The Rule of Four By Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason

Pages 370 (Fiction)

The book begins in 1497, two messengers are killed when it is discovered that they betrayed their master by opening a letter before having delivered it. 500 years later a Renaissance scholar tells the tale to his son so many times he doesn’t know how many times he has heard it. The Hypnerotomacia is a book that’s secrets have eluded all that have tried to decode it. The book is printed without an author. The first letter of each chapter reveal, when translated, the author to be Francesco Colonna. Through deduction and happenstance the book opens up new areas of exploration within its text. Tom Sullivan’s father dedicated three decades of his life to it and didn’t discover its secret before dying in an accident.
As Tom enters collage he befriends another student, Paul. Paul recognizes his name from a dedication in one of his father’s books. Paul seems to have been drawn into the power of the Hypnerotomacia and dedicates the next four years to trying to solve its puzzles. Paul’s friendship with Tom quickly draws him into the book as well. Each time some obscure reference is translated and figured out it leaves a riddle to be solved that leads the young men scrambling to solve it.
The book jumps around in time. It is mostly in “present” time. The boys are just set to graduate from college and the final clues are starting to pull together, they need certain reference points to actually figure it out. The book goes into the past and you get a feel for the world as the book was written. You are with Tom’s father as he makes a discovery of the Belladonna Document. This letter confirms a theory that he has had, but unable to prove. You follow the boys along the past four years making discoveries along with them.
The Rule of Four is very easy to read. In a typical mystery book fashion it grabs you and with each discovery you want to keep reading. In fact I read it in just 6 days. (With a baby boy at home that is a lot.) So far as a mystery book it is very entertaining. I do have some issue with mystery books in general. My problem is that as a reader you rarely ever have a chance to solve it yourself. I find the characters are immersed in the puzzle and you are brought along as the reader, but I don’t have a copy of the Hypnerotomacia with me to actually figure out things with them. I can take pleasure in their discoveries, but they are not mine. Please note this isn’t a criticism of this book in particular more of mysteries overall. We can maybe figure out who the bad guy is, make predictions as to what will happen, but I always feel outside of the story. (I am interested in mystery books that break this mold. Please make a suggestion in the comments.) That said this book did have some interesting character interaction. The plot was driven by the puzzles in the book, but also affected the lives of those working on it.
There are many comparisons between this and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Some claim this is just a rip off. There are some comparisons to be sure. Both involve historically accurate relics being used to solve a puzzle that is hundreds of years old. The Rule of Four was being written before The Da Vinci Code was published. It would be a more accurate accusation to say they ripped off Dan Brown’s other book Angels and Demons. The books differ enough that, though they are similar it isn’t a total rip-off. If anything I think most reader that like one of the books would enjoy the other as well.

2 Emotional: Interpersonal ties between Tom, his girlfriend and his friends add some emotional content, but nothing that innovating.
3 Intellectual: The adventure in the book is interesting, but it does seem like you are left an observer and am not much a part of the discovery.
1 Long Term: Nothing much about this book jumps out as striking. I imagine it will get lost in the mass of other mystery books of this era.

A total of 6 out of 13. Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason’s book is quick and entertaining. A lot like a summer action flick it keeps your attention for a while, but isn’t going to change your life. It made the New York Times bestseller list, but so does a lot of crap. If you really enjoy the genre or just want a fast read then you’ll enjoy it. Otherwise find something else.

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