Review Book reviewers are a conservative, brow wrinkling lot and very rarely spew forth superlatives such as brilliant or exceptional when referring to a work by a relatively new author.

Nigel Jay Cooper deserves better.

Initially I thought this read would be a bit of a chuckle, you know, guy gets hit by a car, his consciousness flies into a derelict guy who happens by; a bit comedic really. Not so.

What evolves is a cerebral, closely woven tragedy of use and misuse, of premeditated deception, the conflicting needs of the two (or is it three) main protagonists and the eventual resignation to a co-existence with faults and flaws in tact.

For me it was a page turner, an exhausting yet rewarding glimpse into the dark realms of the self.

Thanks to NetGalley and Roundfire Books for the privilege of reviewing this work. (less)

A really interesting and intriguing read. I did get confused at times but always got back on track. I liked that the book came from each characters perspective so that the whole story slowly emerged through the chapters. Definitely a book club read.

One word for this book...simply brilliant and a must read!

I am not sure what drew me to this book as it is not my usual genre. But I've been right to trust my instincts before so I did so again and, once again, I was rewarded with a really good read. It's a little out of the ordinary, as were the previous couple of books I have read by the same publisher, but hey, different is often good, as it was again in this case.
So, we start with the harrowing scene of a fatal car accident, culminating in Natalie cradling Joe, her dying husband. It is witnessed by Dan who we later find out is homeless. Something really affects him about what he witnessed and he starts to believe that his body has been invaded by Joe's spirit. Driven by strange feelings, Dan is determined to find Natalie, to reunite her with Joe, and eventually turns up on her doorstep. He tells her things about Joe, Natalie and their relationship which she confirms and so lets him into her home. But are things really as they appear? Is Dan really possessed by Joe; did his spirit pass into him at his time of death? How could he know what he does if not? Or is there something more sinister afoot? After all, who would invite a homeless stranger into their house willingly if everything wasn't OK?
It was quite obvious to me from pretty early on what was going on with some of the characters but there was so much still unknown that that really didn't matter. And there was always the chance I was wrong. The author then went on to drip feed me more information and evidence throughout the book as the scenes played out which gave my guess more credence and also sense along the way. This was on the whole timed to perfection as it gave me enough clarification to satisfy, whilst at the same time keeping enough back to maintain my interest throughout.
A lot of the action is played out twice. First from the pov of one character, then later on by another. Whilst this could have been repetitive, there was enough different to make it necessary rather than just padding, although maybe some of the second viewings could have been pruned a little bit to slim down the unnecessary parts. Only a bit, mind.
The characterisation was, for me, excellent. It is hard to write wounded characters well so they appear credible. One of my favourite authors is Matthew Quick and he is brilliant at this, which is why I love his books so much. The author here also nails this very well. And he also does so with great sensitivity given some of the subject matter. I'd really love to give examples of this here but I fear it would contain spoilers so you'll just have to trust me on that. I will just say that the way that the characters develop through the book, as more of their real selves are exposed, was really something quite special.
It was also quite an emotional read, probably because I believed in the characters and was willing to invest in them. But as much as it was, at times, on the sad side, there was always hope bubbling under and there were several really uplifting and indeed moving scenes which made the book as a whole very balanced.
I've not read this author's first book Beat the Rain, but on the back of reading this, I will definitely be adding that to my TBR. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I liked the way this book dealt with issues such as domestic violence and mental health issues. I thought the storyline was well presented and easily followed and the characters were believable. This was the first book by this author I have read. I will now look forward to reading others.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Nigel Jay Cooper for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

They say ones man’s meat is another mans poison and this was my poison. I really did try to get into this book but to no avail and it is not a style of writing that I enjoy. I have no doubt that it was well written and would have awarded it 3 stars but for the authors rating of his own book at 5 stars. My opinion is that readers should judge the rating on these books, after all it is our hard earned cash that determines whether an author is successful or not.

Sometimes it feels like there are no original ideas out there for books and I am reading the same basic story over and over. This is not necessarily a bad thing…murder mysteries, dystopia, love stories…these all work because they follow a proven formula, to a certain extent. Authors who experiment with that formula can have either good or bad results. However, The Pursuit of Ordinary by Nigel Jay Cooper is a book that defies categorization. I was given this ARC from Roundfire Books and the author – likely because I read and reviewed Cooper’s first book, Beat the Rain, which I enjoyed, although the overall tone was a little too depressing for my particular tastes. I didn’t read any blurbs or explanations of The Pursuit of Ordinary, so I went into it totally blind, with no idea what it was about. This is actually my favorite way to read a book, but if you like a little advance warning beyond a “read it” recommendation, proceed…

It’s a love story – sort of. It also has some mysterious elements, but it’s not really a mystery in the classic sense. It’s a meditation on psychology and the self. It’s a story of redemption. It’s a story of survival. It’s a story of mental illness. It’s a lot rolled into one book and I really enjoyed reading it. We follow Natalie, Joe, and Dan on a journey that takes us in surprising directions, has unexpected reveals, and definitely got me thinking. I found that while I liked the characters, I couldn’t always understand their choices. But, that is part of what made this fascinating, was that exploration of how our minds work and why people make the choices that they do. There is a plot here, but it is primarily a character study, and a very unique one that defies genre. I think Nigel Jay Cooper is only getting better in his writing; I look forward to his third book!

This has an intriguing scenario. Dan, a homeless man, witnesses an accident in which a man dies cradled in his wife's arms. After that he appears to be possessed by the spirit of the man. The man's wife even allows him into her home. That can't happen can it...

I found the writing vivid. Dan and Joe - the man who died are having conversations. They (!) turn up on Natalie's doorstep. Via a rather odd three way conversation they seem to convince her that Joe is her deceased husband. So far, so strange. By the end of the first chapter I thought that it probably wasn't really my kind of book though the pace and writing were fine.

The next chapter looks at the story through Natalie's eyes. It became far more interesting and even sinister. From then on I would not have stopped reading it. There was obviously far more to this story that seemed the case initially. The voices alternate mostly between Dan and Natalie.

I found this book something of a roller coaster. Bits I really enjoyed and other parts I found somewhat frustrating. At times it felt a bit "chick lit", at times it had real depth to it. Within chapters the time line switches from present to past and back with no sign posting. The story is repeated quite often from the different perspectives. I found this confused and confusing sometimes.

Whatever else this is not an "ordinary" book. I dislike spoilers so I'm giving nothing away other than to say that I admire the author for trying this story out. I found the reading journey interesting and I'm sure other will too. The characters didn't leave me fully convinced I think but they were not at all bad. I'm honestly not sure what rating to give this even after reflecting on it. I don't think it is just a three star read then neither do I think it is a four. I'll settle on 3.5/5 and say that I'd happily read another by this author.

Beautifully crafted and so very unusual. My first impressions of the book as a kind of ghost story were quickly dispelled and I was kept guessing where the story would go. A love story with mental health issues and death at its core, it was thought provoking and deliciously intriguing. Highly recommended.

Twisting, hypnotic trip into mental illness, into the disconnect from ordinary. Chilling. The book will not let the reader go, even after the last word has been read.

This is a book that I imagine will appeal to fans of S.J.Watson’s work (e.g. Before I Go To Sleep, Second Life) or Girl On A Train. I mention those specifically as I’ve read them, but there are many others like them and they are popular. I imagine this book will also sell well. Unfortunately, they aren’t my taste in books and neither is this. If you are a fan of books like those I’ve mentioned, then I recommend this to you as I think you will enjoy it. If, like me, you aren’t a fan, then I don’t recommend this, either.

Dan is a homeless man who witnesses a car accident in which a man is killed. He sees the man’s wife holding him as he dies. The question the book poses to us at the start (as is explained in the book’s blurb) is then whether Dan has been possessed by the spirit of the man killed in the accident or whether he is mentally ill in some way. Whichever option is correct, he decides he has to find the woman. From here, a story unfolds with several twists and turns and it would not be fair to talk about any of them or the plot in general as this book is nothing without the plot and the twists that are uncovered along the way.

My problem is that I highlighted several passages near the start of the book and made notes about what I thought they meant in terms of twists coming up. All but one of them was right, including the big reveal about 90% of the way through which I highlighted on about page 2. I think maybe I have read too many of these books, because it becomes too easy to realise you are reading a story that is going to twist and turn and then, when those twists and turns are telegraphed so obviously, the book really turns into a series of disappointments. Here, for example, Dan’s “condition” is laboured several times, so you know it is going to play a part and it isn’t difficult to work out early on what that part is going to be. Equally, the book blurb asks the question about why Natalie lets Dan in so easily and one of the main reasons is the big twist which, as I’ve already said, is pretty obvious from about page 2 but not revealed until about 9/10 of the way through (I read an ARC ebook, so no page numbers).

The second major issue I had with book is the structure. We get several long sections where the story is told first from one character’s perspective and then repeated from another character’s perspective. There are some differences, of course, but there are large chunks of repetition which drove me mad with frustration. The book feels very much like it was written with a movie in mind, but can you imagine how frustrating it would be to go to a movie where you basically got the same movie twice but with the camera angles changed? That’s what it feels like.

Finally, one more minor complaint. The books uses the phrase <i>“He’s not the man who can do that at this moment in time.”</i> and “this moment in time” is one of my pet hates because where else can a moment be (please, mathematicians, don’t have a go at me - you know what I am saying)? Why can’t people just say “at the moment”? Or “just now”?

Anyway, I think this book will probably be a best seller because books like this often are. But I’m afraid I was just glad when it was done and I only really finished it to check how many of my predictions were right.

My thanks to NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing for a ARC of this book in exchange for what, I’m sorry, is an honest review.

This is Nigel Jay Cooper's sophomore novel and he does not disappoint. Last year, I got the chance to read an early copy of The Pursuit of Ordinary. I was thrilled for the opportunity, of course, and quickly jumped to it. This is a captivating Contemporary Fiction novel. It's powerful, plausible, and sound. I think one of Nigel's biggest qualities as an author is his ability to write about the common fellow and see beyond the surface. His characters are real people, just like any of us. His talent is presenting these people as whole individuals. Neither good or bad. He leaves the judgment to us. In The Pursuit of Ordinary, he explores the themes of grief, mental health, and love. How far are we willing to go to avoid the pain? What risks will we take?

The storyline is compelling and exciting. His narrative beautifully flows and it unfolds chapter by chapter with the right amount of twists and turns. We meet two people struggling with their circumstances. Their lives collide in an unusual way and we become witnesses to their story. I quickly dived into the story and became invested in their universe. There are pain and grief between the pages, but also tenderness and understanding. As someone who works in the mental health field, I thoroughly appreciated how Nigel presented the subject with dignity and respect. It's refreshing to find a story where a person can struggle with mental health but still be worthy of self-agency and love. We need more books like this!


A million thanks to NetGalley, John Hunt Publishing Ltd, and Roundfire Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Where to start about this lovely book? First of all, I've been a fan of Nigel Cooper after reading his debut novel, Beat the Rain which I absolutely loved! Dare I say this one is even better? The plot is so incredibly unique and yet all parts of it work to create a beautiful and heartfelt story that weaves in social commentary without becoming preachy. When Natalie's husband, Joe dies in her arms after a horrific car accident, his spirit enters Dan, a homeless man standing nearby. But how can Dan convince Natalie that he's not a fraud and her dead husband can live on through his memories? Why on earth would she believe him? Shockingly, she appears to as Joe speaks to her with his own accent and relates the lovely and sentimental details of their first date. But there's a discrepancy between appearance and reality. What secrets are they both keeping and why? With marvelously flawed characters and poignant, lovely writing, Cooper speaks to the themes of passion, guilt, redemption, depression, mental illness, and homelessness. And for fans of Beat the Rain, he brings in a cross-over character, Louise which is a treat for those of us who loved that novel. The book will make you laugh and make you cry as the storyline is slowly revealed in voices of Joe, Dan, and Natalie. It will also keep you guessing until the very end; quite simply put, it is superb!

Excellent story line and great main characters. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend.