St. Martin's Press Hellbent: An Orphan X Novel

"Hell Bent" is the third in Hurwitz' Orphan X series and is a must read if you are an Orphan X fan, and, if you aren't, you should definitely explore the series. Evan Smoak is a former member of a secret government training program for future assassins known as the Orphan Program. After the program was shut down, former Orphans began dying as a secret cabal within the government was desperate to wipe out any last remnants of the program to leave no traces behind. Smoak, known as the nowhere man because he was only whispered about and seldom seen, has become the top target due to his superb training and skills and apparently because he possibly knows something from his past that endangers powerful people. The leader of the termination program, Van Sciver, is also a former Orphan now working for someone within the government dedicated to destroying all remnants of the top secret program and he wants Evan in the worst way. Hoping to use him as bait, Van Sciver catchs up to Evan's former mentor and father figure, Jack Johns. But Johns makes a last request of Evan before dying--find and protect his last remaining protege before Van Sciver does. This initiates an exciting and suspenseful thriller where significant back story of Orphan X is revealed, new and old characters are fleshed out, an intriguing 16 year-old Orphan, Joey, is introduced, old scores are settled, and a new direction for the Nowhere Man is revealed. "Hell Bent" is somewhat of a temporary conclusion to the first three novels in this series and it also opens the door for the future. Along the way, readers witness the beginnings of a true humanization of Evan as he learns much about the life he was denied while being trained--a humanization forced on him by becoming the protector and mentor to his own Orphan. Hurwitz has created a series and a character that has zoomed to the top of my must read list. Highly recommended.

Evan Smoak (Orphan X) continues to fascinate and entertain all his followers. At one time, and much younger, Evan was a candidate /trainee in a secret black-ops program known as the Orphan Program. All members were trained to be expendable assassins for the government. Evan decided to leave the program early and hide in the chaos of modern day life. Now he helps strangers who have no one else to turn to. He becomes the Nowhere Man. Also, he bumps into other Orphans in his adventures with interesting results. In HELLBENT, his Orphan mentor and trainer has called for Smoak’s help. Surprised and shocked, Evan responds instinctively and immediately. First, he must find and protect his mentor’s package. During the ensuing trip of discovery, he bumps into his mentor’s rival (Van Sciver) and realizes the search has become a race. This all becomes very challenging and complex for Evan as he is called upon to help a distraught parent which conflicts with Smoak’s desire to avenge his mentor’s death. Then we, and Evan, learn that the villain, Van Sciver, is not the Mastermind behind the plan to re-model the Orphan Program. There is someone else involved, at a much higher federal level. The author, Gregg Hurwitz, has created a thrilling novel of exploration, perception and verification. The chapters are favorably short – no more than 6 pages on the average. The settings occur in several American locales and the characters are practical and sensible. The different and varied plots reveal the many unique facets and conflicts Evan has as he tries to just live his life. Mr. Hurwitz has crafted a masterpiece of action and thrills. The pacing is quick and determined just like Evan Smoak, who has earned the privilege of being considered a serious contender in the thriller market. The pacing makes it a true challenge for the reader to read only one chapter a day. I recommend any and all of the three novels in this series. Looking forward to the fourth novel. Thank you Gregg Hurwitz for this novel.

Endlich mal wieder eine Thriller-Reihe, die begeistert und einen eigenen Stil aufweist. Die eigentliche Story ist wie in den ersten beiden Bänden schnell erzählt: ein Killer-Programm für Waisenkinder; hartes Training mit einer Mentor-Beziehung und ein daraus resultierender Held, der den Armen und Schwachen hilft. Das tolle an den Bänden ist jedoch die Sprache, das Detaillevel und die Film-artige Erzählweise. Sprache: immer wieder muss ich leo.org oder ähnliches aufschlagen, um englische Begriffe nachzuschlagen. Hurwitz verwendet die volle Komplexität der englischen Sprache, spielt mit der Grammatik und Worten in gekonnter Art und Weise. Detaillevel: trotz der recht geringen Seitenanzahl (400) schafft es Hurwitz viele Details einzubauen, Hintergründe zu geben und Emotionen einzusetzen. Wie ein Film: das Buch ist ein Rollercoaster, immer mit Action oder Plot-Twists versehen und gibt dem Leser keine freie Minute. Die Kapitel sind knapp und langweilen in keinster Weise. Gesamt: tolles drittes Werk in einer sehr spannenden Buchreihe. Der erste Band war eine klassische Origin-Story, das zweite war ein unnatürliches Sequel aus meiner Sicht und das dritte Band schließt wunderbar den erzählerischen Kreis zu Band 1.

Awesome book, awesome author.

Found Orphan X by happenstance..have now read this third book in the series: Hellbent and have ordered the fourth! What a great find. If you love Daniel Silva, James Rollins, David Baldacci as I do..you'll love Gregg Hurwitz