Scarecrow by Matthew Reily Book Review – Best Action Thriller
Grab a seat and get ready for the best action thriller you have probably ever read. Matthew Reilly has set a new pace for an action novel that leaves the reader breathless and makes other characters like Dirk Pitt, James Bond and Rambo look like amateurs. Below is my book review of Scarecrow by Matthew Reilly, but you may just want to get a copy now, because no review will ever compare to the thrill you’ll get reading this book!
Scarecrow is the code/nickname of Shane Schofield, an elite marine who has extremely quick relexes and a plethora of cool toys like the Maghook and the awesome shuriken!
Schofield is one of 15 targets on a hit list, each having a bounty of $18.6 million on their heads. A secret organization, known only as the Majestic-12, has a plan to create a new cold war and need to eliminate these 15 targets. These are some the finest warriors in the world, but in order for Majestic-12 to complete their plan, these targets must all be dead by 12 noon today.
These bounties bring out the elite bounty hunters in the world and they literally are dropping out the sky to nab their targets. From creating elaborate traps to kidnapping, they will do anything to get these targets. Schofield is now being chased around the world, from Russia to Afghanistan to France, by some of the fiercest bounty hunters on the planet – all trying to collect another head!
Schofield is befriended by one of the world’s best bounty hunter, The Black Knight, who is helping him to stay alive. The Black Knight is equal to the Scarecrow in his abilities, reflexes and fighting skills, which make them a formidable team. With the help of Gant, Mother, Book II, Rufus and some old friends, Schofield tries to unravel the reason behind the massive bounty hunt, who is behind it and more importantly how to stop it and survive past 12noon!
This book is relentless in the action and takes no prisoners. Many of the characters are killed off and you are never sure who will be next. Reilly pulls no punches – everyone is expendable in this novel. This is not one of those books that has a happily ever after ending… there are some surprises that will tear at the heartstrings of longtime fans.
The book is a little over 450 pages and I wanted to read it all in one sitting, because once I got started, it was just too hard to put down. Unfortunately that was not the case. The action is so intense it actually wears you out. I had to read it in 3 sittings, just to give myself time to absorb everything that was happening. I have now reread the book and found it just as much fun as the first time through.
One of the interesting parts of the book, was the interview with Matthew Reilly at the end of the book. Matthew tells why he wrote the book, some of the reasons for creating certain characters and more importantly why one of the spoilers was included. There is a major spoiler that many fans will probably not like, but it makes for a great scene in the book. I found this interview real insightful, especially since I hate most author interviews… they all seem so self-serving and contrite.
Tags: Action Thriller, Reflexes, Scarecrow