Into the Fire: An Orphan X Novel

Written by Gregg Hurwitz

Narrated by Scott Brick

* A Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller *

“Read the Orphan X series. You’ll thank me later."―David Baldacci

Gregg Hurwitz's New York Times bestselling Orphan X returns―just when Evan Smoak thinks he's done, his deadliest job yet pulls him back Into The Fire...

Evan Smoak lives by his own code.

Once he was known as Orphan X. Trained as an off-the-books government assassin and spoken about only in whispers, Evan Smoak was one of the most talented―and most feared―men in the Program. But he broke free and reinvented himself as The Nowhere Man, a figure shrouded in mystery, known for helping the truly desperate.

If anyone is truly desperate, it’s Max Merriweather.

Max is at the end of his rope. His cousin has been brutally murdered, leaving Max an envelope that contains nothing but a mysterious key. However, someone really wants that key, badly enough that Max―and anyone he turns to―is in deadly danger. What seems like a simple job for The Nowhere Man turns out to be anything but. Behind every threat he takes out, a deadlier one emerges and Evan Smoak must put himself in greater danger than ever before as he heads once more Into The Fire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jan 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781799751519

Gregg Hurwitz

Gregg Hurwitz is the critically acclaimed author of The Tower, Minutes to Burn, Do No Harm, The Kill Clause, The Program, and Troubleshooter. He holds a B.A. in English and psychology from Harvard University and a master's degree from Trinity College, Oxford University. He lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews for Into the Fire

[cassprout · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great one. Love Orphan X!

[Alexander Anderson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Answers the question “what type of hero works best in a dystopian, dysfunction, cruel and dangerous world?”

I get it, a highly functioning, lethal, Lone Wolf, Clint Eastwood, vodka gourmet type with borderline OCD issues, more simpatico with dogs than people, who dreams of being just a regular guy, living just a regular life.

3.5* rounded up as this series is greater than the sum of its parts and because Scott Brink just kills it with his narrative style.

But, not one of the best instalments in the Orphan X series-still, very entertaining while approaching the usual plane of this genre of fiction at an interestingly oblique angle.

[Jeff Fambrough · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So many intrusions to the NoWhere man. Thankful Evan knows…wish the concussion wasn’t there

[M S · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my favorite one yet! Very exciting and satisfying. Narrator is excellent as always. Great job further developing existing characters.

[Ray Erny · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliantly paced, with dry humor sprinkled in. Clever, believable scenarios, meticulously researched. Hard to see any faults. In the same league as the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. I will be reading more books in the series!

[heatherlinc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun, action thriller but I think I should have read a few of the earlier books in the series as I felt I was missing something. At the time, I didn't realise this was the fifth instalment in the Orphan X series but it was still an enjoyable read

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Into the Fire by Gregg Horwitz is a 2020 Minotaur publication. Supercharged action and adventure! Evan Smoak- aka- Orphan X- aka- The Nowhere Man, has come to a crossroads of sorts. He’s ready to explore life on his own terms now. But will his enemies and those who need his specialized help allow him to retire? In this fifth installment of the series, Evan is summoned to help Max Merriweather, who is on the run from the ruthless assassins who just murdered his cousin. Hoping this is the last time he answers the 1-800-NOWHERE hotline, Evan discovers this case is going to be one of his most difficult to contain.I love this series more with each installment. Evan is a machine- tough, smart, unstoppable! But, beneath that exterior is a lonely man, one who was robbed of normalcy, who pines for a break from all the danger and violence. Readers root for him on both fronts. We cheer for him as he fights the bad guys, but also sympathize with his sensitive side too- wishing he didn’t have to necessarily choose between the two. The addition of Joey to the series is simply perfect, and the banter between she and Ethan is often hysterically funny. This chapter has a finality to it that is bittersweet- until…The conclusion is a breathtaking stunner… promising more exciting adventures for our hero in the future. 4.5 stars

[ronploude · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Evan, the principal character, is the perfect assassin. Trained by a US black ops’ leader, now dead, Evan decided to leave his employer and is now hunting and being hunted by them. He has a need to find meaning in his life and pursues that by helping less fortunate members of society deal with criminal bullies.In this book, Evan deals with a criminal cabal populated by opportunistic individuals at multi societal and big city political levels. Each layer Evan eliminates makes evident the next level. Having decided to end his savior occupation in order to get on with a relationship with female prosecutor who lives in his building, he is constantly anticipating the end to his current self-assigned war.But, it’s difficult to get a personal sense of life direction without confronting life issues in those people around you. In helping his client challenge his life mistakes and self-loathing, Evan is forced to face similar conflicts in his own life. The book is chuck full of well-trained black ops operator action! However, by generating reader adrenaline in one chapter then eliciting tears in another. the peppering of self-evaluation humanizes the characters thus making the book a good read Into the Fire: An Orphan X Novel is an action thriller! But its humanizing subtext makes it appeal to the less action driven reader.

[darcia_10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every time I read an Orphan X novel, I worry that Gregg Hurwitz knows a little too much about how to kill without getting caught.In this latest Orphan X novel, our hero Evan Smoak embarks on what initially appears to be a straightforward and, for him, simple mission. But nothing is ever simple in Evan's world.One of my favorite things about this series is that character depth is never sacrificed for action, and there is a whole lot of action. We get to know all the players involved. People here, as in real life, are not just good or bad, black or white, but instead inhabit all the various shades of gray.Evan's personality really shines in this book. I loved the banter between him and Joey, whose character I'd love to see evolve into her own series. As with most thrillers of this nature, at times the action feels a little over-the-top, and Evan appears bulletproof. This is forgiven, partly because it's expected in this genre and partly because Evan is such a cool hero. After all, look how long James Bond has survived.While Into the Fire could be read as a stand-alone, I recommend starting at the beginning with Orphan X in order to get a full understanding of Evan's journey.*I received a review copy through Amazon Vine.*

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a huge Orphan X fan and found this latest installment to be better than the last, though I don't know how this continues to be possible! All of these books are the right combination of thriller and best fiction ever. I tell everyone about this series, and so far, I have yet to meet anyone disappointed. Evan Smoak is the best character ever written about and I can't wait for the next installment!

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Max’s cousin has been murdered and for some very odd reason, he left Max a clue. Max is not known for doing the right thing. He is actually a messed up person who tends to screw everything up. So it is a real shocker when he leaves the Max information to find his killer. Max, as you would expect, ends up needing a lot of help. Enter Evan, or Orphan X!Evan is a character which is an enigma. He has been trained by the government to be an assassin. But, he left the government program to, basically, do good. I just love this character. Not only is he tough as freaking nails, he has one of the biggest hearts you could ever imagine. He just wants to do what is right for the underdog! This story is no different. Max just can’t help but get himself in a mess. But when Evan shows up…you know it is going to turn out right…or is it. Evan finds himself…almost…over his head. His training and his abilities help keep him and Max alive through some very tough situations. Let me tell you….INTENSE SITUATIONS…is an understatement!If you need a good, action packed, thriller series…THIS IS IT. I have been a fan since the first Orphan X book. All of the books are fast paced, full of intrigue, energy and emotions. Plus, all the characters in the books are relatable and touch you, as a reader, on some level. So get started today!I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars.

Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz is an adrenaline fueled thriller with pulse-pounding action and a skilled assassin turned vigilante. In this latest outing in the Orphan X series, former government black ops assassin Evan Smoak aka the Nowhere Man and Orphan X answers the phone and accepts what he plans to be his final case.

Max Merriweather has no idea what his murdered cousin Grant was involved in, but he wants to honor his last request.  Quickly discovering that Grant is not the only victim, Max escapes undetected with what could possibly contain answers for his many questions. Fearing for his life, he has a fortuitous encounter that leads to the Nowhere Man.  Examining the thumb drive Grant handed over to his cousin right before his death, Evan knows exactly why Grant was murdered.  With the help of teenage hacker and friend, Joey Morales, they quickly discover the identity of the people who are hunting Max. But is there more to this tangled web of illegal activities than Smoak and Morales believe?

Evan is finally at the point where he believes he has atoned for his past. Although he does not have a clear vision of his future, he is ready to leave behind the Nowhere Man and live a normal life. Due to his past, he has few social skills so traversing his very involved homeowners' association is quite tricky. So are his attempts to navigate his awkward relationship with his neighbor D.A. Mia Hall and her son Peter.

Max is the failure of the Merriweather family and he is definitely persona non grata with his relatives. He has yet to recover from the failure of his marriage which only adds to his feelings of worthlessness. Despite the danger that awaits him around every corner, Max wants to honor his (reluctant) promise to Grant. But will he emerge from this quest unscathed?

Evan is self-confident he can eliminate the threat on Max's life and he methodically begins gathering information on his targets. With Joey's invaluable assistance, he zeroes in on the suspects and sets up reconnaissance.  An unexpectedly dangerous encounter results in a concussion but Evan does not have time to stop for his recovery. Battling his head injury's extremely worrisome symptoms,  the Nowhere Man is unstoppable as he methodically and ruthlessly sets out to vanquish Max's foes. Unfortunately, once one risk is removed, another takes its place.  Has the Nowhere Man finally met his match? Or will he, Joey and Max completely uncover the labyrinth of corruption in time to prevent another deadly plot devised by the bad guys to evade detection and capture?

With non-stop action, unanticipated twists and exhilarating turns, Into the Fire is a riveting and suspenseful mystery. Evan is a complex character with a surprising need to make up for his past which weighs rather heavily on his conscience. Max is a sympathetic client whom Evan offers encouragement and suggestions to shore up his non-existent self-confidence.  Despite Evan's encounters with  numerous obstacles and deadly encounters, Gregg Hurwitz brings this electrifying thriller to a dramatic, hair-raising conclusion.  This brilliant installment in the Orphan X series ends with a shocking phone call that will leave fans breathlessly anticipating the next adventure starring Evan Smoak.

[tottman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Orphan X, also known as the Nowhere Man, finally freed himself from the government program that created him. Now he wants to take on one last mission before retiring for good.In Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz, Orphan X gets a call for help from Max Merriweather. Max's cousin has been tortured and murdered but he has entrusted a secret to Max. Now some very dangerous individuals are after him. Evan Smoak, the Nowhere Man, steps in to help extricate Max from his predicament. But each time he takes out a threat against Max he finds that the conspiracy runs a little bit deeper. Can Orphan X stop who’s really pulling the strings or has he found a threat even he can't defeat?Into The Fire is a russian nesting doll of a novel. Each threat against Max is a puzzle. First solve the puzzle to identify the threat, then design a way to eliminate the threat. This leads to a new threat and so on and so on until you reach the top. If only you can be certain it ends there.There are a lot of great thriller series out there but I don't think any of them are written any better than the books by Hurwitz. His skill as a writer comes through on every page, particularly in his characters. Evan Smoak is as thoughtful and introspective as they come. The introduction of Max Merriweather is a perfect example of Hurwitz’s skill in quickly sketching out a character while making you feel you know him and empathize with him. Smoak’s interaction with his few associates as well as his own inner monologue creates great depth of character. The assistant DA Mia, his mentor’s last protege Joey, crotchety weapons makers, annoying fellow tenants and a heart-melting rescued dog all serve to shine a light on some aspect of Orphan X’s character. Each of the books in the Orphan X series can be read on their own, but taken together, you develop greater sympathy with the main characters and pick up new pieces of the puzzles that make up their lives.On top of the excellent characters, Hurwitz excel's at creating outstanding action scenes that are both realistic and thrilling. The hurdles that Orphan X has to overcome require not only great physical skill but exceptional planning and creative thinking. The plotting is tight and exceptionally paced from beginning to end. Orphan X is one of my favorite characters and Hurwitz is at the top of his game in this novel. Highly recommended.I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my first nail biting, seat gripping, heart pounding adventure with Evan Smoak, a/k/a Orphan X. It becomes clear very early in the story that he has had a falling out with his country and his former employer, some paramilitary arm of the United States Government. Orphan X has gone rogue, but in a good way. Well, in a good way for the folks who contact him with a major problem. Now that was an interesting hook – being known for playing it forward.This was a well written, fast-moving thriller for the first part of the story. A little bit of 007 deploying all his gadgets and devices. The technical information on the weaponry was overly involved and lost on me. The plot started out just fine but around the time that Smoak realizes that he is dealing with a “hydra” the motion slowed and became a little bogged down and exhausting. Really, how many bad guys can you take out while almost off your feet with a major concussion?! OK many, a lot, more than you can even imagine. The supporting characters have great language and real moxie and throw in a beaten-up dog to really stir the pot and emotions. Lots and lots of bad guys killing and blowing up things and one white knight standing in the light. I liked it.Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read the first book and back than I thought it was fine but I was not that engaged with Evan. Yet, this time around it was solid gold. Evan is the next Jason Bourne. In fact, it is easy to see why an deal has been made to bring these books alive on the big screen. Right from the beginning, I was hooked. My excitement did not waver or diminish. It stayed high until the very end. There were so many twists and people that Evan fought that I was exhausted reading about it. He may have been beaten and bruised but Evan never gave up until the job was done. Back to the twists for a moment. Nothing is as it seems in this story. Don't try to figure out anything. Just seat back, read, and enjoy this book. No matter what he is called...Orphan X...The Nowhere Man...Evan; he is the guy you want fighting on your side and not against. Strap yourself into your seat for the most exciting, high intensity, roller coaster ride of your life with Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz!

[grumpydan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have not read the first four books in the Orphan X series, but that doesn’t matter with this novel. It can be read as a standalone without knowing what happened in the past. This is a fast paced, thriller that had me not want to stop reading. The Nowhere Man, Evan Smoak gets a call from Max Merriweather whose cousin was murdered but beforehand left Max an envelope. What happens next is a series of escapades as the Nowhere Man tries to give back Max his life. It is like the layers of an onion, as Evan finishes with one bad group, another higher up the ladder tries to go after Max. Slowly, but surely Evan works his way to the head of the snake. It kept me on edge and I really felt for Evan, Max and the others. Now I want to go back and read the first four novels!

[jfe16 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review of Uncorrected Digital GalleyBarely tolerated by his father, ostracized by most of his family, Max Merriweather is hardly holding on, scarcely eking out a living. When his uber-successful cousin asks him to keep something “just in case,” Max agrees but thinks no more about it until Grant is brutally murdered and Max returns home to find a knife-wielding intruder methodically searching/trashing his tiny apartment. But Max’s problems are only beginning. Before sneaking out of his apartment, Max manages to retrieve the envelope Grant asked him to hold, but Lorraine Lennox, the reporter he’s supposed to contact, is strangely silent and unreachable. Then, when Max calls on Grant’s widow, he learns that his family blames him, some going so far as to say the murderer should have killed Max instead of Grant.Can Evan Smoak, facing his own demons but still working as the Nowhere Man, help Max? Or will the fire consume them both?Readers who have not yet read the earlier Orphan X tales will have no problem following the story as there is sufficient backstory folded into the narrative, but reading the earlier books will provide readers with significant insights.Complex, well-developed characters are one of the highlights of the Orphan X series. “Into the Fire” finds the Nowhere Man still struggling to understand that “normal” life that seems so elusive to Evan. This introspectiveness, this searching for understanding, gives Evan’s character complexity and depth. As with previous narratives, the story is nuanced, compelling, and unputdownable. Unforeseen revelations keep the tension mounting; surprising reveals keep the pages turning until the explosive denouement readers simply won’t see coming. The continuing saga of Evan Smoak in this, the fifth book in the Orphan X series, is a must-read . . . don’t miss it.Highly recommended.I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley #IntoTheFire #NetGalley