Scarecrow / Shane Schofield Books in Order
Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield isn't your typical Marine. He's the soldier other special forces operators tell stories about, the one who survives missions that exist only in classified files marked "impossible."
From the frozen wastes of Antarctica to the most secret military installations in America, from Siberian gulags to French castles, Scarecrow faces threats that would break lesser soldiers before breakfast. This isn't military fiction that glorifies war; it's pure adrenaline injected directly into your brain. Matthew Reilly writes action sequences like Michael Bay directs movies, except with more explosions, higher stakes, and villains who make Bond antagonists look reasonable.
Each book raises the stakes beyond what seems possible, with countdown timers that never stop, betrayals you won't see coming, and a hero who earns his nickname by making Death itself nervous. If you've ever wanted to experience what it feels like to fall out of a plane while fighting assassins, disarm a nuclear weapon with seconds to spare, or face down an army with just your wits and whatever weapons you can find, Scarecrow is your guide to the impossible.
Ice Station
Antarctica holds secrets buried beneath miles of ice, and when Wilkes Ice Station discovers what might be an alien spacecraft, the distress call they send triggers a response no one expected. Lieutenant Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield and his team of Recon Marines arrive thinking they're on a rescue mission, but they're actually walking into an international battleground where every major military power wants what's hidden in the ice. French paratroopers descend from the sky, British SAS emerges from hiding, and a killer stalks the corridors of the station itself. In temperatures that kill in minutes, Scarecrow must defend a handful of scientists against elite special forces while uncovering a conspiracy that goes deeper than the ice itself. This is Matthew Reilly's calling card to the thriller world: a book where killer whales become weapons, hovercraft chase scenes happen inside underground ice caverns, and the action literally never stops from the first page to the last. Ice Station doesn't just introduce Scarecrow; it announces that action thrillers will never be the same again.
Published: 2011
Area 7
The President of the United States visits America's most secret military base, a place so classified it doesn't exist on any map. But Air Force One has barely touched down when the base's commanding officer initiates a coup that transforms Area 7 into a death trap. A transmitter attached to the President's heart means that if he dies, so do millions of Americans when hidden plasma bombs detonate in major cities. Captain Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield has one job: keep the President's heart beating while navigating a facility where every floor holds a new nightmare. Genetically modified prisoners with executioner's strength, elite military units hunting them through corridors, and a massive underground complex filled with creatures that used to be human. The entire book takes place over just a few hours, but Reilly packs in more action than most series manage in multiple volumes. Featuring armored personnel carriers in elevator shafts, a guillotine that factors into the climax, and revelations about American history that rewrite everything you thought you knew, Area 7 proves that Reilly's debut was no fluke.
Published: 2010
Scarecrow
A bounty hunt like no other begins when the world's richest men place prices on the heads of the best military operators on Earth. Fifteen names, fifteen targets, and Scarecrow's name sits at the very top with the highest price. But this isn't about money; it's about starting World War III, and the hunters include every mercenary, assassin, and special forces unit that can be bought. From a Siberian missile base to a Soviet submarine base in the Arctic, from the highways of France to the mountains of Afghanistan, Scarecrow runs a gauntlet that would be a suicide mission if he stopped to think about the odds. The hunters include the world's best snipers, a sadistic British aristocrat who collects heads, and an army of mercenaries equipped with everything money can buy. This third entry goes darker and more personal than before, testing Scarecrow not just physically but emotionally in ways that change him forever. With action sequences that include falling out of planes in Ferrari cars and using missiles as transportation, Scarecrow delivers emotional gut punches between explosions and proves that Reilly can make readers cry as easily as he can make their hearts race.
Published: 2004
Hell Island
When a Marine special operations team goes silent at a classified Pacific island facility, Scarecrow gets called in for what should be a routine investigation. But nothing about Hell Island is routine. In less than a hundred pages, Reilly delivers a concentrated dose of his signature mayhem as Scarecrow discovers the island's terrible secret: a biological weapons program that's gone catastrophically wrong. The facility's security system has turned the island into a death trap, the research subjects have broken free, and something is hunting everyone through the corridors. This novella works as both a perfect introduction to Scarecrow for new readers and a welcome return for fans, proving that Reilly can deliver his trademark intensity even in a shorter format. Featuring genetically modified super-soldiers, security systems that turn weapons against their users, and a countdown that gives Scarecrow less than an hour to prevent a biological catastrophe, Hell Island distills everything that makes the series great into one explosive package.
Published: 2007
Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves
The world has exactly four hours to live. A rogue military force calling itself the Army of Thieves has seized Dragon Island in the Arctic Circle, home to a Soviet doomsday device that can ignite the atmosphere and end all life on Earth. Every major military force is too far away to respond in time, except for one man who happens to be at a nearby research station. Scarecrow must assemble a team from whoever's available (including civilians who've never held a gun) and assault a fortress defended by an army of Russian mercenaries, French Foreign Legion deserters, and anarchist terrorists who want to watch the world burn. The island itself is a nightmare of Soviet-era weapons testing, including experimental devices that turn the environment into a weapon. With vehicles that include a massive Soviet hovertank, action sequences involving acid rain and tesla coils, and a villain who makes previous antagonists look stable, this fourth full novel shows that Reilly can still innovate within his formula while delivering the intensity fans expect.
Published: 2012
Scarecrow Returns
Years after seemingly retiring from the field, Scarecrow gets pulled back into action when a new global threat emerges that only he can stop. The world has changed, technology has evolved, and the threats have become more sophisticated, but some problems still require Scarecrow's unique approach: maximum force applied with surgical precision. This latest entry proves that neither Reilly nor Scarecrow have lost a step, updating the formula for modern readers while maintaining the breakneck pace and creative action that defined the series. Old allies return, new enemies emerge, and Scarecrow faces challenges that test whether his particular set of skills still work in an age of cyber warfare and drone strikes. For fans who've waited years for Scarecrow's return, this book delivers everything they've been hoping for while introducing the character to a new generation of readers who want their action turned up to eleven.
Published: 2012
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 →]