This book is absolutely brilliant—no doubt about it. I recall critiquing Evan's vodka obsession and the living wall in my review of the first book, but now I've come to appreciate these quirks. Evan is simply amazing!

What a thrilling read! The action is relentless, with two compelling storylines unfolding simultaneously and culminating in a superbly unexpected ending. Evan is reminiscent of a young, modern Jack Reacher—facing off against numerous armed adversaries unarmed and still coming out on top. It's admittedly far-fetched at times, but incredibly entertaining. Who doesn't love a hero who defies the odds time and again?

So, suspend disbelief, overlook the vodka made from fog (!), and settle in for a few hours of pure, exhilarating entertainment. This story deserves to be adapted into a movie.

I'd not read the first three books in this series, but did not feel like I was missing too much of any backstory. I thought this was a cracking adventure and really enjoyed it.

Fast paced and exciting as always. Really love the character development of orphan x through this series.

Hurwitz just gets better and better! This is an extraordinarily brilliant and emotional thriller. Not only do we have the continuing story of Orphan X, haunted by his violent past, and the last resort for those in desperate need of help, but we also get introduced to two more characters - a young man who has lost almost all his family to drug dealers, and a young security agent assigned to protect a rogue President. These plot lines were so sensitively handled and at times I was moved to tears. Not what I expect from a thriller! Just brilliant from start to finish.

I struggled through this book as couldn’t relate to the characters or anything. I didn’t realise it was part of a series so maybe that’s why I didn’t enjoy it.

Wow. What a fabulous book. I absolutely loved it. The Orphan X series is one of my current favourites, and this book is probably the best yet. An excellent read, great fast-moving plot. Recommended.

This took me a while to get to, its one of those books that I have waited to read via a paper version rather than the e-book. I just struggled with the e-version of the book.

I hadn't appreciated that this was the 4th of the X series, I obviously missed 2 & 3 as I did read the initial book.

I think you could read this as a stand alone, but I would recommend that you read the others first. I'll definitely be reading 2 & 3.

Evan Smoak was trained from the age of 12 to be an assassin. This book is fast paced and action packed, with a couple of stories entwined.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz

Evan Smoak is no ordinary killer for hire. Taken from his foster home as a boy and raised as a lethal assassin working for a secret, deniable section of the American government, Evan is Orphan X, one of many of his kind. Now Evan is loose, working to help, one at a time, people in dire trouble. But Evan’s fellow Orphans, many of whom are now integrated to varying degrees back into society, are being assassinated and Evan knows exactly under whose order – Jonathan Bennett, President of the United States. Evan knows he is next. He knows far too much about Bennett’s past. But how to kill the most powerful and protected man on Earth? Especially when that man has unleashed another of the Orphans to kill Evan Smoak.

Out of the Dark is the fourth Orphan X thriller by Gregg Hurwitz and I must admit to having worried beforehand that I would be at a loss, having not read the previous three. I needn’t have worried. There are plenty of clues in Out of the Dark to what has gone before, to the context of Evan’s creation and troubles. So it stands alone perfectly but it did make me very curious indeed about this damaged, isolated, charismatic man. I’ll be reading more for sure because this is one of the very best thrillers I’ve read this year.

There is a lot going on, all of it tense and action-packed. Evan’s meticulous planning is fascinating and we are awed by Evan’s daring in taking on this president and removing his harm from the world. Evan has all of the skills for the job but there’s every chance he’s met his match as we get to know the person in charge of Bennett’s protection, someone we can’t help but warm to. And then there’s the fact that Evan will not kill the innocent. He would rather an innocent person kill him than that he should take their life.

But this is just one layer of the plot. On another we have Ethan’s current case, which is to help Trevon Gaines, whose life is in the process of being destroyed. I loved Trevon. His story actually made me cry! I don’t think even Evan is immune to such tragedy. I looked forward especially to those sections of the novel. There is something so sweet in seeing justice dealt where it’s due.

This is such good writing. Gregg Hurwitz knows how to tell an excellent story but he also knows how to write it well. It’s punchy, tense, fast and furious, but it’s also well-considered, careful, with the tone perfectly pitched. And it all serves the story, and Evan, so well.

I suspect that readers familiar to this series will be delighted by cameo appearances from well-known figures from other novels. We’re given tantalising glimpses of a fair few. This world of Orphan X is one I want to explore. What a hero he is – superhuman in some ways but so human in others, but certainly charismatic, caring and reflective, as, in a social world he can barely understand, he tries to build a new life for himself however impossible that dream may be. If you love well-written action thrillers as much as I do then you do not want to let this series pass you by.

A fantastic and gripping political thriller. Greg Hurwitz writes in a style that cannot fail to pull you into his characters lives,

Out of the Dark is the second in Greg Hurwitz's Orphan X series that I've had the pleasure of reviewing. Annoyingly, it is difficult to add much to my review of another Orphan X outing - 'Hellbent.' As with that novel, Out of the Dark is a very annoying book - but in a quite unusual way! Yes, it's crazy and implausible; sometimes disturbingly violent; irritatingly littered with references to upscale products that the lead character - Evan Smoak - drinks, eats or kills with; and flirts with scenarios that make many conspiracy theories seem like mild fairy tales. But - and you really have to understand this - it is also another offering that is addictively, compulsively readable and resists the demands from your thinking brain to put the book down to get some sleep.. If you insist on all scenarios being plausible and roll your eyes when lead characters appear to have superhero levels of strength, knowledge, bravery - you get the drift - this probably isn't a book for you. But if you are prepared to suspend disbelief for a few hours (and it won't take you long to read as you'll be anxious to turn the pages quickly as the pace of the action ratchets up) then you will not be disappointed. Again, it's not great literature, but it's another great read.

My type of book, dark dealings by the executive. With fake news getting a very high profile it makes you wonder what are they hiding. This book explores one of those dark programmes that no one has responsibility for but this one was the baby of the current Potus when he was at the DOD. Orphans taken from their foster homes and turned into killing machines. Orphan X decides that he is under threat if he himself does not remove the controller - the president. This is a well written story of evil turned to good or at least that what we hope. Thrilling throughout with some great action. Recommended .

Edge of your seat non-stop action packed thriller, in this fourth of the 'Orphan X' Evan Smoak series. The US President is intent on eliminating all the 'Orphan' black-op assassins in order to hush up a secret mission he ordered back in 1997. In response 'X' takes on his toughest and most personal mission to date, to kill the corrupt President. There are plenty of twists and engaging characters, from 'Orphan' protege Joey, to Ethan's ongoing near romance with neighbour Mia. A highly recommended must read.

Going into this I'm thinking President of The USA VS Evan Smoak AKA THE NOWHERE MAN AKA ORPHAN X!

BEST BOOK EVER!!!

So, I was hyped!

Assuming you have read the other books in the series, then you will know the basic formula here. It is the same as in the other books, Evan is engaged in his personal battle against the president but then someone hits him up on his helpful, pro-bono, hire and assasin phone number. Once again Evan is tasked with doing both things at once, which isn't easy.

Out of The Dark was, I think, my favourite of the series so far. It has pleanty of action, and lots of little traps that don't get totally revealed until later on. I love how the character has developed, and how we are seeing more development in his personal relationships. Most of the characters return from the previous books (well the ones that are alive anyway) and we get to see a shift in focus for our would be cold hearted killer.

I loved how this book began, and it continues in the same fashion - it's full on but I really enjoy it. While it may not have been the best book ever - it certainly is very good. A worthy continuation of the series, and I will be looking forward to the next installment (which has already been confirmed by the author) - whatever it may bring.

If you like thrillers and haven't read the Orphan X series yet then you are missing out.
Thrilling, action packed and well written. Plenty to keep you entertained, probably best to read them in order to keep up with the sub plots.

This is my first Orphan X novel

Very much in the along the lines of Bourne, Reacher etc. Great storyline and couldn't put it down.

Looking forward to reading more.

The fourth Orphan X book, and whilst a plot to kill the President makes it one of the more over-the-top plots in quite an implausible series, it doesn't make it any less entertaining.

There's something about Evan Smoak that makes him believable (whilst being truly unbelievable) and of course his ability to get out of a scrape with his foresight and almost superhuman abilities borders on the absurd, four stories later I still manage to be hooked for each and every page of these titles.

I really hope he keeps up the Orphan X series as they're a fantastic read. Easy going, but highly entertaining. Each entry so far has been a 5-star from me, and this is no exception.

Note this is Book 4 of the Orphan X series but I had not read the previous 3 and was great as a stand alone ( although am going to buy and read the other 3 now )

Having seen the authors name for the last few years and the Orphan X books I now, after reading this, regret not taking notice before and for it taking me so long to discover this series
‘Out Of The Dark’ deals with Orphan X’s personal mission to kill the President!, this is due to things the President did in his murky past that ultimately led to Orphan X having the life he did, it is really difficult not to say too much and thus give the book and the series away ( although this is Book 4 you get a taste of what has come before)
The writing is ferocious and powerful in its delivery and intricate
in detail, the parts dealing with the President’s security and protocols
mind boggled me and I re read parts such was the fascination of what I was reading
The story, well stories as there are a few sub stories are brilliantly told
and laid out and it was like being in a
high energy ( was going to say octane but who says that ) film and was tense, exhilarating and so fast moving I felt I had been to the gym after a few chapters, intense doesn’t do it justice
Orphan X is complex, from
brutal to sensitive and I really liked him and would cheer him on in all he did....well almost all
The other characters in the book are very well portrayed from Prestident to Orphan A ( not X but A! ) and every character you were introduced to was imaginable within seconds
The ending of the book was as superb as all that came before it, did Orphan x manage to kill the President?......you will find out when read it 😎
Brilliant, just brilliant and an instant fan and cant wait to read the previous 3 books
One of the easiest 10/10’s and 5 Stars ever given

Out of the Dark is the fourth novel in the breathtakingly action-packed Orphan X series, and boy it's the best yet from master thriller writer Mr Hurwitz. I recommend reading them chronologically to gain the best experience. This time the tables have well and truly turned on Evan Smoak and he becomes the hunter rather than the hunted. The plot, as always, is intricate and well thought out, with plenty of high-octane action, in fact, the action never ceases. Quite regularly a fast, frenetic pace and a substantial focus on the plot and entertainment value means that the characters are neglected and therefore poorly developed, but not here; here, we have both.

We watch as Evan grows and evolves, sometimes as a necessity, as the story rolls on, and you can't help but root for him in his perilous adventures. It's not just Evan, though, the minor or secondary characters that operate on the periphery of the plot are also so, so well drawn. The plot is actually very believable, which adds an ominous undertone that runs for the duration, and although there are a plethora of thrills and spills, murder and mayhem we also learn of Evan's dreams, doubts, desires, hopes and fears and his yearning for a normal life. This is an intense and highly entertaining read, which will feature in my best of 2019 list; yes, it's that good. A must-read.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for an ARC.

My thanks to Penguin U.K./Michael Joseph for an eARC via NetGalley of this all-action thriller from Gregg Hurwitz.

I had been attracted by the description as while I don’t often read this kind of action thriller it seemed a fascinating premise. I wasn’t aware until I started to read that it was the fourth in his Orphan X series. However, I found that it worked out fine as a stand-alone as enough information was provided about the background of the previous books so that I didn’t feel lost.

The plot mainly focuses on Evan Smoak/Orphan X’s plan to assassinate the President of the United States. This is not a politically motivated assassination but a matter of self-preservation as the President had played an important role in the top secret Orphan program, which had taken orphaned children and trained them as assassins. President Bennett is now systematically having all traces of the program eliminated including the remaining Orphans, now scattered and in hiding.

Aside from this Evan is also seeking to help Trevon, a vulnerable man, who approached him after he inadvertently caused a Los Angeles criminal to lose a fortune in smuggled drugs.

This novel is action packed and full of the kind of slightly over the top scenarios that pepper action movies and book series like Jack Reacher. While not great literature it certainly is entertaining with strong characterisation as well as nail biting tension. I have been glued to it all day.

I may well go back and read the earlier books and certainly will look out for the next outing of this fascinating character.

Another brilliant book by this author. Gripped from the beginning and kept me guessing till the end. A must read.