Evan Smoak (aka Orphan X and The Nowhere Man) is one of the most unique characters I have ever encountered in a book.

The product of a government project that saw young people of enhanced powers being trained for top-secret missions, Evan is now the last one standing. Ironically, the government decided to pull the plug on the Orphan program and eliminate each member one by one. Evan has done an outstanding job evading the authorities who are after him --- until he makes a deadly mistake that puts him right in the grasp of the nefarious President of the United States.

"Over the course of eight books, Gregg Hurwitz has never taken his foot off the gas pedal. THE LAST ORPHAN continues his trend of complex thrills with an engaging protagonist."

The President offers Evan a deal. If he kills a wealthy and powerful man who is seen as a massive threat to the government, he will no longer be hunted to extinction. However, when Evan left the Program, he had vowed never to use his powers against a target who did not deserve it. He feels he cannot make a decision until he learns what this person is accused of doing to be considered an enemy of the government. So he must do some serious soul-searching to determine whether or not to strike this bargain.

The billionaire in question is Luke Devine, and the government alleges that he poses an immediate danger as a result of trading power for power and accumulating enough leverage to make him a viable threat and risk to presidential powers. The government needs to pass a trillion-dollar environmental bill, but Devine is more than capable of stopping this piece of legislation dead in its tracks.

Even though Evan accepts the offer from the President, he still must follow his own moral compass before he can attempt any wayward assassination. He will do this by closely examining both Devine and the specifics of the bill, and then consider the ramifications of both. His final decision will be based on the layers of deceit and deep politicking involved. Of course, it may not align with the President’s wishes and has the potential to make him a bigger threat to the government than he has ever been before.

Over the course of eight books, Gregg Hurwitz has never taken his foot off the gas pedal. THE LAST ORPHAN continues his trend of complex thrills with an engaging protagonist.