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51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Suspenseful technological thriller, November 6, 2006
Christopher Lash is a psychologist specializing in marital relationships. He previous worked for the FBI, giving him insight into criminal behavior. This is the reason officials at Eden Inc. have contacted him, to investigate the mysterious double-suicide of two of their clients. Eden is a matchmaker, but unlike any before it. Eden uses a highly advanced Artificial Intelligence to match individuals on every little detail (more than a million criteria). Lewis and Lindsay Thorpe were two such individuals, and were also the company's first "supercouple:" two people who are a 100% match. But now they are dead...and Lash must find out why. Because another supercouple has killed themselves...and there are four more such couples to go. But finding out why two perfect couples would want to kill themselves is only half of Lash's problem, because somebody is messing with his life, in ways that could only be done through the technology available at Eden... "Death Match" is a top-notch thriller from Lincoln Child, who has brought us (especially in collaboration with Douglas Preston) so many enjoyable, well-planned thrillers. This novel is no exception; though it is a bit predictable, it is still enthralling. The technological details are broken down into layman's terms, but with serious research behind them. Lash is an appealing, conflicted character, as are those he encounters. While "Death Match" may not be Child's best work to-date, it is certainly worth checking out, and a repeated reading or two.
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Trouble in matchmaking paradise, August 30, 2004
Eden, Incorporated is a huge corporation that promises to find the perfect love match for each of its applicants. These matches are performed using a powerful artificial intelligence-based computer called Liza. The matches are so accurate and the resulting partnerships so idyllic that not a single client has ever claimed a refund from the money-back guarantee. When two of Eden's "perfect match" couples are found dead of double-suicide, a former FBI forensic psychologist, Christopher Lash, is brought in to investigate whether Eden has failed to predict a psychological instability when it performed its thorough personality testing of each applicant. Lash finds nothing in the psychological profiles of the four suicides and he suspects foul play. Could this be homicide made to look like suicide, and if so, why? Could it be a disgruntled former Eden employee? Or could it be a rejected applicant for Eden's services? As Lash is granted complete access to the mysterious workings of Eden, he finds that someone is out to stop him from discovering the perpetrator, and soon Lash finds his reputation and his life in jeopardy. Having read Child's previous novel "Utopia," I found a lot of similarities between the two books. Both feature a large and highly successful corporation engineered using next-generation computers and incredibly futuristic technology. Both companies are being undermined, and ultimately threatened, by evildoers. In both cases an outsider is brought in to investigate the problem. Both investigators are drawn into the dangers and must race against the clock to save the lives of innocent people, including themselves. Both stories are fast-paced, suspenseful thrillers. The main difference is that "Death Match" has several plot twists and turns before the mysterious perpetrator is unmasked, and its ending is not as satisfying as that in "Utopia." This novel is still a worthwhile read, whether or not you have read its predecessor. The book's details on psychological testing and profiling are quite interesting, although I cannot judge how accurate they are. The story also made me ponder the nature of attraction that people feel for each other, how its characteristics could be scientifically quantified, and whether there is such a thing as one or more "perfect matches" for every individual. I recommend this story for those who enjoy high-tech thrillers and cinematic action. Eileen Rieback
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
When dating services go bad!, December 31, 2006
I really enjoyed Death Match. For the right amount of money, you can be paired up with the perfect mate for you. No need for blind dates and changing your phone number after going out with a psycho. It's simply to good to be true, and you know what old wise ones tell you about that scenario. There is a group of super couples who match up 100% perfectly, but for reasons unknown, they are comitting suicide. Forensic psychologist Chris Lash is called in by Eden Inc. to determine what is going wrong. What Lash discovers will astound you. Will he be able to save the supercouples that are left? The characters in this book are real people. There are no super heroes. There are characters you will cheer for and some you will despise. The plot is well thought out and executed nicely. This book was a breath of fresh air. The ending was predictable and a little bit silly, which is why I didn't give it a 5 star rating. Overall, it is well worth your time and attention.
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