Matthew John Reilly is an internationally bestselling Australian action thriller writer, born on 2 July 1974 in Sydney. Not initially a fan of reading, Reilly discovered his passion for literature after diving into classics like To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies. This newfound love for stories propelled him to write his first novel, Contest, at the age of 19 while studying law at university.

After facing numerous rejections from major publishers, Reilly took the bold step of self-publishing Contest in 1996. His efforts paid off when a commissioning editor from Pan Macmillan Australia discovered his work, leading to a significant publishing deal. Reilly's second novel, Ice Station, was released in 1998 and became an instant hit, marking the beginning of his successful writing career.

Matthew Reilly's works are renowned for their explosive action sequences, inspired by Hollywood films. His notable titles include Ice Station, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves (Australia's best-selling fiction in 2011), and the Jack West series, which was optioned for a TV series by ABC US Studios.

Beyond writing, Reilly is an avid collector of movie memorabilia, owning a DeLorean DMC-12 and a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles and enjoys playing golf in his spare time.