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What Members Thought
Jan 06, 2016
Marie (UK)
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
2016-reading-challenge
I have read several Fforde novels including the Thursday Next series. This is a similar genre, a little less complex but full of detail and innuendo. Fforde uses characters from nursery rhymes,fairytales, mythology, shakespeare plays and even tV characters liberally throughout the book. thyet the case is not solved. They are worked effortlessly into the narrative so that it seems like natural story telling. Detective Jack Spratt is in charge of the investigation into the Death of Humperdink Van
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I listened to the audiobook after having listened to The Eyre Affair (audible does not have the sequel).
This book made me laugh out loud at times, but I was more impressed with the author's description of the day to day rather than the complicated plot of the crime investigation. There is a lot going on in the book and the plot gets a little heavy at times. I liked the book as an easy read (listen) but it didn't blow me away. I think I would love to hear this author tackle something entirely mu ...more
This book made me laugh out loud at times, but I was more impressed with the author's description of the day to day rather than the complicated plot of the crime investigation. There is a lot going on in the book and the plot gets a little heavy at times. I liked the book as an easy read (listen) but it didn't blow me away. I think I would love to hear this author tackle something entirely mu ...more
Not sure how I missed this one on Goodreads. A reread for me, the first in Fforde's Nursery Crime series. This follows Jack Spratt of the Nursery Crime division as he solves the murder of Humpty Dumpty. If it sounds a bit silly, it is, but its a really fun read with a nice mystery twist. Recommended to all.
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Not up there with my favorite Thursday Next books but fun all the same. It starts with the murder of Humpty Dumpty, a drunk, womanizing, money laundering but philanthropic giant egg. And it gets more surreal from there. I think Jasper Fforde's humor either works for you or it doesn't. I love all the literary references, puns & the slapstick (it's not all highbrow after all). Using nursery rhyme character to satirize some on the tropes of detective novels lends itself to all sorts of interesting
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This is a delicious parody of detective fiction and nursery rhymes - I found myself chuckling aloud on several occasions.
Feb 19, 2018
Joyce
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
mystery,
fantasy,
humor,
police,
audiobooks-everand,
fairytale-retelling,
no-sex,
alternate-universes,
read-in-2018,
murder
This had a slow start but a really great ending that was worth the wait.
Dec 26, 2009
Michelle
added it
Apr 09, 2011
Paul Perry
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2011
Emma
added it
May 04, 2011
Christina's Book Chronicles
marked it as to-read
Shelves:
own,
series,
humor,
fiction,
checked-in,
mystery,
science-fiction,
added-2011,
fantasy,
burg-9-5-19
Jul 22, 2011
LynnB
added it
Jan 25, 2013
Angela
marked it as to-read
Oct 13, 2013
Bror (Abrar)
marked it as to-read
Feb 13, 2014
Wendy Eley
marked it as to-read
Feb 25, 2014
Gretchen
marked it as to-read
Nov 05, 2018
Ronnay
marked it as to-read
Apr 24, 2020
Rebecca
marked it as to-read
Dec 14, 2023
Blucat32
marked it as to-read
