Orphan X

 Shirley J.                 Adult Fiction                           Black Ops Assassins in the Orphan (no ties) program

Orphan X: Book 1 of 8 in the Orphan X series) by Gregg Hurwitz      384 pages 

Evan Smoak is an assassin with a heart and a sense of humor whether he realizes it or not.  Check out his advice to his neighbor's son on how to deal with a bully.  The revised advice is priceless.  Evan was brought into a black ops government program as a child.  He was taught how to mercilessly kill in every way, in every situation with every thing that could possibly kill another human.  The missions he is sent on are exceedingly dangerous and potentially suicidal.  There is no accountability and no record of his identity anywhere.  If caught, he is on his own the government will deny any knowledge only 1 person (his Keeper) knows anything about him or his quest and when that person no longer exists Evan is unknown to anyone, except the Orphan that comes after him who asked to meet and talk about "shop."  Evan sees his chance to get out and takes it, alas the mysterious Orphan Y knows what he looks like.  Evan takes on the identity of "Nowhere Man," wanting to give back to society and help those in need.  He offers his special set of skills (sounds familiar, huh?) to aid women in need trying to get out of their situations and free of whatever messiness might try to keep them tethered.   All goes well until he is put in a situation by his own hand, to help an out of control gambler who has buried herself in debt to nefarious folk who kidnap her father and promise they will make her suffer through what they do to her Dad unless she pays back her debt, but, then maybe they just want to torture her Dad and kill her as an example.  Evan "Nowhere Man" has gotten himself in a spot he may not be able to pull himself out of.   A good thriller with fun banter between the characters.  I recommend this one to mature teens on up.