Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz Narrator: Scott Brick
Series: Orphan X #11
Published by MacMillan Audio, Minotaur Books on February 10, 2026
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 416
Length: 14 hours, 12 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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Once a black ops assassin for the government known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak broke with the program and went deep underground, using his operational rules and skills to help the truly desperate with nowhere else to turn.
When Luke Devine, one of the most powerful men in the world has a psychological crisis, Evan flies to the East Coast to meet Luke. While there, he learns of a young woman who was kidnapped off the New York City subway, clearly in danger and in need of aid. With no name and few clues, Evan and his team track down the missing woman, who was assaulted and abandoned. Evan offers his helpāand sets out tracking down the young men responsible. But the woman insists that Evan abandon his usual methodsāno vengeance and, in particular, no killing. Which will prove no easy feat given the mounting incoming threats from all sides. In a mission that takes Evan from coast to coast, from the poorest corners of society to the richest, Orphan X must figure out a way to protect the innocent, avenge the victimized, and balance justice, with a measure of mercy.
I LOVE the Orphan X series. I recommend reading from the beginning, in order, for the character and world developments. Ā Evan has grown and become more personable throughout the series.Ā He is a support for the people at Castle Heights, especially Mia and Peter,Ā and a parental figure, at least a caretaker for Joey.Ā Ā He violated the terms of his informal presidential “pardon” so now the government could come after himĀ Instead, they want him to be their contract assassin.Ā Ā The pardon was always a fallacy because they could take it back anytime, plus if he was in the normal view, there would be people trying to kill him.Ā He needs to stay hidden.
Antihero is an interesting book.Ā A key element was Evan taking stock of his friends and relationships, which would never have been his style.Ā But with Tommy gone, his closest connection perhaps, he is reviewing who would notice if he were gone.Ā Ā Of course, he has Joey. He doesn’t see Mia or Peter very much anymore.Ā There’s Aragon who provides his plane travel and more.. And now Luke Devine who he was supposed to assassinate. He almost has a connection with Naomi who has hunted him.
First, Luke Devine calls and asks Evan for help. Joey wants to join his team and work cases with Evan.Ā Evan takes Joey to Luke’s and there’s a girl who saw something bad on the subway, another girl being abducted.Ā Ā Evan has to get Luke calmed down before he can go find the girl. But Joey can get to work looking at video.Ā Evan finally gets Luke to rest so he doesn’t have more of a meltdown.
Evan takes off to find the girl leaving Joey and Luke’s security in charge.Ā He does find the girl in horrible condition.Ā He helps her with going to the hospital and reporting it to the police.Ā He also calls in Candy and Naomi to take these guys down.Ā Candy would protect the girl, Anca, since the abductors had taken her keys, wallet, id, etc.Ā Ā Evan would capture the men and hand them off to Naomi.Ā Anca insists he not kill the men.Ā Evan agrees but they will be damaged.Ā While Naomi and Joey help track down the men,Ā Evan discovers that the men also made videos.
Joey gets to work taking down the videos and the porn site, and Luke decides to help by decimating the company in their ingenious ways.Ā Evan is scooping up the degenerates, although when they figure out he might be trouble they send some toughs after him.Ā At least, they though they were tough.
I love the team work of these different allies Evan has assembled and how they make quick work of these horrible men. The story is fast paced, action packed, and smart.Ā I appreciate how Evan tries to evaluate and develop the relationships in his life.Ā I’m a little afraid in every book that something bad will happen to Evan but he always manages.
Narration:
Scott Brick is amazing in narrating this series.Ā I am completely settled into his voices for the characters and loved his performance.Ā He does a nice differentiation with all the ages and locations.Ā Ā I listened at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip:Ā HERE
About Scott Brick
Actor, writer and award-winning audiobook narrator Scott Brick certainly knows how to tell a story, in a way that keeps publishers, best-selling and award-winning authors, critics and the public at large begging for more. Hailed by Audible in 2012 as their most prolific narrator, Brick has narrated almost 900 audiobooks including titles such as: Jurassic Park, the Jack Reacher series, Alexander Hamilton, the Hunt For Red October, The Passage trilogy, In Cold Blood, the Bourne trilogy, Atlas Shrugged, Helter Skelter, Fahrenheit 451 and the Dune series.
Born on January 30, 1966 in Santa Barbara, California, Brick studied both acting and writing at UCLA, and joined the ranks of working professionals upon leaving school in 1989. Lauded by critics for his stage work, Brick spent ten years with the LA-based traveling Shakespeare troupe, Will & Company, appearing in productions of Cyrano, Hamlet, Macbeth and many others, and went on to appear in films such as Hit Parade, written and directed by comic book writer and co-Ben 10 creator, Joe Casey.
During this time, Brick continued writing. Having written hundreds of articles in a variety of genre publications such as WIZARD MAGAZINE, TOYFARE, COMICS BUYER’S GUIDE and CREATIVE SCREENWRITING, Brick was then hired by Morgan Freeman and Revelations Entertainment in 2000 to write the screen adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama, with David Fincher attached to direct. In 2005, he collaborated with author Orsen Scott Card to adapt a collection of the author’s short stories for the stage in a production titled (and printed in hardcover as) Posing as People.
Having just celebrated his 20th Audioversary, Brick’s venture into audiobooks is now considered legendary. To date he’s won over 60 Earphones Awards for his narrating skills, as well as five Audie Awards, five SOVAS Awards for voiceover, and a Grammy nomination for the multi-cast recording of The Mark of Zorro (2011). After recording 250 titles in his first five years, AUDIOFILE MAGAZINE named Brick āone of the fastest-rising stars in the audiobook galaxy,ā and proclaimed him a Golden Voice, but it was the WALL STREET JOURNAL that sealed the moniker with a front-page article in November, 2004. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY then honored Brick as Narrator of the Year in both 2007 and 2011. That honor was followed up with another feature in the WSJ in 2019 and a recent appearance on the CBS Sunday Morning news show. And the ultimate distinction – being inducted into the Audible Narrator’s Hall of Fame in 2018. Having now recorded over 900 audiobooks, Brick has no intention of slowing down. He obviously won’t be happy until he’s recorded every book ever published.
Born to make a killer first impression, Brick’s newly completed debut novel, INSIGHT, is bound to leave people gasping for more from this innovative writer who is finally telling his own story. No news on who will narrate the audiobook.
About Gregg Hurwitz
GREGG HURWITZ is the New York Times #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty thrillers including OUT OF THE DARK (January 2019). His novels have won numerous literary awards and have been published in thirty languages. Additionally, he’s written screenplays and television scripts for many of the major studios and networks. Gregg lives with his two Rhodesian ridgebacks in Los Angeles, where he continues to play soccer, frequently injuring himself.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
This sounds like such an exciting story! I love when the characters are just as strong as the plot.
yes great character development, exciting well paced plot, and good world building make a great story. And here an amazing narrator.
I canāt wait to catch up in this series. Great review, Anneš
Thank you Jonetta. Every book I worry. Every book is amazing.
I’m starting this one today, but love seeing your 5 stars. I’ll come back!
I love these. I’m always so worried for Evan so they are suspenseful for me.
This looks very interesting. I like the premise for sure. I’ll have to check out the beginning of the series.
These are action packed, fun and an interesting look at moral code and culture. I really enjoy them.
Mmmmmmm this sounds like fun
These are fun and action packed.