Reviews

The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde

jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition

4.0

DCI Jack Spratt and his partner Mary Mary are investigating an exploding greenhouse, the disappearance of Henrietta "Call me Goldilocks" Hatchett, and trying to locate the crazed psychopath, Gingerbreadman. Just another day in the Nursery Crime division of the Reading Police Department.

I just love Jasper Fforde. He's so smart, funny, and unpredictable. This book went places that I would never have imagined, and the mystery was solidly constructed. If you think you can handle some very strange, very smart humor, pick this one up.

rpych2's review against another edition

4.0

Jasper Fforde is so creative, and these two nursery crime books are a prime example as to why. He weaves a bunch of different nursery rhymes together in ways that are both entertaining and intelligent. I loved this story about the murder of Goldilocks after leaving the cabin of the three bears. It was a lot of fun, and also he made a bear shitting in the woods joke that was too perfect to pass up. Just a fantastic story from a fantastic writer.

showell's review against another edition

2.0

Funnier than the first Jack Spratt, but still not funny. I think it's helping that I'm starting to read nursery rhymes to Bridget, but this series is still not funny like the Thursday Next books are. I think the whole badly written police procedural joke is just not one that I'm going to enjoy.

pantsreads's review against another edition

4.0

Picked this up on a whim while browsing the limited literary selection at the Leander H-E-B Plus. I really enjoyed it. A very funny twist on old nursery stories we've all heard a million times. I'm definitely going to pick up the first book soon. I want to know what the whole Humpty Dumpty case was about!

liketheday's review against another edition

3.0

The Fourth Bear is the second in Fforde's Nursery Crime series, in which nursery rhyme characters are real(-ish) and subject to actual laws. Our main participants this time are Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the Gingerbreadman, who has escaped from jail and is again on a murderous rampage. DCI Jack Spratt and his sergeant Mary Mary are not on the case, as they've been sidelined after letting Red Riding Hood and her grandmother get eaten by the wolf. Oops.
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collinaj's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

A fun read. Fforde is just an artist with the wild plot twists and how clever everything is throughout. 

nancie's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.75

melohpa's review against another edition

3.0

Another fun romp through the weird nursery rhyme, folk-lore world created by Jasper Fforde.

See my full review at https://topplingbookpile.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-fourth-bear-by-jasper-fforde-oldest.html

misterjay's review against another edition

4.0

Just as much fun as the first in the series, the book is full of puns, jokes, and meta-humor. Good fun.

tandemjon's review against another edition

5.0

As usual clever plot, really funny and great fun.