Today we’re highlighting another thriller, Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz for Book Beginnings on Fridays.
Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. The premise to share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it.
Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X*
When I read Deborah at debbish dotcom blog had this on her list of seven favorite books from 2016, I remembered it was in my TBR pile. What a find!
Summary: Evan Smoak was recruited as a child and trained to become an assassin for a special top secret agency called the Orphan Program. Known as Orphan X, he did everything they asked until they ordered him to kill someone he knew. Going into hiding, he decides to use his unique skills to help those in need, especially those who need protection. Will his projects expose him to those who want to silence him? Will his past come back to haunt him?
Gregg Hurwitz discusses Orphan X in detail at the Poisoned Pen bookstore. As a treat, author Michael Koryta interviews him. If you have a few minutes, it’s worthwhile.
It turns out, the book is the first in a series featuring Evan Smoak.
First Sentence of the Prologue:
Evan’s twelve-year-old body is stiff in the cushy passenger seat of the black sedan as he is driven in silence.
Discussion:
The author chooses to introduce the main character in the first sentence. Because he’s a child, I assume this is backstory. What is up with the contrast between the stiff child and the soft luxury of the car? What about the silence? Is it threatening or is it peaceful?
What do you think?
