One of today’s most spellbinding techno-thriller writers, Lincoln Child serves up a brilliantly imagined suspense novel of high-tech matchmaking and murder.
The Thorpes were the perfect couple: young, attractive, and ideally matched. But the veil of perfection can mask many secrets. When the Thorpes are found dead in their tasteful Flagstaff living room after having committed double suicide, alarms go off in the executive offices of Eden, Incorporated, the worldwide matchmaking phenomenon that uses its astonishing artificial intelligence and surveillance tools to bring together perfectly matched supercouples. Eden guarantees its customers just one thing: lifelong happiness.
Enter Christopher Lash, a gifted former FBI forensic psychologist who is brought in by Eden to perform a quick—and quiet—investigation. As Lash begins his “psychological autopsy,” he delves deep into the seemingly ordinary private lives of the Thorpes, all the while trying to suppress a personal tragedy of his own that he has kept carefully buried in the past. But when another of the ideal couples commits double suicide, Lash’s investigation veers into the many hidden layers of Eden, Inc., an awe-inspiring labyrinthine world of technology and psychology that inadvertently may bring Lash face-to-face with his own demons.
In Death Match, best-selling thriller writer Lincoln Child is in top form, rendering his most imaginative and suspense novel yet.
Matchmaking used to be the province of little old ladies called Yenta. Not anymore. In DEATH MATCH, Yenta is called Liza, and she's a highly sophisticated form of artificial intelligence. After a $25,000 application fee, as well as invasive physical and intrusive mental evaluations, Liza puts together perfect couples. But when these perfect couples begin committing suicide, Christopher Lash, a forensic psychologist, formerly of the FBI, is hired to investigate. Barrett Whitener narrates this exciting, paranoia-inducing story with appropriately cool detachment. Unfortunately, the action frequently bogs down under the weight of seemingly endless computer print-outs. Even so, fans will not be disappointed. Whitener's ability to read interminable lists of numbers without a misstep is truly impressive. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
