Dark Horse
- Downloads：8495
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-09-07 00:18:04
- Update Date：2025-09-23
- Status：finish
- Author：Gregg Andrew Hurwitz
- ISBN：1405942703
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Can you remain a good man when you help a bad one？ 。 。 。
Former government assassin Orphan X， Evan Smoak broke free to use his skills to help the good but powerless。 But what if the person asking for help is neither？
When the daughter of a Texan crime boss is kidnapped by a ruthless drugs cartel， he asks Evan to rescue her。
The girl is innocent of her father's crimes。
But in taking the case is Evan crossing a line？
To find out he must break into an impregnable Mexican fortress。
Then somehow get her out alive 。 。 。
Former government assassin Orphan X， Evan Smoak broke free to use his skills to help the good but powerless。 But what if the person asking for help is neither？
When the daughter of a Texan crime boss is kidnapped by a ruthless drugs cartel， he asks Evan to rescue her。
The girl is innocent of her father's crimes。
But in taking the case is Evan crossing a line？
To find out he must break into an impregnable Mexican fortress。
Then somehow get her out alive 。 。 。
Reviews
Aileen
，
Wow - this was an explosive addition to the Orphan X series。 With a huge body count， and some stomach-churning descriptions of the various methods of death， it is not for the weak-stomached！ But it is by far the deepest book yet in terms of making Evan face up to who he is， and what is important to him。I loved that the person calling the Nowhere Man was initially firmly in the 'bad guys' camp - however as the story progressed he almost became Evan's mentor in terms of weighing up the good and ba Wow - this was an explosive addition to the Orphan X series。 With a huge body count， and some stomach-churning descriptions of the various methods of death， it is not for the weak-stomached！ But it is by far the deepest book yet in terms of making Evan face up to who he is， and what is important to him。I loved that the person calling the Nowhere Man was initially firmly in the 'bad guys' camp - however as the story progressed he almost became Evan's mentor in terms of weighing up the good and bad that can sit beside each other in an individual。 His daughter， the subject of the request for Evan's help， also turns out to be more than you initially might think。All the usual characters make an appearance here - Joey， slightly less irritating than in the previous book， and itching to spread her wings。 Mia and Peter - with a very difficult story arc for them。 The wonderful Tommy - armorer extraordinaire。 Even Hugh， Colonel of the HOA at the apartments， turned out to have a human side！Can't wait for my favourite action hero to come back next year in the 8th book！ 。。。more
wally
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finished yesterday 2nd september 2022 good read three stars i liked it kindle purchased with a gift card have read the previous orphan stories and have enjoyed each one and unlike many stories available in numbers these are probably best read in order。 not that reading them out of order would be any less enjoyable。 i think he has a pile of other not-orphan stories and will have to check those out。
Bob Stenberg
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I really enjoy this series and I cannot wait for the next one。
Ronald Howell
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Left me hanging。 Now I have to wait for the next Orphan X。
DonHSr
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read about half of this and abandoned it。 The ratio of "blood&guts" to storyline was way too high。 Way too gory。 read about half of this and abandoned it。 The ratio of "blood&guts" to storyline was way too high。 Way too gory。 。。。more
Nicolaas Bergman
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Yes the book started slow for me and I couldnt and well still cant get my head around the fact that X helped a " cartel guy " against an other cartel group。They tried to portray this " cartel guy " to be sort of sweet and try to make it ok what he does but it didnt work for me and i was bit bored until about the middle part of the book but wow after that the action started and it was action but it reminded me a bit of Rambo style and not sure if that is how i remembered X in the previous booksBu Yes the book started slow for me and I couldnt and well still cant get my head around the fact that X helped a " cartel guy " against an other cartel group。They tried to portray this " cartel guy " to be sort of sweet and try to make it ok what he does but it didnt work for me and i was bit bored until about the middle part of the book but wow after that the action started and it was action but it reminded me a bit of Rambo style and not sure if that is how i remembered X in the previous booksBut was ok not to bad book thats why it only gets a 3 star from me 。。。more
Bobbi
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Excellent， as usual。 I read all the other books in this series on my kindle， so this was the first one I tried in audiobook format。 I must admit I was very wary of listening to this type of book this way but WOW！ I was pleasantly surprised。 The narration was terrific and he really brought the book to life！
Corinna
，
Another good book in the series！
Scott A。 Miller
，
Wow。 Another great effort by Hurwitz。 Evan keeps getting more human， keeps getting better。 This mission was un winnable， but he won。 Just non-stop， jet fuel adrenaline pumping action but with actual humanity now。 I don’t like cliffhangers and this one had a couple。 Bring on the next one。 Quickly。
Mario
，
I'll start off by saying that yes， of course it's unrealistic。 One man vs a drug cartel is obviously fantasy stuff， but then let's be honest， most of the series has seen Evan overcome ridiculously unrealistic scenarios to live to fight another day and that's pretty much the whole point of this series。 It's fantasy， he's a superhero but just a human one that doesn't shoot out lazers and fly etc。 So you enjoy it for what it is and this is a series that I've enjoyed since the start。 Whilst not a st I'll start off by saying that yes， of course it's unrealistic。 One man vs a drug cartel is obviously fantasy stuff， but then let's be honest， most of the series has seen Evan overcome ridiculously unrealistic scenarios to live to fight another day and that's pretty much the whole point of this series。 It's fantasy， he's a superhero but just a human one that doesn't shoot out lazers and fly etc。 So you enjoy it for what it is and this is a series that I've enjoyed since the start。 Whilst not a stand-alone， this book did seem to veer a bit off-course compared to how the last one finished。 A cliffhanger ending when the apartment blows up， and then this continued with almost no reference to that and who was responsible for it。 It's almost like Hurwitz didn't want the series to end so has stuck on an extra book in between the last and the next one， almost like filler。 Because the end of Dark Horse leaves us with another cliffhanger and also a small passage from the next book which references an old nemesis of Evan's。 And because of that I'd imagine The Last Orphan， which is released in 2023， will be the final installment of the series。 3。5* 。。。more
John Paxton
，
I have mixed emotions reviewing no。 #7 of the series。 I found this one a little far fetched in the crucial scenes such as the way he infiltrated the Leones cartel so quickly and spur of the moment。 Also interactions with the main supporting characters not as believable and so many close characters getting the big C。 Always enjoyed this series from the start and was supposed to be just the 5 books。 Perhaps it's time to close off the chapter now。 3。75 stars rounded up I have mixed emotions reviewing no。 #7 of the series。 I found this one a little far fetched in the crucial scenes such as the way he infiltrated the Leones cartel so quickly and spur of the moment。 Also interactions with the main supporting characters not as believable and so many close characters getting the big C。 Always enjoyed this series from the start and was supposed to be just the 5 books。 Perhaps it's time to close off the chapter now。 3。75 stars rounded up 。。。more
Gary McG
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I have read the entire Orphan X series and enjoyed them all。 One of the best elements is the way Hurwitz balances Evan's passion and compassion with his necessary secrecy and aloof reserve。 I see some smell test issues with so many knowing he's a very special individual。 If the US deep state actors want him gone， why don't they set a CIA/FBI fake victim to call nowhere man and entrap him？ Also。 No one man is infallible， taking down entire criminal organizationsNonetheless， this world， where top I have read the entire Orphan X series and enjoyed them all。 One of the best elements is the way Hurwitz balances Evan's passion and compassion with his necessary secrecy and aloof reserve。 I see some smell test issues with so many knowing he's a very special individual。 If the US deep state actors want him gone， why don't they set a CIA/FBI fake victim to call nowhere man and entrap him？ Also。 No one man is infallible， taking down entire criminal organizationsNonetheless， this world， where top politicians are all selfish and corrupted， cries out for this type of hero。 Half of this series I have read either a conventional paper book or Ebook。 The other half I've listened to Scott Brick read the audiobook。 Both were satisfying reads。I just finished Dark Horse audio book version。 It concludes with a co epilogue of sorts， an interview between Gregg Hurwitz and Jack Carr discussing their respective writing styles， habits and skill and craft development。 Very interesting。 I have always wondered what their voices sounded like。 The story line is another episode of mission impossible made possible。 It strains plausibility as well when dealing with groups of crack crazed psychopaths and peer assassins that not one ever lands a kill shot on the nowhere man。 Anyway， I'm looking forward to the next Orphan X the way I looked ahead to another James Bond movie。 Bond had his own bullet repellent too， but I never let it dampen my enthusiasm！ 。。。more
Sheryl Nudds
，
3。75
Janet
，
Fast read。 Hugely entertaining。
Stephanie
，
Dark Horse is the next entry in the Orphan X series， and this is one of my favourites series out there。 While not the most suspenseful book of the series， it is definitely a solid entry and a lot of fun to read。 The story seemed to focus more on relationships and Evan's growing sense of how to fit into a world he knows little about， except as an assassin。 Evan's character development has always been one of the strengths of this series。 Both he and Joey have come to a crossroads in their lives w Dark Horse is the next entry in the Orphan X series， and this is one of my favourites series out there。 While not the most suspenseful book of the series， it is definitely a solid entry and a lot of fun to read。 The story seemed to focus more on relationships and Evan's growing sense of how to fit into a world he knows little about， except as an assassin。 Evan's character development has always been one of the strengths of this series。 Both he and Joey have come to a crossroads in their lives where they need to figure out who they are and who they wish to be as well as the people they want in their lives。 Having lived a solitary life for so long， with few people he could trust， Evan is slowly learning about having fun and enjoying life。 Unfortunately， having been an assassin for so long， and having been involved in such a secret program， he has enemies all over the place， and in some pretty high government levels， enemies who do anything to see him dead。 The author does a great job with Evan as he comes to terms with his more humane side and accepts that his lethal side will always be a part of him。 Joey and Dog have been favourites of mine since they joined the Orphan X world a few books ago and I always look forward to their appearances。 It's hard to imagine comedic episodes in a thriller novel， but the author manages to do this very well in scenes involving Joey， Evan， and Dog， including some emotional ones。 Who knew you could get emotional over a plant and some coloured rocks？ This one has Evan helping a drug kingpin， one who daughter has been kidnapped by a rival drug cartel。 This mission becomes quite complicated， and puts Evan into quite a moral dilemma as he has to decide to help a leader of a drug cartel with questionable morals。 I thought the author did a great job showing the human side of this world， something I didn't think was possible， demonstrating the shades of grey that exist in everyone's world。 I even grew to like Aragon， which I never would have suspected。 But make no mistake， the author didn't shy away from the brutality either， especially when Evan infiltrated the Leones compound to rescue Aragon's daughter。 As always， the writing style was captivating， drawing me into the story， dark and quite intense。 While the beginning was a bit slower than usual， the last quarter of the book was intense and a bit brutal。 Dark Horse is a fun， action-packed book。 There is quite a bit of soul-searching for Evan as he is trying to come to terms with his life as an assassin and his newish life as a regular person， someone who is trying to recognize that not everything is black or white。 I felt the author did a great job developing Evan's character and his interactions with the other characters was enjoyable。 While this one started out a bit slower than usual， it definitely ended quite differently and I couldn't put it down。 I am looking forward to the next book in this series， The Last Orphan， which I have already received for review。 An old nemesis is coming back into play and I can't wait！ 。。。more
Larry
，
Interesting story and the Even Smoak character is changing， becoming more interactive socially。 Not sure I like it; but with the ending making him the hunted again， we’ll see in the next book。
Lee Cochenour
，
Not often I am moved by a "blow crap up" thriller， but I was by this one。 Not often I am moved by a "blow crap up" thriller， but I was by this one。 。。。more
Alan Welch
，
Oh dear。。。This book is now on hold indefinitely。 I am a big fan of Greg Hurwitz and I love his Nowhere Man stories， but。。。This book is a printer's disaster！ I was thoroughly enjoying Greg Hurwitz's masterful storytelling when I reached page 262 and found that it was followed by page 231！ Checking thereafter I found that pages 231 through 262 are repeated in their entirety， then after the second page 262 comes page 295！ Pages 263 to 294 are completely missing， thus no central part of the storylin Oh dear。。。This book is now on hold indefinitely。 I am a big fan of Greg Hurwitz and I love his Nowhere Man stories， but。。。This book is a printer's disaster！ I was thoroughly enjoying Greg Hurwitz's masterful storytelling when I reached page 262 and found that it was followed by page 231！ Checking thereafter I found that pages 231 through 262 are repeated in their entirety， then after the second page 262 comes page 295！ Pages 263 to 294 are completely missing， thus no central part of the storyline！ Given that all printers nowadays use computer-controlled phototypesetters this probably means that the entire print run will be the same。 So do not buy this book without first checking the aforementioned page numbers！！！！！！I am in the process of returning my copy and trying to obtain an unblemished copy。 。。。more
Bianca
，
I couldn't resist finding out what Evan Smoak was up to。 As it's the case with each book in the series， he gets tangled up in hair-raising， improbable sounding， action-packed and high body count rescue expeditions。My favourite parts of the books are the ones where Evan deals， better said， tries to deal with complicated emotions brought on by dealing with people he's getting emotionally attached to。 Hurwitz's writing is at its best when it comes to anguish， qualms， ambiguity and moral conundrums。 I couldn't resist finding out what Evan Smoak was up to。 As it's the case with each book in the series， he gets tangled up in hair-raising， improbable sounding， action-packed and high body count rescue expeditions。My favourite parts of the books are the ones where Evan deals， better said， tries to deal with complicated emotions brought on by dealing with people he's getting emotionally attached to。 Hurwitz's writing is at its best when it comes to anguish， qualms， ambiguity and moral conundrums。I'm finicky and easily bored， I don't like guns or violence - it's a small miracle that I read all seven books in the series。I'll probably read no。 8 in the Orphan X series。 。。。more
Joy
，
I don’t even have the words for how good this installment of the series was！ I’m still digesting…I literally just closed the book and…WOW！！！！ Mind。Blown。
Paul Clarke
，
Quite simply a top class thriller full off action and humanity。 Former black ops specialist Orphan X now uses his particular set of skills to help the powerless to great effect。 But along there way this state trained killing machine is finding his soul and own humanity as he falls in love and looks out for another junior Orphan。 The action is brilliantly done as is the drawing out of a damaged man/child into a more rounded human。 It's a brilliant read。 Quite simply a top class thriller full off action and humanity。 Former black ops specialist Orphan X now uses his particular set of skills to help the powerless to great effect。 But along there way this state trained killing machine is finding his soul and own humanity as he falls in love and looks out for another junior Orphan。 The action is brilliantly done as is the drawing out of a damaged man/child into a more rounded human。 It's a brilliant read。 。。。more
Peggy Kincaid
，
These books just get better with each one。 Evan is changing in many ways so while he is still the Nowhere Man he has learned so much more about himself， his past and his family。 His attitude towards his "ward" is changing as well。 She is demanding to be more of her own person， and I think it is even possible we will see a book dedicated mostly to her。 The action and the thrill of it all are still in every single book and it is what makes us keep coming back。 These books just get better with each one。 Evan is changing in many ways so while he is still the Nowhere Man he has learned so much more about himself， his past and his family。 His attitude towards his "ward" is changing as well。 She is demanding to be more of her own person， and I think it is even possible we will see a book dedicated mostly to her。 The action and the thrill of it all are still in every single book and it is what makes us keep coming back。 。。。more
Zena Bethune
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4。5。 Really interesting expansion of the character！
John
，
Terrific book。 My favorite so far！ Will be worth rereading some day。
Diane
，
I listened to this book out of order。 After this one， I went back and read every book in the series。 Hurwitz's ability to build the supporting characters as well as Evan is remarkable。 He has made Evan human and real。 I just love this series and am anxiously awaiting February 2023！！ I highly recommend this series。 I will reread this book before the next one comes out just so I can appreciate all the characters now that I've met them in the previous books。 If you want to read a totally enjoyable， I listened to this book out of order。 After this one， I went back and read every book in the series。 Hurwitz's ability to build the supporting characters as well as Evan is remarkable。 He has made Evan human and real。 I just love this series and am anxiously awaiting February 2023！！ I highly recommend this series。 I will reread this book before the next one comes out just so I can appreciate all the characters now that I've met them in the previous books。 If you want to read a totally enjoyable， fast paced， action packed series - this is the one。 I haven't enjoyed characters and stories as much as this in a very long time。 Great read！ 。。。more
Sherry
，
Not as good as the first Orphan X book。
Stefennie
，
The latest instalment of Evan Smoak。 Aragon is a kingpin in drug dealing that needs Evans help when his daughter is kidnapped。 Evan decides to meet the guy to decide whether he is worthy of his help。
Cory
，
Wish i could give it a 4。5！
Livia
，
My Spoiler Free ReviewThis edition had it all really:Unlikely allies✔️Major emotional growth✔️Thrilling action sequences✔️Humor perfectly timed to balance out the high octane moments✔️Wonderful interactions with my favorite supporting characters: Mia， Peter， Joey， Tommy and Dog✔️Scott's voice acting was on point as I've come to expect。 My favorite greeting that he does is Peter's， "Evan Smoak！" 🥰Bonus interview with the author: Be sure to listen to the last 36 minutes。 My Spoiler Free ReviewThis edition had it all really:Unlikely allies✔️Major emotional growth✔️Thrilling action sequences✔️Humor perfectly timed to balance out the high octane moments✔️Wonderful interactions with my favorite supporting characters: Mia， Peter， Joey， Tommy and Dog✔️Scott's voice acting was on point as I've come to expect。 My favorite greeting that he does is Peter's， "Evan Smoak！" 🥰Bonus interview with the author: Be sure to listen to the last 36 minutes。 。。。more
Corgi Mom
，
Dark Horse is so good！ My favorite Orphan X book so far。 Waiting for the next book to come out。 Love Orphan X books！
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Dark Horse
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Dark Horse&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Dark Horse&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0