Matthew Reilly: Scarecrow Returns

I promise, a perfume review is coming soon. :)

But until then, another book I read that deserves I talk about it. Besides, I'm a Matthew Reilly fan for years now (albeit I almost stopped being that after he killed a certain character some time ago).
And this is the part where I need to say that I REALLY doubted him. I was so upset at a certain point in the book, and kept thinking that I am not reading another MR novel after this if keeps going like that, but luckily for me, I was wrong and I hope there will be more MR novels in the future because I really enjoy them.

I mean, you shouldn't expect a novel that will become a classic (although it might in the fast-paced action category if those will ever become classics) - it's like reading a Hollywood action movie of the James Bond/Mission Impossible/Die Hard variety.
It's fast, action-packed and mostly fun. Until you get to the conspiracy theory part where it's usually US conspiracy although not known by the top authority. It's also very believable (in the possibility of people like that existing and attempting to destroy certain countries) and quite likely unfortunately. Not in the whole action-packed, impossible to survive situations, but from the perspective that we have no idea what is actually happening at top levels in our world.

Ok, enough with the conspiracy theories. :)
It's an easy read and if you enjoyed the previous Scarecrow novels, you're bound to enjoy this one.
And now that I've read it, I'm ready for the next Jack West installment (even though Scarecrow and Jack Reilly bear many similarities, not that I really mind). :)

Matthew Reilly: The 5 Greatest Warriors

Well, it's not like I have much new to say. :) It's Matthew Reilly through and through. We start where we left off in The Six Sacred Stones. Of course that Jack West managed to get himself out of the cliffhanger situation from the end of the last novel. Was there ever any doubt? ;)

I'm lucky though that I read the previous book just a while ago because there was a 2-year pause between them.

Like I said the last time, Mr. Reilly's books are the ones that make me stop reading anything else that I might be reading at the time. Besides, you go through them really fast since the pace of the book is fast and you just have to go through it fast because you can't stop.

It was a bit of a shock for me reading through the part where it is described what some of the evil guys in this book do to their enemies (btw, not all the enemies are bad guys which makes it even worse). I sincerely hope that is not possible and never happens to anyone for real.

If you read the previous 2 books, you can probably guess the relation between the title and the story.

There's not much I can say without getting too much into the story, all the characters are back along with some new, some of them get seriously hurt or killed and of course it ends with our group of heroes saving the world. 

What I found fascinating was some interesting insights into the Catholic church and its doctrine or the origins of the faith) - I will give it more time and look for some other books on the subject.

Pic by: www.matthewreilly.com

Matthew Reilly: The Six Sacred Stones

This is the second book in the Jack West Jr. series (James Bond go hide somewhere and never come back). :)

Intelligence, physique, morals, and a lot of luck - Jack West has it all (ok, he's missing a part of his arm, but he's got an artificial one that works better for him than a real one would).

Anyway, in this book we are again following the characters we got to know so well in the previous Jack West book, where they saved the world. Now they have to do it again because that was just the beginning (and you cannot start reading from here, you have to start at the beginning).

The pace of the book is typical Matthew Reilly, fast and furious and unstoppable. I forgot to say this in my last review but the pictures of the places they visit really come in handy (and not just that, they are actually necessary for better understanding who is going where and doing what).

I still wish though that at the end of the book there would be some information on what in the book are actual facts. Because I am sure there are many that would surprise the reader. But ok.

I know people who are absolutely unable to read fiction. I know, what is wrong with them?! :)

I was reading today a really good post from Desert Book Chick on How to write a killer book review and she talked about characters and characterisation so that got me thinking (and hence the fiction non-afficionados). I don't have a problem with characters in Mr. Reilly's work but I'm sure some people might. Especially since in this book we meet Jack's father and some other family members of other characters. Most of which all are not just bad but evil in the manner that they think their way of thinking and doing things is the best and only way. Which combined with non-existing morals leads to evil things. And some very troubled thoughts on my part as to what kind of people are leading this world (some good quotes on that appear in the book).

And I'm going to end on a note regarding my favourite books of all time (which might be Mr. Reilly's as well).

The main (good) group of characters uses code (of course) to contact each other when apart. And what books and characters they use? Those from The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Just that would be enough to make Matthew Reilly one of my favourite writers. The action plot helps too.

Matthew Reilly: Seven Ancient Wonders

I've been a Matthew Reilly fan since the first book of his I read (I no longer remember which one it was, but I bought everything else I could at the time). And now after some years have passed, I finally read another of his books and enjoyed it a lot.

But, you should bear in mind that Mr Reilly has a specific way of writing not everyone might enjoy. I once read somewhere that he tries to re-create the action movie atmosphere in his books, and honestly, I think he does a good job with that. Of course, ending sentences in the middle and making you read the following line with a bombastic statement helps. :)

I loved the way this book explored some ancient history mixed with myths and how Mr. Reilly used it to create his own story. I just wish he would follow the example of James Rollins and state at the end what parts of the story are actually based on true facts. That is always a fascinating reading and I'm sure the readers would be surprised by the stuff they read as true.

Anyway, the book offers a lot of action, a lot of lucky coincidences and just plain James Bond/Indiana Jones abilities in one person who for a change is Australian this time (MR is Australian as well). I am really glad to see his country put in a special place by this book and I loved the ending.

I also loved the mention of the Da Vince code - that book is just part of our culture now. :) I still can't understand what the fuss was about because nothing new was said in that book but I guess the public was unaware of many things before it (but that's a completely different topic).

In the end, even if you don't find Mr Reilly's type of writing something for you, all I can say is when I start his books, I cannot stop until they are done (even if I started reading something interesting before it - like I did with this one). Action packed - his novels really are.

Pic by: www.matthewreilly.com