Monday, June 7, 2010

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**

If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link!  Thank you!


















46 comments:

Dee said...

Hi

Thanks for finding me through 20s bloggers...I am following you now...check my blog out when you have a chance I have loads of giveaways every month

Dee
makeupthoughts.blogspot.com

Jennifer said...

Hi, Thanks for checking out my blog. I love Ted Dekker. I've only read one of his books so far. Thanks for the review. I'll have to add this to my summer reading list. Now off to explore the rest of you blog :)

Book Lover said...

I follow Book Bluff via GFC

Book Lover said...

I recently read Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky and it was very good!!

Book Lover said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/Time4mommy/status/15702948078

Book Lover said...

on my facebook fan page -http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taking-Time-for-Mommy-Online-Magazine-for-Moms/293009704336

Book Lover said...

button on my side bar under great sites
http://mommyreadstoomuch.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I am a follower:)

Anonymous said...

I FB'd
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1414553977

Anonymous said...

Posted your button on my blog:)
http://blahblah-marcee.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I posted the give-away in my sidebar
http://blahblah-marcee.blogspot.com/

Tea said...

I have put the book in my sidebar.

Tea said...

I am a follower of your blog now.

Tea said...

I have the giveaway on Facebook.

lisa :) said...

Oh and I am a follower through Blogger/GFC. :)
herbookself (at) gmail (dot) com

lisa :) said...

I've been a Ted Dekker fan for a while now. I really liked his Circle trilogy as well as several of his standalone novels. In terms of favorite mystery, though, it's really hard to choose. For more supernatural stuff, I really like the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child but for more traditional mystery writing, I love the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

As I Lay Bleeding said...

Joe Hill and Stephen King are my faves!!!

nedsped@gmail.com

Lex said...

Just found your blog through your message at Shewrites. I love your work and have bookmarked it and told my friends on FB.

Lex said...

Just found your blog through your message at Shewrites. I love your work and have bookmarked it and told my friends on FB.

Lex said...

Loved the review of The Bride Collector. My favorite author right now is Tana French. Read both In The Woods and The Likeness. Waiting for the release in July of her third, Faithful Place. I like the Irish setting and the fact that the author is an actress. I think her acting experience helps give depth to her characters.

Wolfe said...

added your button!

Wolfe said...

thanks for finding me on book blog! Enter me for sure. this one sounds GOOD!

Anonymous said...

I love Ted Dekker. I've only read one and a half of his books so far. But his writing really grabs me. He's really the first mystery writer I've read.

tina reynolds said...

i follow thanks for the chance

tina reynolds said...

I will always think that Agatha Christie is the best mystery writer thanks for the chance eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

i tweeted http://twitter.com/mrstinareynolds/status/17882875604

Anonymous said...

Your reviews are all very helpful. My favorite writer is Dean Koontz. My favorite book by him is "Frankenstein". It is the first of a series about a half-man, half-revived dead monster who wants to keep his creator from continuing his research and experiments on others. It's thrilling from beginning to end.

Anonymous said...

I posted to Facebook. Look for Shawnee Bowlin

Anonymous said...

I tweeted. Look for shawneepaints1

Anonymous said...

I'm following through Twitter.

Anonymous said...

Adding your button! Thanks for the chance to win an awesome book.

Anonymous said...

I blogged your giveaway.
http://Shawneepaints.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I blogged your giveaway.
http://Shawneepaints.blogspot.com

Paula said...

my favorite mystery writer would have to be Robert B. Parker I like how he works with the characters. And am a follower

Paula said...

my favorite mystery writer would have to be Robert B. Parker I like how he works with the characters. And am a follower

Paula said...

my favorite mystery writer would have to be Robert B. Parker I like how he works with the characters.

Julie said...

I'm going to have to say James Patterson and any of the Women's Murder Mystery Club books - I love that there are strong female protagonists, the books are well-written with strong plots and great twists!

knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

I love the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris! And it is definitely because of the blond Viking vampire!

Thanks for the giveaway!

Casey @ MaritimeMom said...

I am a huge fan of James Patterson's Alex Cross series. The premise of the Bride Collector is Similar in nuance as the cross series...I look forward to reading!

Unknown said...

Anne Rice ( the Vampire Chronicles)for sure as I have always found Vampires to be intriguing and quite sexy not to mention erotic. Anne has a way of delivering suspense and passion like no other women I have read~

Julie Kieras said...

Hi there - I always enjoyed Agatha Christie and her book And Then There Were None - I liked how I could never figure out Who Dun It! :) b/c I hate books where the perp is obvious!
I would love to win this b/c I have been meaning to try reading some Ted Dekker for awhile now but just haven't gotten around to it - if I won, then I'd have the books right there on my nightstand! :) No excuses! :)

Andrea said...

I love dean koontz as well, although I have not had time to myself to read in forever!! Would love to try this one!

Sarah Butland said...

So far my consistent favourite is Harlan Coben. Any of his books but Tell No One was one of the first.

Unknown said...

I really want to win this prize. The books looks great. By the way the most recent mysteries I have read are by Tony Hillerman. He is darn good and his autobiography is okay too. I am sort of old school myself.

Victoria Roder said...

Favorite? How could I pick just one? I am enjoying Jordan Dane's Evil Without a Face. The Bride Collector sounds awesome!

Emma Pridemore said...

Would love to win the bride collector. My favorite mystery writer is Jonathan Kellerman, always good stuff.

Emma
felinmanor@aol dot com

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