Scarecrow FROM THE PUBLISHER
"There are fifteen targets, the finest warriors in the world - commandos, spies, terrorists. And they must all be dead by twelve noon, today. The price on their heads: almost $20 million each." "Among the names on the target list, one stands out. An enigmatic Marine named Shane Schofield, call-sign: Scarecrow." "Schofield is plunged into a headlong race around the world, pursued by a fearsome collection of international bounty hunters - including the "Black Knight," a notoriously ruthless hunter who seems intent on eliminating only Schofield." "The race is on and the pace is frantic as Schofield fights for survival, in the process unveiling a vast international conspiracy and the terrible reason why he cannot, under any circumstances, be allowed to live!" He led his men into hell in Ice Station. He protected the President against all odds in Area 7. This time it's different. Because this time Scarecrow is the target.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
The seemingly indestructible Marine captain Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield returns in this high-octane adventure from Reilly (Area 7, etc.). This time out, Schofield finds himself, along with 14 other members of the world's most elite military units, being hunted by a seemingly endless army of bounty hunters. The prize for the hunters is $18.6 million per head, and all 15 heads must be taken within six days. The search for the person behind this bounty hunt takes Schofield and his loyal band of marines around the world and in and out of one life-threatening situation after another. Reilly knows exactly what kind of book he's writing. His heroes are brave and self-sacrificing, his villains are bloodthirsty and ruthless, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Narrator Sowers is in perfect synch with Reilly's storytelling. Obviously enjoying himself, he knows just what words to punch in order to get the most out of each action-packed sentence, and he supports his Clint Eastwood-like delivery of Schofield's dialogue by giving each of the numerous secondary characters their own distinct voices and accents. Those who like their adventures fast and furious will not be disappointed by this energetic production. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's/Dunne hardcover (Forecasts, Jan. 26). (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Reilly's latest slam-bang actioner delivers more thrills than most other adventure novels. Shane Schofield, a.k.a. Scarecrow and the hero of Ice Station and Area 7, finds himself on a hit list of 12 men, all members of elite military units from around the globe. A bounty of $18.6 million a head spurs the hopes of professional assassins. There's only one catch-the men on the list must be dead by noon on October 26th, Eastern Standard Time. The novel starts three hours before the deadline and is essentially one long action scene-a bold experiment. Plot points and exposition occur even as Scarecrow fights for his life, creating a tale that never lets the hero, or the reader, take a breath. Overall, this is an over-the-top roller-coaster ride that would make a pulse-pounding movie if you had a budget of $6 billion. For all fiction collections.-Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
AudioFile
Shane Schofield, also known as "Scarecrow," is an elite warrior whose head is worth $20 million. Schofield, along with his military team, seeks to uncover a secret society and its plot to drive the world into anarchy. Scott Sowers's narration keeps up with the frenetic pace as international bounty hunters seek to keep Schofield from succeeding in his mission. While each scene is more unbelievable than the last, Sowers keeps every detail straight, driving the action relentlessly. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Third installment in the way, way over-the-top action adventures of US Marine Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield, and the best yet from this Australian author (Contest, 2003, etc.). Called Scarecrow because of his disfigured eyes, Schofield and a crack crew of Delta Force soldiers rush to a Siberian sub repair base that's been overrun by Islamic terrorists who have seized a cache of nuclear missiles. But instead of terrorists, Schofield finds a trap set by competing teams of international bounty hunters who've already killed two Delta Force soldiers on an $18.6 million-per-head kill list that also has Schofield's name on it. The list of 15 super-soldiers, spies, scientists and one terrorist was complied by Majestic 12, a secret council of supremely rich multinational military industrial complex tycoons who not only buy and sell governments but have been responsible for every late-20th-century conspiracy from the assassination of JFK to Clinton's impeachment trial-except for 9/11. Thus begins a serious of breathless, thoroughly contrived, but immensely entertaining action scenes in which Schofield, fellow soldiers Libby Gant, Book II, and Mother join with bounty hunter Aloysius Knight (being paid by an anonymous client to protect Schofield) and Knight's trusty pilot Rufus as they take on killer sharks, fancy sports cars, helicopters, jet aircraft, a supertanker, an entire aircraft carrier, X-15 rocket planes, and the combined air forces of five African nations to stop a plot to pit rival countries against each other and plunge the world into anarchy. The action is so accomplished that we don't care about cheesy Star Wars dialogue, as when Jay Killian, the Ralph Lauren-wearing head of amultinational arms-manufacturing company, mercilessly guillotines one of Schofield's buddies and Schofield vows to "kill them all." An endless stream of interchangeable bad guys wind up "deader than disco," and everyone agrees when the US President intones of Schofield that "the fate of the free world could be resting on that man's shoulders." Superb print version of a video game shoot-'em-up. Agent: Eugenie Furniss/William Morris UK
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