The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

Summary:

Jasper Fforde does it again with a dazzling new series starring Inspector Jack Spratt, head of the Nursery Crime Division Jasper Fforde’s bestselling Thursday Next series has delighted readers of every genre with its literary derring-do and brilliant flights of fancy. In The Big Over Easy , Fforde takes a break from classic literature and tumbles into the seedy underbelly of nursery crime. Meet Inspector Jack Spratt, family man and head of the Nursery Crime Division. He’s investigating the murder of ovoid D-class nursery celebrity Humpty Dumpty, found shattered to death beneath a wall in a shabby area of town. Yes, the big egg is down, and all those brittle pieces sitting in the morgue point to foul play.

My take: 3 looks
This book was very character-heavy. Too much so, I thought. It was becoming almost a drudge to read to the end of the 283 pages. I would recommend an organizational chart, nursery rhyme chart, map or something to help keep everyone straight.

While it was extremely cumbersome (and the reason for not giving it four looks), it was so incredibly cleverly written that I was in awe throughout most of the book (and the reason for not giving it two looks). What imagination Fforde has! This is my first book by him, but I have his collection for Nook and will read more. After a break. I need a palate cleanser after Dostoyevsky and this one!