The Bride Collector

By: Ted Dekker

Narrated by: John Glover

Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

FBI Special agent Brad Raines is facing his toughest case yet. A Denver serial killer has killed four beautiful young women, leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene, and he's picking up his pace. Unable to crack the case, Raines appeals for help from a most unusual source: Residents of the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for mentally ill individuals whose are extraordinarily gifted.

It's there that he meets Paradise, a young woman who witnessed her father murder her family and barely escaped his hand. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Paradise may also have an extrasensory gift: The ability to experience the final moments of a person's life when she touches the dead body.

In a desperate attempt to find the killer, Raines enlists Paradise's help. In an effort to win her trust, he befriends this strange young woman and begins to see in her qualities that most "sane people" sorely lack. Gradually, he starts to question whether sanity resides outside the hospital walls...or inside.

As the Bride Collector picks up the pace-and volume-of his gruesome crucifixions, the case becomes even more personal to Raines when his friend and colleague, a beautiful young forensic psychologist, becomes the Bride Collector's next target. The FBI believes that the killer plans to murder seven women. Can Paradise help before it's too late?

©2010 Ted Dekker (P)2010 Hachette

IMPROBABLE. BUT THIS IS FICTION. GOOD BOOK

Would you listen to The Bride Collector again? Why?

I PROBABLY WILL. IT WAS VERY TENSE AT TIMES. THE FIRST HALF WAS NOT THAT GOOD BUT THE SECOND PART WAS GREAT.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

IN THE SECOND HALF. TENSION GALORE.

Which character – as performed by John Glover – was your favorite?

ROWDY. BUT THEY WERE ALL DONE WELL.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

THE WHOLE SECOND HALF WAS ENTERTAINING.

Any additional comments?

OFTEN WHEN READING WE LOOK FOR THE PROBABLE EVEN IN FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS NOT PROBABLE. BUT I LIKED THE BOOK VERY MUCH.

Profoundly thought provoking

Though admittedly a piece of fiction I found myself challenged to rethink my attitude and expectations concerning members of my family who live outside the norm. If I can fall in love with characters in a novel I must do the same in life. God help me.

Some good, some bad

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, because too many genres overlap. The good parts involve the mental patients and how they are treated, and the murder mystery which was the core of the story. The bad parts were the romance (too Danielle Steele) and the heavy handed religion. When I read a murder novel, I don't want a sermon with it.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Seriously pared down the romance. I know it was integral to the story, but it didn't really need to be quite so detailed. Also, as with the romance, a bit of religion was necessary, but it was considerably over discussed.

Have you listened to any of John Glover’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Could you see The Bride Collector being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, I can see it as a movie, but that's largely because I'm not overly impressed with the caliber of most movies.

Can't wait for more!

Suspenseful and full of intrigue! Dekker creates colorful characters, rich with idiosyncrasies, and masterfully weaves them through this macabre tale of a serial killer and the degrees of mental illness that plague the extremely intelligent mind. I can't wait for more from this brilliant author!

Collect Them All

If you are a Dekker fan you will love this book. He has come back to his "thriller" roots and grabs you from the start. First time I can remember Dekker writing from the killers perspective. It will make you think about your own faults and imperfections in way you probably have not done before. If you collect Dekker's books, like I do, you need to have this Bride Collector.

Goosebumps

I loved the idea of the mentally ill as having gifts that could possibly help in finding the mentally ill that kill. Characters were well developed and there were times I could only listen during the day I was so scared. However, the end was drawn out a bit much. Overall nice book to listen to. Keeps your attention and gives goosebumps

Classic Dekker

Would you consider the audio edition of The Bride Collector to be better than the print version?

It is so much better than the print version. John Glover of Smallville fame (Yup I'm a nerd) has the perfect voice for this dark, intense, but hopeful performance.

What did you like best about this story?

I personally loved the development of the relationship between Brad and Paradise. It went from pittying a damaged girl, to being in awe of the differences between them.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the scene in the institute where Brad came in and had Paradise's rag tag band of misfits help with his investigation. It did a great job of being humorous, and humanizing at the same time. That is really hard to do when one is discussing mental illness. Nice work Ted!!!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Every time I had to get back to life stuff, I was hesitant. The way Dekker puts pen to paper makes you want to keep going. There are rarely, what I would call, good stopping points. An excellent problem to have as a listener!

Scary

Couldn’t listen to it, to scary for me. I love his books, just couldn’t do this one.

unexpected

I really enjoyed this book because there were so many unexpected moments. I would love to see this as a major motion movie. I hated when I had to stop listening, because I would find myself consumed with thoughts of what will happen next. The story twists and turns in ways that took me off track, but delightfully so.

Dont expect to sleep if you start this at night

What did you love best about The Bride Collector?

The relationship between Paradise and Brad

What did you like best about this story?

The suspense kept me hanging on every word

Which scene was your favorite?

When Paradise faces the killer

Any additional comments?

John Glover did a excellent job on the narration which to me is as important as the story