The Fourth Bear: A Nursery Crime Audiobook, by Jasper Fforde Play Audiobook Sample

The Fourth Bear: A Nursery Crime Audiobook

The Fourth Bear: A Nursery Crime Audiobook, by Jasper Fforde Play Audiobook Sample
FlexPass™ Price: $18.95
$9.95 for new members!
(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)
  • Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
  • No credits to manage, just big savings
  • Unlimited podcast listening
Add to Cart
$9.95/m - cancel anytime - 
learn more
OR
Regular Price: $22.50 Add to Cart
Read By: Simon Vance Publisher: Penguin Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 7.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Nursery Crime Series Release Date: August 2006 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781429586580

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

35

Longest Chapter Length:

51:08 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

05:24 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

18:43 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

12

Other Audiobooks Written by Jasper Fforde: > View All...

Listeners Also Enjoyed:

Publisher Description

The inimitable Jasper Fforde gives readers another delightful mash-up of detective fiction and nursery rhyme, returning to those mean streets where no character is innocent. The Gingerbreadman—sadist, psychopath, cookie—is on the loose in Reading, but that’s not who Detective Jack Spratt and Sergeant Mary Mary are after. Instead, they’ve been demoted to searching for missing journalist “Goldy” Hatchett. The last witnesses to see her alive were the reclusive Three Bears, and right away Spratt senses something furry—uh, funny—about their story, starting with the porridge. The Fourth Bear is a delirious new romp from our most irrepressible fabulist.

Download and start listening now!

"Fforde has outdone himself in this book. The two plotlines seemed as if they did not connect, but somehow, the Gingerbreadman and the Three Bears and Goldilocks all fit into the same mystery that had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. If Fforde hasn't proven his brilliance to you in any other of his books, this one will do it. I highly recommend it!"

— Courtney (5 out of 5 stars)

The Fourth Bear Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.96969696969697 out of 53.96969696969697 out of 53.96969696969697 out of 53.96969696969697 out of 53.96969696969697 out of 5 (3.97)
5 Stars: 9
4 Stars: 14
3 Stars: 10
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I think I've read this book 3x cos I keep forgetting I already had. I guess I can't wait for book 3 in the NCD series... "

    — LoudVal, 2/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Jasper Fforde. Catch him if you can! He's the...Man. "

    — Almeta, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Read while waiting for a chance to get my mitts on the latest 2 Thursday Next novels. Silly and fun, but these don't quite have the depth of the TN books. "

    — Siobhan, 2/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Cute. A bit slow at the beginning. "

    — Ora, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Excellent follow-up to The Big Over Easy. "

    — Scott, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Jasper Fforde's humor and clever writing style always holds my attention. The Fourth Bear is another fun read with the focus of this Nursery Crime being the murder of Goldilocks. The made-up facts at the beginning of each chapter are a particular favorite! "

    — Tammy, 1/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Just a lot of fun to read! "

    — Erocchio, 1/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It takes me awhile to get into a Jasper Fforde book, but once I'm in, I'm in 'til the end- staying up all night to finish it if I must. The Fourth Bear doesn't disappoint with all the twists, turns, puns, rhymes, and odd connections only a creatively warped mind can invent! "

    — Jerjonji, 12/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Second in the "Nursery Crime" series - familiar nursery rhyme characters caught up in elaborate whodunnits. "

    — Paul, 12/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Enjoyable, clever, but not as funny as I had expected. Not heavy reading though. "

    — Nina, 12/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " As always, Jasper Fforde is delightfully absurd. Just what the world needs. "

    — Kathryn, 12/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The best plot twists in the history of mystery! Usually I know the end before I get there, but not with Jasper Fforde and Detective Jack Sprat of the Nursery Crime Division. Familiar characters but with a new life of their own, snarky British humor, and unbelievable situations. Fforde fan forever. "

    — Heather, 11/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Since I am a fan of the cucumber I cannot decide if it is getting its due, finally, or getting major league dissed. Regardless, this is one seriously off center book. And I enjoyed it very much. Since this is what you read Jasper Fforde for, you might as well enjoy it. "

    — Cynthiaj, 7/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " enjoyed this much better than "The Big Over Easy" "

    — Carla, 4/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " The premise of these books - basically books and characters being alive - is interesting enough that I have read a few of his books. Although also somewhat absurd at times. This was the first one I read in his nursery crimes series. "

    — Julaine, 2/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This brings fairy tales into the current era. many layers of literary references. Very funny. "

    — Jen, 9/11/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " i wonder where SpLotvia is (or however is it spelled) ;-) the elephant park with no elephants sound familiar? :-D "

    — Kristaps, 6/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Banished to the couch to finish reading in the middle of the night. My laughing woke up my wife! Wouldn't normally think great mystery and great fun went together, but it works here. "

    — Lawrence, 6/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fforde's done it again. Another brilliant mesh of stories, including Goldilocks, Punch and Judy (as marriage counselors!) and Dorian Gray. Utterly delightful. "

    — Glorious.Clio, 4/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Oh, my. Where does he come up with this stuff? Please, sit down at the keyboard and write more, Mr. Fforde. "

    — Jennifer, 4/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Another hilarious read from Fforde. "

    — Aleshia, 11/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I LOVE this author! It's fast, witty, you really have to think, and it's a crime novel. But, it's all set in the Nursery Crime Division :) All of his books are good, but this is especially great because we all know nursery rhymes. Great read "

    — Kendra, 4/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I am now a confirmed Jasper FForde fan. I no own all his NCD crime books ! "

    — Tonya, 4/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " More fun with the Nursery Crime set and Fforde's writing style in this series has me hooked. "

    — Amy, 4/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Clever and entertaining. Especially loved the word plays and references to other literature/nursery rhymes. "

    — Karin, 4/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I love Jasper Fforde. I can't get enough. :) "

    — Bethany, 4/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The style vaguely reminds me of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, but weirder. The quirky, strange plot with more twists and turns than a deformed cucumber is oddly appealing. "

    — Erin, 4/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Am now thinking I prefer the Thursday Next series by just a bit, but the Nursery Crime books are still fast-paced and wickedly enjoyable. I'll definitely read the rest of Jasper Fforde's oeuvre. "

    — Sofia, 4/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a very enjoyable read. I love Fforde's sense of whimsy and improbable that seems so plausible. The story was clever and the character development excellent. "

    — Jane, 3/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Cute. A bit slow at the beginning. "

    — Ora, 3/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It was funny, but I enjoyed the first book a lot more. I thought the case was more interesting. Still a good read though. "

    — Hey_jude, 3/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is quite an amusing book. I'd say it's similar to Hitchhiker's Guild to the Galaxy as far as humor goes! A very good read! "

    — Jonny, 3/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It takes me awhile to get into a Jasper Fforde book, but once I'm in, I'm in 'til the end- staying up all night to finish it if I must. The Fourth Bear doesn't disappoint with all the twists, turns, puns, rhymes, and odd connections only a creatively warped mind can invent! "

    — Jerjonji, 3/4/2011

About Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde traded a varied career in the film industry for staring vacantly out the window and arranging words on a page. He is the author of the Nursery Crime and Thursday Next series.

About Simon Vance

Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.