The Nowhere Man

Gregg Hurwitz's The Nowhere Man continues to build on the fast-paced and thrilling world introduced in Orphan X. I hope Hurwitz doesn't make it an habit to reintroduce the main character modus operandi and his skills in every book. The first few chapters felt a bit unnecessary for those who have already read the first book. It's almost like being stuck in a tutorial level of a video game you've already beaten.

Hurwitz's ability to describe scenes is incredible. He manages to be precise and vivid without going overboard. Each moment is easy to visualize in sharp detail, like watching a movie, yet he avoids wasting pages and pages making it boring. He's very precise.

As on the first book, some of the tech and gadgets feel so exaggerated it's almost funny. I couldn't help but wonder who they're really written for. My dad, maybe? But then I'd like to believe my dad was smart enough he would probably have asked, “Where do you even get a shower faucet handle with a fingerprint scanner?” or “How do you build a hidden Batcave in your bathroom without contractors realizing something's up?” That absurdity might just be part of the fun, though. Evan is more James Bond than Jack Ryan, so a little flair is probably to be expected.

When it comes to villains, Hurwitz is undeniably creative. René is a terrifying antagonist with a unique and twisted way of inflicting pain, but sometimes the evilness is so over the top that it risks becoming cartoonish. Did he really need to steal blood from young people on top of everything else? That felt like overkill, and it didn't add much to the story. Then again, maybe that's intentional and part of the fun. It's a fine line, though, and I'm not sure it always works.

The plot itself has its share of predictable moments, but Hurwitz still managed to surprise me. I was certain the second half of the book would go in a particular direction, tying up various side stories, but I was completely wrong. That's not something I'd usually expect from this series, and I'm glad to have been caught off guard.

Speaking of surprises, Jack is alive?? WTF! I'm here for it and excited about the possibilities, but I wish it had been handled differently. Bringing him back at the last possible second felt like a Hail Mary. He deserved better than a rushed reintroduction, and honestly, I'd have kept him “dead” for another book or two before pulling this card. It would have been a bigger, more satisfying twist later in the series.

Overall, The Nowhere Man delivers a satisfying resolution and plenty of action, even if it leans a bit too hard on the ridiculous at times. Hurwitz knows how to create tension, craft memorable villains, and surprise readers in just the right ways. The series continues to be fun and engaging, and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.

I agree with some other reviewers that it was slower than book #1, somewhat padded with info on his background that those who read Book 1 did not really need. Also, I didn't like him being trapped in one place for such a long time, and preferred the action saving a variety of people in Book 1. But it was still a good, fast-paced read and I look forward to #3.

Gewoon weer een heerlijk boek van Hurwitz en de orphan projects. Vol actie, technische snufjes en goede verhaallijnen. Verder niet heel bijzonder of spectaculair, maar als je van de serie houdt, absoluut het lezen waard.

Orphan X appealed to me because I enjoyed the personal touch. Evan Smoak is seen to be heartless and driven to a point where he seems to only care for the objective. However, Orphan X introduced two people into Evan's life that changed his thinking. It also touched on his troubled past and his close relationship with someone else. This book defers away from that a little but definitely gives you a feeling of Evan as a character. I think Jack Reacher has left a bad impression on what I should expect from action heroes. He's a man of no personality. The likes of Evan Smoak and Scot Harvath have really opened up my eyes to action heroes with personality.

I'll continue this series and likely enjoy all of those 4/5 too

Action packed, creative, and endlessly entertaining. This series is an ongoing favorite. Rather than let the stories become template based, the author is already keeping things fresh and letting the protagonist get mixed up in things impossible for even the most skilled operative to anticipate. It makes for a brilliant adventure.

Just as good as the first one which isn't always the way with a second book. It was totally different from the first book which was unexpected. Will be interesting to see what happens in the next book!

As soon as I finished the first book in this new series, I knew I needed to pick up this second one. Although I blazed through it and stayed up entirely too late finishing it, I didn't like it as much as “Orphan X.” I found Evan still to be an interesting and engaging character, but the plot veered early in a direction which surprised me. And then nearly all of the book was spent in a setting at points dangerous, mysterious, creepy, violent, and bleak. The plot kept my attention, but I wanted Evan out of the setting far sooner in the story. I will say that the danger Evan gets into near the climax was inventive and pretty darn cool. A good and fun read, but somewhat of a sophomore slump plot-wise for me.

Brutal. Almost as good as the first one.

Nowhere Man, nowhere near as good as Orphan X. The author resorts to boring tropes, and there is no pace. The sole saving grace was the final 1/4 which zippped along. I won't bother to read any more of this series, which is sad because Orphan X was fun.