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The Four Just Men #6
عودة رجال العدالة الثلاثة
This is a series of ten short stories featuring the Three Just Men: Leon Gonsalez, George Manfred, and Poiccart; as well as Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Reginald Fare. The three are described thus: "The 'Three Just Men' was an organisation which set itself to right acts of injustice which the Law left unpunished. It is believed that the members were exceedingly rich men who devoted their lives and fortunes to this quixotic but wholly unlawful purpose."
The Man Who Lived at Clapham
The Man With the Canine Teeth
The Man Who Hated Earthworms
The Man Who Died Twice
The Man Who Hated Amelia Jones
The Man Who Was Happy
The Man Who Loved Music
The Man Who Was Plucked
The Man Who Would Not Speak
The Man Who Was Acquitted - RM
Again The Three Just Men = UK title
The Law of the Three Just Men - USA title
The Man Who Lived at Clapham
The Man With the Canine Teeth
The Man Who Hated Earthworms
The Man Who Died Twice
The Man Who Hated Amelia Jones
The Man Who Was Happy
The Man Who Loved Music
The Man Who Was Plucked
The Man Who Would Not Speak
The Man Who Was Acquitted - RM
Again The Three Just Men = UK title
The Law of the Three Just Men - USA title
154 pages
First published January 1, 1928
25 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,124 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2013
2012 Review:
Short stories again. Mostly, but not entirely, consisting of more Leon antics.
A little strange is the insistence that the three have now gone completely legit. As in, no more torturing and killing and stealing and kidnapping and all that fun stuff. Because supposedly Manfred promised as much for himself and his friends when they received the pardon and supposedly they never broke that promise. Which completely contradicts most of what they were up to in the previous volume, which most definitely takes place after the pardon, as well as even in the first few stories in this book. Well, okay, I think they hold back on murder here, but that’s the extent of it. They totally killed the villain in the previous book. Very deliberately, too.
It does end on a somewhat sinister note, though. Namely with Leon going on a mission to kill someone with apparently no intention of telling his friends. That’s disturbing because the one thing that may have stood in their favour concerning the vigilantism was that the three (or four) were supposed to be completely honest with one another and share everything. That’s kinda necessary to prevent one of them going bad (although of course it’s never stated as such). So yeah. Kinda depressing as an end to the series.
Short stories again. Mostly, but not entirely, consisting of more Leon antics.
A little strange is the insistence that the three have now gone completely legit. As in, no more torturing and killing and stealing and kidnapping and all that fun stuff. Because supposedly Manfred promised as much for himself and his friends when they received the pardon and supposedly they never broke that promise. Which completely contradicts most of what they were up to in the previous volume, which most definitely takes place after the pardon, as well as even in the first few stories in this book. Well, okay, I think they hold back on murder here, but that’s the extent of it. They totally killed the villain in the previous book. Very deliberately, too.
It does end on a somewhat sinister note, though. Namely with Leon going on a mission to kill someone with apparently no intention of telling his friends. That’s disturbing because the one thing that may have stood in their favour concerning the vigilantism was that the three (or four) were supposed to be completely honest with one another and share everything. That’s kinda necessary to prevent one of them going bad (although of course it’s never stated as such). So yeah. Kinda depressing as an end to the series.
January 27, 2020
I always enjoy Edgar Wallace. This is a book of short stories featuring The Three Just Men. Typical stories of the series: they obtain justice from those that "got away with it" in the eyes of the law.
July 24, 2011
The Just Men were entertaining, but less compelling, after they went legit. Three stars, with an extra star for the final story.
April 19, 2022
Again The Three (JustMen #6) (1928) by Edgar Wallace. Here is a collection of short mysteries and tales of justice from the prolific Mr. Edgar Wallace. His writing was the cat’s pajamas in the thirties and the years surrounding. While the Four Just Men of previous stories has been whittled down to this trio, they are every bit as good as they were as a foursome.
We start with The Rebus. This is a tale that could almost have been told by Conan Doyle, right down to the puzzle map. There is the tale of the man who has been wronged by his wife, and the unusual things that the Just Men know the police would never admit to.
While the stories were written almost 90 years ago, and in many ways they feel a bit stogy, they still present puzzles that today’s reader will find interesting and fun to fiddle with in an effort to get what exactly has happened.
While there are some cheats happening in a few of the tales, things like information one of the trio collects away from the narrative, by and large it is well worth the trouble to find a copy and see what was part of the big deal about the Golden Age of Detection.
We start with The Rebus. This is a tale that could almost have been told by Conan Doyle, right down to the puzzle map. There is the tale of the man who has been wronged by his wife, and the unusual things that the Just Men know the police would never admit to.
While the stories were written almost 90 years ago, and in many ways they feel a bit stogy, they still present puzzles that today’s reader will find interesting and fun to fiddle with in an effort to get what exactly has happened.
While there are some cheats happening in a few of the tales, things like information one of the trio collects away from the narrative, by and large it is well worth the trouble to find a copy and see what was part of the big deal about the Golden Age of Detection.
October 22, 2025
The saga of The Four Just Men, or Three Just Men, comes to an end, (rather peters out?) with another collection of short stories of rough justice served on malefactors, once again mainly by Leon Gonsalez. We discover they have a a full pardon from the government on condition that they act as private agents strictly within the law. Periodically they express frustration about how tricky that makes their "just" acts of retribution. And at last Gonsalez succumbs as deals with a traitor, spy and bigamist to boot!
The collection has a B-sides-and-outtakes feel to it. But I still enjoy the ingenuity they do display when working within the law.
The collection has a B-sides-and-outtakes feel to it. But I still enjoy the ingenuity they do display when working within the law.
February 9, 2025
Ten short stories - each one a good length for a bedtime read before turning out the light, and going to sleep knowing justice has prevailed.
For additional reviews indexed by author, please visit The Mystillery Blog and try The Mystillery Reading Challenges!
For additional reviews indexed by author, please visit The Mystillery Blog and try The Mystillery Reading Challenges!
November 15, 2020
The Rebus 6/10
The Happy Travellers 4/10
The Abductor 7/10
The Third Coincidence 4/10
The Slane Mystery 6/10
The Marked Cheque 6/10
Mr. Levingrou's Daughter 7/10
The Share Pusher 6/10
The Man Who Sang in Church 6/10
The Lady from Brazil 6/10
The Typist Who Saw Things 7/10
The Mystery of Mr. Drake 5/10
"The Englishman Konnor" 7/10
Overall 6/10
The Happy Travellers 4/10
The Abductor 7/10
The Third Coincidence 4/10
The Slane Mystery 6/10
The Marked Cheque 6/10
Mr. Levingrou's Daughter 7/10
The Share Pusher 6/10
The Man Who Sang in Church 6/10
The Lady from Brazil 6/10
The Typist Who Saw Things 7/10
The Mystery of Mr. Drake 5/10
"The Englishman Konnor" 7/10
Overall 6/10
May 8, 2022
No es una novela “buena”, pero era de mis favoritas cuando era pequeña, y leerla de cuando en cuando me anima, los Cuatro (o Tres) Justos nunca me fallan. Así que cuatro estrellas aunque sea una colección de historias de detectives del montón.
December 31, 2025
Ten well structured and well written tales of the three just men. Examples of the short story art and how deductive stories can be packed into such a short space. A good read.
January 13, 2021
The Law Of The Three Just Men (1933) by Edgar Wallace.
Here is a collection of short mysteries and tales of justice from the prolific Mr. Edgar Wallace. His writing was the cat’s pajamas in the thirties and the years surrounding. While the Four Just Men of previous stories has been whittled down to this trio, they are every bit as good as they were as a foursome.
We start with The Rebus. This is a tale that could almost have been told by Conan Doyle, right down to the puzzle map. There is the tale of the man who has been wronged by his wife, and the unusual things that the Just Men know the police would never admit to.
While the stories were written almost 90 years ago, and in many ways they feel a bit stogy, they still present puzzles that today’s reader will find interesting and fun to fiddle with in an effort to get what exactly has happened.
While there are some cheats happening in a few of the tales, things like information one of the trio collects away from the narrative, by and large it is well worth the trouble to find a copy and see what was part of the big deal about the Golden Age of Detection.
Here is a collection of short mysteries and tales of justice from the prolific Mr. Edgar Wallace. His writing was the cat’s pajamas in the thirties and the years surrounding. While the Four Just Men of previous stories has been whittled down to this trio, they are every bit as good as they were as a foursome.
We start with The Rebus. This is a tale that could almost have been told by Conan Doyle, right down to the puzzle map. There is the tale of the man who has been wronged by his wife, and the unusual things that the Just Men know the police would never admit to.
While the stories were written almost 90 years ago, and in many ways they feel a bit stogy, they still present puzzles that today’s reader will find interesting and fun to fiddle with in an effort to get what exactly has happened.
While there are some cheats happening in a few of the tales, things like information one of the trio collects away from the narrative, by and large it is well worth the trouble to find a copy and see what was part of the big deal about the Golden Age of Detection.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews