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The Four Just Men #3
The Just Men of Cordova
There are crimes for which no punishment is adequate, offences that the written law cannot redress. The three friends, Pioccart, Manfred and Gonsalez, may be enjoying the exotic, Spanish city of Cordova with its heat and Moorish influences, but they are still committed to employing their intellect and cunning to dispense justice. They use their own methods and carry out their own verdicts. They are ruthless and they deal in death.
303 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1917
10 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,131 books260 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 13, 2020
Well, the Four Just Men are at it again. So far in every one of these books I've read the fourth man has always been a different person, and this time it's no different, although the fourth man from the last book seemed to be in fine shape when the book ended, so I don't know where he got to. Everything was taken care of nice and neat without him anyway, if you consider people getting killed for their crimes nice and neat. I think of all the mysteries I've ever read this is the least mysterious, well other than figuring out who the fourth man is. But the crime and the bad guy and all that we know right from the beginning. In some of the reviews I've read it seems that people are confused, and that got me thinking about this, and I think if you don't start with the Four Just Men right from the beginning, it may seem a bit confusing. Some of the things they did in this book, which would have seemed impossible three books ago, didn't even register as wrong to my brain this time. I'm used to the Four Just Men being able to do absolutely everything. I think perhaps a little introduction at the beginning of each book telling you who these people are and what they are doing would be helpful, but since the guy who wrote the books has been dead a long time I'm not expecting an introduction any time soon.
So for now you'll just have to take my word for what is going on. There are three men who don't like that bad guys get away with doing bad things, so when the bad guys do they get a letter warning them to stop doing whatever it is or they will be killed. They get three of these warnings, then they die. That's pretty well it, every book is like that. The ways of killing people can be very different, but they end up dead and I just gave away the end of every Just Men book ever written. But there are a lot of other people dying in the meantime, and there are always more than one bad guy, so I didn't give everything away.
In this book Three Men of Cordova, I don't know why it's called that, so there's one mystery that I didn't even try to figure out. Anyway, in this book we have Colonel Black, one of those people who say they are a Colonel when no one can figure out what they are a Colonel of. But he is Colonel Black and he is very important to our story. So is Dr. Essley, a man who disappeared eight years ago, then reappeared with Colonel Black. But Black is more important, so I'll stay with him. He is the owner of the firm Black and Gram. As to Gram, we're told people in the city compare him with a certain Mrs. Harris, which means he doesn't exist. I don't know where Gram is, but Black and Gram float companies and deal largely in stocks and shares. They recommend their clients buy certain shares, their clients buy or sell according to their advice, and everything is wonderful. Wonderful for Black it seems, because he grew in prosperity. However, now one investor of theirs is holding out, and the meeting they have is a stormy one. After the meeting one of the members tells Black that he promised the other man would be put straight. After all, Widdison had stood out, but he died. Then there was Flint, he was a problem, but he died. Then Black floated a tin mine, but there was a death there too, one of the directors. Really, people in business with Black seem to have bad luck, especially when Dr. Essley is the one who attends them.
You get the idea, if you don't want to be in business with Black it could be dangerous to your health. Of course if you are Black, the Four Just Men just may be dangerous to your health. There were two love stories both of which I found annoying, mostly the one with the girl who loved the guy, but refused to have anything to do with him because even though he was a gentleman he was working as a police detective. I don't know what is wrong with a gentleman working as a police officer, but I also don't know how she knew he was a gentleman. Gentleman being anyone from the "upper class". And the Four did one or two things that were pretty dumb, one even got a man killed. But they still got everything figured out by the end. And I never would have guessed who the fourth man was, I had to go back and read it again to make sure of what I was seeing. Well, I'm moving on to the next Four Just Men book, only I see this time it is called the Three Just Men. I assume it is the same three, I guess I'll soon find out. I'm starting to think that I can spend time with these men, but they will never be any of my favorites. They're OK though. Happy reading.
So for now you'll just have to take my word for what is going on. There are three men who don't like that bad guys get away with doing bad things, so when the bad guys do they get a letter warning them to stop doing whatever it is or they will be killed. They get three of these warnings, then they die. That's pretty well it, every book is like that. The ways of killing people can be very different, but they end up dead and I just gave away the end of every Just Men book ever written. But there are a lot of other people dying in the meantime, and there are always more than one bad guy, so I didn't give everything away.
In this book Three Men of Cordova, I don't know why it's called that, so there's one mystery that I didn't even try to figure out. Anyway, in this book we have Colonel Black, one of those people who say they are a Colonel when no one can figure out what they are a Colonel of. But he is Colonel Black and he is very important to our story. So is Dr. Essley, a man who disappeared eight years ago, then reappeared with Colonel Black. But Black is more important, so I'll stay with him. He is the owner of the firm Black and Gram. As to Gram, we're told people in the city compare him with a certain Mrs. Harris, which means he doesn't exist. I don't know where Gram is, but Black and Gram float companies and deal largely in stocks and shares. They recommend their clients buy certain shares, their clients buy or sell according to their advice, and everything is wonderful. Wonderful for Black it seems, because he grew in prosperity. However, now one investor of theirs is holding out, and the meeting they have is a stormy one. After the meeting one of the members tells Black that he promised the other man would be put straight. After all, Widdison had stood out, but he died. Then there was Flint, he was a problem, but he died. Then Black floated a tin mine, but there was a death there too, one of the directors. Really, people in business with Black seem to have bad luck, especially when Dr. Essley is the one who attends them.
You get the idea, if you don't want to be in business with Black it could be dangerous to your health. Of course if you are Black, the Four Just Men just may be dangerous to your health. There were two love stories both of which I found annoying, mostly the one with the girl who loved the guy, but refused to have anything to do with him because even though he was a gentleman he was working as a police detective. I don't know what is wrong with a gentleman working as a police officer, but I also don't know how she knew he was a gentleman. Gentleman being anyone from the "upper class". And the Four did one or two things that were pretty dumb, one even got a man killed. But they still got everything figured out by the end. And I never would have guessed who the fourth man was, I had to go back and read it again to make sure of what I was seeing. Well, I'm moving on to the next Four Just Men book, only I see this time it is called the Three Just Men. I assume it is the same three, I guess I'll soon find out. I'm starting to think that I can spend time with these men, but they will never be any of my favorites. They're OK though. Happy reading.
October 8, 2019
A very enjoyable read. I did read the reviews which said that there were just too many characters and they couldn't follow what was going on. There is some truth in those comments; this isn't the first book in the series and there are quite a few people running around its' pages. Still, it really isn't all that hard to follow if you just pay attention.
June 18, 2018
This is the first book I have ever read (listened to) by Edgar Wallace, an early twentieth century writer. As a crime/suspense the story was just OK--maybe a little dated-- but did you know that this is the guy who wrote King Kong? In fact, according to the Goodreads biography, Wallace had 160 movies made from stories he wrote--more than any other novelist.
March 23, 2013
2012 Review:
Hm.
Sadly the three/four were less ingenious this time around, and this is one of the books I did read back then. I wonder how I managed to be so enchanted with them based on these two lesser books. Huh.
Yeah, they messed around a lot and basically achieved… Not much at all. They allowed people to get killed because they were hesitant to take action and when they finally cornered the villain for his judgement . So yeah. I am severely under-impressed.
Most plot elements were pretty damn obvious, too, although I might have had a bit of an edge by remembering from last time. The mysterious fourth? Well, he was less obvious than all the other so-called mysteries, but the pickings among who it might be were so slim that the solution became relatively obvious as well.
The whole thing was not saved by having two romances on the side. Mostly because both girls were kind of stupid. The men were the usual fare.
So. I’m disappointed. Oh, it wasn’t an awful book. It just did not have that zing I’d been looking forward to. Ah well!
Hm.
Sadly the three/four were less ingenious this time around, and this is one of the books I did read back then. I wonder how I managed to be so enchanted with them based on these two lesser books. Huh.
Yeah, they messed around a lot and basically achieved… Not much at all. They allowed people to get killed because they were hesitant to take action and when they finally cornered the villain for his judgement . So yeah. I am severely under-impressed.
Most plot elements were pretty damn obvious, too, although I might have had a bit of an edge by remembering from last time. The mysterious fourth? Well, he was less obvious than all the other so-called mysteries, but the pickings among who it might be were so slim that the solution became relatively obvious as well.
The whole thing was not saved by having two romances on the side. Mostly because both girls were kind of stupid. The men were the usual fare.
So. I’m disappointed. Oh, it wasn’t an awful book. It just did not have that zing I’d been looking forward to. Ah well!
May 30, 2019
I have shelved this book as 'mystery' but it's not really a mystery so much as a crime story. This series about the 4 just men is about the 4 meting out justice to criminals who elude the official justice system (either from cleverness or wealth and power). The story is told more from the perspective of the criminal; today that is not so unusual but it was in 1917 when this book was first published.
Bill Homewood gives an excellent narration. In particular, his various accents were superb.
Bill Homewood gives an excellent narration. In particular, his various accents were superb.
April 28, 2023
للمرة الثالثة ، يجتمع بويكارت و جونزاليس و مانفريد ، لتحقيق العدالة الغائبة برفقة الشخص الرابع المتغير دوما ، فالمراد اقتصاصه هذه المرة هو بلاك الذي جمع بين الخبث و الدهاء و لا يتوانى عن سحق كل من يعترض طريقه... فكان مرموقا في حي المال و دائما ما تأتي توصيته من اجل صاحبه ايسلي بخير نتاج له فسجل نجاحه هو سجل وفيات عرضية !
فهل ستصل يده الى ابنة ساندفورد الذي اطاح بطموحه ام ان رباعي العدالة لهم الكلمة الأخيرة ؟!
فهل ستصل يده الى ابنة ساندفورد الذي اطاح بطموحه ام ان رباعي العدالة لهم الكلمة الأخيرة ؟!
July 23, 2018
3.5... A well read audiobook. The third in the series, which I didn’t realize, so the first must’ve been really really good!
September 23, 2020
Not so good. Half the plotlines was unnecessary. 4/10
August 14, 2020
This was just okay. I finished it mostly because it was short. There were a lot of characters but not much character development and few of the characters stood out. Also even for a short book, the story was thin. Not recommended
June 13, 2019
This was interesting, I guess, but I found it rather hard to follow, particularly at first. I started over at least 3 times. I'm not sure if that was partly because I was listening to it or not (though I don't normally have difficulty keeping up with audiobooks). Mostly I just wasn't that invested in anyone to care very much. I did feel rather proud for having guessed who the fourth just man was before the reveal, though! My favorite bit, and the thing that might tip this up to a 2.5 ish are all of the Earl of Valond's sarcastic rejoinders. They made me laugh out loud.
July 10, 2018
Does anyone know why...
The poison Black put on the girl’s glass did not work. No explanation is given. Does anyone know why it failed? I am guessing perhaps the poison bottle in Black’s cabinet had been switched by De la Monte for an identical bottle with a nontoxic substance. I think it was rather an awkward omission for the author not to explain the failure of such an efficient poison.
The poison Black put on the girl’s glass did not work. No explanation is given. Does anyone know why it failed? I am guessing perhaps the poison bottle in Black’s cabinet had been switched by De la Monte for an identical bottle with a nontoxic substance. I think it was rather an awkward omission for the author not to explain the failure of such an efficient poison.
June 22, 2018
This did not hold my interest in any way. But it was pretty short, so that was cool.
September 30, 2019
Decent in parts and interesting, but ultimately I'll forget everything except the poisoned feather.
November 30, 2021
În cafeneaua la „Gran Capitan” în Cordova, şedea, la o masă de marmură, un bărbat, care părea că dispune de mult timp liber. Domnul acela era de statură înaltă şi purta o barbă îngrijită. Cu ochii săi cenuşii şi serioşi cerceta toată strada în mod distrat, fără să arate un interes special. Din când în când sorbea din cafeaua ce avea pe masă.
Era îmbrăcat în haine negre conform uzului în Spania. Cravata, neagră şi ea, era confecţionată din mătase fină. Pantalonii, impecabil croiţi, erau ţinuţi întinşi cu cordoane de piele, care treceau sub ghetele ascuţite la vârf. Felul acesta de a purta pantalonii, se obişnuia de către unii cavaleri.
Îmbrăcămintea aceasta, cam stranie pentru noi, era portul obişnuit în Cordova. Domnul acela putea foarte bine să fie spaniol, căci în sudul Spaniei se găsesc destui oameni cu ochi cenuşii, proveniţi din căsătoria irlandezilor veseli, care veniseră pe timpuri cu trupele de ocupaţie ale lui Wellington, cu fetele arzătoare din Estremadura.
Bărbatul acela singuratic vorbea o spaniolă impecabilă, şi anume dialectul andaluz. Chiar şi modul cum trata pe cerşetorul care, apropiindu-se de el pentru a-i cere de pomană, milogindu-se plângător şi întinzând o mână schilodită, arăta că se trage din sudul ţării.
― În numele Fecioarei, a Sfinţilor şi Atot-Puternicului Dumnezeu, vă implor, senor, daţi-mi zece centime.
Domnul de la masă îşi îndreptă privirea spre mâna schiloadă.
― Dumnezeu îţi va ajuta! ― îi zise el în limba arabă, aşa cum ea se vorbeşte în Maroc.
― Dacă Cerul îmi va dărui o sută de ani de viaţă, nu voi înceta să mă rog pentru binele dv.
Domnul îşi îndreptă acum privirea spre figura cerşetorului.
Acesta era de statură mijlocie. Faţa sa avea trăsături bine definite. Avea capul înfăşurat într-un pansament mare, care-i acoperea şi un ochi. Pe lângă aparenţa asta dezgustătoare, mai era şi paralizat la picioare. În mâinile-i murdare ţinea un baston.
Era îmbrăcat în haine negre conform uzului în Spania. Cravata, neagră şi ea, era confecţionată din mătase fină. Pantalonii, impecabil croiţi, erau ţinuţi întinşi cu cordoane de piele, care treceau sub ghetele ascuţite la vârf. Felul acesta de a purta pantalonii, se obişnuia de către unii cavaleri.
Îmbrăcămintea aceasta, cam stranie pentru noi, era portul obişnuit în Cordova. Domnul acela putea foarte bine să fie spaniol, căci în sudul Spaniei se găsesc destui oameni cu ochi cenuşii, proveniţi din căsătoria irlandezilor veseli, care veniseră pe timpuri cu trupele de ocupaţie ale lui Wellington, cu fetele arzătoare din Estremadura.
Bărbatul acela singuratic vorbea o spaniolă impecabilă, şi anume dialectul andaluz. Chiar şi modul cum trata pe cerşetorul care, apropiindu-se de el pentru a-i cere de pomană, milogindu-se plângător şi întinzând o mână schilodită, arăta că se trage din sudul ţării.
― În numele Fecioarei, a Sfinţilor şi Atot-Puternicului Dumnezeu, vă implor, senor, daţi-mi zece centime.
Domnul de la masă îşi îndreptă privirea spre mâna schiloadă.
― Dumnezeu îţi va ajuta! ― îi zise el în limba arabă, aşa cum ea se vorbeşte în Maroc.
― Dacă Cerul îmi va dărui o sută de ani de viaţă, nu voi înceta să mă rog pentru binele dv.
Domnul îşi îndreptă acum privirea spre figura cerşetorului.
Acesta era de statură mijlocie. Faţa sa avea trăsături bine definite. Avea capul înfăşurat într-un pansament mare, care-i acoperea şi un ochi. Pe lângă aparenţa asta dezgustătoare, mai era şi paralizat la picioare. În mâinile-i murdare ţinea un baston.
March 13, 2024
Of the three books in this series by Edgar Wallace this one lacked what is necessary to grip my atteneion. I found myself having to compell my self to finish. The Just Four Men were at the start and rarely involved until the last chapter. The four are really only three permanent members as a fourth is added to qualify the series title. In this book, the fourth, when revealed to the reader seemed incongruous - just didn't fit and appears as an additional whithout a part. Although the nemesis evil villain did pose a good show, he wasn't the challeng and his roll is quite unresolved. Did he, was he also another character? Wallace was off his game and likely ends up having only one really good stories. With enough other books to read, we'll not take up the fourth and final book. At least not soon.
August 28, 2025
Despite the title, the book merely opens in Spain, and the action soon moves to England, as the Four Just Men (FJM) are on the trail of Colonel Black (don't expect subtlety when it comes to naming villains :)) and the mysterious Dr Essley who has reappeared after apparently disappearing some years before in Australia.
It's mostly mind games, so the action can drag a bit, as gradually the FJM close off all avenues for Colonel Black's schemes to make his fortune.
In the first story the precedent was set, following the death of the original fourth Just Man, that a fourth member is recruited temporarily for his specific skills or influence in each story. Get set for a dramatic showdown between the FJM and Colonel Black. Will the identity of the fourth Just Man in this story be revealed?
These stories are not especially well-written but they are rollicking good escapist tales. :)
It's mostly mind games, so the action can drag a bit, as gradually the FJM close off all avenues for Colonel Black's schemes to make his fortune.
In the first story the precedent was set, following the death of the original fourth Just Man, that a fourth member is recruited temporarily for his specific skills or influence in each story. Get set for a dramatic showdown between the FJM and Colonel Black. Will the identity of the fourth Just Man in this story be revealed?
These stories are not especially well-written but they are rollicking good escapist tales. :)
July 14, 2018
As this was the third book in the series, I was really confused and couldn’t figure out who was who. Maybe if I had drawn a character sketch of each person I would have known better what was going on— but I’m not about to do that. Perhaps as a movie it would have been better. Edgar Wallace wrote King Kong and IMDb gives him 214 writer credits— so yeah, maybe as a movie it would have been better or, if I had read the two books before this one I would have known who people were and been more vested in each character and how they all fit into the story. However this was one of the 2018 SYNC SUMMER AUDIOBOOKS and I figured if they chose this one out of a series that you didn’t need to read the first two to know who was who and what was going on.
I won’t be reading any more of the series.
I won’t be reading any more of the series.
June 15, 2018
I was super excited to read this book. I love mysteries and I loved the description of this book. I felt like it didn't live up to its promise. Maybe because I started with the third book in the series and not the first. I felt like I was entering a conversation in the middle. Maybe I'll go back and read the first one, see what I think, then make my way back to this one. I may have a different opinion then.
June 20, 2018
Audiobook Sync free audiobooks for their 2018 YA summer program week 7.
Maybe starting on book 3 brought this one up short for me. I figured it wouldn't matter since Audiobook Sync chose to add it rather than the first book, but I felt like I was missing some back story. Of interesting note however, is that Wallace, an early 20th century writer, wrote King Kong.
Maybe starting on book 3 brought this one up short for me. I figured it wouldn't matter since Audiobook Sync chose to add it rather than the first book, but I felt like I was missing some back story. Of interesting note however, is that Wallace, an early 20th century writer, wrote King Kong.
July 30, 2018
I really just did not like this book at all. There were way too many characters that I couldn’t keep straight and so many storylines that I couldn’t follow. Maybe I would have been better off if I had read the first two books, but I have a feeling I would have been equally as confused reading those because I think it’s just the authors style. Big thumbs down.
February 27, 2020
Somehow this book managed to be both confusing and totally predictable. That’s quite the feat, really.
Like many other reviewers, I got ahold of this from the summer Audiosync program for free audiobooks and haven’t read the others that come before in the series. Maybe that would have made a difference, but I didn’t really like it enough to try to find out.
Like many other reviewers, I got ahold of this from the summer Audiosync program for free audiobooks and haven’t read the others that come before in the series. Maybe that would have made a difference, but I didn’t really like it enough to try to find out.
August 18, 2024
Really more like 2.5 stars. Wallace's newest strength, demonstrated so much better here than in the first two Just Men novels, is characterization. The villain and a few of the side characters are quite well-drawn and compelling. Sadly, for me the story itself was an overly complex mess and surprisingly hard to follow given the slimness of the book.
August 15, 2018
This is book three in the series, introduced as an Audio Sync choice for Summer 2018. I fear the book suffered for my having missed the first two titles in the series, as it was confusing and, well, just didn't trip my trigger.
October 27, 2018
It was not as hard for me to enjoy this as it has been for others. It was interesting enough to see a vigilante justice idea. I'm not sure I'd read others in the series, but I enjoyed this one enough.
November 4, 2021
A group of men threaten criminals. Criminals trying to figure out who they are. People getting killed. There's poison, guns, stabbings and more. It's not supposed to be, but this story almost seems comical to me. I'm not that crazy about it, but I don't actually dislike it either.
June 9, 2022
There are two young ladies in this book: one May and one Mary. No wonder I got confused. What would it have cost him to call one of them Helen!?
The Just Men are not on top form in this innings, but they get more than the usual help from the police.
The Just Men are not on top form in this innings, but they get more than the usual help from the police.
September 16, 2018
Quite an interesting listen / read - not my usual. I did get a bit confused with the names of all the aristocracy but enjoyed the Edwardian setting.
November 28, 2023
Another novel following the Four Just Men that gave me some enjoyment though a lot of the plot was difficult to follow.
July 3, 2024
Just could not get into this book. It did not hold my attention.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews