📖 Overview
Alex Scarrow is a British author primarily known for his young adult science fiction and thriller novels. His most successful work is the TimeRiders series, which follows three teenagers recruited to prevent time travel disasters.
Before becoming a writer, Scarrow worked as a rock guitarist and graphic artist, later transitioning to video game design where he worked on several successful titles. He began his writing career with adult thriller novels including A Thousand Suns and Last Light before finding his niche in young adult fiction.
The TimeRiders series, published between 2010 and 2014, spans nine books and has been translated into multiple languages. Scarrow has also written other young adult series including Ellie Quin and Remade, as well as standalone thrillers like October Skies.
His work frequently explores themes of time travel, dystopian futures, and survival scenarios, drawing on his background in technology and gaming to create detailed, scientifically-informed narratives.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently highlight Scarrow's fast-paced plotting and ability to blend historical events with fiction. The TimeRiders series receives strong engagement from both teen and adult readers, with fans noting the detailed research and complex time travel mechanics.
What readers liked:
- Clear, accessible writing style for young readers
- Historical accuracy and attention to detail
- Complex characters that develop across series
- Creative plot twists and interconnected storylines
- Balance of action and character development
What readers disliked:
- Some find later TimeRiders books repetitive
- Adult thrillers considered less polished than YA works
- Occasional complaints about abrupt endings
- Technical details sometimes slow the pacing
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: TimeRiders series averages 4.2/5 from 30,000+ ratings
Amazon UK: 4.5/5 average across all works
Amazon US: 4.3/5 average
From reader reviews:
"The historical research shines through without becoming lecture-like" - Goodreads
"Complex enough for adults but accessible to younger readers" - Amazon reviewer
"Sometimes gets bogged down in explaining the science" - Goodreads
📚 Books by Alex Scarrow
TimeRiders (Book 1)
Three teenagers are recruited by a mysterious agency to prevent time travel disasters, monitoring historical alterations from their secret base in New York City.
TimeRiders: Day of the Predator (Book 2) The team travels to the Cretaceous period to rescue a group of students while facing deadly prehistoric predators.
TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code (Book 3) The TimeRiders investigate a computer program that appears to predict future events, leading them into a medieval quest.
TimeRiders: The Eternal War (Book 4) An altered American Civil War timeline creates a devastating eternal conflict that the team must resolve.
TimeRiders: Gates of Rome (Book 5) The team travels to Ancient Rome to prevent an artificial intelligence from changing the course of history.
TimeRiders: City of Shadows (Book 6) A mission to 1888 London connects Jack the Ripper's murders to a larger historical conspiracy.
TimeRiders: The Pirate Kings (Book 7) The team faces Caribbean pirates while investigating temporal anomalies in the 17th century.
TimeRiders: The Mayan Prophecy (Book 8) Ancient Mayan predictions lead the TimeRiders to uncover disturbing truths about their own origins.
TimeRiders: The Infinity Cage (Book 9) The final installment reveals the true purpose of the TimeRiders program and the fate of history itself.
A Thousand Suns A thriller following a historian who discovers evidence that could rewrite the history of World War II.
Last Light An oil crisis thriller depicting the collapse of society when the world's oil supplies are suddenly cut off.
October Skies A modern investigation into a historical mystery involving a 19th-century wagon train disaster.
TimeRiders: Day of the Predator (Book 2) The team travels to the Cretaceous period to rescue a group of students while facing deadly prehistoric predators.
TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code (Book 3) The TimeRiders investigate a computer program that appears to predict future events, leading them into a medieval quest.
TimeRiders: The Eternal War (Book 4) An altered American Civil War timeline creates a devastating eternal conflict that the team must resolve.
TimeRiders: Gates of Rome (Book 5) The team travels to Ancient Rome to prevent an artificial intelligence from changing the course of history.
TimeRiders: City of Shadows (Book 6) A mission to 1888 London connects Jack the Ripper's murders to a larger historical conspiracy.
TimeRiders: The Pirate Kings (Book 7) The team faces Caribbean pirates while investigating temporal anomalies in the 17th century.
TimeRiders: The Mayan Prophecy (Book 8) Ancient Mayan predictions lead the TimeRiders to uncover disturbing truths about their own origins.
TimeRiders: The Infinity Cage (Book 9) The final installment reveals the true purpose of the TimeRiders program and the fate of history itself.
A Thousand Suns A thriller following a historian who discovers evidence that could rewrite the history of World War II.
Last Light An oil crisis thriller depicting the collapse of society when the world's oil supplies are suddenly cut off.
October Skies A modern investigation into a historical mystery involving a 19th-century wagon train disaster.
👥 Similar authors
Michael Grant writes the Gone series about teenagers dealing with a mysterious event that removes all adults, combining science fiction elements with survival scenarios. His work features similar themes of young people facing catastrophic changes and taking on leadership roles.
James Dashner created The Maze Runner series which follows teenagers trapped in a deadly experiment with advanced technology. His writing style focuses on fast-paced action and technological mysteries that appeal to TimeRiders readers.
Robert Muchamore authors the CHERUB series about young secret agents undertaking dangerous missions. His books share the focus on teenage protagonists handling adult responsibilities in high-stakes situations.
Anthony Horowitz writes the Alex Rider series about a teenage spy facing global threats. His work contains the same blend of action, technology, and young protagonists dealing with world-changing events.
Patrick Ness created the Chaos Walking trilogy about colonists on a distant planet where thoughts are audible. His work explores similar themes of survival, technology gone wrong, and young people confronting system-wide catastrophes.
James Dashner created The Maze Runner series which follows teenagers trapped in a deadly experiment with advanced technology. His writing style focuses on fast-paced action and technological mysteries that appeal to TimeRiders readers.
Robert Muchamore authors the CHERUB series about young secret agents undertaking dangerous missions. His books share the focus on teenage protagonists handling adult responsibilities in high-stakes situations.
Anthony Horowitz writes the Alex Rider series about a teenage spy facing global threats. His work contains the same blend of action, technology, and young protagonists dealing with world-changing events.
Patrick Ness created the Chaos Walking trilogy about colonists on a distant planet where thoughts are audible. His work explores similar themes of survival, technology gone wrong, and young people confronting system-wide catastrophes.