The Fourth Bear

A Nursery Crime

By: Jasper Fforde

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

The Gingerbreadman, psychopath, sadist, genius, and killer, is on the loose. But it isn't Jack Spratt's case. He and Mary Mary have been demoted to Missing Persons following Jack's poor judgment involving the poisoning of Mr. Bun the baker. Missing Persons looks like a boring assignment until a chance encounter leads them into the hunt for missing journalist Henrietta "Goldy" Hatchett, star reporter for The Daily Mole. Last to see her alive? The Three Bears, comfortably living out a life of rural solitude in Andersen's wood.

But all is not what it seems. How could the bears' porridge be at such disparate temperatures when they were poured at the same time? Why did Mr. and Mrs. Bear sleep in separate beds? Was there a fourth bear? And if there was, who was he, and why did he try to disguise Goldy's death as a freak accident?

Jack answers all these questions and a few others besides, rescues Mary Mary from almost certain death, and finally meets the Fourth Bear and the Gingerbreadman face-to-face.

©2006 Jasper Fforde (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., and Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Jasper Fforde is able to write diabolically.... Outrageous satirical agility is his stock in trade." (The New York Times)

"Like the creators of...The Simpsons and South Park, Mr. Fforde uses fantasy to dissect real life.... He is our best thinking person's genre writer." (The Washington Times)

"Mr. Fforde manages to bombard the reader with more bizarre detail than most writers would dare to fit in their entire oeuvre, yet he does so with...light prose and easy, confident wit." (The Wall Street Journal)

Excellent Sequel with New Narrator

What did you like best about this story?

The characters seemed to be aware that they were in a story and at times mentioned plot holes and wondering how the author could get away with a joke that had been set up from the beginning - but really didn't have a place in the plot. I enjoy a good story that's self-aware and self-deprecating so I enjoyed The Fourth Bear immensely.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

At first I had thought that the narrator was the same since I saw "Simon" (the previous was Simon Prebble) and I had wondered why he voiced Jack and Prometheus so differently. After I figured out it was a different narrator rather than the same guy inexplicably doing different voices/accents, I really liked him. In the beginning of every chapter, Fforde starts with a quote from the "Bumper Book of Berkshire Records, 2004 edition" and hearing Vance quickly say "Bumper Book of Berkshire" always cheered me up.

Who was the most memorable character of The Fourth Bear and why?

10111001000100111-11 (AKA: PC Ashley) got to shine in this book. We learned more about the Rambosians and how they relate to each other and to society (ie car-watching, coaster collecting, oil-eating). Rambosian's are physically memorable (blue, big-eyed aliens who are essentially walking water-balloons) but Ashley is memorable to me because of his innocence, optimism, and plucky courage.

Any additional comments?

You won't be disappointed with this book if you liked the first. :)

I LOVED THE WHOLE INSANE THING!

Narration was really great, the story is off the charts, and it's exactly what a stressed-out person needs to find their Bliss in an otherwise organized and predictable world. Listen to it, read it, and then do it again!

Entertaining

Lively tongue in cheek book. The narrator is superb its worth listening to the book just
to hear Simon Vance and his interpretation of each character. I highly recommend for
a delightful light hearted experience.

Another colleague and friend of Douglass Adams.

The very clever sequel to the fabulous "The Big Over Easy". Imaginative overload from an author who occasionally breaks the fourth wall.

Oh My Heavens! What a hoot!

This story is amazing! I haven't read someone (ok, listened) who can take simple tales and turn them inside out while spinning a tale of suspense and intrigue quite like J.F. The story is hysterical, the characters outlandish, the plot devices aren't predictable, and the use of childhood stories very original.

This is a must for anyone who likes the Xanth novels and other light hearted fantasy / SF type novels.

It inspires me to make sure my kids learn all of the fables this story uses so that they will appreciate the story in their later years.

I think I have listened to this title at least half a dozen times.

Love this book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book to friends and strangers! It's so funny along with the mystery of solving the crimes. I was so sad when it came to an end!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Fourth Bear?

The most memorable parts for me were the way all the nursery rhyme characters fit in to the story. One line that I truly laughed out loud at was when they talked about the right to arm bears. It still makes me laugh! I also loved the part when Mary goes on a date with Ashley. It was great!

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I always check to see if Simon Vance is the narrator because he is truly my favorite of all! This performance was amazing because of the many different voices that he had to be.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would love to have been able to listen to all of it in one sitting. I would even just sit in the car for a long time after I got home so I could listen to the story as long as possible.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book even more than

an entirely enjoyable novel

Aliens, PDR, in a shared world with the rest of us. it is a nursery tale/ mystery for adults.

What Fun!

What a delightful 'listen.' The narrator is excellent and the material very clever. If you liked the first in the series, you'll enjoy Mary Mary and Jack Spratt again!

Fun Story with Nursery Rhyme Characters

I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction with a fantasy twist. It’s a fun and entertaining story and you could listen with kids since there isn’t any bad language or steamy parts.

Love Jasper Fforde

The book is fantastic! Lots of plot twists, great characters, and the narrator is phenomenal!