So many people had raved about Jasper Fforde to me that I suppose it was always going to be difficult for him to live up to expectations. Sure enough, I found the first few chapters of this book rather heavy going and more than a little peurile. I'm glad I persevered though as there are some genuinely good moments as the plot develops into a contorted whodunnit.

The twist of course is that the story, although it takes place in modern-day Reading, is laced with nursery rhyme characters. Indeed the victim is Humpty Dumpty himself, apparently dead having fallen off a wall, but there are many twists and turns as DI Jack Spratt unravels Humpty's murky past and ultimate demise.

Younger readers, perhaps teens through twenties, might enjoy it more than I did, but only the hardened literati will fail to find something to chuckle over. There's some quite nice playing with convention, including the running thread of the Guild of Detectives who are affiliated with the press and ensure that investigations are always interesting enough for publication in Amazing Crime Stories and subsequent TV shows.

I don't feel the need to read it again though. It's just a bit of fun.