Into the Fire: An Orphan X Novel (Orphan X, 5)

Evan Smoak, a former black ops operator for the government, takes what he decides is his last job of protecting someone who needs help. Max, a day construction laborer who is not exactly appreciated by his family, was given something by his wildly successful forensic accountant cousin to keep in case something happened to him. When he heard his cousin was killed he took it to an investigative reporter as his cousin had directed. Only she was also killed.

This was an excellent book. It had some of the great characters from previous books, like of Tommy, a quirky gun manufacturing expert, Melinda, a spunky forger and, my favorite, Joey, a teenager who flunked out of the same black ops program that Evan was in and who happens to be a computer whiz. Trevor, an autistic man with a strong ability to judge distances also added to the book. I somehow missed the previous book in this series where he was introduced but his depiction in this one was welcome.

The series is best read in order, but it is not a deal-breaker. I am reading the overlooked book now and because of this one I know who survives and dies, but it is not ruining the book.

This is a really great series and I highly recommend it.

Into the Fire is tremendously entertaining and portrays Evan Smoak through a whole new lens. After a series of personal missions for Orphan X, Into the Fire focuses on The Nowhere Man undertaking a seemingly never ending mission of protecting an innocent, whose dilemmas force Evan to ponder over himself as he tries to leave behind the dangerous and violent life of The Nowhere Man as penance for his time as Orphan X.

Evan Smoak is one of the best operators in the thriller genre today. Into the Fire showcases Evan Smoak’s lethal talents in an abundance of excellent action sequences and shootouts with necessary details pertaining to combat moves and weaponry that make it extremely easy for readers to visualize the action sequences in all their glory. To make things challenging for Evan, he is exposed to danger in an entirely new manner, one that readers hadn’t seen in the previous Evan Smoak thrillers. This makes for a nerve wrecking read, as Evan takes on seemingly impossible tasks and tries to keeps his wits about him to survive in harsh and brutal conditions.

Into the Fire is a personal journey for Evan Smoak above all else, as he finally comes to terms with his desires of wanting tranquility and warmth of companionship in his life, one that can not come with living as The Nowhere Man. Gregg Hurwitz does a superb job of reflecting Evan’s own turmoil in the innocent he helps out in this book, a man who shows Evan the importance of not living with regrets of a life of solitude. To top that off, the ending brings an unknowable plot twist that changes Evan’s life drastically, something I am looking forward to seeing explored in the next novel.

A unique element of this book was how the plot spirals out deeper into the rabbit hole each time Evan accomplishes his task and feels his mission is done. Even readers will begin to believe the bad guys are dealt with, until a new twist arrives in the bend and puts things in perspective that the issues are far from being dealt with. This made for an even more gripping read for me.

All in all, Into the Fire is one of the best thrillers of 2020, and it should not be missed out on by any action thriller fan. I was thoroughly entertained.

Evan Smoak has led an incredible life. A dangerous life. Trained at an early age to be an assassin for the United States government. A black ops operative with unique skills. One day he walked away from that life. He had amassed a large fortune; compliments of the government and he decides that his new life will be to help others. One at a time.

Thus, enters Max Merriweather whose cousin, a forensics accountant, is murdered by a brutal group. They now have targeted Max and Max does not know why. He is given the phone number for Evan Smoak. He asks for help. Evan helps him, but in a way no other man could.

This reader was first introduced to the Orphan X Series last year, and it has been a non-stop adventure since, especially with the just released “Into the Fire” by author Gregg Hurwitz. This is the fifth novel in that series. If you like exciting thrillers, with some technology thrown in, then this series is for you. Great stuff!

Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz is, so far, an interesting read. Evan Smoak, the Orphan X character, is a robin hood type, helping the helpless with no thought of financial remuneration. (His only request is that the beneficiary pass his number along to anyone who needs his help.) You learn the kind of person Evan is by observing his interaction with past and present clients. There’s the mentally challenged Trevon or the 16year old ward of the defunct orphan organization, or the victimized 85 year-old neighbor --all benefactors of Evan’s generosity.

The changing narrative of the differing characters was notable. But I did not find the detailed analysis of Evan’s extensive weapons arsenal interesting; and I was repulsed by the intricate description of the dogfight pit event hosted by Evan’s enemy.

The book was simply a collection of episodes--some interesting, some not so much. I did not develop a connection with any of the characters.
I rated the book a 4.

Really, how do you begin to describe the Orphan X books? Actually, there are not enough adjectives in the English language to accomplish that and some that have not even been invested! Into the Fire was beyond good! I simply could not put it down and just walked around carrying it!! Max Merriweather may just be the most challenging exploit X ever had to undertake. The last one, with the demise of the President, had just one real clear and present danger!! But this one was just as described by the author, " a hydra where you cut off one head and another appears." The story was fantastic - exciting, thrilling, nail-biting, nerve-wracking and in some parts really sad. You have to feel for Max and what he endured and you find yourself understanding why X had to see this through because, in some ways, he sees himself in this man. And then we have Joey. She is another unforgettable character and I believe makes the X books even better! The last 20 pages of this book will leave you holding your breath and your heart racing. And if that were not exciting enough, you reach the last paragraph and then your mind is totally blown away!! If you have not had the pleasure of reading the Orphan X books, you really need to do so. Thank you Greg Hurwitz for another amazing book and the time spent enjoying it! Now the long wait for the next one and I can only imagine what X will be faced with this time!

This was my first Even Smoak since the original Orphan X, which I thoroughly enjoyed for it’s creativity ad fast action. This novel left nothing to be desired - it was fast action from beginning to end, and it ended with an unexpected twist, which was one of the best placed twists I’ve read in a long time! Not only was it plausible, it pulled all the many threads together very satisfactorily. So many “last twists” seem to be thrown in as an afterthought or a desperate last ditch effort to give the reader an unforgettable “jolt” that miss the “aha” mark!

I loved reading the description of Evan’s impenetrable fortress penthouse. And, all about the relationship he has with fellow orphan Joey - whose genius pulls Evan through the impossible situations. I love Evan’s ability to take a bar of soap and a piece of wire and bring down a bunch of murderers - and escape, while clutching his head - aching and blurring his vision from a concussion! I love what goes on in Evan’s thoughts, which exposes a more humane, caring, guilt-driven man yearning fo he one thing he may never have - peace.

I’m hoping this isn’t the end of Evan Smoak’s adventures, but it may be. Grab this read - it’s a doozy!

Gregg Hurwitz is an amazing writer. In his Orphan X series, the main character may be a highly trained government assassin, but Hurwitz has instilled him him with so much integrity, morality, intelligence and humanity that the reader can easily identify with him. Each book in the series is better than the previous one(s), until the final 6th volume leaves one unable to believe that there won't be at least one more. Since the untimely death of Vince Flynn, who developed the excitement of his Mitch Rapp character, none has held my rapt page-turning attention until my discovery of the arrival of Evan Smoak in the pages of Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X novels. I pray that there will be at least one more appearance of this multi-layered character.

Will not disappoint an Orphan X fan.

This book really kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. I love the Orphan X novels. If you love action and heroes you will love it 😊

the book moves fast, hard to puy down.