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Antihero

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Brought to you by Penguin.

Evan Smoak's most complex mission yet - with his usual skills off the table, how can he bring vengeance for those who most need it? Sometimes two wrongs do make a right . . .


Once a black ops assassin for the government known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak broke with the program and went deep underground, using his operational rules and skills to help the truly desperate with nowhere else to turn.

When Luke Devine, one of the most powerful men in the world, has a psychological crisis, Evan flies to the East Coast to help him.

While there, he learns of a young woman who was kidnapped off the New York City subway, clearly in danger and in need of aid. With no name and few clues, Evan and his team track down the missing woman, who was assaulted and abandoned. Evan offers his help - and sets out finding the young men responsible.

But the woman insists that Evan abandon his usual methods - no vengeance and, in particular, no killing.

Which will prove no easy feat given the mounting incoming threats from all sides. In a mission that takes Evan from coast to coast, from the poorest corners of society to the richest, Orphan X must figure out a way to protect the innocent, avenge the victimized, and balance justice with a measure of mercy.

'Weapons-grade thriller writing' The Guardian

'Feels like a missile launch' David Baldacci

'Outstanding in every way' Lee Child

© Gregg Hurwitz 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Action & Adventure Crime Thrillers Espionage Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Private Investigators Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Revenge Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Laughs as well as action. A thriller that makes the Jack Reacher books look quaint
[Hurwitz] is a weapon of mass entertainment and the action never stops
First-rate and deftly varied combat scenes. Rewardingly, it's more plugged into the mood and issues of the present than a Lee Child slugathon
Feels like a missile launch
Outstanding in every way
Weapons-grade thriller writing
All stars
Most relevant
As always Gregg delivers a masterpiece of mixed emotions, Evan Smoak isn’t just a black and white character but he’s a character with depth.
I thought the subject matter was well thought out and respectful and i liked the interactions between protector’s and protected. If only the world was a better place and books like this didn’t need to be written. Bravo Gregg.

Intelligent read

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Loved story & characters as always.
Happily because I have read/listened to all Orphan books I could imagine & fill in some gaps. Hope X doesn't become tooooo PC. Obs can't re write old material but I hoped for Vera 1V ;)
(unless she was in there & I was distracted & missed her)

Long anticipated, loved having a book to actually enjoy from start to finish.

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These never disappoint. Every year I fear they might. But every year I end up with a little crushing disappointment that I have to wait another 12 months…

As good as ever - and that good is exceptional.

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Story, characters and narration all perfect. Such clever writing and character development. Please keep them coming.

Another exceptional Orphan X book.

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I love the way the author makes a visual picture out of words. A relevant & sad indictment on humanity’s treatment of vulnerable women. My preference for the perpetrators would be for a permanent removal of their gene pool.

Relevant story

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