Gregg Hurwitz delivers another high octane installment in a series that has never been short on action, and Last Man Standing is no exception. Once Evan Smoak is in motion, the brakes are off. What makes this one particularly compelling, however, is how much everyone is evolving. Evan, Joey, Mia, Luke, and even Aragon continue to develop, while familiar characters from previous books return and reinforce the connections Evan has built along the way. He remains a man of his word, even when keeping it means navigating complicated alliances, including one with Naomi Templeton. The dialogue is sharp, the character dynamics are exceptionally well developed, and the familiarity of this cast makes each new installment feel like a welcome return rather than simply another mission.
Hurwitz also takes a decidedly unsettling turn into technology, artificial intelligence, and the machinery of manipulation. As much as society may resist where technology is headed, the speed of its advancement makes this increasingly difficult to dismiss as fiction. The introduction of Screwtape is particularly brilliant. Readers familiar with C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters will recognize a connection that lands with considerable force. Lewis explored the manipulation of human weakness through temptation, deception, and the gradual surrender of judgment. Hurwitz brings that concept into a chilling modern landscape where vulnerability becomes a calculated resource and control is achieved through fear, dependency, and psychological manipulation. The threat isn't simply a power hungry enemy with dangerous technology. It is a world in which people can be manipulated into surrendering their autonomy without ever recognizing who is holding the reins. Evan may have an opportunity to take down an enemy breathing at the gates, but the implications can reach considerably further than one mission.
Beneath the relentless action are some compelling questions about loyalty, sacrifice, identity, and the cost of choosing a different future. How much is Evan willing to put himself through? Where is Joey headed, and what does her future look like? What possibilities are unfolding in Evan’s relationship with Mia? Hurwitz leaves room for these characters to grow without losing the momentum that is what makes this series so addictive. Last Man Standing is a reminder that the greatest strength of Orphan X isn't simply the man who can survive just about anything. It's the people, promises, and connections that give him something worth fighting for.
Follow Teresa on Twitter or Instagram or contact her via the site.
Purchase Last Man Standing
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)
Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen
