Reviews

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

jmarchek's review against another edition

1.0

OK, so as much as I love the Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde, I was really disappointed by this series, so don't bother reading them. I think he wrote them over a long weekend. They lack the wit and charm of the others.

ella_mcnally's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

5.0

mdookwah's review

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.5

bursar's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

shetef's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

a_writer_guy's review against another edition

5.0

This is the first Jasper Fforde book I've ever read. I picked it up at a Borders on a 2-for-1 deal. The one about the three bears is the funnier of the two nursery crimes book, but this book is still fantastic. So imaginative and well crafted. Loved it.

topdragon's review against another edition

4.0

Another clever novel from Jasper Fforde. This is the first of the "Nursery Crimes" series, wherein Detective Jack Spratt and his assistant Mary Mary work diligently to solve murders. I confess to being a bit worried when I began reading this novel, having been a long-time fan of the author's "Thursday Next" series. I guess, given the subject matter, the cover blurbs, and the cover art, that I was afraid this would be aimed more at the YA crowd and might be somehow dumbed down a bit. Happily this is not at all the case and Mr Fforde demonstrates his incredible wit and cleverness on every page. The humor is sophistiated and charming while the mystery to be solved is complicated and engaging. I'm very happy to have overcome my pre-conceived expectations and taken the plunge.

ineffablebob's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Jasper Fforde's The Big Over Easy is a murder mystery set in a modern urban fantasy world where fairy-tale characters are part of society. Our hero is Jack Spratt, the victim is Humpty Dumpty, Solomon Grundy is a local businessman...you get the idea. Also, detectives are expected to follow in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes and turn their cases into entertaining stories as they solve crimes. The whole thing is entertaining as a humorous whodunit, with all the mythological characters making the setting unique. Many of the references are understated, treating the weird and absurd seriously, and letting the reader infer the humor in the situation. I enjoyed it, though by about halfway through I was kind of losing interest in the next fairy-tale reference and following Jack to the next dead end in his investigation. But Jack's an interesting protagonist and the wrap-up of the Humpty case was entertaining enough to keep me reading through the end.

tea_at_mole_end's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.5

erine's review against another edition

4.0

A twisty, turning mystery with a mildly down-on-his-luck (but happily married and generally decent) detective. The nursery rhyme jokes alone are worth the read.

Humpty Dumpty is dead and Detective Jack Spratt and his assistant Mary Mary are on the case. The case goes from a possible suicide, to a suspected murder, to

Spoiler

a multi-attempted murder with a laundry list of suspects that ends up being a hatching, and ultimately Detective Spratt himself crushes the creature that hatched out of Dumpty due to an inherent need to behave as a Jack

.

Also involved is a failing footcare empire, the many mistresses and wives of Humpty Dumpty, a golden goose, and Prometheus. The entire story is both ridiculous and fun, and I suppose at some point one runs out of nursery rhymes, but I've always been disappointed there were only two books in this series.