'd be played by someone whos a little Daniel Craigish - rugged but easy on the eye.
Evan was trained in a secret non existent programme ( think Jason Bourne) and now live in what looks like a normal flat and tried to avoid his neighbors,
The reinforced flat doesn't protect him from showing some human emotion, in getting to know his neighbour and her son, but all the while he's being hunted by someone who want to end it all.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, it was a little out of genre for me, so it took a while to get into, but the storyline works well. and the characters are clearly going to develop throughout the series.

WOW, Why have I only just picked this book up?
Fast paced action thriller, where the hunter becomes hunted. A real page-turner with a brilliant main character that you just have to love.
Evan is part of the orphan project, picked at a young age to become an assassin. The project disbands and Evan begins to work alone to rid the world of the bad and help the people who truly need it.
I am not one for the hype and this book certainly has that surround it hence why it's taken me so long to read, however now I wish I listened to the hype, it truly is a blinder. Its action packed with fight scenes and guns however there is also a softer side to Even that’s shown when he meets a single mum who lives in the same block as him.
Evan has been compared to Jack Reacher and James bond but for me he has a little more depth to him and the plot kept me hooked at all times.

This book introduces us to Evan Smoak, or Orphan X. A untraceable man who can be found if you truly need help. A stunning introduction to a fantastic new character to rival Reacher. Smoak is as cold and his rules are as clear as his vodka. I highly recommend reading this and it’s sequel Nowhere Man before the highly anticipated Hellbent arrives at the end of January. You will not be disappointed.