Who Is Tom Ditto? by Danny Wallace (a review)

Tom Adoyo, a breakfast radio news and weather reporter comes home to find a note from his girlfriend. It reads;

                                   Tom,
                                    I have not left you. But I am gone.
                                    Please just carry on as normal.
                                    Love always
                                    Hayley

And so begins a tale that is quite wonderful in its' quirkiness. Tom, as you would expect tries to get to the bottom of the mystery. Where is Hayley?, Is she coming back? Is she still his girlfriend?

It seems her friends, and colleagues were aware she was going somewhere but no-one is able  to tell Tom what is going on. His search leads him to a group of people with a slightly odd but fun hobby, but will they lead to Hayley and answers. And who is the girl that seems to be following him

This is a funny and clever novel of love, loss and finding yourself. It is very hard to say much about the principle idea of the 'group' but if you keep in mind the fact that Danny Wallace, the author, is the same man that;

                  a) Started a cult by accident (Join Me)

                   b) Started his own country (How To Start Your Own Country)

     and        c) Said YES for a year (Yes Man)

 you can expect that it is an off the wall idea that will become more believable as the story goes on.

I really recommend this book to one and all (and if you see it in the airport book shop as you fly out on your summer hols this would make an excellent beach/poolside book).

Read it before it is made into a film (as it surely will be) to really appreciate Wallace's gift as a storyteller

5/5 stars