If you loved
Contest
Matthew Reilly · Book · 2006
What hooked you in Contest was the way high-stakes survival scenarios force ordinary people to protect their loved ones.
Films on the same thread
The Running Man
Edgar Wright · Film · 2025
Just as the doctor in Contest fights for his daughter, Ben Richards enters a deadly game show to save his sick child, mirroring that desperate, high-stakes parental motivation.
Panic Room
David Fincher · Film · 2002
You loved the trapped setting of Contest, and this film provides the same claustrophobic intensity as a mother and daughter fight to survive inside a secured room against intruders.
Trap
M. Night Shyamalan · Film · 2024
This story echoes the core father-daughter dynamic of Contest, placing a parent and child at the center of a public spectacle where survival depends on navigating a sinister conspiracy.
The Lost City
Aaron Nee · Film · 2022
While lighter in tone, this adventure captures the spirit of an author thrust into a dangerous, real-world trap, much like the unexpected peril experienced by the protagonist in Contest.
Series on the same thread
A Discovery of Witches
Kate Brooke · Series · 2018
If the library setting of Contest was your favorite part, you will appreciate how this series uses a historic library to trigger a high-stakes, supernatural mystery and forbidden romance.
The Strain
Guillermo del Toro · Series · 2014
Like the protagonist of Contest, Dr. Ephraim Goodweather is a medical professional forced into a fight for survival, this time against a mysterious viral outbreak threatening New York City.
Hijack
George Kay · Series · 2023
The relentless ticking clock that drives Contest is perfectly mirrored here as a negotiator uses his wits to manage a hijacked flight and ensure the survival of those onboard.
Squid Game
Hwang Dong-hyuk · Series · 2021
The fatal competition at the heart of Contest finds its modern equivalent in these deadly children's games, where economic desperation forces players into a battle for their own lives.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
If you enjoyed the investigative tension in Contest, you will appreciate how this deep dive into a small town uncovers dark, hidden secrets that demand a high level of scrutiny.
To Live and Die in LA
Tenderfoot TV & Audacy · Podcast · 2023
Much like the personal risk taken in Contest, this true crime narrative follows a journalist who puts himself in harm's way to help a family solve a sudden disappearance.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Contest a standalone novel by Matthew Reilly?
Contest is a standalone action-packed novel written by Matthew Reilly. It was published in 2006 by St. Martin's Press and follows the story of a doctor and his daughter trapped inside the New York Public Library.
What is the main premise of the book Contest?
The plot of Contest centers on a doctor and his daughter who find themselves trapped within the New York Public Library. They are forced to participate in a deadly competition where the outcome is fatal for those involved.
Who is the author of Contest?
Contest was written by Matthew Reilly, a New York Times bestselling author. He is also well known for writing the Scarecrow series, which features his popular action-adventure style of storytelling.
Does Contest involve a survival situation?
Yes, Contest involves a high-stakes survival situation. The story focuses on a doctor and his daughter who are caught in a contest with a fatal outcome while trapped inside the New York Public Library.