I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz
Series: Orphan X, #7, #7
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on February 8, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Crime, Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Pages: 432
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
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*NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

Gregg Hurwitz's New York Times bestselling series returns when Orphan X faces his most challenging mission ever in Dark Horse.

Evan Smoak is a man with many identities and a challenging past. As Orphan X, he was a government assassin for the off-the-books Orphan Program. After he broke with the Program, he adopted a new name and a new mission--The Nowhere Man, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. Having just survived an attack on his life and the complete devastation of his base of operations, as well as his complicated (and deepening) relationship with his neighbor Mia Hall, Evan isn't interested in taking on a new mission. But one finds him anyway.

Aragon Urrea is a kingpin of a major drug-dealing operation in South Texas. He's also the patron of the local area--supplying employment in legitimate operations, providing help to the helpless, rough justice to the downtrodden, and a future to a people normally with little hope. He's complicated--a not completely good man, who does bad things for often good reasons. However, for all his money and power, he is helpless when one of the most vicious cartels kidnaps his innocent eighteen year old daughter, spiriting her away into the armored complex that is their headquarters in Mexico. With no other way to rescue his daughter, he turns to The Nowhere Man.

Now not only must Evan figure out how to get into the impregnable fortress of a heavily armed, deeply paranoid cartel leader, but he must decide if he should help a very bad man--no matter how just the cause.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dark Horse is the seventh high-octane installment in Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series, following the rogue government assassin Evan Smoak as he walks a tightrope between vengeance and redemption.

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THE STORY

When a South Texas drug kingpin’s daughter is kidnapped, Evan Smoak—aka Orphan X—gets a call for help that forces him to question his moral code. The client is not a victim, but a criminal. Yet the stakes are personal, brutal, and potentially innocent lives hang in the balance. What follows is a collision course of violence, manipulation, and underground power where Evan must once again blur the line between hero and executioner.

This installment ramps up the intensity while maintaining the philosophical undertones that have made the series standout: What does it mean to be good when you were trained to be bad?

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THE CHARACTERS

• Evan Smoak continues to be a layered and introspective protagonist—equal parts killer and protector. His struggle with humanity and solitude is palpable.
• Aragon Urrea, the cartel boss who hires Evan, is a surprising highlight. He’s not your typical villain, and his complex motivations force both Evan and readers to re-evaluate assumptions.
• Even the side characters—from hacker Joey to the morally grey antagonists—are well-etched and contribute to the larger arc.

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THE ORPHAN X LENS

This entry leans hard into ethical ambiguity. Unlike earlier books where Evan’s missions felt clearly “right,” Dark Horse introduces moral compromise. There’s more conversation, more introspection—and the violence, while plentiful, often serves a deeper purpose.

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STEAMOMETER

2.5/5 🔥

A few emotionally charged moments and light romantic tension, but this is definitely a thriller first. The heat simmers under the surface, driven by psychological rather than physical intensity.

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OVERALL THOUGHTS

Dark Horse is gritty, smart, and emotionally provocative. While it slows slightly in pacing compared to earlier entries, it more than makes up for it in depth. If you’re a fan of lone wolf thrillers that ask big questions and deliver explosive action, this one hits hard. Highly recommend starting with Book 1 (Orphan X) for full impact.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gregg Hurwitz is a bestselling author and screenwriter known for his gripping thrillers and psychologically complex characters. Learn more at gregghurwitz.net.