There was no situation that could not be made worse.
Gregg Hurwitz
Hellbent
Format:
Audiobook
Note: At the time of this review, the book is available to borrow via Kindle Unlimited.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Taken from a group home at age twelve, Evan Smoak was raised and trained as an off-the-books government assassin: Orphan X. After he broke with the Orphan Program, Evan disappeared and reinvented himself as the Nowhere Man, a man spoken about only in whispers and dedicated to helping the truly desperate.
But this time, the voice on the other end is Jack Johns, the man who raised and trained him, the only father Evan has ever known. Secret government forces are busy trying to scrub the remaining assets and traces of the Orphan Program and they have finally tracked down Jack. With little time remaining, Jack gives Evan his last assignment: find and protect his last protégé and recruit for the program.
But Evan isn’t the only one after this last Orphan – the new head of the Orphan Program, Van Sciver, is mustering all the assets at his disposal to take out both Evan (Orphan X) and the target he is trying to protect.
Point of view:
3rd person. Mostly from Evan’s perspective. There are some sections from other characters.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
This is book 3 in the Evan Smoak/Orphan X series. While there’s a whole story here – there’s some secondary storylines that I think are best enjoyed if you listen to Orphan X & The Nowhere Man first. As such this review may contain spoilers to those books.
I absolutely loved this book start to finish. Not only is there amazing action, suspense, and thriller aspects… but Evan finds himself teamed with a teenage girl who was rescued from the Orphan program. Their interactions were hilarious, heartbreaking, and charming. It’s somewhat cathartic for both of them and I adored that aspect. Not only that, but Joey is shrewd, capable (especially given her disrupted training), and shows no fear in her witty banter with Evan.
Van Sciver is after all former Orphans in an attempt to glean whatever information may lead him to Evan/X. These scenes are brutal and often chilling. Candy continues to be the operative I love to hate and she’s glorious in this book.
As with the previous books, there’s a lot of resolutions and just as many new mysteries to be solved. Not all threats were conquered and I’m anticipating Out of the Dark.
Narration:
My thoughts on Scott Brick are going to get repetitive as I make my way through the series. Even with an online thesaurus there’s only so many ways to say talented, perfect, enjoyable, and love him as Evan.
About the author:
You can connect with Gregg Hurwitz here:
About the narrator:
You can connect with Scott Brick here:
My Favorite Quotes
He should have stolen a better car. – Hellbent by @GreggHurwitz #Audiobook narrated by @ScottBrick #Thriller #Suspense #EvanSmoak #OrphanX
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There was no situation that could not be made worse. – Hellbent by @GreggHurwitz #Audiobook narrated by @ScottBrick #Thriller #Suspense #EvanSmoak #OrphanX
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“Do I have anything stuck in my braces?” “Yeah,” Evan said. “Your teeth.” – Hellbent by @GreggHurwitz #Audiobook narrated by @ScottBrick #Thriller #Suspense #EvanSmoak #OrphanX
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“Do you follow the Commandments, son?” Evan nearly smiled. “Yes, Minister. Every last one.” – Hellbent by @GreggHurwitz #Audiobook narrated by @ScottBrick #Thriller #Suspense #EvanSmoak #OrphanX
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“Don’t hurt me ever,” she said. “Please.” “Okay.” He felt the word grind against the knife edge. – Hellbent by @GreggHurwitz #Audiobook narrated by @ScottBrick #Thriller #Suspense #EvanSmoak #OrphanX
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“I’m gonna require a crate of Red Bull and a Costco tub of Twizzlers.” “You’ll have what you need.” “And Zac Efron. I want Zac Efron.” – Hellbent by @GreggHurwitz #Audiobook narrated by @ScottBrick #Thriller #Suspense #EvanSmoak #OrphanX
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Rellim Reads 