Orphan X Books in Order: Complete 2025 Guide

Few thriller series grab you by the collar quite like Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X. Evan Smoak—a former off-the-books government assassin known as Orphan X—has pulled in millions of readers since his debut in 2016. If you’re staring at a shelf (or a digital cart) wondering which book comes first, this guide lays out the complete publication order, clears up where the novellas fit, and flags what’s still up in the air about a possible screen adaptation.

“Publication order is the intended reading order for the Orphan X series.” — Goodreads

Main novels: 8 · Novellas: 2 · First book: 2016 · Latest book: 2024 · Author: Gregg Hurwitz · Protagonist: Evan Smoak (Orphan X)

Six key facts, one pattern: every novel builds on the last, so picking up the latest without reading earlier entries means missing the scars Evan Smoak carries. If you enjoy detailed series guides, you might also like our Heated Rivalry reading order guide and A Wrinkle in Time book guide.

The implication: reading in publication order is essential to fully appreciate the series.

In what order should I read Orphan X books?

Complete Orphan X publication order

• Orphan X (2016) – the opener that introduces Evan Smoak’s life as the Nowhere Man (Wikipedia encyclopedia)
• The Nowhere Man (2017) – a direct sequel that tests Evan’s isolation (Goodreads book page)
• Hellbent (2017) – third main novel (Goodreads book page)
• Buy a Bullet (2016, novella) – positioned as 1.5 (Goodreads book page)
• Out of the Dark (2019) – fourth novel (Goodreads book page)
• Into the Fire (2020) – fifth novel (Goodreads book page)
• The List (2020, novella) – 5.5 (Goodreads book page)
• Dark Horse (2022) – sixth novel (Goodreads book page)
• The Last Orphan (2023) – seventh novel (Goodreads book page)
• Prodigal Son (2024) – eighth novel (Goodreads book page)

Most reading guides recommend publication order as the best order for the Orphan X series because the books build on one another (T.L. Branson reading guide blog).

“The books are sequential with ongoing character arcs.” — T.L. Branson reading guide

Chronological vs publication order

There is no chronological divergence: the novels progress in real time. The novellas Buy a Bullet and The List flesh out backstory between main entries but don’t reorder timeline.

What this means: following publication order ensures you catch every emotional payoff.

How many Orphan X novels are there?

Orphan X series main books

As of 2025, there are eight main novels published by Minotaur Books (Fantastic Fiction series database):

• Orphan X (2016)
• The Nowhere Man (2017)
• Hellbent (2017)
• Out of the Dark (2019)
• Into the Fire (2020)
• Dark Horse (2022)
• The Last Orphan (2023)
• Prodigal Son (2024)

Future titles reportedly include Lone Wolf (2024), Nemesis (2025), and Antihero (2026) (BookSeriesInOrder series tracker).

Novellas and short stories

• Buy a Bullet (2016) – bridges Orphan X and The Nowhere Man (Goodreads book page)
• The Intern (2018) – often placed as 3.5 (Fantastic Fiction series database)
• The List (2020) – 5.5 (Goodreads book page)
• The Recital (2023) – 8.5 (Fantastic Fiction series database)

Some guide sites also list The Code (2025) as a forthcoming short story (Fantastic Fiction series database). The pattern: novellas add texture but aren’t required to follow the main plot.

Do you have to read Orphan X books in order?

Why reading order matters

Each novel carries forward Evan’s relationships, injuries, and operational secrets. Without Hellbent, you won’t fully grasp why he trusts a certain ally in Out of the Dark. The series rewards long-term memory.

As one reading guide notes, the books are sequential with ongoing character arcs (T.L. Branson reading guide blog).

Can you skip books?

You can read each novel as a standalone with minimal spoilers for the immediate plot, but you’ll lose the rich emotional context. The trade-off: jumping in mid-series costs you the earned stakes.

The catch: starting mid-series loses the accumulated emotional weight.

Is Orphan X going to be a movie?

Movie adaptation status

As of 2025, there is no confirmed film or television adaptation with a release date. Rights have been optioned, but no studio announcement has been made (Gregg Hurwitz official site).

Netflix TV series rumors

Rumors of a Netflix series surface periodically, but Hurwitz’s official site lists no deals. The series remains in “we’ll see” territory – unlike, say, the Jack Reacher books, Orphan X has not yet been greenlit.

The implication: readers hoping for a screen version should enjoy the books as the primary medium for now. Hollywood optioning is common; production is far from guaranteed.

What is Gregg Hurwitz’s most popular book?

Most popular Orphan X book

Orphan X is often cited as his most popular single novel, with high ratings on Goodreads and strong sales (Goodreads book page).

Other popular Hurwitz novels

Before Orphan X, Hurwitz wrote the Tim Rackley series and standalone thrillers like The Survivor. But his Orphan X series – especially Dark Horse and The Last Orphan – consistently ranks as his highest-rated work on reader platforms.

The pattern: Hurwitz’s fame is now welded to Evan Smoak. Readers coming from other thriller authors often start with Orphan X and stay for the long arc.

Orphan X book specifications

Eight main novels, one format: hardcover from Minotaur Books, followed by mass market paperback. Here’s the breakdown:

The pattern: all books are published by Minotaur Books in consistent formats.

How to read the Orphan X series in order (step-by-step)

1. Start with Orphan X. Meet Evan Smoak as he tries to leave the “Orphan” program behind.
2. Read Buy a Bullet (novella) after book 1 – it fills a gap in Evan’s first rescue mission.
3. Continue with The Nowhere Man and Hellbent. This two-book block expands the lore of the Nowhere Man project.
4. Insert The Intern (3.5) between Hellbent and Out of the Dark.
5. Read novels 4–6 sequentially (Out of the Dark, Into the Fire, Dark Horse) for the strongest arc.
6. Drop in The List (5.5) before moving to book 7.
7. Finish with The Last Orphan, The Recital (8.5), and Prodigal Son. You’re now caught up.

This route delivers the narrative as Hurwitz intended – each reference to past trauma lands because you were there.

Orphan X series timeline

• 2016: Orphan X published (Wikipedia publishing date)
• 2017: The Nowhere Man published (Goodreads book page)
• 2017: Hellbent published (Goodreads book page)
• 2018: The Intern (novella) published (Fantastic Fiction series database)
• 2019: Out of the Dark published (Goodreads book page)
• 2020: Into the Fire published (Goodreads book page)
• 2020: The List (novella) published (Goodreads book page)
• 2022: Dark Horse published (Goodreads book page)
• 2023: The Last Orphan published (Goodreads book page)
• 2023: The Recital (novella) published (Fantastic Fiction series database)
• 2024: Prodigal Son published (Goodreads book page)

The upshot: Hurwitz maintains a near-yearly release schedule, keeping fans engaged.

Clarity: what’s confirmed and what’s uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Eight main novels and two novellas exist as of 2025 (Fantastic Fiction series database)
• Publication order is the intended reading order (Goodreads reader community)
• Gregg Hurwitz is the sole author (Wikipedia encyclopedia)
• First novel published January 19, 2016 (Wikipedia publishing date)

What’s unclear

• Whether a movie or TV adaptation will ever be released (Gregg Hurwitz official site)
• If the series will continue beyond Prodigal Son
• Exact page counts vary by edition
• Future titles listed: Lone Wolf (2024), Nemesis (2025), Antihero (2026) — dates unconfirmed (BookSeriesInOrder series tracker)
• Some guide sites list Last Man Standing for 2027, but this remains unconfirmed (BookSeriesInOrder series tracker)

The catch: lower-confidence sources (T.L. Branson, BookSeriesInOrder) list future books with varying release years, so approach 2025–2027 titles as likely but not guaranteed.

Summary: For anyone picking up the Orphan X series in 2025, the path is clear: start with Orphan X and follow publication order, sliding in the novellas where they fit. The real reward isn’t just the action – it’s watching Evan Smoak wrestle with his conscience across a decade of storytelling. For newcomers, the choice is simple: start at the beginning, or risk missing the best parts.