Prodigal Son

The sixth installment of the “Orphan X” series (after Into the Fire) picks up with Evan Smoak finding normalcy now that he has retired from being an assassin and equalizer for victims of injustice. All is well, until his mother—whom he has never met or spoken to—calls to request he assist a man named Andrew Duran. The ensuing events lead Evan into battles with a murderous brother–sister team, and clashes with powerful individuals who are unafraid to leverage high-tech military weaponry to kill ordinary citizens. This book touches on many emotional themes, including the meaning of family, as Evan establishes a relationship with his estranged mother and realizes that Andrew is an old friend from the orphanage. Twists and turns reveal even more connections between characters. Although this is the sixth book in the series, Hurwitz does a good job orienting new listeners within Evan’s world. Fans of the series will appreciate how Evan’s backstory is woven into the plot, providing details about his childhood and his selection for the Orphan program. Scott Brick delivers an unsurprisingly great performance that conveys the deep emotions of this book and hits the pace perfectly, with a snappy delivery.