Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz

This is the third novel I have read featuring Orphan X, Evan. He is quite the super hero with amazing combat skills. He, along several others, had been taken out orphanages as children and trained as assassins for a dark US government organization. But now something has gone terribly wrong. The orphans are being killed. Even Evan's beloved mentor is taken out. Will Orphan X survive the purge?

Evan's mentor had once said that the hard part was not being a killer but was remaining human. This novel explores the humanity of Orphan X. He had been a killing machine, doing the government's dirty work. His mentor's dying wish was to protect a recent recruit, a sixteen year old girl, Joey.

It was interesting to see the struggle Evan faced trying to be somewhat human toward the girl with comfort and assurance, yet remaining the top notch operative he is. She is a very interesting character, an amazing computer hacker with a huge chip on her shoulder.

There is a secondary plot to keep readers interested in all that is going on in Evan's life. When he left the orphan program and went underground, he decided to help people who were beyond help from normal resources. This time he helps a desperate father try to get his son out of a horrible gang.

I recommend this book to readers who love a larger than life hero who manages to get himself out of seemingly impossible situations. There is lots of computer talk, special weapons and moves I didn't even know the body could make. A warning to queasy readers, there is description of some pretty terrible torture.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifteen novels. He is a successful comic book writer, has written screenplays and written and produced television programs. He lives in Los Angeles.

Minotaur Books, 412 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.