The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustan Thomason

The Rule of Four
by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason

$7.99

Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages

Publisher: Dell; First Edition edition (June 28, 2005)

ISBN-10: 0440241359

ISBN-13: 978-0440241355

Annotation/Flashtalk:

The ancient text Hypnerotomachia Poliphili has left scholars baffled for years. It has brought on rivalries, ruined lives and careers.  This time, however, it has brought two Princeton students together; Paul is a ravenous scholar of Hypnerotomachia Poliphili and Tom is the son of one of the works’ former obsessed scholars.  Can these two finally crack the mysteries held inside?

Summary:

Tom grew up in the shadow of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, an ancient text many scholars believe hold mysteries tight within its pages.  Tom’s father was a scholar of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili for many years, until a rival scholar defamed him in an attempt to discredit his work; Tom’s father died shortly after in an accident that may not have been a true accident.  After the accident and understanding what the depths of his father’s obsession did to their family, Tom swore off the book.  It wasn’t until his freshman year when Paul Harris tracked him down at Princeton and brings the book back into his life.  Paul’s senior thesis is all about Hypnerotomachia Poliphili and the book seems to be taking its toll on Paul too.

In their senior year, as Paul seems to be coming closer and closer to finding out the truth, strange things start to unfold. A student, and close friend of Paul’s, is murdered shortly after he provides Paul with what might be the missing link to finally cracking the code.  Tom, Paul and their roommates Gil and Charlie are swept up in the mystery of trying to find out who the murderer is and they must also keep themselves from becoming the next victim. 

Genre/Subgenre: Adventure/Historical Fiction

Evaluation: 4-stars.