A welcome sequel to 'Orphan X' novel featuring Evan Smoak, a government assassin turned good Samaritan helping the helpless out of difficult situations. Non-stop violent action throughout will put you on a rollercoaster ride.

I loved Orphan X beyond reason, but I've really really struggled with this book. I couldn't finish it, it was too action focused with long descriptions of fighting and break ins.

I really enjoyed Orphan X, which I found to be a thrilling near future adventure featuring an interesting lead character with a degree of complexity and a smidgen of soul. So I was really looking forward to this second book. For those who haven't yet come across Evan Smoak, the potted history is that he was adopted into an off the books government programme and trained to be an expert assassin. For reasons I won't go into, he’s now out of the programme – but is offering his services to a limited number of needy individuals.

The problem with follow-up books can be that the author uses all the best bits of the character’s story in book one, leaving slim pickings for what follows. Well, for two thirds of this story it felt to me that this is exactly Hurwitz had done. The saving grace is that the final third represents a massive leap back to the quality of book one – there’s suddenly a significant increase in energy and a re-emergence of the type of twisty plot line tricks seen in the earlier tale. Suddenly I was fully engaged and remained so from this point to the end.

Too little too late? For me, yes. The book just didn't have the instant grab of the Orphan X and took far too long to really get going. Maybe there was enough in the final knockings of this one to drag me back to the series for book three, but maybe not.

This book is an amazing follow up to orphan X! I thought Orphan X was the perfect crime thriller and couldn't imagine this book being as entertaining but it really was. It's action packed and exciting throughout, you won't want to put it down!

Firstly I would like to thank the publishers for the opportunity to read this book before it was published (I don’t think they actually had a choice as I pestered and begged and threatened until they gave in and sent me a copy! WOW what a ride – BUCKLE UP and HOLD ON TIGHT as The Nowhere Man is one hell of an action packed thriller. This book had me on the edge of my seat with my pulse racing from start to finish. I absolutely adore Evan Smoak and this would make a fantastic movie (as long as Tom Cruise doesn’t star in it). A total thrill seeking, action packed, page turning, brilliant book and please Mr Hurwitz hurry up with book 3.

I loved Orphan X. The Nowhere Man is also an excellent thriller although I preferred the second half of the book. Well worth reading.

Not as great as Orphan X, but a great book nonetheless

Absolutely brilliant 2nd instalment to the Orphan X series! Gregg Hurwitz is one of the finest thriller writers I have ever read, and Evan Smoak or 'The Nowhere Man' is easily my favourite vigilante ever. Hurwitz develops Evan's character even more throughout this 2nd book and we really connect with him through his struggle. You feel like you experience every blow and throw every punch with Evan because of Hurwitz's brilliantly detailed fight scenes. You feel for Evan as he begins to question whether he made the right choice as a young boy to follow Jack all those years ago, it really is an emotional rollercoaster. I cannot recommend this book enough, I am so grateful to NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read before the actual release date, definite 5/5 stars from me! Such a fast paced thrill ride, I suggest that EVERYONE read this book now.

There's certainly no lack of action in The Nowhere Man, Hurwitz's second book featuring Evan Smoak. Evan, The Nowhere Man, is a bit of a cross between Jack Reacher and James Bond: a talented and seemingly indestructible survivor of a secret government program, he now attempts to atone for his past by rescuing those in dire need of help. It's a fast paced thriller of a book but I must admit that by the end my disbelief wasn't just suspended - it had left the room, run out the door, down the street, across the road, reached an airport, taken off in a helicopter and eventually landed on the moon via a rocket.

Evan Smoak is back with a bang after first appearing in Orphan X. Evan is the Nowhere Man, trained from childhood as part of a top secret programme. Moulded into one of the Orphan's - an elite group of assassins, Evan has turned his back on that world, and now puts his skills to use helping those who have nowhere else to turn, all the while evading his nemesis, Orphan Y, who sees Evan as a threat.

Trouble brews in a different direction though, as following one of his interventions, and saving a young girl, Evan is caught, drugged and held captive by a mystery man,. who seems to be just after his money. Evan is trapped, stripped of his weapons and resources, but that's when he's at his most creative and dangerous!

If Bond and Bourne had a lovechild, Evan would be that end product. What a mix of suspense, action, plot twists. It's not all about explosions and bullets though. There's a real human side to Evan, one he's trying to connect with after having his childhood drilled out of him. We get glimpses into his backstory as well - how he became the way he is. His guilt at contributing (in his opinion) to his mentors death.

Gregg Hurwitz has created a fabulous character, and isn't afraid to put him in some horrendous situations! I've read that the series has been extended for three more books, and optioned by Bradley Cooper, and I for one can't wait to see where Evan ends up next.

Gregg Hurwitz's 2016 novel, Orphan X made my seven favourite books of the year list. I loved it. I adored our protagonist - former assassin turned protector of the helpless, Evan Smoak (aka Orphan X, aka The Nowhere Man) - and enjoyed the unfolding plot focused around Evan's backstory.

I was nervous about picking up the second in the series but needn't have worried, as I raced through The Nowhere Man in a day.

Interestingly we don't spend much time with the eccentric cast of characters (from Evan's apartment building) we met in the first book of the series. This disappointed me, but only towards the end when we came across them again and I was reminded how much I enjoyed the interaction.

Although this book kicks off with The Nowhere Man coming to the aid of a helpless young woman, the plot itself is one which involves Evan. Again. Although this is less about his shady past and more about him being unexpectedly targeted.

I was originally a little chagrined that it happened. I mean, if the other Orphans and his old black ops team can't find him, how could THIS person track him down. However, what Hurwitz offers us is a riveting cat and mouse story in which we're not sure who's who. Evan's held captive and attempts to outwit and overpower his opponent at every opportunity. Unfortunately his captor has many MANY resources at his fingertips. And he's a sadistic freak... so it's hard to compete with that.

Evan's on a deadline however... there's still someone out there needing his help and her time is running out. His too, as he knows how dispensable he is once his kidnapper has what he wants. And of course, he's also got to consider his old foes in government. The ones who don't exist. And who never existed. Just as he didn't for so many years.

This novel is spectacularly well-paced. It starts with a bang and keeps going. It'd be easy for there to be a lull as Evan-in-captivity acts out and is thwarted in some way at every turn. But the action keeps coming. Metaphorically and literally.

I commented in my review of Orphan X on Hurwitz's inclusion of A LOT of detail about fight scenes and weaponry and this is no different. Evan gets his MacGyver on, but those trying to prevent his escape keep coming, and there's a fight scene or two that will have action-lovers salivating.

These novels are life and death. Serious stuff, and while Hurwitz doesn't poke fun at our hero and his exploits, there's an underlying tone of playfulness and irony.

"There'd be no going Rambo in a bespoke shirt on an empty stomach with zero planning. Not in this weather." p 69

I hope I'm not giving anything away by sharing the fact that Evan survives this outing. (Oops sorry, spoiler alert!) As there's already mention of more in the series, killing him off Game of Thrones style would be unrealistic,
although coming back from the dead isn't altogether out of the question in Orphan X's world...

I continue to be a little in love with the nondescript unassuming man that is Evan. And already I cannot wait until I see him again.

* I received a free copy from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

Orphan X was always going to be a hard book to follow and because the book was so well received it only increased the pressure to get it right the second time around.
I think this is a good effort, things could've went so wrong in this book as some authors have done on the second book.
I liked the fact that it's mostly about Evan trying to survive when he's not in control and that it essentially shows you that Evan is human, he's fallible and certainly not invincible (like most characters these days) it shows you that even The Nowhere Man is vulnerable.
I haven't been this excited about a series in a long time as there's so much that can be done in these books.
My only real worry is that Mr Hurwitz may stop the series at a trilogy but if it's right for the characters at the end of book three then I'll grudgingly accept it.
If you haven't read any of the series then I'd definitely recommend you to have a read of Orphan X and The Nowhere Man.
I will be checking to find out if there's any information on book three and a publication date.