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Friday 22 August 2014

The Coincidence Authority by John Ironmonger

Oh my goodness, I just loved this book. It was completely different from what I was expecting, but at the same time just what I hoped for. When I first read the front cover, I got the impression that it was a love story, then I turned and read the back and thought no, this is going to be something a bit better and a bit different. There's a quote from The Times: "This story twists like a pretzel, the author teases and tantalises the reader, and it's delightfully unexpected". Yes, I agree with all that. I read it in a matter of days and didn't want it to end.

Dr Thomas Post is an authority, or expert, on coincidences. He has a mathematical answer to explain away every and any coincidence that may happen in anyone's life. That is, until Azalea Lewis literally tumbles into his life. She has a very unusual and traumatic story to tell, and wants Thomas' help in finding answers to her conundrums. The story takes us to the Isle of Man, to Cumbria, to Devon, to Cornwall, and to Uganda. It's shocking, it's happy and it's sad, and you will love every minute of it.