![\"Hellbent\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51W4BabInGL.jpg?w=474&ssl=1\")
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She felt like an anchor to him, not dragging him down but mooring him to this spot, to this moment, locking his location for once on the grid. For the first time in his life, he felt the tug as something not unpleasant but precious.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In the course of Jordan B. Peterson\u2019s 12 Rules for Life<\/em>,<\/strong> which I reviewed a few inches south of this location, he mentions that thriller writer Gregg Hurwitz is a friend of his. This reminded me to check on what Hurwitz has been doing lately. Lo and behold, he has a new Orphan X book out. I snatched it up greedily, and was richly rewarded. Hellbent<\/a><\/em> is a humdinger, the best (in my opinion) of a superior series.<\/p>\n
As you may or may not recall, Evan Smoak is Orphan X, the Nowhere Man. He was recruited out of a group home as a boy, to be part of the CIA\u2019s ultra-secret Orphan Program. The Orphans, all people without families, were trained to be deadly assassins and commandos. Not only were their actions deniable by the government, their very existences were deniable.<\/p>\n
Around the time Evan\u2019s lifelong nemesis Van Sciver (Orphan Y) took control of the program, Evan managed to escape, with the help of Jack Johns, his mentor and surrogate father. Now, still with access to secret bank accounts, he lives a hidden life in a large LA apartment. His existence is spartan, his apartment almost empty of adornment. He spends his time helping people, but actual human relationships would give Van Sciver \u2013 who\u2019s still searching for him \u2013 points of access, so Evan doesn\u2019t have any.<\/p>\n
But now Jack has asked him for a favor \u2013 to collect and protect a young woman in danger, Joey. Joey was scrubbed out of the Orphan program, but Van Sciver is still trying to hunt her down and kill her, along with another ex-Orphan and the boy he has been mentoring. In order to carry out Jack\u2019s wishes, Evan will have to allow another human \u2013 and a pretty disorganized one \u2013 into his ordered life. And for him, that may take more courage than fighting a team of Orphans and Secret Service mercenaries, plus the MS Thirteen street gang (which he\u2019ll also have to do).<\/p>\n
Exciting, clever, and very moving in parts, Hellbent<\/em> delighted me. I recommend it very highly. Cautions for language, violence, and mature themes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
She felt like an anchor to him, not dragging him down but mooring him to this spot, to this moment, locking his location for once on the grid. For the first time in his life, he felt the tug as something not unpleasant but precious. In the course of Jordan B. Peterson\u2019s 12 Rules for … Continue reading ‘Hellbent,’ by Gregg Hurwitz<\/span>