Orphan X 9
My version: Hardback
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House
First published: 2023
ISBN: 978-0-241-59840-5
Pages: 417
Bought
From the cover:
An assassin in free fall
Following a career in which he was always the most dangerous man in the room, ex-governmant assassin Evan Smoak is the last person his friends should ever have to worry about. But when Evan, formerly coade-named ‘Orphan X,’ drops out of sight they’re concerned. They are right to be. A personal crisis has left him on his knees.
A reclusive billionaire
If anyone remembered his first name they never cared to use it. But Allman’s lack of empathy hasn’t proven any barrier to building a tech empire whose tentacles reach into every aspect of people’s lives. And in the rush to praise his genius, no one’s asking what it could mean for humanity. Nor what Allman’s got coming next.
A killer at large. Someone is leaving a trail of dead in their wake. Apparently chosen at random, each death is dressed up as an accident or a suicide. The woman responsible is known only as The Wolf and looks to be every bit Evan’s equal. She now has him in her sights.
Evan is in danger of being outmatched. But with the fate of the world at stake, he must somehow prevail against the twin threat of two exceptional and ruthless foes. Or die trying.
So where was this Lone Wolf person before? Where did she spring from? Out of the blue? Did Evan know of her but just not say? The tech billionaire, did he just not come into Evan’s circle before?
What I’m saying is that, like the Bourne books, these things need to be played long. Seeds sprinkled about in previous novels, not just jump up fully formed in this book and be dealt with. And disposed of never to be heard from again. Like having to invent the wheel each time the book comes out. Wow! A tech billionaire with fingere/tentacles in every part of people’s lives! Where did he come from?! How did I not know of this before right now! How come the girl-genius never mentioned him? How come Evan didn’t know of him? James Bond films do it worse. Each is treated as a one-off with a new, Super Villan that you never heard of before, popping up each time. Fully formed, with a secret island hide-away, stocked with the latest armoury and hundreds of henchmen in matching uniforms. Unreal. Evan is pretty much in the ‘real’ world, so needs to be different.
Nevertheless…
Lone Wolf is actually a great addition to the Orphan X series, with Evan Smoak as intriguing as ever. There’s really nothing not to like, if you don’t pick the nits I have above. While the fast-paced action and suspenseful plot remain hallmarks of the series, this installment delves into a more technologically driven threat, offering a fresh perspective on the evolving landscape of espionage.
However, some readers may find the pacing uneven at times, with, as I tried to put it above, certain plot developments feeling rushed. Additionally, the romantic subplot, while well-intentioned, can occasionally detract from the main narrative. Despite these minor quibbles, Lone Wolf offers a satisfying reading experience for fans of the series and those who enjoy high-octane thrillers personality and more than a touch of heart to them.
Couldn't I Just Tell You 