Review of Then Came Four

[Steeve Bowen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Then Came Four" by Edward Izzi.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Then Came Four by Edward Izzi is a superb character-based fiction that takes place in Detroit in the 1960s—a time when the city is experiencing the bitterness of the civil rights movement, racial tension, and political and police brutality. This is the story of Tony Fiorello, a rich boy studying law who comes from a corporate family background, and Wesley Norris, a black boy studying law with a clear determination to be a lawyer for the oppressed. It is their companionship that is the core of this novel since both men struggle in a world of racism and prejudice. With the blacks on the increasingly frayed strings and the evil “The Big Four” squad, anathema to law and order, rampaging in tyrannical surveillance, Wesley and Tony are both thrown into a war for justice, each man being pushed to a realization of the imperfections inherent in that very concept.

The novel is a great portrayal of the themes of friendship, moralism, and justice interwoven with a theme of transformation and survival. Then Came Four was truly sensational and became an easily memorable look at the unexpected that in turn constantly kept me in touch with the whole emotions of the novel. Edward Izzi is a great descriptive writer whose account of 1960s Detroit is vivid. Tony and Wesley are convincing characters, and their personalities are memorable and very realistic. The narrative speed is calm, although the action accelerates as the fates of the characters are associated with events of the specified period.

That which left quite a strong impression was the ability of the author to explore the matters of the caste system, personal gains/losses, and an act of heroism without sermonizing. This is a classic example of people rising against the oppressors regardless of the odds that were stacked against them. This book is not only a friendship tale, but it’s an inspiring one of justice, which is not easy to achieve but possible, thus it can be named as a memorable one.

In compiling a score, I can honestly say that there are no negatives I came across while reading the book and therefore can rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. I also did not come across any grammatical mistakes in the book; it is superbly written and well polished, fluent, descriptive, and engrossing, equally balancing the architectures of history and human emotion. There is also a good appearance of the writings whereby the layout of the texts is pleasing to my eyes, giving me a feeling of pride and comfort while going through the pages.

Then Came Four is best recommended to readers who like historical theme-based fiction novels, who are concerned about social justice, especially civil rights, and who are interested in themes of friendship between people of different races and different backgrounds. This will appeal to readers who prefer character development books with a focus on redemption and change of heart. The romantic aspect adds another dimension to the plot to make the book appeal to audiences that like romance woven into a rather serious plot.

******
Then Came Four
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Uchenna Precious]

Edward Izzi is such a great writer. I love the themes of justice, moral and friendship explored in this book. It's quite expository.
Thank you for a great review.

[NetMassimo]

I'm not particularly into historical fiction but this novel goes at the heart of an important period of recent American history that had ripples outside the USA as well. The great character development makes the story come alive offering an immersion in that period. Thank you for your great review!

[Naimah Agboluaje]

Review: The review above provides a highly positive evaluation of Then Came Four by Edward Izzi. It highlights the book's strong character development, gripping narrative, and vivid portrayal of 1960s Detroit. The themes of friendship, justice, and personal transformation are praised, with the reviewer noting the author's ability to explore them without being preachy. The absence of grammatical errors and the appealing layout of the text are also noted. Overall, the review indicates that Then Came Four is a must-read for those interested in historical fiction, social justice, and stories of redemption.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Unpredictable plot twists, kept me guessing.