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Coincidence
A wrong number here, a case of mistaken identity there, a chance meeting with a stranger who knows your best friend. Most people dismiss such things as trivial, unimportant. Mere coincidence. Or could there be a hidden pattern in these seemingly random events? George Daly's life has been as unremarkable as most people's, until the day he finds himself going through his dead father's possessions. He discovers a photograph of himself as a boy, but he has no memory of where it was taken, nor does he recognize the people with him. As he investigates further, he experiences an increasingly bizarre chain of coincidences that soon threaten to unravel his whole world. Before long he finds himself fighting for his sanity and even his survival.
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First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 11, 2017
I just wanted to read a book without having to write a review, and also without having to think too much. Well, Coincidence is a nice read, it has some twists and turns and some very unexpected scenes. It is all a bit overdone but it is nicely written. It brougth a smile on my face.
June 15, 2007
Ummm, David Ambrose? What? This is, independently of the other book by this author that I just read (The Man Who Turned into Himself), a good book. However, seeing as I just read TMWTiH and enjoyed it... I coudln't help but notice.. this is basically the same book. I mean.. the characters are different. I'll give him that. But not THAT different.. and the situations and theme and many of the concepts... very much the same. Too much the same. This book was just from multiple perspectives. I mean, I still enjoyed the book.. but because of just having read TMWTiH, I was able to accurately predict everything that happened in this 'un. Which made it less fun. So.. I'm dissapointed in this author. I'm probably going to read his other book (Superstition) because I really DO like his writing style. But, if it's the same book as these other two.. I will not be pleased.
July 29, 2014
I have to admit that, when i finished reading this book, i was on the fence about whether I liked it or not. Still am.
The thing is, up until the last third of it, the plot is quite interesting, you can't help but relate to the main character and the author definitely did a lot of research on the theme. The way it is written is quite interesting and keeps you clinging to the pages and storyline. Reading "Coincidence" is definitely not a chore.
Then there's a major plot twist that I never saw coming and that is the main reason I am giving it 4 stars. It's pretty unusual these days to find a book that surprises me the way this one did. However, I am left wondering if I am pleased with the experience as a whole.
Alas, I am pleased enough to know that I want to read more by this author and have ordered a new book.
The thing is, up until the last third of it, the plot is quite interesting, you can't help but relate to the main character and the author definitely did a lot of research on the theme. The way it is written is quite interesting and keeps you clinging to the pages and storyline. Reading "Coincidence" is definitely not a chore.
Then there's a major plot twist that I never saw coming and that is the main reason I am giving it 4 stars. It's pretty unusual these days to find a book that surprises me the way this one did. However, I am left wondering if I am pleased with the experience as a whole.
Alas, I am pleased enough to know that I want to read more by this author and have ordered a new book.
August 1, 2008
What a surprise! I went to the library and decided to choose a book from the "A" author section, and found this one. and I loved it! In fact, I am really wondering why this book was not made into a movie. the premise was interesting - a writer in interested in writing about coincidences, and finds a big one in his own life. and that one coincidence leads him into some deep philosophical speculations about the nature of life itself. The ending wasn't quite as good as I had hoped for, but I can't imagine how the book SHOULD have ended instead. It was a quick read - and thoroughly entertaining and provoking!
August 10, 2013
It's been a long time since I read The Man Who Turned Into Himself - which I liked ok and have given to a lot of people just to hear their complaints about it. This book has a lot in common with that one - variations on a theme - but I got into this one faster and think it was more fun. Fast, easy, light reading that could spur fun thoughts if you felt like thinking about the ideas this guy could refine. Explanations are an art form he says at the end and that they are. I'm no good at explaining why I like this book so maybe I'll just go paint now.
April 18, 2015
This book is all over the shop. In addition to be sloppily written, the "plot" is thinner than a orphanage bedsheet. It has a couple of interesting ideas, but the turgid prose and progress completely kills it.
December 7, 2013
I was totally swept up by the first half of this book with its amazing plot. When the story turned seedy and dark, however, I got disillusioned. I also felt the ending was a bit of a cop-out.
September 9, 2019
David, you managed to ruin a perfectly good yarn by not sticking to the twin thing, so lets rewrite it, I will give you the points. George is dead, Steve is in prison, and evil Larry is trying to work his way back into Sara's bed and is still planning to kill her for the inheritance. As we know Larry makes it and the sex is good, Sara wants some more so she goes down on him and horror of horrors he is uncut, George was circumcised early in their marriage, painful sex. She manages to hold it together, over the next few days she finds the photograph of the twin, George's hospital records, the report from the investigators written by Nadia,the connection to Steve, and the murder weapon, Larry is in trouble.
The tower scene, Larry gets Sara there but she is prepared and has the good old recording device, she confronts him, he admits every thing, goes to push her over she side steps him and over he goes, she goes to look over the parapet expecting to see him dead down below but he is there hanging on and grabs her, fighting, he finally falls. Sara goes down to check that he is no more, but in every thriller the bad guy has to die twice, more fighting, a handy brick and Sara applies the coup de grass.
The tower scene, Larry gets Sara there but she is prepared and has the good old recording device, she confronts him, he admits every thing, goes to push her over she side steps him and over he goes, she goes to look over the parapet expecting to see him dead down below but he is there hanging on and grabs her, fighting, he finally falls. Sara goes down to check that he is no more, but in every thriller the bad guy has to die twice, more fighting, a handy brick and Sara applies the coup de grass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2022
Three and a half stars: I was introduced to the author by his book Superstition, which I really enjoyed 99% of the way through. Like so many paranormal-type books, the ending sort of peters out.
This was certainly a different type of book, and it keeps you guessing as to what is really happening (actually it's a question that is never really answered.) Once the major plot twist is sprung I sort of lost interest, although the writing is such that I never considered not finishing it. (The short side-trips into philosophical territory of synchronicity were a little trying after a while, though.)
Not a glowing recommendation, but it was an okay light read if you want something a little different.
This was certainly a different type of book, and it keeps you guessing as to what is really happening (actually it's a question that is never really answered.) Once the major plot twist is sprung I sort of lost interest, although the writing is such that I never considered not finishing it. (The short side-trips into philosophical territory of synchronicity were a little trying after a while, though.)
Not a glowing recommendation, but it was an okay light read if you want something a little different.
April 7, 2024
I really liked Ambrose' "Superstition" so I checked this out of the library. Good thing I didn't spend money on it. Spoilers below, be warned.
George, a writer researching synchronicity and coincidence, experiences his own coincidence when he meets his exact double. Who suggests they swap identities to play a joke on a friend. Suddenly we're in film noir territory: the double is a crook who lets the men hunting him kill George, assumes his identity, frames George's wife's lover for murder, then George shows up alive. It turns out the reason they both exist is ... the world is a computer program! A coding error has duplicated them! "The world is a computer" is an old enough shtick that "cliche" would be a charitable description.
George, a writer researching synchronicity and coincidence, experiences his own coincidence when he meets his exact double. Who suggests they swap identities to play a joke on a friend. Suddenly we're in film noir territory: the double is a crook who lets the men hunting him kill George, assumes his identity, frames George's wife's lover for murder, then George shows up alive. It turns out the reason they both exist is ... the world is a computer program! A coding error has duplicated them! "The world is a computer" is an old enough shtick that "cliche" would be a charitable description.
January 3, 2023
This book is a fun thought experiment and is well written with interesting characters. The twist was a little farfetched and disappointing to me but still engaging. I also made note of the other research and books mentioned that seem very interesting and I'd like to read other books by this author.
August 14, 2017
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book.It was almost written as non fiction.And the subject of the coincidences was very interesting.But it spiralled out of control.The ending was dreadful! I doubt I can bring myself to ever read another of his works.
November 21, 2023
In the first couple of chapters I was a little unsure about this book but I'm really glad I stuck with it. I had somewhat guessed the ending early on but regardless it was a good read. Aiming to pick up some of his other books soon.
December 19, 2021
Very hard to classify a genre for this book - Murder/mystery, Sci-Fi, Philosophy? Delves a little too deeply into weird philosophy for my liking, but still an enjoyable read.
August 30, 2024
Nothing more to say
December 23, 2012
I really don't know what to make of this book. The first third was like a non-fiction book on the subject of coincidence. And as I like those "listy" books it drew me in.
Then it suddenly became a mystery novel as George started to catch glimpses of his wife in places she shouldn't be, with people she shouldn't be with.
The rug is then completely pulled out from under you when he finds himself inside a computer game!?
It's as if 2 or 3 friends decided to write a book together without actually seeing what the others had written before clumsily glueing their respective parts together.
I haven't read the author before so I don't know if this is his style and, as such, it's difficult to gauge whom it might be aimed at.
Then it suddenly became a mystery novel as George started to catch glimpses of his wife in places she shouldn't be, with people she shouldn't be with.
The rug is then completely pulled out from under you when he finds himself inside a computer game!?
It's as if 2 or 3 friends decided to write a book together without actually seeing what the others had written before clumsily glueing their respective parts together.
I haven't read the author before so I don't know if this is his style and, as such, it's difficult to gauge whom it might be aimed at.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2015
There will be spoilers in this review
First off if you're a fan of Jonathan Carroll you may enjoy this book. You start one story of coincidences, which I wanted more of, but hen you begin the journey of George and Larry. There were many times that I felt very confused but I just rolled with because it was still interesting. Then it's a story of life and death. I did get a bit confused on who lived at first. If you don't want to think don't read this book. If you aren't interested in philosophy or the metaphysical and even a bit of quantum theory you won't enjoy it. I loved the weird twists and turns. I image this book was edited down, which may have been a mistake. I think i may read his other books!
First off if you're a fan of Jonathan Carroll you may enjoy this book. You start one story of coincidences, which I wanted more of, but hen you begin the journey of George and Larry. There were many times that I felt very confused but I just rolled with because it was still interesting. Then it's a story of life and death. I did get a bit confused on who lived at first. If you don't want to think don't read this book. If you aren't interested in philosophy or the metaphysical and even a bit of quantum theory you won't enjoy it. I loved the weird twists and turns. I image this book was edited down, which may have been a mistake. I think i may read his other books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2010
Using coincidence as the theme makes it awfully convenient to string together a story. I liked the interesting coincidences that happened but not the side stories. I also liked the various points of view from the different characters. There was one part that got way too weird for me though and from that point on, I just wasn't really into it anymore.
December 12, 2009
Through several coincidences, George finds out he has a long lost twin named Larry. Larry is not an upstanding citizen and he gets George involved with his trouble.
This book does not go where you think it is. About 2/3 of the way in, it takes a hard left into Matrix-y land.
This book does not go where you think it is. About 2/3 of the way in, it takes a hard left into Matrix-y land.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2013
It was a roller coaster of emotions...Who? what? were?...Then it slowly comes to the point were you say "Just hold on a minute"..
This is not possible or is it?
I liked this book makes you think, makes you think a lot.
This is not possible or is it?
I liked this book makes you think, makes you think a lot.
March 12, 2013
It was a little bit lame, but I can forgive him since some of his other books have been so terrific.
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June 8, 2015Read it twice. Could not remember anything about the story when I retread it, which in a way was a good thing. It is a very strange storyline!
June 28, 2015
Disappointing ending. combo of philosophy & sci-fy
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February 13, 2016A great plot with so many twists. A thriller!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews