Matthew Reilly’s Area 7 is an adrenaline-fueled, high-octane thriller that picks up where his earlier novel Ice Station left off. This time, the indestructible Shane Schofield — code-named "Scarecrow" — returns for another explosive adventure, guarding the President of the United States during a seemingly routine base visit that quickly spirals into a deadly game of survival and betrayal.
The story is set in the top-secret military facility of Area 7 in the Utah desert, a subterranean complex packed with advanced technology and dark secrets. What begins as a security assignment for Schofield and his elite Marine recon team swiftly becomes a harrowing fight against rogue Air Force operatives led by the fanatical Colonel Caesar Russell. The President is taken hostage, a sinister biological threat is unleashed, and the fate of the country — possibly the world — hangs in the balance. True to Reilly’s signature style, the novel is packed with nonstop action, plot twists, and cliffhanger moments at nearly every chapter’s end.
Reilly excels at crafting cinematic set pieces, and Area 7 is no exception. From high-speed chases through underground tunnels to deadly encounters with bioengineered guard animals and automated defense systems, the novel rarely pauses for breath. His prose is lean and efficient, often reading like a screenplay, which suits the action-thriller genre perfectly. This is a book written for readers who crave spectacle, tension, and pace over introspection or subtlety.
Shane Schofield continues to be a compelling, if not overly complex, protagonist. He is courageous, tactical, and nearly superhuman in his ability to survive against impossible odds. Yet Reilly gives glimpses into his emotional core — particularly through his relationships with teammates like the fierce and loyal Gena "Mother" Newman. While character development is not Reilly’s strongest suit, the camaraderie between Schofield’s unit provides moments of heart amid the chaos.
The plot of Area 7 borders on the outrageous, involving government conspiracies, experimental viruses, and doomsday scenarios. While it occasionally stretches believability, Reilly’s firm command of pace and escalation keeps the reader invested. He doesn’t ask readers to dwell too much on plausibility; instead, he invites them to strap in and enjoy the ride. The novel also touches on themes of loyalty, patriotism, and the ethics of military power, though these are secondary to the thrill of the action.
Fans of authors like Tom Clancy, James Rollins, or Clive Cussler will likely find Area 7 a satisfying read. It’s a book that revels in its own excesses — machine guns blazing, countdown timers ticking, and heroes narrowly escaping fiery death again and again. It's pure entertainment: fast, flashy, and unapologetically over-the-top.
In sum, Area 7 is Matthew Reilly at his most unrestrained. It’s a wild ride that doesn’t aim for literary prestige but succeeds brilliantly as a blockbuster-style thriller. Readers looking for deep character study or poetic prose should look elsewhere. But for those in the mood for relentless action, Area 7 delivers in spades and offers them an unforgettable ride.