Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz

Orphan X is back in Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz, and this time, he’s going up against the cartels! The daughter of a major drug dealer in South Texas is kidnapped by one of the most vicious cartels in Mexico. Aragon Urrea has nowhere to turn, so he turns to The Nowhere Man, aka Orphan X. The first decision facing Evan Smoak (Orphan X) is whether or not Urrea is worthy of assistance, as he is unlike anyone Evan has ever helped out before. Ultimately, X can’t leave an innocent girl in such dangerous hands.

Evan’s own life is in upheaval as he tries to repair the damage done to his high rise apartment in the last book. He is conflicted about moving forward with a relationship with Mia to whom he is attracted but represents a step towards a normal life he’s not sure he is capable of or has earned. Evan is also navigating his complicated relationship with Joey, the teenage girl he rescued from the Orphan Program and to whom he has become a surrogate father.

Smoak finds himself getting to know Urrea better and discovering that he has his own complicated set of morals but also an unbounded love for his daughter. The action soon heats up as Smoak bounces between Los Angeles, South Texas, and Mexico where he must infiltrate the cartel and devise a plan to find Urrea’s daughter and get her out alive. No Orphan X book would be complete without a side trip to Las Vegas for everyone’s favorite armorer, Tommy Stojack, whose appearance never fails to bring a smile, if not an outright guffaw. Smoak’s unique talents for planning, adapting, and ultimately unleashing devastation and destruction make for a powerful action-filled climax.

The Orphan X books have always been outstanding action thrillers, but it is the character depth of Evan Smoak that really makes this series stand out. Dark Horse is unparalleled in the emotional turmoil and growth undergone by all of the characters, but none more so than Smoak, who continues to evolve in unexpected ways. This series is as good as it gets and Dark Horse is one of the best thrillers you’ll read all year.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.