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The Bride Collector

by Ted Dekker (Goodreads Author)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 4,554 ratings · 641 reviews

He loves them because they are beautiful. He kills them because he loves them

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 hunt...more

Hardcover, 432 pages

Published April 13th 2010 by Center Street (first published April 13th 2009)

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Feb 25, 2013 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Did you ever want to read a book that was part psychological thriller, part Twilight-esque love story, and part Christian literature? Then this is the book for you.

I liked the first 2/3rd of the story. A psychotic killer is hunting beautiful women, leaving their bodies drained of blood, with bridal veils draped over their faces. And the FBI is called in. There's some sexy tension between the FBI agents working the case. There are also some colorful characters from a nearby mental institution who...more Did you ever want to read a book that was part psychological thriller, part Twilight-esque love story, and part Christian literature? Then this is the book for you.

I liked the first 2/3rd of the story. A psychotic killer is hunting beautiful women, leaving their bodies drained of blood, with bridal veils draped over their faces. And the FBI is called in. There's some sexy tension between the FBI agents working the case. There are also some colorful characters from a nearby mental institution who, despite their illness, have astounding gifts of perception; some of their gifts even border on the supernatural.

The killer's crime was murder. The author's crime was laziness.

The killer is psychotic, so of course his killing ritual has some wacky rationale like he is the messenger of God. Because he's crazy, he can predict every action that anyone ever will take, so he is always about 67 steps ahead of the FBI agents. He also can find out where random people live and work and who they love.

The FBI agent, Brad, loves his girlfriend who killed herself and will never love another. No, wait, he has a second chance for love with his sexy partner. Oh no, she died, how will he ever love again? Well, how about this mental patient? This is the woman he can love for all eternity. And also, he has lots of money and is insanely handsome.

The mental patient, whose name is Paradise (the name is kind of like being clubbed in the head with The Hammer of Metaphor) and is basically the most perfect human on the planet. She is deeply insightful and witty, but damaged. She has one flaw: a mental illness that's completely understandable since she saw her father kill other members of her family while she hid in a closet. And she thinks she's ugly because she wears dorky clothes and foregoes makeup. (Don't worry, she gets a makeover. No one in this book gets to be ugly!)

She and Brad fall in love after knowing each other for about 5 seconds.

The mental patients all save the day because Society needs to treat them better.

There was also some religious pontificating about how God loves us all. As the point of view switches between characters, we hear them cover the exact. same. theology. Over and over and over. It's a lovely concept, but it really did start to grate after a while.

The worst part is that this book really did show promise. It wouldn't have won any awards for writing, but it built sufficient tension and the fact that Dekker doesn't mind ratcheting up the body count is only more terrifying. Then there is near-instantaneous True Love and We Are All God's Favorite and the Perfect Girl who is so perfect SHE CURES HER OWN MENTAL ILLNESS. IN A DAY.

That said, a lot of people liked this book. If you were intrigued by the first sentence, then by all means, scoop this book up for your next vacation. At worst, you'll get about 250 pages of entertainment out of it.(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Katsumi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-crime-thriller

The story of the Bride Collector is easily an introspective book, one that digs into the mind and more or less questions everyone's view of reality. Who the sane ones are, and who in society is the insane. It mainly follows the perspective of Brad Raines, who works for the FBI and is trying to catch a very smart killer whose victim of choice is beautiful women. Things are also read from the perspective of others including the killer, whose passages shine and stand out among the rest. As the book...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Dustin Crazy little brown owl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: summer-2012, read-in-2012

I have been wanting to read this book for quite some time and Summer 2012 is the time. I will be reading this book as part of the Summer 2012 Reading Challenge in the Dare to Dream group. The Bride Collector will meet the following requirements:

July 2012 is Cord Blood Awareness month

Read a book this summer that has the letters B-L-O-O-D in the title (these letters do not have to be in order)

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

Read a book this summer in which a CHARACTER GETS SHOT

I sta...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Kosi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Quinton Gauld kills his victims by drilling their heels and letting their blood drain completely from their bodies.
Ironically, he thinks he's doing them a "favor" by sending "God's seven most beautiful creations" back to Him.

It's FBI Agents Brad Raines and Nikki Holden's job to stop him. However, along the way, Nikki (who you later find out is one of the "Seven"), is captured by Gauld and "sent" back to where she rightfully belongs: with God in Heaven.

Agent Raines, whose troubled past keeps

...more

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Nov 24, 2012 John rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, seeing as how I haven't read a Ted Dekker novel in quite some time, I figured I'd pick one up and see if he's improved over the last seven years. Short Answer: Not at all. As near as I can tell, THREE remains the only one of his novels that's really any good. Part of the reason why this is so is likely because he puts out so many different books each year rather than spend time on desperately needed rewrites. THE BRIDE COLLECTOR is pretty good for a second draft but makes for a poor final...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Zylle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I won't go into the plot of the book, which was interesting enough. It was the relationships between the characters that made the book so blah to me. At the beginning of the book, there are hints that the main character has feelings for a co-worker. Later, another character is introduced who he develops feelings for. Instead of making the main character have to confront his conflicted feelings, the first love interest is unceremoniously killed off to make way for the second, and while the main c...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Kjrstin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-boys

I don't think it was an accident that Ted Dekker chose the name "Paradise" for his complex heroine in this unusual thriller. I have not read Dekker's work before so I had an open mind.

The set up is a serial killer who has glued beautiful women to walls and systematically drained their blood by inserting a drill in their heels. He leaves them wearing a bridal veil on their nude torsos. This psychotic killer has motivated the FBI to find the murderer and stop further killings. Brad Raines, a 32 ye...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Angela Risner rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had high hopes for this book. I love mysteries. I love me a good serial killer story.

The protagonist is attracted to his model-lookalike partner. Are you tired of that storyline yet? I am. He also has a broken heart that has yet to heal fro about 10 years ago, and of course, this means that he is hard to ensnare into a relationship. All men like this are attractive to women, because we love a challenge.

The killer is a bit more interesting. He is killing young beautiful women (of course! No ugl...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Sara Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It had been a few years since I picked up some DekKer, so I snagged this one when I saw it at the library.

It's classic DekKer--thriller, spiritual elements, smart characters, and rambling plots that you let him get away with because he usually goes somewhere interesting with them.

It was good--but there were a few things that bothered me. First (and yes, this is silly, but it's so unlike him that it stands out), DekKer invents a rest stop along I-25 that isn't there. This stood out to me because...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Joe Nowak rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller

This book has both good and bad points. The good points are the characters: They are rich and vibrant. All the good guys are gifted and cursed at the same time. Their personalities pop off the page. The characters are very special patients at a hospital for the mentally ill. Unfortunately as exhilarating and full of life as these characters are, it is difficult to imagine the situation ever occurring that would ever require their assistance from the FBI in solving a serial murder.

The plot shows...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Becca Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Easily one of Dekker’s best works, this book immediately shot into my top three (if not my favorite). The story explores what true beauty is as opposed to how it is defined by the world’s image.

A psychopath seeks beautiful women to kill, believing that he is doing God’s work by sending the ‘brides’ home. After following a lead to a mental institution, Brad, the detective on the Bride Collector’s case seeks the help from several of the patients. Though afflicted by mental illness, several of the...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Steve Curll rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The newest Dekker thriller, " The Bride collector",has returned him to his roots. A Psychological thriller as in T"Three", and a gruesome picture of the mind of a murderer. This story explores the nature of mental illness andd even would dare to suggest that sometimes the departures from reality are actually a gift, an ability to see the spiritual world in a physical way. A page turner, it is perhaps his most gruesome novel yet, describing graphically a Bizarre ritualistic killing, which we witn...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Elly Carney rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any mystery buff

Recommended to Elly by: no one

The Bride Collector,"Ted Dekker","0340964987","review","I could see this as a movie. Good book. I recommend it to any mystery buff. I recommend this book to any mystery buff. I could definitely see it as a movie.

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Jul 11, 2011 Joe Young rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ted Dekker - author
3.5/5 stars

FBI agent Brad Raines is hunting for a serial killer who kidnaps beautiful women, drills holes in their heels and then hangs them in a pose reminiscent of the crucifiction, draining their blood. The killer, who uses makeup to cover any blemishes and dresses his victims in a bridal veil, is dubbed "The Bride Collector" by the FBI. Brad employs four patients at a mental health clinic to help in his search; all four have crippling forms of mental illness ranging from m...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Peggy Morgan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction, suspense

In Ted Dekker’s The Bride Collector, there is a serial killer on the loose in Denver and FBI agent Brad Rains is stumped and running out of time. The killer targets beautiful women, drains their blood, poses them as if crucified and leaves not one speck of evidence behind. Frustrated, Rains seeks help from an unlikely source: patients at a private psychiatric hospital for mentally ill yet extremely intelligent individuals. One, a woman named Paradise is apparently able to experience a victim’s f...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Smitha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of psychological thrillers

Shelves: half-read, ethereal

I have given up this book halfway through - not because the book was so bad. It was okay. But I am a great psychothriller fan and to me somehow this didnot measure up. I was just skimming through pages at the end and decided to stop reading it. Someday perhaps I may resume it. The story deals with a psycho serial pattern killer who choses young beautiful women to be brides of Christ and kills them by draining away their blood. There is a detective who is on the killer's trail, his friend and for...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Keiki Hendrix rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-christian

“An eerie, engaging novel bringing to the light a unique view of those we judge as mental ill.”
Being a fan of Ted Dekker, I knew the type of novel I would be reading when I selected The Bride Collector. Dekker is one of my favorite fiction authors. For instance, I knew I would find dark suspense (often not for the squeamish), tight well-written plot and dialogue, and a focus on some component of Christianity.What I did not expect was to begin to question my perception or at least to reconsider m...more

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Feb 27, 2011 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Women of the Denver area are being targeted by a killer the FBI are calling The Bride Collector. The killer leaves his victims naked except for panties and a veil. The body is glued to the wall and the blood is drained from the victims.

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is at a dead-end in his investigation. Nikki Holden, a forensic psychologist, working with Brad is of the opinion that the killer thinks of himself as the groom and that his preparations of the body are done out of love. When the kill...more

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Nov 25, 2010 Chibineko rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've never read a Ted Dekker book, yet I'd been told great things about him & his work. When I got the chance to review this, I figured that this would be a great chance to experience the author. I just wish that this had lived up to all of the hype.

The book follows the character of FBI agent Brad Raines, a man who is no stranger to loss. With his own dark past looming over him, he attempts to uncover the identity of a killer known only as the Bride Collector. The Bride Collector has tracked...more I've never read a Ted Dekker book, yet I'd been told great things about him & his work. When I got the chance to review this, I figured that this would be a great chance to experience the author. I just wish that this had lived up to all of the hype.

The book follows the character of FBI agent Brad Raines, a man who is no stranger to loss. With his own dark past looming over him, he attempts to uncover the identity of a killer known only as the Bride Collector. The Bride Collector has tracked down several extraordinarily beautiful women, then murdered them & left them in a macabre pose. Searching for answers, Raines travels to a local mental institution where he meets the enigmatic Paradise- a woman who has the unique talent of drawing out the last memories of the dead.

(Might be considered spoilers by some)

Where do I begin? First off, there's far too many coincidences in this book. The killer just so happens to be able to not only ID the FBI agents working the case, but he also manages to find out where they live- & manages to do all of this without gaining any attention to himself. That I'd be willing to overlook. BUT there's something else that bugged me more. It irked me that just about everyone not only accepted that Paradise- a patient in a mental institution- was able to read dead bodies, but that they brought one of the bodies to the institute for her to read. Really? Seriously now... even if Raines was the type to believe in the supernatural, it would be near impossible for them to move the body to a mental institution for an inmate to touch- just on the say so that she was able to read the dead. Now if there'd been some sort of buildup where Raines & his FBI partners had researched Paradise, discovered that the stories all checked out & then mentioned how they had to sneak the body away, then I'd be less skeptical. I was also skeptical about the romance that I was supposed to believe was developing between Paradise & Raines. There just wasn't any chemistry between the two of them & as such, it all felt a little forced to me.

I can't help but think that if Dekker had fleshed out the romance & tried to eliminate some of the plot holes, the story would have been far better. Too much of the story is spent on the main characters re-hashing their own personal angsts over & over again.

Now I will say that Dekker does know how to write in order to entertain. As far as entertainment value went, as long as I was willing to ignore the HUGE gaping plot holes & farfetched ideas, I was able to finish the book. This wasn't the worst thing I've read in the thriller genre, but I've read far better by other authors. This might make for an ok beach read, but if you really want a tightly written & semi-plausible storyline, you aren't going to find it in this book. But if you just want something to while away a few hours, this might satisfy you. Offhand, I can't muster enough enthusiasm over this book to give it anything more than 2 stars. I found it entertaining enough to read & finish, but in the end this is just a mediocre book.

(ARC provided by amazon vine)(less)

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Jul 07, 2010 Monster added it · review of another edition

Shelves: human-killers-adult

Dark settings, psychological exploration, and thought-provoking novels are what Ted Dekker does best, and The Bride Collector fits right in with his other works. The pace starts slowly, as Dekker digs deep into character and plot development, beginning with special agent Brad Rains. Rains is charged with the task of tracking down a serial killer who targets the most beautiful of women, draining them of their blood, and placing a veil over their head. The narrative switches focus between Rains an...more Dark settings, psychological exploration, and thought-provoking novels are what Ted Dekker does best, and The Bride Collector fits right in with his other works. The pace starts slowly, as Dekker digs deep into character and plot development, beginning with special agent Brad Rains. Rains is charged with the task of tracking down a serial killer who targets the most beautiful of women, draining them of their blood, and placing a veil over their head. The narrative switches focus between Rains and the serial killer, and the reader soon discovers the killer suffers from schizophrenia.
As the story unfolds, the pace begins to quicken. It becomes apparent that Rains’ colleague, Nikki Holden, a forensic psychologist, is the serial killer’s next target, and Rains is running out of time to save her. In a desperate attempt to seek help in catching the serial killer, Rains employs the assistance of four mentally ill, institutionalized patients.
Dekker focuses on several thought-provoking themes in The Bride Collector: what constitutes beauty, true love, and God’s love, as well as a very well-written exploration of mental illness. Even though there is a great deal of inner dialogue, and discussion of hard-hitting social issues, Dekker still includes tons of action and suspense, and keeps the reader fully engaged. The only personal complaint I have with this novel is that I had it figured out way too quickly for a mystery, and the ending was a bit too neat and tidy.
Trying to fit Dekker into one specific genre can be quite difficult. His novels cover a wide array of genres, ranging from fantasy to horror to Christian fiction. While I am a huge fan of Ted Dekker, and this is yet another great novel to add to his growing list of bestsellers, it is not a horror novel. The Bride Collector belongs in the mystery/suspense/thriller genre as it fits the perfect psychological thriller model. As a horror reader, I would be remiss to categorize this book as horror. As with all of Dekker’s books, The Bride Collector is a must have for public libraries, and this particular novel would fit well in the adult fiction and/or religious fiction collection.
Contains: mild violence and descriptions of death/dying
Review by Kelly Fan(less)

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Jul 07, 2010 Chrissy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brad Raines along with his partner Nikki Holden are after a serial killer who has killed several women already. Brad believes there will be 7 women killed altogether. The killer is on the lose and looking for yet another victim so the race is on to find and stop these horrible murders.

Brad is out of options and the killer is still out there. Believing that the serial killer is or could of been from an institution for exceptionally smart but disturbed he turns to the Center for Wellbeing and Int...more

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May 10, 2010 Pathway rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The newest spine-tingling release from Ted Dekker will delight long-time fans and newcomers to his work alike. It's definitely not for younger readers and, unless I knew the customer well, I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone under 18. The writing itself isn't graphic, but the storyline is and the spiritual issues are tackled in a rather veiled fashion, so a more immature mind might not be able to pick up on what the author was getting at.
The story begins at the newest crime scene left by a s...more The newest spine-tingling release from Ted Dekker will delight long-time fans and newcomers to his work alike. It's definitely not for younger readers and, unless I knew the customer well, I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone under 18. The writing itself isn't graphic, but the storyline is and the spiritual issues are tackled in a rather veiled fashion, so a more immature mind might not be able to pick up on what the author was getting at.
The story begins at the newest crime scene left by a serial killer known to the authorities as The Bride Collector. Determined to deliver "God's Favorites" to God as brides without blemish in death, The Collector is on a mission to please his twisted view of God as a way to earn his own salvation. Brad Raines is the lead FBI agent on the case and is haunted by demons of his own from his past. He bears intense guilt over the death of his college girlfriend, whom he'd intended to marry. Despite the fact that she died over ten years earlier, he can't forgive himself and he can't let go. This experience taints every relationship and every experience he has, making his life less than fulfilling and more a quest for personal perfection.
As the Collector's quest continues, Brad, desperate for any hint of a clue that will help him solve the case and catch the killer, turns to a residential facility for the mentally gifted and disturbed, The Center for Wellness and Intelligence. The home is run specifically for those with significantly higher than average mental capability and who suffer from some form of mental disturbance (i.e. bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc). Raines presents the information from the case to a group of four of the Center's most gifted individuals in the hopes that they'll be able to find a pattern or clue in the mire of misinformation and lies that he's facing. One of the individuals is a gifted young woman named Paradise, who has various mental abilities, including the ability to "read" the last memories and/or experiences of the dead.
As the killer continues on his sick quest for redemption, Brad and Paradise are drawn inexorably closer to each other and to the killer himself.
The book, as with Dekker's others, is extremely suspenseful. Dekker walks a fine line when describing his killer and the crime scenes, but overall he manages to keep from getting too graphic. The story could be too intense for some though, so I would use caution when recommending it! I enjoyed it immensely though, and managed to get through it in two days. It's a real page-turner!!!
Reviewed by: Gretchen Schmidt(less)

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May 06, 2010 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Denver serial killer Quinton Gauld thinks he’s on a mission for God: to find the most beautiful women and send them to heaven as the Bride of God. He pretties them up, glues them to a wall, drills holes in the bottom of their feet, then lets the blood drain from their bodies. He also leaves a bridal veil at each crime scene.

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is having a hard time cracking the Bride Collector case. But when the killer targets a beautiful forensic psychologist who works with Raines, it...more Denver serial killer Quinton Gauld thinks he’s on a mission for God: to find the most beautiful women and send them to heaven as the Bride of God. He pretties them up, glues them to a wall, drills holes in the bottom of their feet, then lets the blood drain from their bodies. He also leaves a bridal veil at each crime scene.

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is having a hard time cracking the Bride Collector case. But when the killer targets a beautiful forensic psychologist who works with Raines, it becomes even more imperative that he find Gauld before he adds one more “bride” to his collection.

Growing desperate, Raines turns to an unusual place for help: the Center for Well-Being and Intelligence. The center houses the mentally ill who also have incredible gifts and high IQs. Paradise—a patient who can sometimes see a person’s last moments before death—may be the only hope Raines has to catch Gauld.

One thing that stands out in The Bride Collector is its emotionally flawed characters—but Dekker somehow manages to make it work without either leaving the reader feeling irritated or making the characters unlikable. Brad Raines has some serious emotional problems, brought on by a past tragedy, yet I found myself wanting to reach out and help him, so he could pull himself together and find Quinton Gauld.

The patients at the Center for Well-Being and Intelligence are so peculiar and fun that I found myself wanting to check in and stay with them for a spell. Dekker masters the mind of Paradise, a woman fraught with agoraphobia (fear of leaving your house), schizophrenia, and bipolar depression
. Her courage will touch your heart and cause you to fall madly in love with her.

The Bride Collector also features an unusual love story between Raines and Paradise—which borders on the edge of inappropriate, though it doesn’t feel inappropriate. You’ll desperately want these two to defeat their inner demons and fall in love.

Filled with heartrending characters, edge-of-your-seat psychological thrills, and a deeply moving plot, The Bride Collector is a must-read. No one writes suspense thrillers quite like Ted Dekker, so if you haven’t checked him out, now’s a good time. Pick up a copy of The Bride Collector. Trust me; it’ll leave you frantic for more.

This review first appeared in: NightsandWeekends.com (less)

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Apr 15, 2010 Suspense Magazine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ted Dekker delivers another thrilling ride in his latest book “The Bride Collector”. From the beginning of the book to the end, you get taken on an emotional roller coaster. Dekker has many characters in the book and does an incredible job of giving all of them life outside the book.

FBI Agent Brad Raines is in search of a killer that is leaving no clues, just a path of terrifying killings that will hit very close to home for Raines. Raines has to take unconventional steps to search out this kill...more

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Apr 15, 2010 Robert Beveridge rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazon-vine, finished, owned-and-still-own

Ted Dekker, The Bride Collector (Center Street, 2010)

I haven't had much experience with Ted Dekker over the years, but I've always enjoyed the books of his I've read. It's Christian fiction that always kind of makes me wonder exactly how Christian it really is, and that, to me, is always a good thing. (L'Engle and Mauriac both wrote like that, though obviously in different genres.) Religious aspects aside, Dekker writes solid, intelligent thrillers that usually manage to keep me guessing. The Br...more Ted Dekker, The Bride Collector (Center Street, 2010)

I haven't had much experience with Ted Dekker over the years, but I've always enjoyed the books of his I've read. It's Christian fiction that always kind of makes me wonder exactly how Christian it really is, and that, to me, is always a good thing. (L'Engle and Mauriac both wrote like that, though obviously in different genres.) Religious aspects aside, Dekker writes solid, intelligent thrillers that usually manage to keep me guessing. The Bride Collector is different in this regard that we know whodunit from the start; the real puzzle is in figuring out how all the pieces of this puzzle will fit together neatly. It's a step off the usual path for Dekker, and he does stumble in a couple of places. But if you're a fan, this book will do nothing at all to change that; it's still Ted Dekker.

Brad Raines is an FBI agent, formerly of Miami, now living in Denver. Not long after he gets there, he finds himself on the case of the Bride Collector, a serial killer whose victims are always found glued to the wall in the crucifixion pose, completely drained of blood through holes drilled in their heels but otherwise unharmed—and expertly made up. The good guys are getting nowhere on the case until the killer starts leaving them clues. One of those directs Brad to the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a place where only the most highly intelligent mentally ill (called “gifted” by the new-agey ex-nun who runs the place) are admitted. Brad, assuming the killer was once a patient there, heads out and comes face-to-face with a team of gifted who may really give meaning to the term, and whose unofficial leader, Roudy, is eager to put them to use helping Brad to crack the case. He finds himself drawn to one of them, Paradise, an agoraphobic and psychotic who has a truly special gift: when she touches a dead body, she may be able to see the last few moments of that person's life.

And here's where I find myself questioning Dekker and his Christianity, though I don't mean this in any negative sense. Thing is, Paradise's seemingly supernatural abilities are just that: supernatural. The rest of the team's gifts (and, to be fair, a good deal of Paradise's) can be put down to purely rational explanation—a person who's very skilled at reading people can pick up a lot that others don't see, as generations of so-called psychics can attest—but Paradise's ability to see ghosts seems well beyond the pale of what I was taught in Sunday school. (I grant you, as many reviewers have, Paradise did not come by her name by accident, and maybe I'm just overthinking it.)

Now, what I meant about stepping off the path earlier. First off, I'm not denying the book has strengths. The book has a false climax about halfway through that had me wondering for forty pages how in the world, having gotten to this point, he was going to draw it out. (Once I saw what he was doing, a lot of the rest of the book fell into place for me, but that doesn't lessen the strength of that passage). It's after that that things go slightly wrong, though the book never falls off a cliff like so many thrillers-gone-wrong. Once you get to that scene, Dekker's pattern becomes obvious and the rest of the book becomes predictable (save how the killer fits into the pattern, which is a very nice touch). There are some people for whom this will be a big problem; I'm not one of them. As much as I like it when I get completely blindsided by a thriller's Big Reveal (cf. Dekker's Thr3e), I can appreciate a well-written thriller even if I can see what's coming, and that was the case here. Once Dekker had me, he wasn't letting go. As usual. *** ½
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Apr 07, 2010 Nicola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reason for Reading: I loved my first Dekker book, The Boneman's Daughters, and *had* to read this.

FBI special agent Brad Raines is called onto a case where women have been found posed and glued to the wall of abandoned barns, wearing a bridal veil and having the blood drained from them. The serial killer has been nicknamed The Bride Collector and things get personal when Raines finds a note taped to living room window of his high rise apartment. Raines' investigation takes him to an upscale rura...more Reason for Reading: I loved my first Dekker book, The Boneman's Daughters, and *had* to read this.

FBI special agent Brad Raines is called onto a case where women have been found posed and glued to the wall of abandoned barns, wearing a bridal veil and having the blood drained from them. The serial killer has been nicknamed The Bride Collector and things get personal when Raines finds a note taped to living room window of his high rise apartment. Raines' investigation takes him to an upscale rural psychiatric hospital that only treats those with high intelligence. It is here he meets Paradise a young woman who barely escaped from her father's murder of her family. Though a diagnosed schizophrenic Paradise has a talent that Brad is willing to enlist, when Paradise touches a dead body she sees the ghostly images of the deceased's last sights and sounds.

This was a thrilling, incredibly fast page-turning read for me. I had each page poised for turning at just the right moment so there would be no interruption in the flow of my reading. I loved this book. Two things in particular really grabbed me: one being the serial killer aspect, the other being the psychiatric angle. I have a special fascination for books that take place in psychiatric wards, hospitals or asylums and this aspect of the book was very well done. The patients were carefully chosen to suit this upscale hospital and were treated to learn how to focus on and express their intellectual or artistic "talents" with a minimum of medications. Whether there is any veracity to this method, does not really interest me to dig any deeper. I am deeply interested in exploring the high functioning intelligence of persons with mental disorders and I really enjoyed the motley crew of characters Dekker presented with various extreme disorders and while giving each full respect.

Brad Raines is an intense, likable, fully developed main character who carries his own dark psychological pain. Often in stand-alone thriller/mysteries characterization is thrown out the window in favour of plot but Dekker manages both equally well. Brad has a complete back story and range of emotions. He is a character the reader can relate to and feel for from the beginning.

The plot is top-notch thriller entertainment. A gruesome serial killer, driven by religious delusions is pure evil. The third person narrative switches back and forth from the investigation to the killer, making the identity of the killer known to the reader from the beginning and putting the emphasis on the detecting and the motives. There are many twists and shocks along the way, including a main character becoming a victim to the serial killer. Differently from The Boneman's Daughter, this book does contain quite a bit of Christian material. The killer is delusional and rants about his God given reason for the killings and at one point Brad uses this against the killer by theologically answering each of his statements. It becomes heady stuff, which I quite enjoyed but may not be to everyone's tastes. Dekker certainly does have a taste for the macabre when it comes to serial killers as evidenced by The Bride Collector and his previous book. I really enjoy that he hasn't fallen into the series trap yet and hope he brings us another standalone for his next thriller, which I anxiously await. In the meantime I have some of his more mainstream Christian Fiction to read. (less)

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Mar 22, 2010 Brande Waldron rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For me this is the first Ted Dekker book I have read, and if his other books are anything like The Bride Collector I will be a busy busy girl catching up on his backlist! Let's just say that this book is insanely fantastic, chilling and downright scary as hell. I don't mean in the Freddie Kruger jump out of the dark and say boo. I mean as in this sick psychopath that is rocking the city of Denver could be anyone neighbor scary. As in there are crazies all over the world and the frightening thing...more For me this is the first Ted Dekker book I have read, and if his other books are anything like The Bride Collector I will be a busy busy girl catching up on his backlist! Let's just say that this book is insanely fantastic, chilling and downright scary as hell. I don't mean in the Freddie Kruger jump out of the dark and say boo. I mean as in this sick psychopath that is rocking the city of Denver could be anyone neighbor scary. As in there are crazies all over the world and the frightening thing is that they all look "normal". Early on in the story we find out who the killer is, so there is no surprise there, what is sometimes the most terrifying
FBI agent Brad Raines is on the hunt for a serial killer who likes to kidnap beautiful women, glue them to the wall naked, (yes I said GLUE them!), drain their bodies of blood by inserting a drill of some sort into their hills, letting them bleed to death all while wearing a bridal veil on their heads. What is worse if the psycho truly believes that he is God's messenger and these women are gifts to God. Yes, you can hear the coo-coo bird loud on clear can't you!
Brad needs the help from some very special people, the patients at the Center for Well-Being & Intelligence, and from one patient in particular, Paradise. How fitting is her name. But poor Paradise who is somewhat a bit emotionally unstable herself, I think due to her uncanny ability to touch a victim and connect with the killer, see how they died. Not to mention the girl can hear voices and see ghosts as well. The center is special though, all the patients are gifted with some sort of extra sensory ability and outrageously high IQ's. Frankly I don't think they are insane, just on another plain then the rest of us because of all their abilities.
Brad wants Paradise to touch one of the victims to help capture this killer, talk about deeply disturbing. I was blown away with how much this book really freaked me out. I loved every minute of it though as the writing was sharp, I never found a down moment that lulled. Ted Dekker rocks, plain and simple and frankly I can't wait to read more!
(less)

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Feb 26, 2010 Mason rated it 4 of 5 stars

New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker’s latest book is scheduled for release April 13. “The Bride Collector” is a fast pace suspense/thriller from beginning to end. Once you begin reading, it will be hard to put down before you reach the end.

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is on the trial of a serial killer who is targeting beautiful women.

The book begins with the discovery of the fourth victim. Like the ones before her, the latest victim is discovered in an abandoned building. The manner i...more New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker’s latest book is scheduled for release April 13. “The Bride Collector” is a fast pace suspense/thriller from beginning to end. Once you begin reading, it will be hard to put down before you reach the end.

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is on the trial of a serial killer who is targeting beautiful women.

The book begins with the discovery of the fourth victim. Like the ones before her, the latest victim is discovered in an abandoned building. The manner in which the women are killed and left is the puzzler. The killer appears to be collecting brides.

Each victim is semi-nude, glued to the wall in a crucifixion-style, drained of blood, and left wearing a wedding veil.

Brad attempts to figure out who the killer is and his next move while trying to understand his own demons. Brad, attracted to his beautiful colleague Nikki Holden, won’t allow himself to show her any emotions.

The killer leaves a note in the heel of the victim. This leads Brad and Nikki, a forensic psychologist, to The Center for Wellness and Intelligence. They believe the killer has a connection to the center.

Brad enlists the help of four residents at the center to help with the case. Cass, Andrea, and Roudy each have their own unique gift, as well as mental problems. However, it’s Paradise that draws Brad back again and again. Paradise has been diagnosed with schizophrenia but can also see ghosts when she touches a dead body.

The hunt for the ritualistic serial killer intensifies when he targets Nikki as the next bride for God.

The story is a mix of mystery, suspense, action, hope, forgiveness, and a touch of romance.

Even though there is a fair amount of internal dialogue going on with both Brad and the killer, the story flows smoothly from one twist and turn to the next.

“The Bride Collector” is a book that I would recommend as a good read if you‘re looking for a mystery/thriller. However, I won’t recommend you read it at night if you’re home alone. The killer’s method of taking a bride will have you re-examining just how secure your home really is.(less)

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Feb 15, 2010 Nely rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

This is my first Dekker novel - don’t really know why I haven’t read anything by him before - but that is definitely soon to change. The Bride Collector was an edge of your seat suspenseful thriller that I really enjoyed. It started off a bit slow for me, but midway through the book I was completely hooked. I just had to know what would happen next. Raines and Paradise were both great. I enjoyed their interactions with one another. But I have to say that I was really taken by some of the residen...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Danae Brittan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ted Dekker's book, "The Bride Collector", is a brilliant, thrilling novel. My sister had read the book, and she recommended it to me.
In this book, special agent Brad Raines and his partner, Nikki, are working on a serial murder case. Because the murderer has placed a bridal veil on the head of each of his female victims, he is given the name of the Bride Collector. The narration of the story alternates between Brad Raines and Quinton, the serial killer. Quinton is a psychotic patient who only k...more

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About Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

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Books by Ted Dekker

White: The Great Pursuit (The Circle, #3)

Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle, #1)

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“Unfortunately, the world has taken some of the greatest minds God has given us and locked them up in cages. Most very brilliant or creative people seem strange to ordinary people. Geniuses are almost always outcasts. The intelligent are bullied on the playground. They see the world differently and are shunned for it. They nearly all turn out to be lonely at the least, locked up at the worst. It's human nature to encourage the status quo and shun those who see life differently.” — 16 people liked it

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