Jasper Fforde has come up with another imaginative, witty novel loosely allied with the murder mystery genre. But unlike his Thursday Next series, he has unfortunately strayed a bit too far on the side of silly with The Big Over Easy, a novel that focuses on the mystery of Humpty Dumpty's death.

The Big Over Easy is a surrealistic adventure in which your next door neighbor may just be a nursery- rhyme character. Detective Inspector Jack Spratt (you know, the one who could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean) has been slogging along in the NCD (Nursery Crime Division) for over 20 years. Working with misfits and aliens, he has gotten few convictions, and has accidentally killed four giants. Even worse, his cases lack the kind of narrative punch required by the department.

It's not just about solving crimes anymore. In Jack's world, it's also about coming up with an appealing plot that will hold reader interest and appear in Amazing Crime Stories. As Jack's boss explains to new recruit, Mary Mary (yes, as in quite contrary):

"Modern policing isn't just about catching criminals, Mary. It's about good copy and ensuring that cases can be made into top-notch documentaries on the telly. Public approval is the all-important currency these days, and police budgets ebb and flow on the back of circulation and viewing figures."

The fact that Jack is happily married and has five children counts against him quite a bit, considering that other detectives fascinate with their penchants for femmes fatales and a little too much drink.

Now he must face a new case, with a new assistant, Mary Mary. He's up against a terrible record, the threat of departmental dissolution and the competition of arch-nemesis and erstwhile protégé, Detective Inspector Friedland Chymes.

Unlike Spratt, Chymes has a knack for solving murders with incredibly convoluted and intricate plot twists - combined with an uncanny ability to lift the most arcane clues to the height of physical evidence.

Even though Humpty Dumpty's death clearly falls under Jack's jurisdiction, the police department wants the case of socialite and philanthropist Dumpty wrapped up neatly. The universally esteemed Jellyman is coming to town to visit the Sacred Gonga Visitor's Center, and everything must be in ship-shape for his arrival.

While readers must give Fforde credit for wit, energy and exuberance, sometimes the novel reads like one long, extended pun. The first quarter or so of the book sustains the humor, but after that it gets old fast.

Also, the post-modern surrealistic theme of self-referential metaphor (this is a load of 50 cent words that mean he makes fun of our society, himself and the story at the same time) falls flat. Yes, he's making fun of television shows like COPS. And OK, so the nosy neighbor is appropriately named Mrs. Sittkomm, and the town is in danger of being infected by a giant foot disease. Ho-hum. Or perhaps that should be fi, fie, ho-hum.

Good for a few chuckles, readers of Fforde's earlier works will find that this one doesn't go down quite as Easy.

Eric J. Blommel is a freelance writer living in Centennial.