Dark Horse is the most unique, morally ambiguous, and emotionally impactful book in the Orphan X series. Add that to the traditional thrill ride that is an Evan Smoak book, Hurwitz decides to take it up a level and include, what I would consider, to be one of the greatest battlefield upgrade scenes in a modern thriller. What sets this book apart from the others in the series in two fold; who The Nowhere Man is helping and the ever expanding chaos of what personal life he has managed to develop.
One of the staples of the Orphan X series is the worthiness of the cause and/or the individual who requires Evan’s assistance. Looking at Aragon Urrea’s resume, you’d be hard pressed to understand why Smoak would even answer the call. Urrea is a self proclaimed ‘unconventional businessman, patron to the local community, and just happens to be an international drug kingpin. Aragon is a man capable of extreme violence, but also of extraordinary devotion to his family. In other words, a man who exists in the gray area of life; not a good man, but not an evil one either. While Urrea may not be a wholesome figure, by every standard his 18 year old daughter is. When a rival drug cartel kidnaps her and imprisons her in their heavily fortified compound in Mexico, Urrea has no other option than to turn to The Nowhere Man.
The physical danger is as present as ever in what long time fans of the series would expect, but what makes this book so intense is the emotional and mental toll that Evan’s current circumstances have on him. Each situation increases the pressure on him to not only find his humanity, but to keep a firm grasp on it. When you were raised as an off-the-books government assassin, you can’t blame the guy for not understanding the normal response to ‘normal’ interactions.
On a personal note, this was not the book I was expecting after the unbelievable cliffhanger that was the finale to Prodigal Son. I’m not sure what I was expecting, probably something more towards finding out who was responsible for that explosive ending, but Hurwitz didn’t go that route and instead decided to drop an amazing story complete with some mind boggling additional cliffhangers. Alas, we will have to wait another year to see where The Nowhere Man takes us and I for one cannot wait.
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