The protagonist of ‘The Detective’ novel is a reflection of myself.

IBNA International Book News Agency – Elahe Shams: On Northcote Public Golf Course in Melbourne, Matthew Reilly walks calmly among the greens; a place that reminds him of his childhood and the first time he held a golf club with his brother in Sydney. He points to a boy hitting the ball with a bag bigger than himself and smiles: “That’s the half-swing you start with.” A simple, human moment, from a writer whose world is full of cinematic explosions and chases.

Reilly, a star of thriller novels, has written over twenty bestselling books and sold eight million copies of his works worldwide. In 2022, he ventured into cinema with the action film Interceptor, which topped Netflix charts in 93 countries in its first week of release. Now, after ten years of living in Los Angeles, he is a member of a golf club frequented by famous names, but his demeanor remains simple and humble; to the extent that he bends and changes his path to avoid disturbing other players.

He has returned to his home country to introduce his latest novel, The Detective. It tells the story of an introverted detective, different and on the autism spectrum, who confronts a bitter conspiracy among politicians and the wealthy in the American South. Speaking of an American novel in Australia has made him ponder the differences between the two worlds: “Australia and America share a language and companies, but they are intrinsically opposed; in Australia, the sense of community is important, whereas in America, the individual always comes first.”

Despite this, he fondly recalls his migration and experience of living across the ocean: “When you leave the nest, you grow.” This ambition was in him from the beginning; when his first novel was rejected by publishers, he self-published it and wrote his name boldly on the cover because “I wanted to be a bestselling author.” Shortly after, he was discovered by Pan Macmillan publishers, which also opened the path to cinema: “If I hadn’t gone to America and become friends with Stuart Beattie, Interceptor would never have been made.”

However, in The Detective, he is not so cautious. The novel presents a scathing portrayal of American politics and society, blurring the lines between reality and fiction by using real quotes—including a remark by Nikki Haley, who came second after Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries. In an era where political commentary can lead to social media storms and even physical threats, Reilly is fearless: “I’m not afraid. I’m aware, but this is the story I wanted to write. In America, race is a live issue every day. The echoes of the Civil War still resonate. If someone has a problem, perhaps they are standing on the wrong side of history.”

At the end of some editions, there is a Q&A section where Reilly writes that his protagonist, Sam Spademan, is more like himself than any other character—obsessive, highly meticulous about details, and prone to literal thinking, which often makes him miss jokes: “All of this suggests that I might also be somewhere on the spectrum myself.”

As we cross the course, he says that if he possesses such a trait, it’s not yet serious enough for him to seek a formal diagnosis; but among his friends and family members, there are those with similar characteristics, and his desire was to portray Spademan not merely as different, but as a complete human being with challenges and special talents.

As we pass through the shadows of eucalyptus trees, balls fly through the air, and he smiles, saying: “Writing for me is like this game; every stroke can open a new path.”