The One

December 4, 2017
This muddled mix of thriller and romance from British author Marrs (The Good Samaritan) takes dating apps to a new level. Match Your DNA, “based on biology, chemicals and science,” uses computer power to identify the one person who is meant to be the life partner of each subscriber. The narrative shifts among five people who encounter various difficulties along the road to true love. Christopher, a serial killer who stalks single women in London, is matched with Amy, a police officer. Office worker Mandy’s destined partner is across the world in Australia. Jade, a recent university grad working as a receptionist, finds that hers has died. Computer exec Ellie gets someone whose description “accounted for almost half the men in the Western world.” Soon-to-be-wed heterosexual Nick discovers that his match is a man. After the introductions, many of the individual stories drag. What links the five, who never meet, is
a big reveal at the end that will surprise few readers.