The Rule of Four: a novel by Ian Caldwell

A good first effort, October 17, 2004***


With The Rule of Four, Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason struck paydirt on their first try. This book is interesting but it would have benefitted from a good edit to cut out some of the boring parts. Some have compared it to The Da Vinci Code. Frankly, it is not in the same league.

The two friends Paul and Tom, who are involved in deciphering the codes embedded in the 500-year-old the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, are likeable characters. You get interested in their story but then the plot meanders for a while before coming back on track. In many ways the book has all the right ingredients but the authors are not yet quite adept at putting them together.

I look forward to their next novel to see whether they can improve on this good first effort.