Action, drama and mystery — the Orphan X series has it all. I was hooked on the series from the first book, and my husband is now hooked on the series as well. first book, Orphans, introducing you to retired intelligence asset Evan Smoak. Evan has reinvented himself, using his skills and resources to help people in dangerous situations. He started the series alone, a man with almost no ability to connect, but through the series, people tend to connect with him. And, in book 5, Into the fireenter one Rhodesian Ridgeback named Dog for the series. That pretty much stamped my love for this series. Volume 8, the last orphan, will be released on February 14, 2023 (yay!).
Now, I had to wonder – a Rhodesian Ridgeback, which is a pretty specific breed, with pretty specific traits – how did it come to be in the book? Turns out best-selling author Gregg Hurwitz loves the breed because they’re part of his family. DOGSTER got a chance to chat with Gregg about his latest release and his puppies.
DOGSTER: Tell us a little bit about your dogs…
Gregg: We just lost our big boy, Cairo. He’s a 125-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback, the largest we’ve ever seen. Very gentle animal. You can lie on top of him like a mattress and take a nap. In the last year, he amputated three legs, lost a front leg to cancer. Very stoic, never complained. He is missed every day.
Zuma, our middle puppy, comes from a litter named after my Orphan X horror series. He is very mischievous and intelligent. Likes cuddling. If I’m at work and he wants my attention, he’ll climb into my lap. I work on a wheelchair and a standing desk with wheels; One time, I was on a Zoom conference and he put his front paws on my shoulders and I grabbed the desk and the whole work – author, dog, chair, table – rolled across the room and hit the wall. He weighed about 110 pounds, also wore a black mask, and was horribly handsome.
Nala, our puppy, is ridiculous. She sleeps on her back with her legs raised and her head against my neck and face. At 70 pounds, she’s what we call our “Miniature Ridgeback.” Love unreasonably.
DOGS: In the first book, Orphan X, when Evan’s neighbor Mia asked him what made him happy, he said, “Rhodesian Ridgebacks.” How are your protagonist Evan’s likes or dislikes influenced by you?
Gregg: Evan is a tougher, quieter version of me. He has a deep connection to the Ridgebacks. After being dragged out of a foster home at the age of 12 to train as an out-of-book assassin for the DoD, he was raised on the ranch of his manager, a former CIA agent named Jack Johns. Jack has a Ridgie named Strider, and Evan becomes very close to that dog.
Evan is a quiet, solitary operator, essentially designed to be a usable weapon. He has difficulty with personal relationships; I have noted several times that he does not understand the strange language of intimacy. But he found a strong connection with Strider (and eventually with Dog) because dogs represent unconditional love without judgment. A favorite dog joke? If you locked your spouse and dog in the trunk of your car for 24 hours and then opened it, who would be happy to see you?
DOGSTER: I’m happy to see Dog appear in Into the fire. Why introduce him to a dog fighting ring?
Gregg: Because I need a good excuse for Evan to kill a bunch of people, we will immediately forgive his murder. And the people who run dogfights fit the bill. In addition, Dog is also a wounded soldier like Evan. Evan was the youngest child in his foster home and had to build himself to get to where he is today: Orphan X. Dog, the dog was a decoy, injured and small, as Evan save him. They are very similar.
DOGSTER: Will Dog appear in the last orphan? What else can we expect from this latest Orphan X novel?
Gregg: Dog is now part of the core team, so he’ll definitely show up. The latest Orphan X novel sees Evan Smoak facing his most dangerous mission yet. While it’s a sequel to the series, it’s also a great starting point for new readers. The dog will be happy to greet anyone.
DOGSTER: You describe the Dog as very sweet, even though this is a breed bred for hunting and guarding. What is your experience with the Rhodesian Ridgeback and do you feel that writing about one in your series makes the Dog a kind of ambassador for people who know nothing about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?
Gregg: They are perfect animals. They are very sweet and loving. They are beautiful and dignified, always posing as if waiting for someone to paint their oil portrait. They are very playful and love to wrestle. They are serious hunting dogs. And if someone is threatening their owner, they are a dozen kinds of evil.
Cairo has a bark that can shake the walls of houses. He used to sit on my lap when I sat in the armchair, and he was so big that all four of his feet remained on the floor.
I hope I have communicated that to Dog and many readers decide to keep ridgebacks in their homes. They are a breed that cannot be improved.
DOGSTER: Did your dog keep you company while writing?
Gregg: They stay at my feet when I type or sleep in my office. I love having them around. Except when they wrestle, it’s like Jurassic Park in my office. Those unfamiliar with the breed thought they were trying to kill each other.
DOGSTER: Do your dogs show up with you, like when signing books?
Gregg: I wish. They are too big.
DOGSTER: Where can readers go to see more about you, your dogs, and your Dog?
Gregg: Readers can connect with me on Facebook @gregghurwitzreadersTwitter @GreggHurwitz and Instagram @gregghurwitzbooks and also subscribe to my newsletter at www.gregghurwitz.net. And I post a lot of dog pictures.
Watch the Orphan X series here:
