Looking Back: "The Four Just Men"

As I mentioned in my last post on "The Frightened Lady," Edgar Wallace was one of the most prolific and widely-read authors during the early years of the 20th century. Many of his books have fallen out of favor now, and most are out of print in the United States. One exception to the rule is one of his earlier and most famous works, "The Four Just Men." It's the story of a small group of men who band together for what they believe is social justice, their plot to force the English government to abandon a proposed law on immigration, and how they carry out their plot, despite the best efforts of Scotland Yard. Some would argue that it's a curiously amoral novel to achieve such tremendous and enduring popularity. Perhaps - but it's also a first-rate thriller. The "just men" were popular enough to warrant several sequels; eventually, even the English government apparently accepted them.

I did a full review for the podcast last year, and you can listen to it here. This book is still in print; as always, if you choose to order it from Amazon using my link, I get a few cents. It's an enjoyable and lightweight read, perfect for the beach.