The Fourth Bear is a mystery/fantasy novel by Jasper Fforde published in July 2006. It is Jasper Fforde's sixth novel, and the second in the Nursery Crimes series (also known as the Jack Spratt series). It continues the story of Detective Inspector Jack Spratt from The Big Over Easy. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Jasper Fforde (born in London on 11 January 1961) is a novelist and aviator living in Wales. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... Look up mystery in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) book is bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth or heavy paper) and a stitched spine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... “ISBN” redirects here. ... The Big Over Easy is a novel written by Jasper Fforde and published in 2005. ... Jasper Fforde (born in London on 11 January 1961) is a novelist and aviator living in Wales. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jack Spratt is the protagonist in a series of novels by Jasper Fforde. ... The Big Over Easy is a novel written by Jasper Fforde and published in 2005. ...

The Plot

DCI Jack Spratt heads the Berkshire Nursery Crime Division, handling all inquiries involving nursery rhyme characters and other PDRs (persons of dubious reality). After doubts arise concerning his handling of the Great Red-Legg'd Scissorman's arrest and the Red Riding Hood affair, he is suspended pending a mental health review. His DS Mary Mary promises to consult him on all cases, to bypass the suspension. They begin an investigation of porridge-smuggling by anthropomorphic bears.

Jack's troubles increase when the argumentative Punches move in next door and his son adopts a sly and sticky-fingered pet. He is forced to reveal to his shocked wife that he is himself a PDR (Person of Dubious Reality). Furthermore, his psychiatrist is particularly sceptical about his claim that his new car repairs itself when no one is watching, and the car salesman who can prove his sanity cannot be found. His self-esteem is somewhat restored when the newspaperman who has been hounding him begs Jack's help in finding his missing SISTER Goldilocks. It seems she was working on an explosive story involving cucumber growers.

Meanwhile the Gingerbreadman, the notorious murderous cookie,(or possibly cake) escapes custody leaving a trail of bodies; Jack is frustrated when the case is given to an unimaginative officer outside NCD. While Jack and Mary are making enquiries about Goldilocks, they twice encounter the fugitive biscuit, but fail to capture him.

It emerges that Goldilocks was involved in the porridge-smuggling after her body is discovered in the grim theme park Sommeworld. Jack begins to suspect the Gingerbreadman is a hired assassin and attempts to question the Quangle-Wangle, a reclusive industrialist. The solution to the mystery involves secret industrial and government conspiracies and the mysterious Fourth bear...

Nursery rhyme/literary references

• Jack Sprat
• Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
• The Gingerbread Man
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
• Peter Piper
• Prometheus
• The Tempest
• Punch and Judy
• The Quangle-Wangle's Hat by Edward Lear
• Thursday Next
• Struwwelpeter
• Dorian Gray

Jack Sprat is a nursery rhyme with lyrics as follows: Jack Sprat could eat no fat His wife could eat no lean. ... William Wallace Denslows rendition of the poem, 1901 Mistress Mary, according to Denslow Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary is an English nursery rhyme; an alternate first line is Mistress Mary, quite contrary. ... The Gingerbread Man is an English fairy tale about a gingerbread man that comes to life. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into The Three Bears. ... Peter Piper is a Mother Goose nursery rhyme, well-known as a tongue twister: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled boners, If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Wheres the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked? or (how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick... For other uses, see Prometheus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see The Tempest (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Punch and Judy (disambiguation). ... Edward Lear, 1812-1888 Eagle Owl, Edward Lear, 1837 Another Edward Lear owl, in his more familiar style Edward Lear (12 May 1812 – 29 January 1888) was an artist, illustrator and writer known for his nonsensical poetry and his limericks, a form which he popularised. ... Thursday Next is the protagonist in the series of novels by Jasper Fforde. ... Struwwelpeter in a childrens book from 1917. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

External links

• Fforde Grand Central
• The Fourth Bear Special Features