Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves won’t disappoint

At the back of Ice Station, Area 7 and Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves won’t disappoint. It is just a compelling read. You’re kept in suspense virtually from the first page. You will never guess how this particular adventure will unfold. I personally think this is Reilly’s best.

If you have read any of his books you will know exactly what kind of things to expect - Nasty villains, twists, turns and treachery, torture scenes and action, action, and action.

Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves is the latest adventure story beginning with US marine captain Shane Schofield (his call-sign Scarecrow) assigned to lead a weapons testing team to the Arctic because 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.

The first problem

The main reason Schofield is out in the wilderness is because he has made a lot of enemies over the course of his adventures, and the French especially have put quite a hefty price on his head.

The second problem

It appears the world is being held to ransom by a group which has taken control of a secret Russian weapons facility in the Arctic, supposedly shut down following the end of the Cold war. This group claims that it has the means to set the atmosphere alight, with a fire that will destroy most of the world as we know it. Initial attempts by the Russian government to eliminate this threat meet with disaster.

The third problem

Schofield’s team isn’t a strike force; just a handful of Marines and civilians. It's not equipped to attack a fortified island held by a vicious army. But Scarecrow will lead the team in anyway, because someone has to. Oh, and the French still want his head.