What do you think?
Rate this book
The Four Just Men #1-6
The Complete Four Just Men
‘We shall have no other course to pursue but to fulfil
our promise. You will die at Eight in the Evening – The Four Just Men’
Criminals and malefactors beware! There is no escape from
the sword of justice wielded by The Four Just Men. Here are the complete adventures
of Edgar Wallace’s daring and ingenious vigilantes. This fascinating bumper collection
contains all six volumes of the Just Men saga: The Four Just Men, The
Council of Justice, The Just Men of Cordova, The Law of The Four Just
Men, The Three Just Men and Again the Three.
In these thrilling yarns of daring do, mystery and
international intrigue, the Just Men tackle wrongdoers of all kinds from criminal
masterminds and desperate anarchists to cunning murderers and obsessive madmen.
Where Scotland Yard fails – they succeed. With a finely blended mixture of
suspense, humour and action Edgar Wallace concocts a fantastic and unmissable series
of page-turning adventures.
962 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1921
43 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,171 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Want to read
May 14, 2017This volume contains all six of the books in the series.
4* The Four Just Men
3* The Council of Justice
3* The Just Men of Cordova
CR The Law of the Four Just Men
TBR The Three Just Men
TBR Again the Three
4* The Four Just Men
3* The Council of Justice
3* The Just Men of Cordova
CR The Law of the Four Just Men
TBR The Three Just Men
TBR Again the Three
August 1, 2017
Great stuff -- there's a reason the award's named after him. You can tell the break between the pre- and post-great war stories; I favored the latter (short stories rather than short novels) but the first two short novels were good. The last story was very good--though I was expecting even more.
October 21, 2015
Excellent adventures and mysteries
If you enjoy really well written stories about vigilante groups then you will enjoy this older, but timeless set by Edgar Wallace. SEach is full of excitement, tension, surprises, murder and mayhem. There are criminal masterminds, assassins, accomplices, and petty criminals. Justice is the aim, but whose justice is the question.
Some of the best written fiction was done in the past. It might feel dated based on some of the vocabulary, but the action and the moral of the stories is very relevant. History tends to repeat itself. So these classic stories remain great reading, because the cleverness of this renowned author keeps the reader engrossed, engaged, and totally enjoying these action packed tales. Enjoy!
If you enjoy really well written stories about vigilante groups then you will enjoy this older, but timeless set by Edgar Wallace. SEach is full of excitement, tension, surprises, murder and mayhem. There are criminal masterminds, assassins, accomplices, and petty criminals. Justice is the aim, but whose justice is the question.
Some of the best written fiction was done in the past. It might feel dated based on some of the vocabulary, but the action and the moral of the stories is very relevant. History tends to repeat itself. So these classic stories remain great reading, because the cleverness of this renowned author keeps the reader engrossed, engaged, and totally enjoying these action packed tales. Enjoy!
November 27, 2015
Its light, fluffy action-writing based around the "locked room" type of murder story. Clues are dropped along the way which allow the reader to 'puzzle it out' along with the hapless detectives in charge of preventing 'these dastardly crimes'. The cleverness of the solution is quite fun in each case; but it sure does take a long time to get there.
I'm just not sure the characters are depthful enough to sustain interest in reading every one of the works in this compilation, especially as the stories get long and longer. The first in the series is nifty but was appropriately succinct. If the structure of the other (longer examples) is simply more of the same kind of thing, then this book will lay on my shelf a long time while I muster up the interest to read the entire ouevre.
I'm just not sure the characters are depthful enough to sustain interest in reading every one of the works in this compilation, especially as the stories get long and longer. The first in the series is nifty but was appropriately succinct. If the structure of the other (longer examples) is simply more of the same kind of thing, then this book will lay on my shelf a long time while I muster up the interest to read the entire ouevre.
June 14, 2015
Just Men Series
The organization of the Just Men was to set itself to right acts of injustice which the law left unpunished. In the beginning they were vigilantes but later became allies with the police; as a detective agency they could do what the police couldn't. I liked the characters in these stories and the stories themselves were very good.
The organization of the Just Men was to set itself to right acts of injustice which the law left unpunished. In the beginning they were vigilantes but later became allies with the police; as a detective agency they could do what the police couldn't. I liked the characters in these stories and the stories themselves were very good.
October 20, 2023
The Four Just Men (actually there are only three of them but they have recruited a fourth for the purposes of this particular novel) are self-appointed judges administering a vigilante justice to those who are above the law, such as "a capitalist controlling the markets of the world, a speculator cornering cotton or wheat whilst mills stand idle and people starve, tyrants and despots with the destinies of nations between their thumb and finger". (Ch 7) They threaten to murder a government minister unless he withdraws a proposed law which will enable the extradition of aliens who, in modern terms, have sought political asylum in the UK. Their code of honour requires that they offer repeated warnings so their designated victim has plenty of opportunity to comply with their demands. Can they carry out their plans when the whole of Scotland Yard's finest are ranged against them?
It's one of those morally dubious books that has you rooting for the killers, for those outside the law, for what would then be called anarchists and now be called terrorists.
It is a simple and short story told (Wallace doesn't really adhere to 'show don't tell') in very simple prose and sentences and paragraphs that are short and punchy. The plot seesaws: both sides have successes and failures. There is a significant reliance on impenetrable disguises and the FJM are incredibly well-informed about the police, though how they know what they do seems to be a mystery. The three core members of the FJM have private incomes and are extraordinarily well-educated, quoting classical authors, and being wonderful chemists: they're a sort of Marty Stu melange of Sherlock Holmes, Raffles, The Saint, Lord Peter Wimsey and James Bond. The new recruit is a sneak thief, a coward, and a potential Judas recruited solely because he has the skills for this one particular job. In other words, no character is at all well-rounded. I would have said that it would be impossible to recreate Wallace's success because the modern public would not be so naive but the continuing success of thriller fiction proves me wrong.
Wallace was one of the most prolific (over 170 novels) and successful writers of the twentieth century; The Four Just Men, published in 1905 when he was just 30, was his first successful novel. Previously he had been a soldier and a newspaperman and his journalistic experience is clear both from the content of this novel and its style (very tabloid). He went on to write Sanders of the River (distressingly racist and colonialist but with a much more interestingly complex protagonist) and the first draft of King Kong.
It's one of those morally dubious books that has you rooting for the killers, for those outside the law, for what would then be called anarchists and now be called terrorists.
It is a simple and short story told (Wallace doesn't really adhere to 'show don't tell') in very simple prose and sentences and paragraphs that are short and punchy. The plot seesaws: both sides have successes and failures. There is a significant reliance on impenetrable disguises and the FJM are incredibly well-informed about the police, though how they know what they do seems to be a mystery. The three core members of the FJM have private incomes and are extraordinarily well-educated, quoting classical authors, and being wonderful chemists: they're a sort of Marty Stu melange of Sherlock Holmes, Raffles, The Saint, Lord Peter Wimsey and James Bond. The new recruit is a sneak thief, a coward, and a potential Judas recruited solely because he has the skills for this one particular job. In other words, no character is at all well-rounded. I would have said that it would be impossible to recreate Wallace's success because the modern public would not be so naive but the continuing success of thriller fiction proves me wrong.
Wallace was one of the most prolific (over 170 novels) and successful writers of the twentieth century; The Four Just Men, published in 1905 when he was just 30, was his first successful novel. Previously he had been a soldier and a newspaperman and his journalistic experience is clear both from the content of this novel and its style (very tabloid). He went on to write Sanders of the River (distressingly racist and colonialist but with a much more interestingly complex protagonist) and the first draft of King Kong.
Read
October 4, 2021“The Complete Four Just Men” by Edgar Wallace, © 2012
The 4 Just Men were quadruplet that started out doing criminal acts to right injustice that would not be righted otherwise. In the first story, 'The Four Just Men,' Mr. Wallace develops the premise for their actions, and created a credible story line that could not go far. But it did make them likable.
There is a law that is to be passed in Britain that will be bad for Spain, so they plan to stop it, if not by reason or threats, then by murder. There is one Lord who is pushing to have the law passed, so they warn him, still he persists, so they 'off' him. It is sad that the mechanism that kills the Lord, also kills one of the four, so there are really only three hereon.
It is mentioned in the introduction that Mr. Wallace does not adequately explain how the Four can do all they do, but nowadays, that is common – how do computer hackers get into top secret files? It is a mystery! The Four do similar feats of intelligence. But, whatever, it works, and the stories are enjoyable.
This is one book that makes reading on a tablet worthwhile – it is big and thick, and the font is fairly small. It is worth holding if you have to, though.
The 4 Just Men were quadruplet that started out doing criminal acts to right injustice that would not be righted otherwise. In the first story, 'The Four Just Men,' Mr. Wallace develops the premise for their actions, and created a credible story line that could not go far. But it did make them likable.
There is a law that is to be passed in Britain that will be bad for Spain, so they plan to stop it, if not by reason or threats, then by murder. There is one Lord who is pushing to have the law passed, so they warn him, still he persists, so they 'off' him. It is sad that the mechanism that kills the Lord, also kills one of the four, so there are really only three hereon.
It is mentioned in the introduction that Mr. Wallace does not adequately explain how the Four can do all they do, but nowadays, that is common – how do computer hackers get into top secret files? It is a mystery! The Four do similar feats of intelligence. But, whatever, it works, and the stories are enjoyable.
This is one book that makes reading on a tablet worthwhile – it is big and thick, and the font is fairly small. It is worth holding if you have to, though.
November 22, 2019
Just Men and The Saint ..my favourites
Fast, Racy and love the characters as if they are besides you, such is the writing of Edgar Wallace . Just Men and The Saint are of same genre!
Fast, Racy and love the characters as if they are besides you, such is the writing of Edgar Wallace . Just Men and The Saint are of same genre!
July 21, 2018
I do like my vigilante tales. The scenarios are highly improbable but no less entertaining
April 5, 2021
A bit outdated story.
November 8, 2021
This series is soooooooo good people has to read it. the words are not too bad and the moves are so exciting.
April 8, 2022
Four Just Men Complete!
This is the most complete collection of the Four Just Men that I have found. Great stories. I really enjoyed reading them.
This is the most complete collection of the Four Just Men that I have found. Great stories. I really enjoyed reading them.
January 17, 2023
Timeless classic
April 7, 2024
I really enjoyed these stories
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews