Cover Image: Into the Fire

Into the Fire

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Member Reviews

A great, thrilling read, which will keep you entertained throughout. A good one sitting read, get the nibbles ready, close the door, and read!

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Another great addition to the orphan x series. Really like to see this side of Evan and could feel his struggle throughout the novel.

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As this is Book 5 in the series some of you may be asking if you need to have read any of the previous books. For me it is a clear no this time. The author pretty much explains who Evan is, why he does what he does, and the basic back story of any recurring character. While it does reveal a little about past events it isn’t really enough to ruin the previous books.

With Into the Fire it takes a little while for our hero Orphan X to come into the picture. This time around it is a man called Max Merriweather who needs Evan’s help and we are first pulled into his story and why that help is needed.

Once Evan enters the story this becomes a typical Orphan X book – mystery and intrigue with plenty of violence packed in. The authors usual humour are strewn throughout, as are the somewhat over descriptive mentions of Vodka – I don’t even drink Vodka anymore but this man certainly has a way of describing some of the drinks that Evan craves – although I am sure the price of these drinks is somewhat out of my budget.

The underlying story that plays throughout the book – aside from trying to save Max of course – is that Evan is retiring. THIS is his last mission – he has helped enough people and now it is time to focus on retirement and possibly reigniting a dormant relationship with a certain neighbour.

Into the Fire continues the Orphan X series in spectacular fashion. Being honest, it was exactly what I needed when I read it. Like many action books in returning series it did exactly what I was expecting – distracted me from the real world and kept me entertained. Recommended to fans of the genre.

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Another great ORPHAN X thriller. I have loved this series from the start and Greg keeps the twists and turns coming in each novel.

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8/10

An enjoyable thriller with a fresh story arc made for a fun time for this series and there was some laugh out loud moments too which weren’t expected.

After the end of the last book it felt like things were left in a nice place to end the series or, as in the actual case, start afresh with a new plot. I wasn’t sure where or what the series was going to do but I think the change in scope made me more invested. Evan is by far a badass and at time’s seems indestructible so it was nice to see him flapping in regular social interactions and these caused the majority of the humour here. I wont spoil any of the plot but there is plenty of excitement and things move pretty fast with the usual start of helping someone and then descending into madness.

I really like this series and this one reaffirmed my feelings as it had the potential to become stale but it certainly didn’t feel like that to me. I look forward to the next one.

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Wow! This series is getting better and better. Another action packed, fast paced and knuckle-bitting, heart-stopping twisty instalment. I am going to miss Evan Smoak and really hope he will return.

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I am a huge fan of Gregg Hurwitz Orphan X books so I was really excited to recieve an ARC of his latest book Into The Fire.

Taken from a group home at age twelve, Evan Smoak was trained as an off-the-books government assassin: Orphan X. After breaking with the Program, he reinvented himself as The Nowhere Man, a figure shrouded in shadows who helps the truly desperate. But the government didn’t let go of him easily, sending their best to hunt him down and eliminate him. All of them failed. With his deadliest enemies behind him, Evan is facing a new challenge—what is he going to do now that no one is after him?

Max Merriweather is at the end of his rope. Separated from the woman he loves and barely scraping by, Max is a disappointment to everyone in his life. Then his very successful cousin Grant is brutally murdered. Two months before, Grant left Max an envelope with instructions to take it to a reporter if anything happened to him. Now the reporter is missing and Max’s apartment is ransacked. A man at the end of his rope, he calls The Nowhere Man.

With mixed feelings, Evan takes on this mission, easily finding the men who are after Max and executing a plan to keep him safe. But it isn’t as obvious as it seems—and Evan finds himself enmeshed in one of the most challenging missions of his life, one that he can’t survive on his own. With the help of Joey Morales, a genius-level hacker and the last Orphan recruited into the Program, and the brilliant, off-the-books gunsmith, Tommy Stojack, Orphan X once more heads…Into the Fire.

Into The Fire had me absolutely hooked the whole way through full of nonstop action and great characters and brilliant storylines and I'm hoping though this was supposed to be a 5 part series that the ending seems to have left way for more and I'm hoping this is the case as I'm loving this series and Into The Fire is my favourite so far so I REALLY hope this won't be the last!!!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gregg Hurwitz for the ARC of Into The Fire my review is honest and unbiased in any way.

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This is the first Orphan X book I have read, but it stood well as a standalone. I found this a thrilling read and was intrigued enough by Evan Smoak's character and his realtionships to go back and read the rest of the series in order.
I particularly enjoyed the escalation of the pressure on Smoak as each new layer of the criminal activity was exposed. A brilliant read.

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One of my favourite series full stop. Evan Smoak is such a compelling character, juggling the man he wants to be, and the man he needs to be to make amends for things he's done. As pacy a page turner as you'll find - highly highly recommend!

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Wow, a high octane violent action thriller that will take your breath away. Government trained assassin Orphan X aka Evan Smoak turned good samaritan helps out Max entrusted with a thumb drive containing secrets that others will stop at nothing to ensure don't come to light. A very welcome fifth installment to this exciting series.

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This is another outing for Orphan X. Having read the previous ones I was a bit disappointed. Previously they stretched credulity but this one went too far. Evan gets concussion, then suffers another blow to the head but still manages to shoot about 8 assassins with pin-point accuracy over 300 yards. I felt the stories has run out of steam and was pleased when it was suggested that it will be his last job as Nowhere Man. Maybe the character will be given another outing, but, hopefully, action with a hint of reality.

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Into the Fire is another excellent entry in the Orphan X series. Gregg Hurwitz has created a character that surpasses Reacher or Bourne which is high praise indeed. From the opening page, to the open ended climax, this book delivers on all levels.

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Have really enjoyed this authors writing style and the third book in the trilogy didn’t disappoint.
It’s an easy to read book with characters you can really understand.
Whilst enjoyable didn’t find the plot as engaging as the previous two titles.

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I loved this book! It is the pinnacle of the series to date, Gregg Hurwitz has created in Orphan X a series that for me is the ultimate hero story. This book has everything, hope, loss, surprises in every chapter, great attention to detail, I find it hard to describe just how good this book is without spoiling the story line for you. If you have not started the Orphan X series go back to the first book and prepare yourself for the ride of your life! Thank you Mr Hurwitz for Evan Smoak and his story.

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A bit of a Russian Doll problem for Evan Smoak as he steps back into a world he’d hoped to put behind him. Taking a call he didn’t want and getting ever deeper in as he strips away the layers it leads to an explosive story with an explosive end. Add a little, almost domestic, on the side it’s as well he has some back up. As ever a real good read. My thanks to publishers and Net Galley.

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My thanks to Penguin U.K. Michael Joseph for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Into the Fire’ by Gregg Hurwitz in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fifth in Hurwitz’s very popular Orphan X series of high action thrillers. Last year I had the opportunity to read and review in advance the previous in the series, ‘Out of the Dark’ and was completely glued to my seat while I zoomed through it. I had the same response with this.

The plot of ‘Into the Fire’ has Evan Smoak/Orphan X hoping to retire though when he is contacted by Max Merriweather he feels compelled to undertake one last mission.

Max’s cousin recently came to him and left an envelope with the ominous instruction: “if anything ever happens to me, call the number inside”. Now his cousin is dead, shot execution style after being tortured and Max is on the killers’ radar and likely isn’t long for this world. Yet if anyone can save him it will be Evan Smoak ...

I was left breathless by this novel. As it was available in audiobook when I began reading, I obtained this, narrated by Scott Brick, and listened alongside reading the eARC.

The title is very apt as Evan is literally jumping from one deadly encounter after another as he seeks to not only save Max but ensure his continued safety. The threat is hydra-like in its complexity.

There is some light relief in the form of teenage hacker, Joey, and Dog, a rescue dog. Evan trying to fit in with the other tenants of his high-rise was also amusing, especially the home-owners’ association meeting where he was to provide ‘nibbles’ - “Compensating for the wind drift of a sniper round was second nature to Evan. But engaging in small talk by the mail slots was torture.”

Overall, it’s pure escapism and I am planning to read his earlier books in the series and hope that its final sentence is a teaser for Book 6.

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Into the Fire is the fifth and possibly final instalment in the all-action, maximum thrills Orphan X series featuring the unforgettable protagonist Evan Smoak aka The Nowhere Man who is continuing on his journey towards what he hopes will be redemption and absolution of past sins, namely his job as a government assassin. Evan is often the last port of call to those who have nowhere left to turn for help. He has vowed to retire and return to normal everyday life but he simply cannot turn away the desperate Max Merriweather who approached him to use his unique skillset in attending to a problem that was thrust upon him when his cousin, forensic accountant Grant, was brutally tortured and murdered. Now he has a bounty on his head and if he wants to carry on living he better hope Smoak has the solution to his rather substantial and dangerous problem. Two months ago and before his untimely demise, Grant entrusted Max with an envelope in which a mysterious USB drive was placed with instructions to hand it over to an investigative journalist should he pass away. Will Evan, ably assisted by formidable hacker Joey Morales, be successful in attempting to neutralise the mafiosos behind the bounty and threats to Max’s life?

This is the action-packed, thrill-a-minute we have come to expect from Hurwitz and in his most dangerous, death-defying mission yet Evan plays a cat and mouse game with a bunch of hard-nosed mafia types who seem to have no fear regardless of the situation. There is barely a moment to breathe as the story unravels and as long as you can overlook the lack of believability e.g. suspend your disbelief and go with it this is a compulsive, riveting and top-notch high-stakes adventure. Evan wonders how he will fare socially with family and friends once he leaves the only world he's ever known behind for good given that he has become accustomed to being a closed book. It's a taut, palpably gripping read with plenty of twists, reveals, surprises and misdirection to keep you totally addicted. The enemies Evan faces here are the most dastardly of the series so far and what is most terrifying is that they fear nothing and no-one. And if that wasn't enough to tempt then the conclusion will leave you in both shock and awe. After all we have come to expect from Hurwitz I guess you could say that there's no Smoak without fire! Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

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If you loved the last 4 Orphan X all you need to read is this...yep, it’s as good and you will love it

If you haven’t read anything in the series then this book is perfect to start with and if love it then there are 4 more to enjoy

Evan Smoak, Orphan X is helper/vigilante to the most desperate,
the people in such dire circumstances no- one can help them, along comes Evan and when he sorts it he leaves them a new mobile number telling them to pass it on to anyone who they think needs him.....and so it continues...

This time its Max who needs his help, given an envelope by his cousin with instructions to call Evan if he should die, he has, Max calls, meets Evan and a wild almost 500 page adventure starts, all to find out why he was killed and why Max is now being targeted

Its exciting stuff, really the action is non stop and it plays like a film in your mind, the characters are spot on and the prison break in and then break out especially note worthy

But then at the end Evan decides it’s time to retire, he has an offer from the President and we are led to believe the series is at its end

But then the impossible happens....

Taut, thrilling and as always superbly written this writer and series just gets better and better

10/10
5 Stars

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Brilliant series. This book is full of action and strong characters. The story builds and builds. I would definitely recommend this book and the whole series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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Yup - another Evan Smoak novel. Opening the book, it quickly became clear that Greg Hurwitz had not given his lead character any hesitation in launching his one man crusades against the forces of darkness that cross his path via a single phone call. If you’re new to the Orphan X novels think of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher character but with even fewer scruples about taking on bad guys and no hesitation at all about packing an arsenal that will ensure that those same bad guys are outgunned if at all possible.

There will be few doubts in the reader’s mind that he’s reading a Henry James masterpiece; it’s really not that kind of writing. But if fast-paced action is something that keeps you reading when you should really have turned off the light (or the Kindle) hours ago, this could be a book for you. Yes, there is the same mildly annoying need to keep disbelief firmly at bay as our hero stretches the bounds of plausibility way beyond what is reasonable. But the fluency of the narrative and the almost physical sense of being a silent witness to some of the mayhem that is being described means that the overall effect is very positive. No spoiler here, but in addition to the expected denouement finally arriving with explosive impact, there is a neat flourish on the final pages.
Strongly recommended.

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