Council of Justice (The Four Just Men)

Just occasionally you get a narrator who is so perfectly matched to his material that you can t help but smile. The orotund sonority of Bill Homewood's voice gives a stately and cinematic intensity to Edgar Wallace s The Council of Justice. Bombs and bombast, passion and punch-ups, and a mind-boggling escape from execution keep the listener agog. --The Times

The sequel to The Four Just Men, Edgar Wallace's The Council of Justice continues the story of four very unusual men that have banded together to bring justice to those special cases that ordinary laws are unable to deal with. The penalty for such miscreants is death. In The Council of Justice these four self-appointed vigilantes take on an international anarchist terrorist organization called 'The Red Hundred' and are able to stop a campaign of both selected and mass killings before they can be carried out. In the aftermath however, one of the leaders of 'The Red Hand' betrays the secret identity of the leader of the Four Just Men, leading to his capture by the British police. How can his comrades free him from the condemned man's cell inside a fortress prison guarded by divisions of police? As with The Four Just Men, the plot of The Council Of Justice is simply fascinating and engages the listener's rapt attention from beginning to end. Superbly narrated by Bill Homewood who does full and complete justice to Edgar Wallace's imaginative and suspenseful story, complete and unabridged, technologically flawless in production values, The Council Of Justice is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library audio book collections. - --The Audiobook Shelf, Midwest Book Review

Wallace's classic crime novel which marks the second appearance of his 'Four Just Men' and was first published in 1908 is given a distinguished reading by narrator Bill Homewood. The Council (as the Four Just Men are also known) is a group of wealthy, like-minded gentlemen who band together to deal out their own harsh and deadly judgements to criminals outside the reach of the law. This time around, the Council turns its attention to a dangerous group of anarchists called the Red Hundred, and its most captivating member, the mysterious Woman of Gratz. Homewood's rich, eloquent narration fits perfectly with Wallace's tale of post-Victorian intrigue. His dignified delivery of the book's descriptive passages perfectly captures the era's drawing rooms and gentleman's clubs where stories are shared over brandy and cigars. At the same time, Homewood manages to embody a wide range of characters, giving each its own distinctive voice. Although the story can be melodramatic and over the top, Homewood does such an entertaining job that the listener can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun. --Publishers Weekly

The Council of Justice is a critically acclaimed novel by English writer Edgar Wallace, the co-creator of King Kong, who died in 1932. In an understated yet effective performance, Bill Homewood brings Wallace's work to life. The second novel in the Four Just Men series focuses on four anarchists who believe they are above the law as they protect society. They kill for a greater cause that of justice. The story is more complex and more intellectual than many contemporary novels, yet Homewood's methodical style and measured tone help make the dialogue accessible. His narration allows listeners to focus on why four men believe their perspective is more accurate than everyone else's. The Council of Justice is an excellent introduction to this master writer. --AudioFile

In his Four Just Men series, Edgar Wallace comes up with something different: the 'villains' are not necessarily bad people, and the pursuers of justice, the Four Just Men, as they call themselves, are acting outside the law. They argue that their actions are for the public good, and dispassionately eke the ultimate revenge - death - on their victims. In their turn, the Four Just Men are pursued by the police, but somehow remain our heroes. The Four Just Men, in this second of Wallace's ingenious series of thrillers, pit themselves against The Red Hundred, an organisation dedicated to international anarchy, led by the charismatic and beautiful assassin, the Woman of Gratz. As always, the avengers' methods are meticulously planned and ruthlessly executed.