Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves reunites readers with US marine captain Shane Schofield, call-sign ‘Scarecrow’. In his latest adventure, Schofield has been assigned to lead a weapons-testing team to the Arctic as his commanders are worried he may not be mentally fit for active duty. After weeks of isolation with just three other marines, four civilians and a robot for company, Schofield receives a call from the White House requesting his help. A mysterious group calling itself the Army of Thieves has taken over an abandoned Soviet base known as Dragon Island and is threatening to unleash a terrible weapon on the world in five hours. With no-one else close enough to get there in time, Schofield must lead his under-equipped team to the fortress-like base and dismantle the weapon before it’s used to destroy the world. The Army of Thieves are Matthew Reilly’s most cruel and violent villains yet, and some of the scenes may be unsuitable for younger readers. However, Reilly has also put more humour and character development into this book than any of his previous ones. Some of the scenes between Schofield and his loyal friend Mother are particularly touching, and long-time fans will enjoy learning more about both Schofield and Mother’s personal lives. Schofield’s ongoing grief, after losing someone close to him in Scarecrow, has also humanised an often superhero-like character.
Emily Smith is a Melbourne-based freelance reviewer.
| Tweet |
Tags: Army of Thieves, Emily Smith, Macmillan, Matthew Reilly, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, Schofield
