The dusty scent of ancient books sets an alluring background for this University based drama but don't let the promise of wisdom fool you. No matter how smart the intention The Rule Of Four comes up weak on character. An oversimplified series of events that barely leaves the grounds of Princeton eeks the reader forward without a semblence of emotional impact. I was tempted several times to abandon this text but it was the only book I had with me on vacation so I reluctantly finished it. Should The Rule Of Four have a grain of truth (Which it appears to) then perhaps the fun of weaving those mysteries into fiction was the main idea. Either way the writers missed the mark and clearly didn't deserve such overwhelming exposure for only an adquately written novel.