The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde is a truly creative writer. He takes such simple things, like Nursery Rhymes and invents this whole new world of real characters (or somewhat real – they may be Persons of Dubious Reality) full of mystery and comedy. The Fourth Bear is the second in his Jack Spratt Investigates Nursery Crimes series, and while this series isn’t quite as good as the Thursday Next series, I enjoy anything Fforde writes and will keep devouring them as he writes them.

In The Fourth Bear, Jack Spratt and his partner Mary Mary must find out where Goldilocks has disappeared to, track down the crazed and notorious serial killer the Gingerbread man, and figure out why cucumber-growing enthusiasts are blowing up with their cukes. What does the all-powerful company, Quang Tech, have to do with it? Will Mary Mary finally get rid of Arnold, her ex-boyfriend who won’t stay away? Who was the fourth bear?

Jasper Fforde, you can’t write fast enough for me, but I understand. It takes a lot to be so damn creative, to come up with so many puns, pieces of satire, and oddball characters and situations. Just keep taking the vitamins and eating your apples. I want a long line of stories to enjoy for many years to come.

Rating: 4 Purrs for not being quite as good as Thursday Next but being funny and satirical enough to make me laugh out loud during lunch. Oh, and for making Punch and Judy marriage counselors. That was a hoot.