Step into the electrifying world of Will Slater, where heart-pounding action and moral grit collide in a whirlwind of international intrigue! Matt Rogers’ Will Slater series follows a former U.S. black ops operative turned vigilante, delivering relentless thrills across global hotspots. Perfect for fans of Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne, this series hooks you with its raw intensity and complex hero.
Slater, a man forged in the shadows of covert operations, roams from Yemen’s deserts to Russia’s icy streets, confronting villains who test his skills and conscience. With a knack for diving headfirst into danger, he’s the vigilante you’ll root for—flawed, fierce, and fiercely determined to right wrongs.
How Will Slater Began
Australian author Matt Rogers, a Melbourne native and avid reader of thrillers, crafted the Will Slater series after the success of his Jason King novels. Inspired by his love for high-stakes action and real-world issues like corruption and human trafficking, Rogers introduced Slater in 2017 as a darker, more introspective counterpart to King. His background as a runner and adrenaline junkie infuses the series with vivid, grounded fight scenes, making every punch feel real.
Rogers’ goal was to blur the lines between breakneck action and philosophical depth, drawing readers into a world where justice isn’t black-and-white. The series’ gritty realism and global settings reflect his meticulous research, including insights from autobiographies like Journey Through Hell for vivid prison scenes in related works.
The Heart of Will Slater
The Will Slater series kicks off with Wolf (2017), where Slater, battling PTSD and depression, stumbles into a bioweapons plot in Yemen. His one-man crusade against jihadis and corrupt generals sets the tone: expect non-stop action and moral stakes. Lion (2018) takes him to Macau’s glitzy casinos, where he rescues a nine-year-old girl from a human trafficking ring led by a billionaire. The stakes escalate in Bear (2018), pitting Slater against Russian mobsters, while Hawk (2019) wraps his solo arc with a showdown against a shadowy cabal.
Themes of redemption, justice, and the cost of violence weave through the series. Slater’s internal struggles—haunted by his past yet driven to protect the innocent—add depth to the gunfire and fisticuffs. Rogers’ prose is lean and cinematic, with settings like Macau’s neon jungles or Yemen’s rugged mountains immersing readers in a world of danger. Fans praise the tactical fight scenes, where Slater’s strategic brilliance shines against overwhelming odds.
While the series leans on high-octane action, critics note occasional fluff in later books like Lion, where the plot can feel stretched. Yet, the breakneck pace and Slater’s likability keep readers hooked, with many calling it a roller-coaster you can’t put down.
Why Will Slater Resonates
The Will Slater series has carved a niche among action thriller fans, offering a gritty alternative to polished spies like Bond. Its blend of raw emotion and philosophical undertones—exploring what it means to fight for good in a broken world—strikes a chord. Slater’s evolution from lone wolf to a mentor in later King & Slater crossovers shows Rogers’ knack for character growth, keeping fans invested.
With over a million copies of Rogers’ books read or sold, the series’ cult following thrives on its escapist thrills and moral heft. Readers on Goodreads and Amazon rave about its adrenaline-fueled escapism, with some devouring entire books in a single night. For those craving a hero who’s as human as he is heroic, Will Slater delivers.
- About Will Slater
- Publication Years: 2017–2019
- Number of Books: 6 (Wolf, Lion, Bear, Lynx, Bull, Hawk)
- Author: Matt Rogers
- Genre: Action Thriller
Grab Wolf and dive into Will Slater’s pulse-pounding world of vigilante justice! Whether you’re new to thrillers or a seasoned fan, this series promises a wild ride you won’t forget.