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Matthew Reilly
Matthew Reilly
Matthew Reilly
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Matthew John Reilly (born 2 July 1974) is an internationally bestselling Australian action thriller writer.[1][2][3]

Key Information

Early years

[edit]

Reilly was born on 2 July 1974 in Sydney, Australia, the second son of Ray (an employee at the Department of Corrective Services) and Denise, a mathematics teacher.[4] He grew up with his brother Stephen in Willoughby, an affluent suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Reilly graduated from Sydney's St Aloysius' College[4][5][6] in Milsons Point, in 1992.[7] He then studied Law at the University of New South Wales[4][8] between 1993 and 1997, graduating 31st out of 250 students.[9] While at university, he was also a contributor to the student law society publication Poetic Justice.[10]

Career

[edit]

Reilly wrote his first book, Contest, at the age of 19, and self-published it in 1996.[1] It was rejected by every major publisher in Australia, leading him to self-publish 1,000 copies using a bank loan. He was discovered when Cate Paterson, a commissioning editor from Pan Macmillan, found a self-published copy of Contest in a bookstore.[6] Pan Macmillan signed Reilly to a two-book deal. He wrote his second book, Ice Station, while studying at the University of New South Wales.[11] It was quickly picked up by publishers in the US, UK and Germany. He has since sold over 8 million copies of his books worldwide, in over 20 languages.[12][13][14][15] Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves was the biggest-selling fiction title in Australia in 2011.[16] Three more of Reilly's books have been the biggest-selling Australian titles of their years of release: Seven Ancient Wonders (2005), The Five Greatest Warriors (2009) and The Tournament (2013).[17] A Sydney Morning Herald reviewer praised Reilly's writing for its bold action, but they criticised it for straining credulity and "frequent lapses in logic."[18]

In 2007, Reilly wrote a half-hour television script titled Literary Superstars. The script was picked up by Darren Star (Sex and the City) and bought by Sony Pictures for the ABC Network. Jenna Elfman signed on to play the lead role. The pilot episode was at the casting stage when the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike began, paralyzing Hollywood. The pilot was placed on indefinite hiatus before ultimately being dropped by the ABC.[19]

In 2015, Reilly, in association with Benjamin Maio Mackay's Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage, premiered an audio drama adaptation of Reilly's best-selling novel Ice Station. This was the first adaptation of his works outside of a literary format. Matthew Reilly’s Ice Station Live was performed in the Adelaide Fringe 2016 and piloted the first three episodes of a proposed full audio drama. As of January 2021, no further updates on the project have been announced.[20][21]

In 2017, he began to write a story that could be filmed on a moderate budget of around $15 million. This became the screenplay for Interceptor, whereby a female US Army captain at a US missile interceptor facility has to stop sixteen nuclear missiles aimed at sixteen American cities. The film uses one large set. Reilly collaborated with screenwriter Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean, Collateral) whose efforts included partially rewriting but also introducing Reilly’s work to several producers and other film people in Los Angeles. This led, eventually, to Netflix funding the film with Reilly as first-time director, with filming being done in Sydney in early 2021 featuring Elsa Pataky in the lead role, with Australian Luke Bracey playing the villain; Pataky’s husband, actor Chris Hemsworth, is one of the movie's executive producers. The film was released in mid-2022 on Netflix.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2004, Reilly married Natalie Freer. Freer attended a nearby high school, Loreto Kirribilli, and also went to the University of New South Wales, where she studied Psychology. Reilly credits Freer with encouraging him to self-publish his first book. In early December 2011, while Reilly was in South Australia on a book tour promoting Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, Natalie, who had suffered from anorexia and depression, died by suicide.[6] Reilly subsequently cancelled his remaining book tours and announced on Facebook his intention to take a break from online communications.[23]

"My life pretty much fell apart; she was my everything. We did everything together; we’d done everything together for the previous 18 years. And suddenly I’d have days where I’d look at the clock and it’d be quarter past one in the afternoon, and I’d think: I’ve got ten hours ‘til I’m going to go to bed. I cried every day for six months. I howled in my car. I’d take the dog for the longest of walks that she’s ever had in her life." — Reilly on his wife Natalie's suicide.[24]

Reilly owns several movie prop reproductions such as a life-size statue of Han Solo frozen in carbonite from Star Wars, a golden idol from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and a DeLorean from Back to the Future.[1][6] A big fan of Hollywood blockbusters, Reilly hoped to one day direct a movie adapted from one of his own stories.[25] He would ultimately get to fulfil this mission when he co-wrote and directed Interceptor.

Reilly has been in a relationship with Kate Freeman, and in 2015 he moved with her to Los Angeles, California.[26][22] They married in April 2023.[27]

Bibliography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Matthew Reilly

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Matthew Reilly is an Australian author renowned for his fast-paced action thriller novels, including the Scarecrow series and the Seven Ancient Wonders series, with over eight million copies sold worldwide. Born in Sydney in 1974, he wrote his debut novel Contest at the age of 19 and self-published it in 1996 while studying law at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws in 1998. Reilly's breakthrough came with Ice Station in 1998, published after he secured a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan Australia in 1997, following the discovery of Contest in Sydney bookshops; the book became an instant bestseller and was acquired by major publishers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Reilly's writing style, characterized by high-stakes adventure, intricate plots, and cinematic action sequences, has earned him international acclaim as a New York Times bestselling author, with notable works such as —Australia's top-selling fiction title in 2011—and The Tournament. Several of his novels, including , Hover Car Racer, and the Jack West series, have been optioned for film and television by studios like , Paramount, , and , though none have been produced to date. Reilly made his feature film directorial debut with the 2022 Netflix thriller Interceptor, which he co-wrote and which is based on his of the same name. Now residing in , Reilly continues to write prolifically, blending his legal education's emphasis on with his passion for genre fiction inspired by childhood favorites like and .

Early life

Childhood and family

Matthew Reilly was born on 2 July 1974 in , . He grew up in the Sydney suburb of Willoughby alongside his older brother, Stephen. Reilly was the second son of Ray and Denise Reilly, who provided a stable, middle-class Australian household environment in the affluent north shore area. Although his family had no prominent literary background, the supportive home life in Willoughby—described by Reilly as idyllic—encouraged his early sense of adventure and creativity, including bike rides with his brother to nearby parks. From a young age, Reilly developed a strong interest in action-packed entertainment, particularly Hollywood films such as , Predator, Aliens, and , which captivated him and influenced his imaginative play and future storytelling style. By his early teens, these passions led him to aspire to direct action movies, further shaping his creative development before transitioning to formal education at St Aloysius’ College in Kirribilli.

Education

Reilly attended St Aloysius' College, a Jesuit in the Sydney suburb of Kirribilli, where he completed his Higher School Certificate and graduated in 1992. Following high school, Reilly enrolled in a double degree program in and at the in , commencing in 1993 and graduating in 1998 with a and a . During his studies, he balanced rigorous legal coursework with self-taught , drafting his debut novel at age 19 in his first year, inspired by he read during his daily bus commutes to campus. Supported by his family's encouragement of his early creative interests, Reilly ultimately chose to forgo a traditional legal career after graduation, opting instead to dedicate himself fully to professional authorship.

Career

Debut and early publications

Matthew Reilly began his writing career while studying law at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where the discipline of his legal education helped foster the perseverance required to complete his debut novel. At the age of 19, during his first year at university, he wrote Contest, a thriller centered on an underground tournament where seven contestants must fight to the death in an ancient library beneath New York City, with only one survivor allowed to leave. Facing repeated rejections from every major publisher in , Reilly, then 22 years old, decided to self-publish in 1996 through his own imprint, Karandon Entertainment. He personally financed the production of 1,000 copies, designing a professional-looking cover to mimic big-budget novels and distributing them to independent bookstores in . This bold move marked a significant early challenge in his career, as the initial lack of traditional publishing interest forced him to take full control of the book's launch while still completing his studies. The breakthrough came in January 1997 when Cate Paterson, a commissioning editor at Pan Macmillan Australia, discovered a copy of the self-published Contest in the Angus & Robertson bookstore on Pitt Street Mall in Sydney. Impressed by the manuscript, she offered Reilly a two-book publishing deal shortly thereafter, securing rights to Contest and an early draft of his next work. Pan Macmillan released the professionally edited version of Contest in 2000, establishing Reilly's entry into the thriller genre with its high-stakes, action-packed premise of a forced gladiatorial contest.

Major series and commercial success

Reilly launched his Shane Schofield series with the novel Ice Station in 1998, introducing a high-octane military thriller centered on a U.S. Marine captain facing international threats in Antarctica. The series continued with Area 7 in 2001, depicting a siege at a secure U.S. Air Force base, followed by Scarecrow in 2003, which escalated the action with global bounty hunters pursuing the protagonist. A significant installment, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, arrived in 2011, reuniting Schofield with allies against a rogue scientist's apocalyptic scheme and marking a return to the series after an eight-year gap. In 2005, Reilly introduced the Jack West Jr. series with Seven Ancient Wonders, a globe-spanning adventure involving a team of elite soldiers racing to secure ancient artifacts and prevent catastrophe. This was followed by The Six Sacred Stones in 2007, expanding the quest with mystical elements and betrayals, and The Five Greatest Warriors in 2009, which delved deeper into historical enigmas and personal stakes for the characters. The series evolved with The Four Legendary Kingdoms in 2016, introducing interdimensional trials; The Three Secret Cities in 2018, heightening the mythological intrigue; and The Two Lost Mountains in 2021, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation tying back to the original wonders. His most recent standalone novel, The Detective, was published in October 2025. Reilly's ascent to commercial prominence accelerated with these series, achieving over 8 million books sold worldwide across more than 20 languages. Standout titles like Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and Seven Ancient Wonders drove this success, with the former topping Australian sales charts in 2011 and the latter launching international publishing deals that solidified his global reach. Several of his works have secured film adaptation options, further amplifying his commercial impact.

Directing and media expansions

In 2022, Matthew Reilly made his directorial debut with Interceptor, an action thriller he co-wrote with and produced for . The film, starring as a U.S. Army captain defending a remote Australian facility from terrorists, was shot primarily on soundstages in to maintain a contained, high-stakes . With a budget of $15 million USD, Reilly deliberately designed the project as a low-cost entry into , drawing on his experience with fast-paced novels to create explosive set pieces within a single primary location. Interceptor premiered on in June 2022, achieving global viewership success and prompting Reilly to pen a sequel script. Reilly has actively pursued screenplay adaptations of his novels, navigating a protracted development landscape. His debut novel Contest (1996), a sci-fi thriller about a deadly interdimensional tournament, has been optioned multiple times since the early 2000s, with screenwriter Terrance Mulloy attached in 2015 to pen an adaptation. The original option expired, and as of 2025, Reilly has regained the rights and is seeking new opportunities for development. Similarly, Ice Station (1998), the first entry in his Shane Schofield series, was optioned by major studios including Warner Bros. and Fox in the early 2000s, but the deals repeatedly collapsed due to script revisions and budget disputes, stalling progress for over two decades. These efforts highlight Reilly's ongoing push to bring his action-oriented stories to screen, with potential Ice Station projects still under consideration by producers as of 2025. Expanding beyond film, Reilly ventured into graphic novels with the 2024 adaptation of his young adult novel Hover Car Racer (2005). Illustrated by John Hanna and published by Pan Macmillan on October 29, 2024, the 272-page reimagines the high-speed racing saga in a visually dynamic format, capturing the futuristic sport's adrenaline-fueled races and protagonist Alex Martin's underdog journey. This project marks Reilly's first major foray into , leveraging his established fanbase to introduce the series to new audiences through bold artwork and condensed storytelling. In interviews, Reilly has candidly discussed the frustrations of Hollywood's adaptation process, citing it as a key motivator for his directorial pivot. He has optioned at least eight of his stories—including Ice Station, The Tournament, and Hover Car Racer—to studios like Disney and Sony since the early 2000s, only to see them languish or fail due to the industry's risk-averse nature and lengthy timelines. "Hollywood is a brutal business," Reilly stated in 2022, emphasizing how even his global book sales of nearly nine million copies did not guarantee greenlights, prompting him to self-finance elements of Interceptor to retain creative control. These experiences underscore Reilly's determination to oversee media expansions personally, blending his writing expertise with hands-on production to overcome systemic barriers.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Reilly married Natalie Freer, whom he met while they were students in , in 2004. Freer, who had been his partner since their late teens, supported his early writing career by reading drafts of his manuscripts and encouraging his efforts. Natalie Freer battled severe depression and anorexia for years, and in early December 2011, while Reilly was away on a book tour in , she died by at age 36 in a Hunter Valley . The tragedy left Reilly devastated, leading to a period of intense grief during which he struggled to write and considered abandoning his career; his 2011 novel Scarecrow and the Army of inadvertently echoed elements of her suffering. Over time, her loss profoundly shaped his perspective on life and work, with Reilly dedicating several subsequent s to her memory as a way to honor her enduring influence. Following his recovery, Reilly entered a relationship with Kate Freeman, whom he met through mutual friends in 2013; the couple bonded over shared interests like . They relocated to in 2015, a move that marked a new chapter for Reilly amid his expanding career in film and television. Reilly and Freeman married in April 2023.

Interests and residences

In 2015, Reilly relocated from , , to , , seeking expanded career opportunities in Hollywood, including potential film adaptations of his novels. This move allowed him to immerse himself in the entertainment industry while continuing his writing career. Reilly maintains a strong enthusiasm for automobiles, particularly classic and iconic models, and owns a DeLorean DMC-12, the vehicle famously featured in the film trilogy. He has described his collection as a personal passion that reflects his appreciation for cinematic history. Beyond cars, Reilly enjoys as a recreational hobby, often playing on courses in , where he has become a member of a celebrity-frequented club. He also collects memorabilia, prominently displaying a life-sized statue of frozen in carbonite in his home office, underscoring his fandom for Star Wars. These interests provide a balance to his professional life, shared occasionally with his family in their residence.

Bibliography

Standalone novels

Matthew Reilly's standalone novels represent a diverse range of high-stakes thrillers outside his recurring series, often blending action, historical elements, and speculative premises with his signature fast-paced style. Published primarily by Pan Macmillan , these works showcase isolated narratives that explore unique concepts such as ancient contests, lost artifacts, and modern crises, without relying on ongoing characters. Contest (1999), Reilly's first professionally published novel by Pan Macmillan Australia, centers on Dr. Stephen Swain, a widowed father who, along with his young daughter, is thrust into a brutal, otherworldly gladiatorial held in the subterranean levels of the Library, where participants from various species compete for survival under ancient rules. The story highlights an underground tournament premise, drawing on themes of unexpected heroism in an alien-orchestrated event. Temple (1999), also from Pan Macmillan Australia, follows linguist William Race as he joins a U.S. expedition into the Peruvian Amazon to retrieve a legendary Incan idol made of a rare, extraterrestrial material, only to encounter deadly traps, rival forces, and horrors from depths. This adventure emphasizes a perilous quest for a hidden artifact tied to Incan mythology and modern geopolitical intrigue. The Great Zoo of China (2013), published by Pan Macmillan Australia, features American herpetologist CJ Cameron invited to preview China's secretive mega-zoo housing living dragons—prehistoric creatures long thought extinct—before a demonstration turns into a fight for survival against the beasts and their handlers. The novel delivers a dinosaur-themed thriller, exploring themes of scientific wonder and containment failure in a high-security facility. The Secret Runners of New York (2019), a young adult novel from Pan Macmillan , tracks teenager Skye Rogers as she navigates elite life amid whispers of an impending , discovering a hidden network used by the wealthy to escape the coming chaos. It incorporates social commentary on class divides in a fast-paced apocalyptic tale. Mr Einstein's Secretary (2023), published by Pan Macmillan , chronicles the life of Hanna Fischer, a brilliant young German-American woman who, after personal tragedy in post-World War I , becomes entangled in , serving as secretary to and other scientists while uncovering Nazi plots and atomic secrets across four decades. This delves into amid real-world scientific and political upheavals. The Detective (2025), published by Pan Macmillan Australia, introduces Asperger's-afflicted private investigator Peter J. Kelly, who takes on a baffling cold case involving the disappearances of women over 150 years in Melbourne, where every prior investigator has vanished, leading him into a web of historical murders and hidden societies. The narrative spotlights a neurodiverse detective solving interconnected mysteries with meticulous logic.

Shane Schofield series

The Shane Schofield series is a thriller franchise by Australian author Matthew Reilly, following the high-stakes missions of Captain Shane M. Schofield, whose "Scarecrow" derives from distinctive scars around his eyes sustained during intense combat. The series emphasizes fast-paced action, tactical combat, and themes of and within units, distinguishing it through its focus on realistic near-future scenarios involving U.S. Reconnaissance Marines. Debuting in 1998, the interconnected novels and have solidified Reilly's reputation for adrenaline-fueled storytelling, with the books collectively contributing to his worldwide sales exceeding 8 million copies across all works. The inaugural novel, (1998), introduces Schofield as a leading a Marine detachment to a remote outpost, Wilkes Ice Station, where scientists uncover an extraordinary ancient artifact buried in prehistoric ice, triggering a multinational by hostile forces seeking to claim it. Schofield's leadership is tested in brutal close-quarters battles, establishing his arc as a resourceful who prioritizes his team's amid treachery from supposed allies. In Area 7 (2001), now promoted to , Schofield's unit is deployed to a classified U.S. base in Utah's Area 7 when the President's is hijacked during a routine visit, unraveling a tied to a revolutionary aircraft technology and domestic threats. The narrative builds on Schofield's growing reputation, deepening team dynamics as loyal squad members, including the formidable "Mother" and tech expert "Book II," navigate escalating dangers and internal divisions. Scarecrow (2003) escalates the global scale, placing Schofield on an international hit list issued by a cabal of rogue intelligence agencies, forcing him into a 24-hour worldwide manhunt across continents to eliminate 15 high-value targets—including himself—before assassins close in. This installment highlights Schofield's physical and emotional scars from prior missions, reinforcing his unyielding determination and the series' motif of fractured alliances, as he relies on a patchwork team of survivors to outmaneuver elite killers. The Hell Island (2005) serves as a standalone interlude, depicting Schofield's elite Marine insertion team arriving at a fog-shrouded Pacific for a training exercise, only to confront a nightmarish outbreak that transforms the facility into a deadly trap. It underscores the series' exploration of horror-tinged military peril, with Schofield's quick thinking preserving core team bonds under extreme duress. The series culminated with Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves (also published as Scarecrow Returns in some markets; 2011), where Schofield leads a operation to a remote , thwarting a rogue scientist's plot to unleash a catastrophic plasma weapon capable of altering global weather patterns. This finale advances Schofield's arc toward veteran status, reflecting on past losses while showcasing enduring team loyalty against a fanatical enemy force, and ties together recurring elements like advanced weaponry and personal vendettas.

Jack West Jr. series

The Jack West Jr. series is a seven-novel adventure thriller sequence by Matthew Reilly, spanning publications from 2005 to 2021, that follows and ex-Australian SAS operative as he assembles and leads a rotating team of specialists, family members, and allies in global quests to decode ancient myths and secure artifacts averting cataclysmic events. Drawing heavily on historical wonders, legendary civilizations, and mythological motifs from Greek, Egyptian, Aztec, and other traditions, the series features elaborate traps, rival factions, and high-octane action sequences, with each installment ending on a that propels the overarching narrative of humanity's hidden . The ensemble cast evolves through losses, additions, and shifting loyalties, including key figures like Jack's partner Zoe, daughter Lily, and comrades such as the warrior Pooh Bear, emphasizing themes of sacrifice and unbreakable bonds amid escalating stakes. The opening book, (2005), initiates the saga as Jack coordinates an unlikely alliance of nations to gather the seven dispersed pieces of the Golden Capstone—a pyramid topper—from iconic ancient sites like the and the Lighthouse of , all to invoke a protective spell against the Rotation, a rare that could extinguish life on every 4,500 years. The plot unfolds as a breakneck race involving booby-trapped mausoleums, underwater chases, and betrayals by competing powers, establishing the series' blend of factual with fictional perils rooted in Herodotus's accounts of the Seven Wonders. The Six Sacred Stones (2007) picks up immediately after, with Jack's battered team pursuing six legendary pillars—artifacts from diverse cultures including Japanese and Incan—to reassemble a cosmic machine that counters the Rotation's aftereffects, journeying from the statues of to the temples of while fending off a shadowy cabal. This volume deepens the mythological framework by incorporating celestial alignments and , while highlighting the team's diverse expertise, from cryptographers to pilots, in navigating ritualistic challenges. In (2009), presumed deceased following a plunge into an abyss, Jack resurfaces to hunt the sarcophagi of five mythical warriors—from to —buried in remote locales like the Amazon and the , essential for fully arming the machine against an impending . The narrative intensifies interpersonal drama through team fractures and revelations about an elite bloodline tied to ancient guardians, culminating in explosive confrontations that test the survivors' resolve. The Four Legendary Kingdoms (2016) marks the series' return after a hiatus, thrusting Jack, his young son, and remnants of his crew into a subterranean coliseum for the , a millennial tournament decreed by where champions from four mythic underworld realms—, , and others—vie in Minotaur-haunted labyrinths and gladiatorial trials to claim dominion over Earth's secret overlords. Infused with Homeric epics and lost lore, the book explores Jack's paternal instincts amid visceral combats and political intrigue among immortal-like judges. The Three Secret Cities (2018) escalates the underworld arc as Jack infiltrates three fabled metropolises—drawing from Amazonian, African, and Himalayan legends—to trigger a forbidden mechanism that could either stabilize or doom the world, battling cultists and automated defenses in environments echoing Dante's Inferno. The evolving cast grapples with moral dilemmas and profound losses, amplifying the series' motif of personal cost in unraveling divine conspiracies. The Two Lost Mountains (2020) propels the team into a frantic bid to locate two concealed iron peaks among five ancient sentinels, performing a sacrificial rite to neutralize the Omega Frequency—a universe-rending pulse—while rescuing Lily from captors and outmaneuvering accelerated rivals in terrains inspired by Tibetan and Native American lore. The penultimate entry heightens urgency with time-locked prophecies and fractured alliances, underscoring the mythological theme of cosmic balance. The finale, The One Impossible Labyrinth (2021), delivers Jack to the ultimate maze—a multidimensional construct fusing all prior myths—for a showdown against converging foes and collapsing realities to avert , resolving the bloodline's role in an eternal guardian cycle. This capstone weaves the series' tapestry of wonders and warriors into a of traps and revelations, providing closure to the ensemble's odyssey. Several volumes in the series, including The Four Legendary Kingdoms and The Three Secret Cities, have appeared on the bestseller list, reflecting its widespread appeal in the action-adventure genre.

Hover Car Racer series

The Hover Car Racer series is a by Matthew Reilly, focusing on the high-stakes world of racing in a near-future setting. The story centers on 14-year-old Australian prodigy Jason Chaser, who enrolls in the prestigious International Race School to compete against elite young pilots from around the globe, piloting advanced hover cars capable of speeds up to 810 km/h. Through intense races involving urban pursuits, obstacle courses, and sabotage attempts by rivals, Jason navigates challenges like storms and mechanical failures while relying on his team, including his younger brother the Bug and mechanic Sally McSorley, to secure a professional racing contract. Originally serialized as a free online fortnightly release in eight parts starting April 4, 2004, via www.HOVERCARRACER.com, the narrative was compiled into a single novel published by Pan Macmillan in late 2004. The series is structured as three illustrated novellas—Crash Course (2005), Full Throttle (2006), and Photo Finish (2007)—designed for younger readers, emphasizing themes of fierce competition, technological innovation in sports, and perseverance under pressure. These novellas were released individually by Aladdin (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) in the United States and later packaged as a boxed set, allowing readers to follow Jason's progression from novice qualifier to championship contender. This YA series represents a departure from Reilly's typical adult thrillers, adopting a lighter, more accessible tone with vivid illustrations by Pablo Raimondi to engage teenage audiences in the adrenaline-fueled spectacle of futuristic motorsport. The complete story was reissued in various formats.

The Tournament

The Tournament is a 2013 standalone historical thriller novel by Australian author Matthew Reilly, marking a significant departure from his typical contemporary action-adventure stories set in modern times. The narrative is set in 1546 during the height of the Ottoman Empire, centering on a fictional grand chess tournament in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) organized by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to foster diplomacy with European powers. Delegations from across Europe arrive for the event, blending high-stakes intellectual competition with underlying intrigue, as the tournament becomes a cover for spies, assassins, and political machinations amid the era's religious and imperial tensions. At the heart of the story is the English delegation, led by the scholar and tutor , who accompanies the brilliant 13-year-old Elizabeth Tudor—later Queen Elizabeth I—on behalf of King . , a reimagined as a detective-like protagonist, investigates a shocking that disrupts the tournament, uncovering layers of deception involving royalty, clergy, and artists such as . The novel weaves with pulse-pounding action and mystery, featuring vivid depictions of 16th-century court life, philosophical debates on power and morality, and intense sequences of peril that echo Reilly's signature style while immersing readers in the opulent yet treacherous world of the and eras. Reilly dedicated The Tournament to his late wife, Natalie, who died by in 2011; the book was a "secret " he completed before her death but initially hesitated to publish, viewing it as a personal tribute amid his grief. First published in by Pan Macmillan on 23 October 2013, it quickly became one of the country's top-selling titles that year, with 114,400 copies sold domestically. The received critical acclaim for its bold shift, praised for transforming a chess competition into a thrilling while humanizing historical icons like the young Elizabeth and , though some reviewers noted its lighter treatment of complex historical themes in favor of entertainment.

Short stories and novellas

Matthew Reilly has authored a number of short stories and novellas, primarily released as free digital downloads in PDF or e-book formats on his official website, often serving as bonuses or promotional exclusives tied to his larger works. These shorter pieces typically explore high-stakes action and adventure themes consistent with his novels, with some functioning as prequels or side stories to his series. Among his early short stories is The Mine (2000), a thriller involving an archaeologist trapped in a booby-trapped underground complex filled with mutant creatures and deadly mechanisms. A Bad Day at Fort Bragg (2001) depicts a chaotic military scenario where elite soldiers battle hijackers aboard a hijacked plane in the Afghan mountains. That same year, Altitude Rush (2001) follows a team of skydivers executing a high-adrenaline BASE jump that turns perilous amid urban chaos in New York City. The Rock Princess and the Thriller Writer (2002) blends humor and action in a metafictional tale where a rock star and an author team up against kidnappers. Time Tours (2005), presented as a bonus story, imagines a futuristic tourism venture through time that spirals into danger on 2006. Later releases include The Dead Prince (2007), a set on a remote where a uncovers dark secrets surrounding a deceased noble. Reilly's novellas often connect to his established series. Roger Ascham and the King’s Lost Girl (2013) serves as a prequel to The Tournament, featuring the unorthodox tutor Roger Ascham investigating a disappearance on behalf of King Henry VIII. Similarly, Jack West Jr and the Hero’s Helmet (2016) is a tie-in to the Jack West Jr. series, recounting a 1994 expedition by the protagonist and his mentor to unravel a mystery linked to an ancient artifact. These works are exclusively available via digital download on Reilly's website, emphasizing quick-paced narratives under 100 pages that expand on series lore without requiring prior reading.

Adaptations

Films and television

Matthew Reilly made his directorial debut with the 2022 action thriller Interceptor, which he co-wrote with and produced for . The film stars as Captain J.J. Collins, a U.S. Army officer who must defend a remote nuclear missile interceptor base in the against a coordinated terrorist attack led by a rogue captain played by . Released on June 3, 2022, Interceptor draws on Reilly's signature high-stakes action style, featuring intense shootouts and tactical combat within a confined setting, and was filmed primarily in , . Reilly's transition to screen projects began earlier with unsuccessful adaptation attempts for his novels in the 2000s. His 1998 debut novel , the first in the Shane Schofield series, was optioned by shortly after publication, leading to screenplay development, but the project stalled due to executive changes at the studio. As of November 2025, Reilly is actively pitching a of to studios. Similarly, efforts to adapt other works like Hover Car Racer at progressed through multiple drafts but ultimately did not advance to production. As of 2025, Reilly continues to develop film adaptations of his books while taking on directing and producing roles. In 2015, screenwriter Terrance Mulloy was attached to adapt the script for a film version of his 1996 novel Contest, with Greg McLean set to direct; however, the project has not advanced to production as of 2025. For the Jack West Jr. series, starting with Seven Ancient Wonders (2005), ABC Studios acquired the rights in 2011 for a potential big-budget TV series scripted by Michael Seitzman and Mark Gordon, focusing on global treasure hunts and ancient puzzles; however, as of 2025, it remains unproduced. Through these ventures, Reilly has emphasized his hands-on involvement as director and producer to preserve the fast-paced, cinematic elements of his storytelling.

Graphic novels and other media

In 2024, Matthew Reilly expanded his body of work into graphic novels with the release of Hover Car Racer: The Graphic Novel, an illustrated adaptation of his 2004 novel Hover Car Racer. The project transforms the high-speed racing adventure into a visual format, capturing the fast-paced action and futuristic elements of the original story through dynamic panel layouts and vibrant artwork. Illustrated by John Hanna, the graphic novel was published by Pan Macmillan on October 29, 2024, spanning 272 pages and aimed at both existing fans and new readers drawn to the medium's visual storytelling. This adaptation highlights Reilly's cinematic writing style, which lends itself well to graphic interpretation, emphasizing explosive sequences and character-driven tension in a structure. Originally conceived as a series set in a world of hover car races, the graphic novel reimagines protagonist Alexander "Ziggy" Payton's journey through the International Raceway Championship with enhanced visual impact, making the adrenaline-fueled more accessible to younger audiences. As of November 2025, this remains Reilly's sole venture into full-length graphic novels, though it underscores his ongoing exploration of extensions for his action-oriented narratives.

References

  1. https://matthewreilly.com/about/
  2. https://www.unsw.edu.au/law-justice/engage-with-us/alumni/alumni-spotlight/matthew-reilly
  3. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/authors/matthew-reilly/
  4. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/?authors=matthew-reilly
  5. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/matthew-reilly.html
  6. https://prabook.com/web/matthew.reilly/724460
  7. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-11/matthew-reillys-directing-dream-come-true-interceptor/100513242
  8. https://www.booktopia.com.au/blog/2011/09/15/matthew-reilly-author-of-scarecrow-and-the-army-of-thieves-answers-ten-terrifying-questions/
  9. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/bestselling-author-matthew-reilly-on-journey-to-success-and-from-heartbreak/news-story/849e830ddd8b48dc7eed317264680614
  10. https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/matthew-reilly-internationally-best-selling-author/
  11. https://www.amazon.com/Contest-Matthew-Reilly/dp/0732910323
  12. https://matthewreilly.com/the-novels/
  13. https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Matthew-Reilly/27976878
  14. https://variety.com/2022/film/columns/interceptor-netflix-matthew-reilly-elsa-pataky-netflix-1235290988/
  15. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/interceptor-matthew-reilly-stuart-beattie-elsa-pataky
  16. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/interceptor-cast-elsa-pataky-missile
  17. https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/matthew-reilly-got-sick-of-hollywood-not-making-his-movies-so-he-did-it-himself-20220602-p5aqhj.html
  18. https://variety.com/2015/film/news/terrance-mulloy-matthew-reilly-contest-1201597167/
  19. https://matthewreilly.com/resources/faqs/
  20. https://matthewreilly.fandom.com/wiki/Hover_Car_Racer:_The_Graphic_Novel
  21. https://dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/bestselling-author-matthew-reilly-on-journey-to-success-and-from-heartbreak/news-story/849e830ddd8b48dc7eed317264680614
  22. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/its-a-door-that-shes-gone-through-and-i-cant-follow/news-story/cbc39643cd01e18dbea9ae0b655c5191
  23. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-07/california-dreaming/13575654
  24. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/culture/action-man-matthew-reillys-next-chapter/news-story/459db0b6fbbcb6e6a114df68db13b4ba
  25. https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/22202l/iama_matthew_reilly_bestselling_author_of_the/
  26. https://www.mamamia.com.au/matthew-reilly-lessons-love-loss-embracing-life-youre-left-behind/
  27. https://matthewreilly.com/in-conversation/
  28. https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/matthew-reilly-my-readers-have-always-forced-me-to-be-better-20181009-p508n5.html
  29. https://www.drive.com.au/news/matthew-reilly-crime-author-talks-cars-20091211-knt9/
  30. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/01/matthew-reilly-thriller-writer-interview-australia-community-america-individual
  31. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/author/matthewreilly/
  32. https://www.amazon.com/Contest-Matt-Reilly/dp/0312286252
  33. https://www.amazon.com/Temple-Matthew-Reilly/dp/1250157935
  34. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Great-Zoo-of-China/Matthew-Reilly/9781476749570
  35. https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Runners-New-York/dp/1760559075
  36. https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Einsteins-Secretary-thriller-INTERCEPTOR/dp/1398721271
  37. https://www.amazon.com/Detective-Matthew-Reilly-ebook/dp/B0FFGKVFJ5
  38. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761260773/
  39. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781742611747/
  40. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781742611761/
  41. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781742612003/
  42. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Scarecrow-Returns/Matthew-Reilly/9781416577607
  43. https://www.simonandschuster.com/series/Jack-West-Jr
  44. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Seven-Deadly-Wonders/Matthew-Reilly/9781416505068
  45. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Six-Sacred-Stones/Matthew-Reilly/Jack-West-Jr/9781416505075
  46. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Five-Greatest-Warriors/Matthew-Reilly/9781416577584
  47. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Four-Legendary-Kingdoms/Matthew-Reilly/Jack-West-Jr/9781501167171
  48. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Three-Secret-Cities/Matthew-Reilly/9781501167195
  49. https://www.orderofbooks.com/characters/hover-car-racer/
  50. https://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/The_Tournament_by_Matthew_Reilly
  51. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Tournament/Matthew-Reilly/9781476749563
  52. https://archive.triblive.com/aande/books/review-matthew-reilly-writes-compelling-historical-novel-the-tournament/
  53. https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/australian-author-matthew-reilly-books-to-hit-stores-after-wifes-death-20131108-2x73y.html
  54. https://theconversation.com/improving-ones-plot-in-life-why-matthew-reillys-books-sell-22644
  55. https://tysonadams.com/2014/02/22/book-review-the-tournament-by-matthew-reilly/
  56. https://www.booknotification.com/authors/matthew-reilly/
  57. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14174940/
  58. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/interceptor-trailer-starring-elsa-pataky-and-luke-bracey
  59. https://if.com.au/its-a-minor-miracle-matthew-reilly-on-taking-the-reins-for-interceptor/
  60. https://deadline.com/2011/09/abc-buys-action-adventure-drama-from-michael-seitzman-and-mark-gordon-167584/
  61. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761268953/
  62. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hover-car-racer-matthew-reilly/1146129621
  63. https://www.target.com/p/hover-car-racer-the-graphic-novel-by-matthew-reilly-paperback/-/A-1005531562
  64. https://www.amazon.com/Comics-Graphic-Novels-Matthew-Reilly-Books/s?rh=n%253A4366%252Cp_27%253AMatthew%252BReilly
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