Jack West Jr. Books in Order
Jack West Jr. is the coolest dad in existence: a former Australian special forces soldier who speaks multiple ancient languages, can navigate thousand-year-old booby traps blindfolded, and raises his adopted daughter Lily between missions to save the world.
This isn't your grandfather's archaeological adventure; it's Indiana Jones injected with military precision and ramped up to impossible speeds. West leads a multinational team of soldiers and scholars through tombs that make Egyptian pyramids look like playground equipment, facing traps designed by civilizations that really, seriously, did not want visitors.
Each book builds on ancient mysteries that rewrite human history while racing against doomsday deadlines that affect all life on Earth. From the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to hidden cities that shouldn't exist, from underwater tombs to inverted mountains, West navigates puzzles that require both PhD-level historical knowledge and the ability to dodge poison darts while solving mathematical equations.
Matthew Reilly takes every conspiracy theory about ancient civilizations, asks "what if they're all true and connected," then adds explosions, multinational special forces teams as rivals, and ticking clocks that count down to the literal end of the world.
This series rewards careful readers with interconnected mysteries while delivering action sequences that make blockbuster movies look like they're trying too hard to be realistic.
Seven Ancient Wonders
The Golden Capstone of the Great Pyramid at Giza has been missing for millennia, its seven pieces hidden within the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Now, with the return of a solar event called the Tartarus Rotation that occurs every 4,500 years, whoever possesses the complete Capstone will gain absolute power over Earth, while everyone else faces a thousand years of darkness. Jack West Jr. leads a ragtag international team protecting and raising a special child named Lily while racing to find the Capstone pieces before the Americans and Europeans turn the ancient power into a modern weapon. But the Wonders aren't just tourist attractions; they're deadly labyrinths filled with traps that use physics, chemistry, and engineering principles modern science is only beginning to understand. From the Lighthouse at Alexandria to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, each Wonder holds secrets that kill the unworthy and test whether humanity deserves to survive. This first adventure introduces West's team of international misfits, establishes the rules of Reilly's ancient world where myth meets military hardware, and sets a pace that never lets up across 500 pages of hieroglyphs, headlong chases, and heroics that redefine what's possible in adventure fiction.
Published: 2007
The Six Sacred Stones
The Capstone was just the beginning. Now Jack West Jr. faces an even greater threat: the Dark Sun, a zero-point field that will fry Earth to a cinder unless six ancient pillars are placed at six specific vertices around the globe before the countdown ends. The pillars were hidden by an ancient civilization that left instructions scattered across cultures, from Stonehenge to Easter Island, from Abu Simbel to the Great Wall of China. But West isn't the only one who knows about the coming catastrophe; China has awakened to its ancient destiny, Japan's most feared ninja clan emerges from the shadows, and a brotherhood that has protected these secrets for millennia decides humanity might not be worth saving. Racing across the globe with Lily, now a teenager with abilities even she doesn't understand, West must decode mysteries that link every ancient culture while fighting forces that include everything from Chinese paratroopers to booby traps that weaponize gravity itself. This sequel expands the mythology while maintaining breakneck speed, introducing the concept that human history is one long preparation for cosmic trials we're only beginning to understand.
Published: 2010
The Five Greatest Warriors
The race to save Earth continues as Jack West Jr. seeks the remaining sacred stones while uncovering the identities of history's five greatest warriors, whose triumphs hold the keys to humanity's survival. Moses, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and two others whose identities will shake the foundations of history all faced the same trials West now confronts, and their successes and failures mapped the path he must follow. But the challenges have escalated beyond ancient traps to include modern militaries, rival adventurers who play by deadlier rules, and revelations about his own past that connect him to this cosmic trial in ways he never imagined. From a deadly maze beneath the First Emperor's tomb in China to Easter Island's true purpose, from the ocean floor to hidden chambers in famous monuments, West pushes beyond physical limits to prove humanity deserves another chance. The third book deepens the mythology while delivering spectacular set pieces including underwater cities, aerial battles above ancient sites, and a climax that literally takes place at the bottom of the world where all maps end and mysteries begin.
Published: 2010
The Four Legendary Kingdoms
Jack West Jr. wakes up in an underground cell wearing archaic armor, forced to compete in the Great Games, a deadly contest held every few centuries where four legendary kingdoms send champions to fight for the right to continue existing. The kingdoms, hidden from the modern world but controlling it from the shadows, have decided that humanity might have outlived its usefulness, and only victory in the Games can prove otherwise. Paired with his oldest enemy in battles against minotaurs that aren't mythological, warriors enhanced beyond human limits, and challenges inspired by the labors of Hercules, West discovers these Games connect to every myth about heroes facing impossible odds. Meanwhile, his team races to find him while uncovering the true structure of world power: a secret society of royal bloodlines that have guided human development for one purpose, preparing for this moment when the universe itself judges whether Earth deserves to survive. This fourth entry revolutionizes the series by revealing that everything before was preparation, introducing mythology on a scale that makes previous books look like warm-ups, and featuring arena battles that would make gladiators run for cover.
Published: 2017
The Three Secret Cities
The Great Games were only the beginning of a larger trial, and now Jack West Jr. must find three secret cities built by an ancient civilization to serve as weapons, fortresses, and arks for knowledge too dangerous for normal human minds. The cities exist in places that challenge reality: one phases between dimensions, one exists underwater in defiance of physics, and one occupies space that maps say is empty. But the Knights of the Golden Eight, the secret rulers who lost power when West won the Games, want humanity to fail this test and have activated weapons hidden in monuments worldwide to ensure Earth's destruction. Racing against armies equipped with technology that blends ancient wisdom with modern warfare, West and his team must solve puzzles that require understanding how ancients built impossible structures while fighting running battles through locations tourists visit every day without knowing they're standing on doomsday devices. This fifth book expands the canvas beyond Earth while maintaining intimate character moments, proving that saving the world means nothing if you lose your humanity in the process.
Published: 2019
The Two Lost Mountains
Two mountains that exist outside normal space hold the keys to the final trial facing Earth, but finding them requires understanding why ancient cultures worldwide built pyramids, why certain locations generate unexplainable phenomena, and why human consciousness itself might be the ultimate ancient technology. Jack West Jr., now understanding his role as more than just an adventurer but as humanity's champion in a cosmic trial, must unite feuding nations, reconcile modern science with ancient wisdom, and face enemies that include his own doubts about whether humanity deserves salvation. The mountains aren't just locations but tests that judge whether humans can transcend their limitations, requiring West to solve puzzles that exist in multiple dimensions while fighting forces that want to ensure humanity fails. From the Bermuda Triangle's true purpose to the reason Antarctica is really frozen, from pyramid power that isn't pseudoscience to weapons that turn thought into reality, this penultimate book sets up the final confrontation while delivering action that includes battles in space, under the ocean, and in places where the laws of physics are more like suggestions.
Published: 2021
The One Impossible Labyrinth
Everything has led to this: one final labyrinth that will determine whether Earth continues to exist or joins the countless dead worlds that failed their trials. Jack West Jr. must navigate a maze that exists in multiple dimensions, where the minotaur isn't a monster but a judge, where every wrong turn doesn't just mean death but the retroactive erasure of human achievement. All the mysteries connect here: why humans evolved intelligence, why we build monuments that align with stars, why every culture has flood myths, and why the universe seems fine-tuned for life but makes that life struggle for survival. With his complete team assembled and enemies turned allies by the magnitude of the threat, West faces challenges that test not just his body and mind but his soul, requiring sacrifices that heroes shouldn't have to make but always do. This final book delivers on every promise, answers every question, and provides an ending that justifies the journey while setting up the possibility that every end is also a beginning. The One Impossible Labyrinth doesn't just conclude Jack West Jr.'s story but explains why humans tell stories at all: because we're the universe trying to understand itself, one adventure at a time.
Published: 2022
Matthew Reilly Books Reading Order
Complete Guide to High-Octane Adventure
Complete Guide to High-Octane Adventure
Last updated: August 2025
Matthew Reilly doesn't write books; he creates literary roller coasters that refuse to let you off. With multiple series featuring death-defying heroes, ancient mysteries, and action sequences that would make Hollywood jealous, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Here's your complete guide to reading one of thriller fiction's most adrenaline-pumping authors.
Quick Answer: Start Here
For first-time readers: Start with Ice Station (Scarecrow series) or Seven Ancient Wonders (Jack West Jr. series)
Recommended approach:
- Read each series in order, but series can be read independently
- Start with Scarecrow for military action or Jack West for archaeological adventure
- Save Contest (his first novel) for later despite being published first
Why this matters: While Reilly's series are mostly independent, there are subtle references between books, and his writing evolves significantly throughout his career.
The Matthew Reilly Universe Overview
Core Series:
Scarecrow Series (Military/Espionage Thrillers)
- Features Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield, Marine Recon specialist
- Pure military action, international conspiracies, impossible missions
- Most intense action sequences in Reilly's work
Jack West Jr. Series (Archaeological Action-Adventure)
- Features Jack West Jr., Australian special forces turned adventurer
- Ancient mysteries, booby traps, historical puzzles
- Indiana Jones meets Mission Impossible
Standalone Novels
- Self-contained stories showcasing different aspects of Reilly's style
- Range from alien gladiators to dragon parks
Complete Reading Order Options
Option 1: Series-Focused Order (Recommended)
Start with Scarecrow Series:
- Ice Station (1998)
- Area 7 (2001)
- Scarecrow (2003)
- Hell Island (2005) - novella
- Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves (2011)
- Scarecrow Returns (2023)
Then Jack West Jr. Series: 7. Seven Ancient Wonders (2005) 8. The Six Sacred Stones (2007) 9. The Five Greatest Warriors (2009) 10. The Four Legendary Kingdoms (2016) 11. The Three Secret Cities (2018) 12. The Two Lost Mountains (2020) 13. The One Impossible Labyrinth (2021)
Then Standalone Novels: 14. Temple (1999) 15. Contest (1996) 16. Hover Car Racer (2004) 17. The Tournament (2013) 18. The Great Zoo of China (2014) 19. The Secret Runners of New York (2019) 20. Interceptor (2024)
Optional: Troll Mountain Trilogy
- The Complete Trilogy (2014)
Option 2: Publication Order
- Contest (1996)
- Ice Station (1998)
- Temple (1999)
- Area 7 (2001)
- Scarecrow (2003)
- Hover Car Racer (2004)
- Hell Island (2005)
- Seven Ancient Wonders (2005)
- The Six Sacred Stones (2007)
- The Five Greatest Warriors (2009)
- Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves (2011)
- The Tournament (2013)
- The Great Zoo of China (2014)
- Troll Mountain (2014)
- The Four Legendary Kingdoms (2016)
- The Three Secret Cities (2018)
- The Secret Runners of New York (2019)
- The Two Lost Mountains (2020)
- The One Impossible Labyrinth (2021)
- Scarecrow Returns (2023)
- Interceptor (2024)
Option 3: Beginner-Friendly Order
Best Entry Points:
- Ice Station (most accessible, pure action)
- Seven Ancient Wonders (if you prefer puzzles to military action)
- The Great Zoo of China (standalone, shows modern Reilly style)
Then continue with:
- Complete the series you started
- Try the other main series
- Explore standalones based on your preferences
Detailed Series Breakdowns
Scarecrow Series
Ice Station - A distress signal from Antarctica's Wilkes Ice Station triggers a race between elite military forces to claim an alien spacecraft buried in the ice. Lieutenant Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield and his Marines must defend the station against French paratroopers, British SAS, and a killer in their own ranks. Features Reilly's signature countdown sequences, brutal action, and the killer whale scene that announces you're reading something special.
Area 7 - The President visits America's most secret military base, where a rogue general activates a device that will destroy major cities if the President's heart stops beating. Scarecrow must keep the President alive while navigating a facility filled with genetically modified prisoners, elite assassins, and a conspiracy that goes to the heart of American power. The action literally never stops.
Scarecrow - A bounty hunt listing targets the world's best warriors for death, with Scarecrow's name at the top of the list. Racing across the globe from Siberia to Afghanistan to France, Scarecrow uncovers a conspiracy by the world's richest men to start World War III. Features the most emotional moments in the series and action sequences that defy physics and logic in the best way.
Hell Island - This novella finds Scarecrow investigating a missing Marine unit at a secret island facility where something has gone catastrophically wrong. A perfect bite-sized introduction to Reilly's style, featuring genetically modified gorillas and non-stop action in under 100 pages.
Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves - A rogue army seizes control of Dragon Island in the Arctic, threatening to ignite the atmosphere and end all life on Earth. Scarecrow must assemble a team from whoever's available at a nearby research station to stop them. Features some of Reilly's most inventive action sequences and a literal ticking clock to doomsday.
Scarecrow Returns - Scarecrow emerges from retirement when a new global threat requires his unique skills. The latest entry proves Reilly hasn't lost a step, delivering modern action with classic Scarecrow intensity.
Jack West Jr. Series
Seven Ancient Wonders - When the ancient Wonders of the World hide pieces of a golden capstone that can give global dominance to whoever wields it, nations unleash their special forces to claim them. Jack West Jr. leads a multinational team raising a special child while racing through booby-trapped tombs. Indiana Jones meets international thriller with physics-defying ancient traps.
The Six Sacred Stones - The Dark Sun approaches, threatening to fry Earth unless Jack can place six ancient pillars at specific locations around the globe. From Easter Island to Abu Simbel, the team faces Chinese forces, Japanese ninjas, and traps designed by ancient civilizations who really didn't want visitors.
The Five Greatest Warriors - The quest to save Earth continues as Jack seeks the remaining pillars while uncovering the truth about history's five greatest warriors. Features spectacular set pieces including a battle at the bottom of the ocean and revelations that reframe human history.
The Four Legendary Kingdoms - Jack is kidnapped and forced to participate in the Great Games, a secret competition held every few centuries where champions fight to prevent the world's end. Ancient mythology meets modern military in Reilly's most ambitious blend of history and action.
The Three Secret Cities - The aftermath of the Great Games reveals three hidden cities that hold the keys to humanity's survival. Jack races to find them while facing the Knights of the Golden Eight, the world's secret rulers who've decided humanity has outlived its usefulness.
The Two Lost Mountains - Two mysterious mountains hold the secret to stopping the coming catastrophe, but they exist in places that shouldn't be possible. Features some of Reilly's most creative locations and mind-bending ancient technology.
The One Impossible Labyrinth - The culmination of Jack's journey leads to a final labyrinth that will determine Earth's fate. Reilly pulls out all stops for this epic conclusion that ties together every thread from the previous six books.
Standalone Novels
Contest - Reilly's first novel traps seven humans in the New York Public Library with alien contestants in an intergalactic death match. Raw and unpolished compared to later works but shows Reilly's core strengths: confined spaces, ticking clocks, and creative kills.
Temple - A professor translating an ancient manuscript discovers it contains the location of a legendary Incan idol made from a meteorite that could power a superweapon. Past and present storylines merge in jungle temples filled with caimans, panthers, and rival special forces teams.
Hover Car Racer - Young Jason Chaser enters the dangerous world of hover car racing in this YA novel. Part Top Gun, part Speed Racer, it's Reilly's most family-friendly book while maintaining his signature pace.
The Tournament - A massive departure: a historical mystery set in 1546 Constantinople where a young Princess Elizabeth investigates murders during a chess tournament. Shows Reilly can write character-driven mysteries while maintaining tension.
The Great Zoo of China - China unveils a zoo filled with living dragons, but the grand opening goes catastrophically wrong. Jurassic Park with dragons, featuring spectacular action sequences and surprising depth about Sino-American relations.
The Secret Runners of New York - When privileged Manhattan teens discover a portal to the future, they find New York destroyed. A YA thriller mixing time travel with social commentary and Reilly's trademark countdown to disaster.
Interceptor - Reilly's latest standalone featuring cyber warfare and high-tech military action, proving he can update his style for modern threats.
Reading Order Debates
Scarecrow vs Jack West: Which First?
Start with Scarecrow if you want:
- Pure military action
- Shorter series to complete
- More grounded (relatively) scenarios
- Emotional character moments
Start with Jack West if you want:
- Archaeological puzzles
- Ancient mysteries
- Longer epic storyline
- More fantastical elements
Should You Read Contest First?
No, unless you're a completist. While it's Reilly's first published novel:
- Writing style is less polished
- Can create wrong impression of his work
- Better appreciated after reading his refined style
- Many readers DNF and miss better books
Hell Island Placement
Two valid options:
- After Scarecrow (publication order)
- As entry point (short, representative)
- Can be skipped without missing plot
Common Questions
Are the series connected?
The series are independent, but Eagle-eyed readers will spot:
- Subtle references between books
- Shared technology/organizations
- Easter eggs for fans
- No required reading order between series
What about the Troll Mountain trilogy?
Reilly's only fantasy work, originally published as three short ebooks:
- Completely different genre
- Written for his daughter
- Can be read anytime or skipped
- Now available as complete trilogy
Are there different titles internationally?
Yes, particularly:
- "Seven Ancient Wonders" = "Seven Deadly Wonders" (US)
- "The Six Sacred Stones" = "The 6 Sacred Stones" (some editions)
- Check edition carefully when ordering
Which books are YA?
- Hover Car Racer (official YA)
- The Secret Runners of New York (YA)
- Troll Mountain (middle grade/YA)
- Others contain mature violence
Content Warnings
Violence Level
- Extremely high across all adult novels
- Creative deaths and torture scenes
- Military violence and gore
- Not for squeamish readers
Other Content
- Minimal sexual content
- Strong language varies by book
- Intense sustained tension
- Child endangerment (some books)
Matthew Reilly's Writing Style
What to Expect:
- Chapters rarely exceed 5 pages
- Multiple cliffhangers per chapter
- Real-time action sequences
- Italicized emphasis everywhere
- Technical diagrams and maps
- Countdown timers
- Creative "movie-like" sequences
Common Criticisms:
- Over-the-top action
- Thin characterization
- Implausible scenarios
- Excessive exclamation points!!!
Why Fans Love It:
- Pure entertainment
- Incredible pace
- Creative set pieces
- Unpredictable plots
- Genuine enthusiasm
Tips for New Readers
- Suspend disbelief completely - Physics, logic, and probability don't apply
- Read quickly - These books are meant to be devoured
- Don't start before bed - You won't stop at "one more chapter"
- Embrace the absurdity - The impossible scenarios are the point
- Pay attention to diagrams - They enhance action sequences
- Keep character lists - Especially for Jack West series
The Matthew Reilly Promise
Every Matthew Reilly book guarantees:
- You'll never be bored
- Heroes will face impossible odds
- Action sequences you've never imagined
- At least one "how will they survive this?" moment per chapter
- A reading experience unlike any other author
Whether you start with Scarecrow's military mayhem or Jack West's ancient adventures, you're in for a ride that doesn't stop until the last page.
Ready for your adrenaline rush? Start with Ice Station or Seven Ancient Wonders and cancel your plans.
[Ice Station →] [Seven Ancient Wonders →] [The Great Zoo of China →]