{"product_id":"the-rule-of-four-1","title":"The Rule Of Four by Ian Caldwell| Dustin Thomason","description":"\u003ch3 data-end=\"163\" data-start=\"130\"\u003eBook Summary — \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"636\" data-start=\"165\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"183\" data-start=\"165\"\u003eThe Rule of Four\u003c\/em\u003e is a gripping blend of intellectual mystery, coming-of-age, and thriller set at Princeton University during Easter weekend in 1999. The story follows four seniors—Tom Sullivan, Paul Harris, Charlie, and Gil—but is centered on Tom and Paul as they race to decode the secrets of the \u003cem data-end=\"492\" data-start=\"465\"\u003eHypnerotomachia Poliphili\u003c\/em\u003e, a real and enigmatic Renaissance manuscript famed for its multi-layered allegories and cryptic language.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1135\" data-start=\"638\"\u003eTom, whose late father devoted his life to studying the \u003cem data-end=\"711\" data-start=\"694\"\u003eHypnerotomachia\u003c\/em\u003e, finds himself torn between his academic legacy and personal relationships. Paul, obsessed with unraveling the manuscript’s mysteries, believes he’s on the brink of discovering its hidden meaning. Their research takes a perilous turn when a long-lost diary appears, offering a crucial clue—but soon after, a fellow scholar is murdered, catapulting the two friends into a deadly puzzle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1697\" data-start=\"1137\"\u003eUnraveling the code leads them toward a buried Roman crypt, concealed by the manuscript’s author to protect treasures from a historic purge. As alliances shift and betrayal surfaces, their quest becomes a fight for survival and identity Critics have praised its erudition and depth—\u003cem data-end=\"1477\" data-start=\"1458\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e described it as \"Dan Brown by way of Donna Tartt and Umberto Eco\"—though it’s often noted that the intellectual rigor and deliberate pace distinguish it from conventional thrillers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1726\" data-start=\"1704\"\u003eAbout the Authors\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2351\" data-start=\"1728\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1744\" data-start=\"1728\"\u003eIan Caldwell\u003c\/strong\u003e is an American novelist born in 1976 in Fairfax County, Virginia. A Princeton University graduate (Phi Beta Kappa, History, 1998), he co-wrote \u003cem data-end=\"1906\" data-start=\"1888\"\u003eThe Rule of Four\u003c\/em\u003e with his childhood friend Dustin Thomason. The novel debuted in 2004, spent 49 weeks on the \u003cem data-end=\"2015\" data-start=\"1999\"\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller list, and sold nearly two million copies. Caldwell later published \u003cem data-end=\"2150\" data-start=\"2132\"\u003eThe Fifth Gospel\u003c\/em\u003e in 2015—a standalone work exploring religious scholarship and reconciliation. He lives in Vienna, Virginia, with his family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3242\" data-start=\"2353\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2372\" data-start=\"2353\"\u003eDustin Thomason\u003c\/strong\u003e, also born in 1976, is an American author, screenwriter, and producer. A Harvard College graduate and Hoopes Prize winner, he co-authored \u003cem data-end=\"2529\" data-start=\"2511\"\u003eThe Rule of Four\u003c\/em\u003e, which became the bestselling debut novel of the decade, remaining atop the \u003cem data-end=\"2622\" data-start=\"2606\"\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e list for six months and selling over four million copies. He has also written the novel \u003cem data-end=\"2756\" data-start=\"2749\"\u003e12.21\u003c\/em\u003e, another bestseller. Beyond novels, Thomason has built a notable television career—co-creating and showrunning Hulu’s \u003cem data-end=\"2926\" data-start=\"2913\"\u003eCastle Rock\u003c\/em\u003e, winning a Writers Guild award, and serving as executive producer on shows like \u003cem data-end=\"3018\" data-start=\"3007\"\u003eLie to Me\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-end=\"3031\" data-start=\"3020\"\u003eManhattan\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem data-end=\"3056\" data-start=\"3037\"\u003ePresumed Innocent\u003c\/em\u003e A Maryland native, he holds an M.D. and MBA from Columbia University and currently works in Los Angeles\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Best of used books","offers":[{"title":"Used","offer_id":46686341595393,"sku":"2QVEWPY4H-Used","price":199.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0421\/4299\/0495\/products\/978-0195642711.jpg?v=1657973957","url":"https:\/\/bestofusedbooks.com\/products\/the-rule-of-four-1","provider":"Best Of Used Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}