Thursday Next retreats into the Well of Lost Plots to avoid getting into more trouble with Goliath and the Chronoguard in the real world. With a baby on the way and her husband Landen erased from everyone’s memory but hers, she wants to stay safe, and the best way to do that is to take up residence in a failing detective novel. Unfortunately, trouble finds Thursday even when she’s hiding, as she must battle the new book upgrade, save the novel she has moved into, and figure out why Jurisfiction agents are being murdered.
As with the other books I’ve read by Jasper Fforde, this one is a treat. My favorite part is unquestionably the many literary references sprinkled throughout the text. We visit Alice In Wonderland, Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, and several other literary destinations as well as hints. For example, Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows has a never-ending battle with Miss Haversham to see who can drive the fastest. During a meeting, everyone present remarks constantly that they are waiting for Godot. Humpty Dumpty and his nursery rhyme cohorts need to be satisfied; their stories aren’t always written down and they want equal rights with book characters. I think it’s those sneaky hints and literary connections that make these books great.
I did wonder a little bit why Thursday wasn’t gung ho about finding Landen. She has to battle her own memories to keep him alive and that certainly means a lot to her, but she uses the excuse of the baby to stop going out into the real world. Of course, she’s in plenty of danger in the Well of Lost Plots, too, but I guess gigantic monsters aren’t as scary as the Goliath corporation. You could also say that one is expected and one is not, but, well, I’m nitpicky. 
Anyway, after reading this I feel I have definitely gotten back into the Thursday Next groove. This was a library book and I actually own book 4, but it’s at my parents’. So it’ll be at least July or so until I can read the next one, but I’m really looking forward to it.
The Well of Lost Plots is available from Amazon and Amazon UK.
I’ve only read one Fforde book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This one sounds good too.
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I love the Thursday Next books! and IMHO the next one Something Rotten, is the best! So even though you have to wait, you’re in for a treat!
(Have you read any of his Jack Spratt books?)
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I tried reading the first Jasper Fforde and had a hard time getting into, but I do plan to try again, just because I also love all the literary references and inside jokes.
I’ll have to pick it up from the library soon.
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I think it may be for the best that you’ve got a forced break between this one and the next one. I read books two through four all in a big clump, and they got kind of sameish after a while. I had a good long break before book #5, and that made all the difference.
That said, these books are a ton of fun! I agree with you that the literary references really make them. I always want to rush out and read some classic lit whenever I’ve finished a Fforde.
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I think that this is my favourite of the Jasper Fforde books!
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I stalled on reading this series. I really must make an effort to continue on! I think this might be where I stopped, but I honestly can’t remember! That’s how long it has been!
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I have to get back to the Fforde books. I love this series.
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I really want to start reading this series! Thanks for the review.
I love this series as well and hope that FForde continues to write them. Have you read any of the Nursery Crimes series by the same author? I have the first one but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. I think it’s called The Big Over Easy (It’s about the murder of Humpty Dumpty).
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