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Quick answer: If you liked Matthew Reilly's Jack West Jr books, read Seven Deadly Wonders and Ice Station, then try Sahara, The Da Vinci Code, Map of Bones and Relic. All offer fast, over-the-top adventures with ancient mysteries and high-tech action.
Reilly's Jack West Jr series follows an Australian special forces hero racing to rebuild an ancient machine before the world ends. It is loud, fast and full of traps. The books below share that pace, from Reilly's own thrillers to similar adventure novels. All are adult thrillers, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Deadly Wonders | Matthew Reilly | Adult | the series starter |
| Ice Station | Matthew Reilly | Adult | more Reilly |
| Temple | Matthew Reilly | Adult | ancient puzzles |
| Scarecrow | Matthew Reilly | Adult | action heroes |
| Sahara | Clive Cussler | Adult | adventure heroes |
| Raise the Titanic! | Clive Cussler | Adult | big salvage plots |
| The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown | Adult | puzzle thrillers |
| Angels & Demons | Dan Brown | Adult | city chases |
| Deception Point | Dan Brown | Adult | science thrillers |
| Map of Bones | James Rollins | Adult | team thrillers |
| Relic | Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child | Adult | monster thrillers |
| The Templar Legacy | Steve Berry | Adult | historical mysteries |
| The Rosetta Key | William Dietrich | Adult | historical adventure |
| King Solomon's Mines | H. Rider Haggard | Adult | adventure roots |
| Treasure Island | Robert Louis Stevenson | Teen and adult | classic treasure hunts |
1. Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly
The first Jack West Jr book follows a race to find pieces of a pyramid-capstone. Non-stop action and clever puzzles.
Best for: the series starter.
2. Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
US Marines in Antarctica find a strange object under the ice. Reilly's breakout thriller, fast and loud.
Best for: more Reilly.
3. Temple by Matthew Reilly
A linguist races through Peru to find a lost artifact. Fast, with a twist.
Best for: ancient puzzles.
4. Scarecrow by Matthew Reilly
A Marine captain with a killer reputation hunts a villain. Brutal and quick.
Best for: action heroes.
5. Sahara by Clive Cussler
Dirk Pitt searches the Sahara for a secret. Classic adventure with gadgets and stunts.
Best for: adventure heroes.
6. Raise the Titanic! by Clive Cussler
A plot to salvage the ship for a hidden mineral. Fun and dated.
Best for: big salvage plots.
7. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
A symbologist races across Europe to solve a murder and a secret. Short chapters and cliffhangers.
Best for: puzzle thrillers.
8. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Robert Langdon hunts an ancient brotherhood in Rome. Fast and clever.
Best for: city chases.
9. Deception Point by Dan Brown
A scientist and a NASA analyst find a secret under the Arctic ice. Quick and tense.
Best for: science thrillers.
10. Map of Bones by James Rollins
The Sigma Force team hunts the remains of the Magi. Fast and full of science.
Best for: team thrillers.
11. Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
A monster stalks a New York museum. Tense and well plotted.
Best for: monster thrillers.
12. The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
A former agent hunts a Templar treasure in France. Historical and fast.
Best for: historical mysteries.
13. The Rosetta Key by William Dietrich
A French scientist and an American adventurer search for ancient secrets in Napoleon's Egypt. Swashbuckling.
Best for: historical adventure.
14. King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
Allan Quatermain leads an expedition for lost treasure in Africa. The classic adventure novel.
Best for: adventure roots.
15. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
A boy finds a pirate's map and sails for treasure. Fast and fun.
Best for: classic treasure hunts.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Jack West Jr: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Reilly, begin with Seven Deadly Wonders or Ice Station. For puzzles, Dan Brown. For team adventure, Map of Bones. For classics, King Solomon's Mines and Treasure Island. These books are made for fast, easy reading, so they suit travel and weekends. Action thrillers are meant to be read fast. Choose a weekend, keep your phone away and enjoy the ride. Many of these books also exist as audiobooks, perfect for long drives. If you like puzzles, keep a notebook and try to guess the next move.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jack West Jr series about?
West, an Australian soldier, leads a small team to find ancient pieces that must be assembled before a rare astronomical alignment.
How many Jack West Jr books are there?
The series begins with Seven Deadly Wonders and continues with The Six Sacred Stones and The Five Greatest Warriors, with later volumes.
Is it violent?
Yes. The action is intense and sometimes graphic.
Who is Matthew Reilly?
An Australian thriller writer known for fast action novels.
Where should I start?
Seven Deadly Wonders, the first Jack West Jr book, is the place to begin.
Is Jack West Jr a real person?
No. He is a fictional soldier and archaeologist who leads a team in the series.
Is Reilly similar to Dan Brown?
Both write fast thrillers, but Reilly is more about action and Brown is more about symbols.
Is the book science fiction?
It has fantastical elements, but it is mainly an adventure thriller.
What age is it for?
It is for older teens and adults.
Is Jack West Jr suitable for teens?
Mostly older teens, since the series contains graphic combat.
What should I read after Jack West Jr?
Ice Station and Scarecrow are strong follow-ups from Reilly himself.