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Book Review By Jan Lamers
The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

Fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters litter the pages of the story of Inspector Jack Spratt, Nursery Crimes Division. Working with him in his department are Sergeant Mary Mary, baroness Gretel, Constable Baker and alien Ashley, who communicates by numbers. Jack's most recent case was a murder involving three little pigs and Mr. Wolff has brought Jack some bad press. The press has forgotten the fact that Jack solved the Bluebeard serial wife killing case, the Rumplestitskin spinning scam, and was part of the team that arrested the psycopathic killer, the Gingerbreadman. DCI Friedland Chymes, Jack's superior, usually takes the credit when a case is solved.

Jack is called to investigate the death of Humpty Dumpty and his fall from a wall, while he was most likely drunk. Forensics concludes Dumpty was murdered. Witnesses are hard to find and Chymes is threatening to take the high profile case away from Jack.

Jack's investigation is interrupted by his mother who asks him to sell a painting of a cow. The art dealer gives a handful of beans as compensation. His mother tosses the beans out the window, where they begin to grow and grow. Also, Jack and Mary are ordered to guard the Jellyman when he arrives in town. Pandora, Jack's daughter, is seriously dating Prometheus, who is in Britain claiming politcal asylum.
This is a serious murder case that Jack will need all his wits to solve.   


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - humorous or laughable
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - finding a killer (criminal)
Parody Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Terrain
Earth setting: - distant future
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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