Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: The Secret Runners of New York

Top positive review

The Circle goes Hunger games sans Maze Runner

Reviewed in Australia on 2 April 2019

Reilly does something differant here with mixed results. In truth TSR is much more readable than Reilly's other work with a female lead that wholly focuses on ...Chess.

Reilly claims this is not a YA novel and yes as a 30 something I didn't mind it but I can't help feeling that a female voice would have bought something differant to the character of Skye. The book is violent almost too much for any YA and not because of the action. Reilly almost relishes the personalised torture of the characters in a way The Circle never did. Some squeamish second half details are visceral in their execution.

The "time travel" is functional logical and well established whilst not being overbearing.

I cringed as a male reading another male try and explain what a period was in any sort of seriousness but on the whole TSRoNY very almost becomes a great allogry of the Animal Farm that is the 1% being overthrown by the rest of society.

Only Matthew Riley could find the adventure in running back and forth through Central Park...

3 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Liam Frederick Ennis

Very readable time travel adventure!

Reviewed in Australia on 15 April 2019

I really enjoyed it. It's an easy, fast paced read, with some very good theories on time travel, mixed with the end of the world.

Written from the viewpoint of a 16 year old girl, from within a rich family, she has some social difficulties in her life and when she ends up at a new school, she finds a place in where she doesn't have to not disturb the social structures. It's then she gets introduced into a time travel world and things start to happen with her new friends. You learn more about the time travel idea and slowly find out the fate of humankind. It's thrilling and fast paced as always from Matthew Reilly.

Recommend it for a rainy day. Or sunny day for that matter.

LFE.

2 people found this helpful

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From Australia

Ian Crane

The Circle goes Hunger games sans Maze Runner

Reviewed in Australia on 2 April 2019

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3 people found this helpful

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SJJM

Great plot. Great story-telling. Great read. This is New York city with a twist.

Reviewed in Australia on 12 October 2019

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Even when I was only 23% into this book, I knew it was my favorite read so far this year. The Secret Runners of New York is unlike anything that Matthew Reilly has ever released before … and … he nailed it.

TSRofNY is an original story that explores wealth, privilege, cliques, and time-travel. It centers around an exclusive college in New York City that is only accessible to the extremely wealthy. Imagine Mean Girls on steroids in New York with a time travel twist.

The first half focuses on building characters, revealing the status levels of ‘rich’ society, and of the power plays that are in place. Where one stands in that society depends solely on dollars and parentage, and the status of those families. Skye Rogers is the main protagonist who has moved to the big apple from out of town. We follow her as she becomes integrated into the social machine of the uber-rich. New friends and new frenemies abound. Reilly captures the complexity of these relationships and shows how precarious they can be. Where a simple gesture can bring friendship and loyalty one day … and on another, brutal reality rears its head to show that ‘friendship’ has its limits.

As we meander through the pressures of Skye’s new NYC life, there is an obvious but understated (and important) plotline evolving before us. Mixed in with talk of a doomed future and entitlement of the elite, we learn of previous students who have mysteriously vanished. And given the lower social status of the missing, their disappearances remain unsolved and seemingly swept aside. But, of course, with something so sinister, you can be sure there’s more to these events than first meets the eye.

I’d rather not go into detail about New York’s bleak future or the time-travel aspect, as that’s all part of underlying thread that pulls things together. Let’s just say …. New York is more than New York, it exists in more ways than one. Twists are revealed that ultimately build to a terrifying and thrilling climax. This book will teach you to be careful of who you trust and to keep your enemies closer.

The Secret Runners of New York is a great new release from Matthew Reilly that’s different to anything he’s written before. Great plot. Great story-telling. Great read. This is New York city with a twist.

One person found this helpful

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Liam Frederick Ennis

Very readable time travel adventure!

Reviewed in Australia on 15 April 2019

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2 people found this helpful

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Not as action packed as usual, but still a good read

Reviewed in Australia on 5 May 2019

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4 Stars
My personal rating system

1 Star Couldn't finish the book
2 Stars Didn't really like the book, but was interested enough in the story to finish (Skipping great chunks)
3 Stars The book was okay, finished it and will consider reading more from the author
4 Stars Really enjoyed the book, will check out others by this author
4 1/2 Stars Loved the book, will immediately check out others by author, if asked will recommend book
5 Stars LOVED the book, will immediately check out all others by author, will pre-emptively recommend book to ALL my book friends

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be checking out the authors other books looking for more of the same.

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just_having_fun

Classic Matthew Reilly

Reviewed in Australia on 2 March 2020

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Really superb story lines that allows the imagination to flow. I’m in my 6th decade and found it very entertaining & am a massive MR fan. Great to see a fellow Aussie creating such success. Looking forward to reading about Skye in a sequel after perhaps finding some of those other coloured gems.

One person found this helpful

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tom

3 stars - interesting premise and a novel which improves

Reviewed in Australia on 21 May 2019

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An interesting premise. The start of the novel is poorly written, with the protagonist and school life written in a very unrealistic manner. However, once the actual ‘secret running’ commenced the action picks up and the plot improves significantly. Overall, it was only ok.

One person found this helpful

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jenny

Legend

Reviewed in Australia on 17 April 2019

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I consider Matthew Reilly to be almost as legendary as Stephen King.
As always I loved this story. The pace of the story is as usual for his works...superfast!
I highly recommend this for both young and old alike.

One person found this helpful

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Darryl

The Man is Talented

Reviewed in Australia on 22 June 2021

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Something quite different from his well known series of books, but still written to envelop you in the characters and their challenges. Excellent.

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Aleks Canard

A good time

Reviewed in Australia on 26 March 2019

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While I think that Reilly's early chapters focusing on wealthy high school drama could've benefitted from him binging Gossip Girl's first two seasons, the time travel portions are tense, and there are definitely unexpected twists. Much like The Tournament, this novel is a gripping departure from Reilly's regular heroes and is well worth the quick read.

One person found this helpful

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mezz

Compelling reading

Reviewed in Australia on 14 April 2019

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I have been following Matthew Reilly since 2005 and each book is powerful reading The Secret Runners does not disappoint. You become involved with every character. And the secret twist...... what would you do if you thought the world as you know it is about to end?????

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