Jasper Fforde's 'Nursery Crimes'

Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde likes asking difficult questions. Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall? Why do Daddy Bear and Mommy Bear sleep in separate beds? His questions have led to a successful series of humorous thrillers called "Nursery Crimes."
MPR Photo/Euan Kerr

Author Jasper Fforde likes to play around with stories -- often other people's stories.

He's written a series of best-selling comic thrillers, including one based on Charlotte Bronte called "The Eyre Affair."

He's also also dipped into classic children's literature for his "Nursery Crime" series. His latest book is called "The Fourth Bear."

Fforde told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr he wanted to look at the tale of "The Three Bears" for what it really is -- a crime story.