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The Rule of Four Audiobook, by Ian Caldwell Play Audiobook Sample

The Rule of Four Audiobook

The Rule of Four Audiobook, by Ian Caldwell Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Jeff Woodman Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 8.50 hours at 1.5x Speed 6.38 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: September 2004 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780743543217

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

11

Longest Chapter Length:

75:56 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

61:05 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

70:20 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

2

Other Audiobooks Written by Ian Caldwell: > View All...

Publisher Description

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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"I am not really one for thriller or mystery novels but this book was very smartly written. I enjoyed the characters and the development. I read it cover to cover without putting it down. The balance of danger and desire complicated by the characters results in a fantastic entertaining read. "

— Lori (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Profoundly erudite…The ultimate puzzle-book.” 

    — New York Times Book Review 
  • “Ingenious…The real treat here is the process of discovery.” 

    — New York Times 
  • “A smart, swift, multitextured tale that both entertains and informs.” 

    — San Francisco Chronicle 
  • “Compulsively readable.” 

    — People 

Awards

  • A New York Times bestseller

The Rule of Four Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.096774193548387 out of 53.096774193548387 out of 53.096774193548387 out of 53.096774193548387 out of 53.096774193548387 out of 5 (3.10)
5 Stars: 3
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 8
2 Stars: 7
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I wasn't sure I was going to like this (it's part of that tricky "Ye Olde Times Conspiracy" genre) but I found it fun, trashy, good-for-the-commute read. Except for the fact that it takes place at Princeton. Boo! "

    — Amanda, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Like watching molasses pour at 30 below. The idea for this book was great, at times even interesting to read, but there was so much wasted text that the book dragged and ultimately was tedious to read. "

    — Quinn, 2/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Better than the Davinci Code, natch. But it suffers from the association. "

    — Nick, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This was billed as a great story if you enjoyed The Davinci Code - I disagree. I enjoyed TDC but found The Rule of Four to be a bit tedious and at times hard to follow. Lots of sub-plots and lots of twists and turns. It was okay but I probably won't pick up anything else by this author. "

    — Luann, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Took a few chapters to get into but overall an okay read. Not one I would read over again though. "

    — Nicole, 1/30/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " You know it isn't really a good book when you can't remember you even read it! The plot was too confused and never fully worked itself out. "

    — Jillyn, 1/30/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Puzzling but not that interesting. "

    — Sarah, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " mine has a blue cover.. thrilling.. "

    — apaul, 1/23/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Along the lines of the DaVinci Code. "

    — Jim, 1/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Would have been rated higher had I not read it following The Davinci Code. Same basic premise, but still a good story. "

    — Kristi, 1/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " 4.5. Intelligent novel set at Princeton about college students. Similar to Dan Brown type books. "

    — Sam, 1/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A great book! If you like/read Brimstone by Preston, read this... "

    — Doris, 1/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Robin told me this is one of her favorite books. I'm waiting? "

    — Missy, 12/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Reminds me of the Da Vinci Code. "

    — Marci, 11/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I thought it was interesting and a good read "

    — Laura, 11/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " If you like The DaVinci Code (but like a little better writing), this book is a good one. "

    — Samantha, 11/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I loved the feel of entering the world of academia and how intelligently it was written. I didn't love the end- it went too far to be believable. "

    — Kari, 10/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is the rare book that I started reading and it was TERRIBLE! I stopped reading after 80 pages and threw the book away. Pretentious nonsense. "

    — Jim, 8/5/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An interesting book- it was well laid out with twists and turns. Very like Dan brown, with a predictable ending but neither of those things affected the quality. "

    — Mary, 4/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I was listening to this....it nearly put me to sleep. YAWN. Boring and pretentious, and filled with weird descriptions.mind you, I only got half way through the second CD. It was more than enough. "

    — Jana, 1/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is by far the worst book i have ever read.....nothing happens "

    — Bill, 1/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Really interesting idea, although the actual writing isn't stellar. "

    — Ali, 10/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " If you liked "The Da Vinci Code", you'll like this book. "

    — Anna, 5/31/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good book. Very well researched. Good for people who like history. Of my friends, Michael might enjoy this one. "

    — Chason, 12/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A more intellectually based Da Vinci Code, with a whirlwind of thesis papers, college antics, and way more romance. A very nicely crafted book, enjoyable for the mystery as well. "

    — Kurt, 8/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Interesting but too much specific information about the Renaissance. You would need to have a PhD in Renaissance Art, Italian History, Greek History, Greek and Roman Mythology and on and on to understand the riddles and puzzles in this book. "

    — Antoinette, 5/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " There is a good book struggling to get out. Good ingredients for a book, not great execution though "

    — Andrew, 5/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Quite enjoyed this, intriguing at times. at other times read like a campus guide to Princton. But the idea was intriguing. Old (real) book the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is presumed to contain hidden meanings. Various scholars compete to solve them, with tragic results "

    — Martin, 4/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read this one a long time ago, but it was very reminiscent of "The Davinci Code" by Dan Brown. If you liked that book, you will love this one. "

    — Matt, 4/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It was overall a very well written book. It was suspenseful in all the right places and very engaging. If anything, at times, the characters were a bit difficult to deal with. Not a book in which the characters stand out (for me), but the plot is spectacular. "

    — Andrew, 4/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I picked this book up at my in-laws house, and I couldn't put it down. Although it is very reminiscent of the DaVinci Code, it is a good story in it's own right. I believe that it is an excellent collaboration, and I would read others from this duo should there be any. "

    — Kelly, 4/4/2011

About the Authors

Ian Caldwell is a writer and coauthor of the thriller, The Rule of Four, which spent forty-nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and sold nearly two million copies in North America. He was raised in Virginia and graduated from Princeton University in 1998 with a degree in history.

Dustin Thomason graduated from Harvard College and received his MD from Columbia University. He is the co-author of the international bestseller The Rule of Four, and has written and produced several television series, including Lie to Me. He lives in Venice Beach, California.

About Jeff Woodman

Jeff Woodman is an actor and narrator. He is a winner of the prestigious Audie Award and a six-time finalist. He has received twenty Earphones Awards and was named the 2008 Best Voice in Fiction & Classics, as well as one of the Fifty Greatest Voices of the Century by AudioFile magazine. As an actor, he originated the title role in Tennessee Williams’ The Notebook of Trigorin and won the S. F. Critics’ Circle Award for his performance in An Ideal Husband. In addition to numerous theater credits on and off Broadway, his television work includes Sex and the City, Law & Order, and Cosby.