To some he was Orphan X. Others knew him as the Nowhere Man. But to Jack Johns he was a boy named Evan Smoak. Taken from an orphanage, Evan was raised inside a top-secret government programme and trained to become a lethal weapon. By Jack. And yet for all the dangerous skill he instilled in his young charge, Jack Jones cared for Evan like a son.

But Jack knew too much about a programme that had gone rotten - he was a loose end that needed to be dealt with. But if you go after the only person who ever treated him like a human being, you can guarantee that the Nowhere Man will be coming for you. Hellbent on making things right...

With Hellbent, Gregg Hurwitz raises the bar again with a masterclass in hi-octane thriller writing.

Published
January 2018
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Orphan X

The series

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In a world where shadows linger and justice comes at a steep price, the Orphan X series thrusts readers into a high-stakes narrative centered on Evan Smoak—a man with a past he can never escape. Trained as part of a covert government program that recruits children to become deadly operatives, Evan has long since broken free, but his past is never far behind. Now, operating under the alias "The Nowhere Man," he is determined to use his unique skill set to help those who have nowhere else to turn.

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But helping people comes with its own set of challenges. As Evan takes on increasingly dangerous missions, the line between right and wrong begins to blur. With a deadly skillset honed over years of intense training and survival, Evan must grapple with his own moral compass, all while evading the very organization that created him. The Orphan X series combines pulse-pounding action with a deeper exploration of identity, redemption, and the weight of one's choices.

What sets this series apart is not just its relentless action, but its portrayal of a man struggling with the ghosts of his past while trying to build a new future. Each book dives deep into Evan's psyche, revealing the emotional toll of his training, his relationships, and his ongoing fight to hold onto his humanity in a world that demands his darkness. The intricate world-building—spanning shadowy government operations, morally gray decisions, and a protagonist with unparalleled abilities—keeps readers hooked, turning pages well into the night.

As the series progresses, the stakes grow higher, the enemies more formidable, and the personal cost more apparent. Evan’s journey is not just about taking down dangerous criminals or navigating the complex world of clandestine operations. It’s about finding the strength to survive, to protect those he loves, and to make peace with a past that haunts him at every turn.

The Orphan X series stands as a masterful blend of intense action, moral quandaries, and emotional depth, all wrapped up in a fast-paced thriller that will leave you questioning what justice really means and what it takes to be a hero.

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