The Rule of Four (2004)

by Ian Caldwell, Dustin Thomason

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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8,003	169	1,047	(3.05)	116
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:A mysterious coded manuscript, a violent Ivy League murder, and the secrets of a Renaissance prince collide in a labyrinth of betrayal, madness, and genius. *THE RULE OF FOUR* Princeton. Good Friday, 1999. On the eve of graduation, two students are a hairsbreadth from solving the mysteries of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. Famous for its hypnotic power over those who study it, the five-hundred-year-old Hypnerotomachia may finally reveal its secrets -- to Tom Sullivan, whose father was obsessed with the book, and Paul Harris, whose future depends on it. As the deadline looms, research has stalled -- until an ancient diary surfaces. What Tom and Paul discover inside shocks even them: proof that the location of a hidden crypt has been ciphered within the pages of the obscure Renaissance text. Armed with this final clue, the two friends delve into the bizarre world of the Hypnerotomachia -- a world of forgotten erudition, strange sexual appetites, and terrible violence. But just as they begin to realize the magnitude of their discovery, Princeton's snowy campus is rocked: a longtime student of the book is murdered, shot dead in the hushed halls of the history department. A tale of timeless intrigue, dazzling scholarship, and great imaginative power, The Rule of Four is the story of a young man divided between the future's promise and the past's allure, guided only by friendship and love. .… (more)

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Showing 1-5 of 153 (next | show all)

I liked it. I enjoyed the characters – i love a book with good character development. They were believable and likeable (for the most part). The story itself was the ‘ok’ part. A friend was right when he said the puzzles were useless as the reader couldn’t solve them. If you ignore the puzzles, it was a mediocre mystery novel with some historical fact/fiction thrown in.

Overall, it was a fun read, but by no means a must read. (

)

PurplOttr | Dec 1, 2023 |

Marketed as "this year's Da Vinci Code" this book is, well, ok. Thankfully it is different from any of Dan Brown's stuff (generic attractive-woman-specialist-ends-up-with-attractive-older-man-over-24-hours thing). The book does suffer in slightly slower pacing, and an occasionally unclear timeline, where you're not sure if stuff happened now, yesterday, or three months ago. On the whole is readable though.

nordie | Oct 14, 2023 |

A debut novel by two Princeton grads, this story has a Dan Brown quality immersing the reader into the Renaissance years while the main two characters work to uncover the meaning of a mysterious book written in 1499. Well researched, paced and developed it engages the reader, raises questions and demonstrates good storytelling. The only fault I can find is somewhat of a let down with the finale. This isn't uncommon with first books though it did diminish the six years of work the authors invested. Regardless, I enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend it to anyone. (

)

Jonathan5 | Feb 20, 2023 |

It should be good. I got the audio book from the library. I can't finish it... there is no contrast between characters. I had a really nice nap though. I'll try again with the actual book. (

)

gypsymaia | Oct 14, 2022 |

Enjoyable, slow at times, nice twists and good characterisation. Not comparable to the Da Vinci Code (this is good thing), but simmers to a film-like conclusion with a nice epitaph. Recommended. (

)

tarsel | Sep 4, 2022 |

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▾Published reviews

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thingScore 63

As a thriller, The Rule of Four is not especially fast-paced, but the personalities and relationships are well-handled, as is the narrator's conflict between his desire for a normal relationship with his girlfriend and the sense that he is being dragged into dangerous obsession. This is good entertainment, a Da Vinci Code for people with brains.

added by danielx | editThe Independent, Jane Jakeman (May 31, 2004)

This promises well for the future of the authors, either together or separately. Next time, their ambition may vault lower and their presentation smoother, but meanwhile The Rule of Four is a great read on its own youthfully brash terms. The title, by the way, refers not (or not only) to the roommates or to their college years but again to the encryption in the Hypnerotomachia. It is never fully explained.

added by simon_carr | editWashington Post, Alice K. Turner (May 27, 2004)

▾Other authors

» Add other authors (23 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Caldwell, Ian	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Thomason, Dustin	—	main author	all editions	confirmed
Hamilton, Josh	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Risvik, Kari	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Risvik, Kjell	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Wahlund, Torsten	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Woodman, Jeff	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Publisher Series

Zwarte Beertjes (3501)

Was inspired by

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream by Francesco Colonna

Has as a reference guide/companion

The Real Rule of Four: The Unauthorized Guide to the "New York Times" Bestseller by Joscelyn Godwin

▾Awards and Honors

Distinctions

Publishers Weekly Bestseller (Fiction – 2004)

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2004

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For our parents

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Prologue: Like many of us, I think, my father spent the measure of his life piecing together a story he would never understand.

Strange thing, time.

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The Rule of Four

▾Book descriptions

Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:A mysterious coded manuscript, a violent Ivy League murder, and the secrets of a Renaissance prince collide in a labyrinth of betrayal, madness, and genius. THE RULE OF FOUR

Princeton. Good Friday, 1999. On the eve of graduation, two students are a hairsbreadth from solving the mysteries of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. Famous for its hypnotic power over those who study it, the five-hundred-year-old Hypnerotomachia may finally reveal its secrets -- to Tom Sullivan, whose father was obsessed with the book, and Paul Harris, whose future depends on it. As the deadline looms, research has stalled -- until an ancient diary surfaces. What Tom and Paul discover inside shocks even them: proof that the location of a hidden crypt has been ciphered within the pages of the obscure Renaissance text.

Armed with this final clue, the two friends delve into the bizarre world of the Hypnerotomachia -- a world of forgotten erudition, strange sexual appetites, and terrible violence. But just as they begin to realize the magnitude of their discovery, Princeton's snowy campus is rocked: a longtime student of the book is murdered, shot dead in the hushed halls of the history department.

A tale of timeless intrigue, dazzling scholarship, and great imaginative power, The Rule of Four is the story of a young man divided between the future's promise and the past's allure, guided only by friendship and love.

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