The Bride Collector

Ted Dekker

A virtuoso killer is carving a path of death across the west, intent on killing only the most beautiful women, all in the name of love.  He has claimed six victims and slipped through the FBI's fingers, each time leaving behind a handwritten note and a bridal veil.

Special agent Brad Raines has hunted the Bride Collector from crime scene to crime scene, but each time he finds himself one step behind.  Desperate for help, Raines turns to the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a private home for gifted, mentally ill residents.

Raines is quickly drawn to a young woman named Paradise who struggles with psychosis.  Together they enter the killer's deadly game and begin to close in.  But like Paradise, the Bride Collector is supremely gifted and he has a distinct advantage: this is his game.

Full of surprising wit and hair-raising twists that will keep you riveted to the end, THE BRIDE COLLECTOR will haunt you with a new way of looking at beauty,love, and the world in which you live.

My Take:

I love books that get me into the heads of serial killers.  I love reading about their twisted logic and motivations.  The Bride Collector is an absolutely stunning psychological thriller.  The characters are so incredibly rich that you'll be sad when the book ends, because you just want to learn more about each unique and quirky character.  The mismatched band of friends that you meet when the book takes you to the Center for Wellness and Intelligence will stick in your mind for a very long time.  This book really delves into the debate about where the line is drawn between genius and insanity.  It talks about how in many cases, certain aspects of mental illness, when combined with intelligence, can come together to form immeasurable gifts.  For example, you get to meet Rowdy, a man with delusions of grandeur leading him to think he is the FBI's most trusted analyst, and fancies himself a regular Sherlock Holmes, right down to his speech and dress.  He is however, extraordinarily gifted in his sleuthing skills, with a photographic memory, and a point of view which allows him to see many things other people miss in an investigation.  While The Bride Collector does deal mostly with the inner most thoughts of the characters, there is no shortage of action throughout the book.  All in all, if mystery is your genre, you will love this book, if mystery isn't necessarily your cup of tea, The Bride Collector just may convert you!  I am rating this book a solid 1, Pay Full Price.  It is incredible!

As a quick little side note, I read this book via audiobook (I guess technically "listened" to via audiobook) and I have to say the performance was incredible.  The actor that read the book has all sorts of little nuances for every character that really made the whole book pop!  I also give the audio version top marks!

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Bride Collector were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for violence, and depictions of death

**FTC Disclosure-The Bride Collector was provided by Hachette Audio in exchange for an honest and unbiased review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own**

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