Beyond Coincidence by Martin Plimmer and Brian King (Icon Books, £12.99)

WE'VE all experienced that cor-blimey moment, the stop-you-in-your tracks phenomenon so inadequately described as coincidence.

In fact, only the other day, I was reading through a list of several hundred names, when I came across the name Dillon.

Well, would you believe it, but at the exact moment of alighting upon this, a voice on background TV said - in heavens knows what context - the words "Matt Dillon".

So. I'm hungry for an explanation, yearning for the fix of ink on paper that will confirm the answer may be only the turn of a page away...

Don't get me wrong. This book is indeed a cornucopia of coincidence, brimming with more than 200 case histories, trawled from the mires of mystery in a way that only two highly professional journalists could do.

But while this purports to be an in-depth look at the mechanics of coincidence, it is really only a superbly-crafted compilation of the most celebrated examples of the genre.

Adding to the confusion is the vastly differing prose styles of Plimmer and King. One is adept at short, pithy, witty sentences - typical reporter - and the other appears to have eaten the brain of Arthur Koestler spread on lightly toasted pikelets well-oiled with the dripping butter of consummately skilful hackery.

This is a marvellous "greatest hits" album but it's lacking in analysis and explanation. And that is what is needed to make this book stand out... rather than a scissors and paste job that is only rescued by its fascinating subject matter.

John Phillpott