This book takes place somewhat in the same England that Thursday Next lives in. However, in Reading, besides the normal crimes and normal police force, there are also "nursery crimes", investigated and solved by the Nursery Crimes Division, currently headed by Detective Inspector Jack Spratt. These are such things as the murder of Mr. Wolff by the three little pigs and a "spinning-straw-into-gold scam" perpetrated by Rumplestiltskin. These people all function in normal society but tend to fulfill their nursery-rhyme-foretold destinies. The main crime in this story is the death of Humperdinck "Humpty" Dumpty. Did he fall or was he pushed? Why was he amassing stock in a footcare products company? Why were the ladies so attracted to an egg? Okay, so that question isn't answered in this book but I wish it had been!

It took a few chapters to acclimate to Fforde's created world but the story was quite interesting and I'm rather glad I finally decided to read this one. I don't think this is a series for everyone because it's a bit far-fetched and silly but at the same time it's hilarious and imaginative. Just like the Thursday Next series, this is definitely something different than anything you've read before.

http://webereading.com/2009/07/it-was... ( )

first line: "It was the week following Easter in Reading, and no one could remember the last sunny day."

This is a tongue-in-cheek whodunnit by the author of the Thursday Next series (The Eyre Affair, et al.). Fforde's a funny-punny writer, but I find I have to be in the right mood for him. ( )

My first experience with Jasper Fforde. What an introduction! I really enjoyed the mystery, the characters of Sprat and Mary(Mary), and the surreal landscape of the story environment.

I love the juxtaposition of childhood figures and gritty-city crime. I loved the word play and the sly references to fairy tales an nursery rhymes outside the main story. ( )

A surreal book following DS Mary Mary and DI Jack Spratt in their investigations of the suspicious death of troubled egg Humperdinck 'Humpty' Van Dumpty. They work in the ailing Nursery Crime Division of the Oxford and Reading police force, a laughing stock to other officers. Now they must solve this eggy crime to keep the division from being disbanded and the sickeningly charming Friedland Chymes from taking all the glory yet again.

It sounds mad, and the strange appearance of nursery characters and aliens alongside the human characters does take a few chapters to get used to, but the strange thing is... this really works! It's like a combination of Shrek and CSI - a real murder mystery but with an intelligent and amusing strand of fairytale mockery woven through the whole thing. The three pigs have just been found not guilty of the murder of Mr Wolff (boiled to death when he came down their chimney), and an alien called Ashley (like us but blue) is working in the NCD trying to adjust to his strange human colleagues.

It's funny, it's very clever, and it's well worth a read. I'm looking forward to the Thursday Next novels now! ( )

I have to say I was very hesitant to read this book. I adore Fforde's Thursday Next world and couldn't imagine anything would compare. I have to say I was correct in the way that this is not the same. But different is good. Once again his odd wit tickled my funny bone. And I loved every last word. ( )