The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker (Epub)

Description

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?

User’s Reviews

“Robert Petkoff masterfully portrays intelligence officer Ryan Evans’s personality change after he experiences torture in the Middle East. Petkoff’s versatile vocal skills deliver a compelling plot that is classic Dekker. In particular, Petkoff’s depiction of the insane workings of the serial killer’s mind is riveting.” (AudioFile Magazine on BoneMan’s Daughters) –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. About the Author TED DEKKER is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels with a total of more than 3 million books in print. He is known for thrillers that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil. –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ Good and evil clash in Ted Dekker’s newest thriller. On the side of good is Special Agent Brad Raines, an FBI investigator. He, along with his partner, Nikki Holden, is hunting a maniacal killer who has become known as The Bride Collector. Four women have been killed by having small holes drilled in their heels, allowing the blood to drain from their body. They have then been glued and hung on the wall of a deserted barn. A handwritten note and a bridal veil have been found with each victim. Nikki and Brad have deduced that the killer may have some sort of psychoses, so they have enlisted the help of the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a private home for gifted, mentally challenged patients.On the side of evil is Quinton Gauld. A former employee of CWI, Quinton now lives a rich life, driving fancy cars and living in an upscale apartment. Quinton believes that he’s on a mission from God; to deliver the most beautiful women in the world to Him as His brides. Four have already been accosted by Quinton, and that number soon grows to six. The seventh awaits.Meanwhile, Brad has enlisted the help of four people from CWI. The most intriguing is Paradise; a disturbed young woman who suffers from manic depression. However, she has a gift; the ability to see images. Brad believes that she might be able to help catch the Bride Collector. However, the game is about to get much more deadly than Brad and Paradise can begin to imagine. Will Paradise and Brad be able to catch the Bride Collector before it’s too late, or will the Bride Collector succeed in delivering his 7th and final victim to God?This is a first-rate thriller. The battle boils down to Brad & Paradise vs. the Bride Collector, and only one side can win. The story is exciting and full of twists and turns. The character development is excellent, especially the growth of the relationship between Brad and Paradise. The reader develops a real connection with each of the characters. Dekker throws in plenty of surprises along the way, too.I give this fine book my highest recommendation. I’ve only recently started reading Ted Dekker’s books (“Boneman’s Daughters” was my first), but he has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I especially like the way he includes good vs. evil in his stories. His style of writing is first-rate, and the reader is quickly drawn in. If you like fast-paced, thrilling stories, then don’t miss “The Bride Collector”.

⭐ Quinton Gauld, aka The Bride Collector, believed himself to be a messenger of God. His task was to find the seven beautiful women God had chosen as his favorite and present them to God in an elaborate ritual that included draining their blood. Special Agent Brad Raines was trying to stop him. After three victims, though, the FBI’s investigation was getting them no closer to the killer. When Quinton leaves a note with his fourth victim, Brad is given an unusual lead–a mental health facility for wealthy, highly intelligent people. While following up on this lead, Brad meets an intriguing quartet of residents, all exceptionally intelligent individuals with gifts and abilities capable of making the connections necessary to finding the killer. However, one of the four, Paradise, quickly becomes more than simply someone who can help locate the killer. This mysterious woman, trapped by fear and panic, afraid of men and distrustful of almost everyone, is able to see a person’s final memory before death by touching their body. After touching the fifth victim, an image of the killer is trapped in her mind, but before she can describe him to the FBI, she must first overcome her fears and be able to trust Brad. In a story as much about love as murder, The Bride Collector, is both dramatic and touching, reminding the reader of the love God has for each individual.When Adam was released, I remember reading a thread on Dekker’s website questioning the number of serial killer novels he had written. At that time, Adam was the only true serial killer novel. While his other books had killers, often brutal and inventive, they weren’t true serial killers. However, two more serial killer novels later (plus 8 Circle/Paradise books), I’m beginning to ask the same question. I love these types of novels. In fact they are some of my favorites, but I’m ready for a change. I’d really like to see the imagination and ingenuity that Dekker showed earlier in his career. I miss the original plots and subtle themes of his older books. The recent works are still good, but Dekker seems to be in a bit of a rut with most of his creativity stemming from how to make the same themes seem fresh.The Bride Collector is a lot like BoneMan’s Daughters. They both feature quirky, intelligent killers who stalk beautiful women. While BoneMan believed he was Satan, The Bride Collector believed he was a messenger from God. Both killers have a tormented past and twisted theology to guide them. In each book, the victims have men desperately trying to rescue them. In one book it’s the victim’s father, in the other, a man who loves her. Throughout the books, there’s a repetitive reminder of God’s love for everyone and His willingness to stop at nothing to woo and rescue them. Additionally, each book reveals the name of the killer and their personality early in the story. There is little mystery about who did it, just a question as to whether or not the reader knows the killer by another name. There are no amazing plot twists. Pretty much what the reader suspects from the beginning, is what they get. Even with several similarities, though, these books are different enough maintain the reader’s interest.Dekker does not usually excel in character development. His strengths are plot and storytelling, which are normally fast paced and unpredictable. However, he seemed to take a bit more time with this book and more fully developed several of the characters. While none of them are especially deep, there was a decent amount of time spent letting the reader begin to understand the characters, especially the ones in the mental health facility. I would have liked more though. These were four very interesting individuals and while Dekker did a good job of giving the reader a wonderful non-stereotypical view of mentally ill people, I wanted to know these character’s lives. The reader is given vague background for some, but I wanted completely developed stories for these extraordinary people. These characters and their interaction was the strength of this book and they separate it from other serial killer novels on the market.The theme of God’s love dominates this story. Dekker is right on and he offers honest truth when it comes to God’s equal love for everyone. From the hardened criminal to the wounded child, everyone is God’s favorite. I wish Dekker would back off some though. His thoughts are dead on and incredibly important, but I’ve noticed a trend where his point is repeated more and more often and the subtlety that I so enjoyed in his earlier works is pretty much gone. As The Bride Collector approaches its climax, the reader has been told so many times how special they are, much of the impact is diminished. The closing scenes between Brad and the latest chosen victim feels forced and what is most likely suppose to be raw emotion comes across as dramatic tears. With less reinforcement of the themes of love and beauty, these scenes would invoke the strong emotion they should.One factor that strongly affects my opinion of The Bride Collector, is Steven James’ Patrick Bower’s series. The latest book, The Knight, is an FBI serial killer novel and is absolutely outstanding. That book has set a very high standard for serial killer novels and The Bride Collector simply doesn’t measure up. So while it is a good story, it lacks the depth of characters, plot development, and research that James adds to his books and has consequently spoiled me a bit. Regardless, for readers who loved BoneMan’s Daughter, it’s pretty much guaranteed they’ll enjoy The Bride Collector.

⭐ Ted Dekker is without a doubt my favorite fiction author. And his newest novel, The Bride Collector , is another literary smash hit.I never cease to be amazed at Dekker’s ability to produce a story that captures my imagination even more than his last written offering.In The Bride Collector, FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is on the trail of a serial killer, and he continually finds himself a step or two behind his man.In the process of trying to understand the mind of a psychopathic killer, Raines turns to the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, where he is captivated by one of the residents of this extraordinary mental health care facility.Paradise is a young woman who struggles with mental illness and severe phobias, but she turns out to be invaluable help to Agent Raines in his search for the killer. And as he gets to know Paradise better, he is drawn deeper into her world, beginning to see things from her perspective more clearly.And Paradise will discover what it means to love and be loved, to find beauty in all of God’s creations, and trust where she least expects it.To go any further with this synopsis would be to give up too much of the plot. Rest assured that Dekker is at his best in The Bride Collector. This is definitely a book that you will not be able to set aside until you finish it. It will open your eyes to the reality of the battle between good and evil, as much of Dekker’s work does. But it will also help you to see those with mental illness in a new and more compassionate light.The Bride Collector is definitely a five star novel.

⭐ Who among us is society’s favorite, who is God’s favorite?In The Bride Collector, Ted Dekker takes a multidimensional view on love, beauty, normalcy and favorites.FBI special agent Brad Raines and his partner, Nikki Holden, a forensic psychologist, investigate the 4th victim of a serial killer dubbed Bride Collector. The signature and ceremonial murders of unusually beautiful women leave each one arranged, beautified and veiled, ready for the bridegroom. Quinton loved each one by killing her and sending her to be God’s bride. He seeks 7 brides, the number of perfection and they are already selected.Stymied by sterilized crime scenes, a note found with the 4th victim enables Brad’s search to the CWI, Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a reclusive facility for gifted but mentally unstable individuals. Brad meets 4 quirky but likeable residents who offer to assist in solving the case. One resident, Paradise may hold the key to identifying the killer.As the killings become personal, Brad comes face to face with his own traumatized past, discovering the need for both help and love from a most unexpected source.Dekker takes an indepth look at society’s labels of beauty, sane, belonging, accepted, selfworth vs ugly, crazy, misfit, rejected, worthless. The theme of love is woven throughout: selfless vs selfish, God’s vs Satan’s. The truths revealed unite us in a way we should all live, without labels, realizing that we are each God’s favorite.During the last 4 months, I have read all of Dekker’s books and realize a preference for the Circle Trilogy and earlier work. I was apprehensive this book would contain little of God’s truth and descriptions too graphic of the victims’ deaths. (I squirmed through portions of Boneman’s Daughters.) However, my fears were groundless as Bride Collector proved less graphic or at least did not engage my emotions as heavily over the deaths as did Boneman though total killed are probably the same. Dekker instead focused on the killer’s thinking, revealing truth now twisted because the killer served the wrong master. And in true Dekker fashion, he succeeded in presenting God’s love for us, God’s light (remember Caleb in Blessed Child?)Though this is not my favorite Dekker read, I found myself evaluating my own “labels” and definitions of worthiness, loveliness and sanity. I dare say my own “sane” quirks are no different from those society labels as mentally ill. Any book that causes self-reflection is a worthy read.First few pages went slowly, then the ride began. Believable characters, good plot, distinctive Dekker twists. Worthy of your time!

⭐ 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 uglies!), and leaving a bridal veil at each scene. Now, if you can read between the lines, you can guess part of what happens without ever reading this book.However, a curveball (and one that is pretty good, I might add) is thrown in by the form of characters from a local mental institution, who help out with the crime. Now, I will say that this is a positive representation of the mentally ill. It does show that just because someone is schizophrenic or bipolar that they are still smart. AND it also shows how often people who are bipolar are misdiagnosed as schizophrenic and vice versa.But overall, this book was a huge disappointment. I just didn’t buy into the relationships. I didn’t buy into the protagonist’s tale of woe.

⭐ This book had everything anyone could ask for. It was a blood pumping thriller with just a touch of romance. Its main mission: To return the Bride of God back to him. Or in this case, seven brides murdered because they were deemed the most beautiful. We follow Detective Brad Raines as he investigates the symbolic murders of these young women, who are glued upon the wall, drained of their blood, and naked except for a bridal veil.Brad and his psychological profiler Nikki delve into the mind of this psychotic killer, and it is through their work that they make the connection to a mental health establishment and it is there we meet Paradise–a shy introvert who may have the ability to see a person’s last moments in death.Paradise intrigues Brad, and he is sure that success will come from her. However, more women are dying as Brad tries to unlock the mystery behind Paradise, the killer, and God’s Brides.Ted Dekker builds this story in a way only he can. From the beginning you know who the killer is, and you know who he is after each time. However, the real Dekker twists and turns are what keep you turning the pages. He writes in a way that makes you feel like you are standing in the middle of it, watching silently as it unfolds, unable to speak out in warning or accusation.I would highly recommend this book to any and all who enjoy Dekker’s works, as well as to those who enjoy a heart racing thriller.

⭐ When I picked up this book to read during the holidays, I expected something different. For me it was a bit disappointing. The characters were unbelievable, and here is why: **SPOILER ALERT** Brad Raines: he is a 32 year old FBI agent, who is in charge of a high profile case involving a serial killer dubbed the Bride Collector. I expected this character to be more rational, but to me he appeared more like a corny teenage girl, who falls in love with a mental patient in 5 days, while struggling with his feelings for his dead fiancé and an attractive co-worker, who conveniently (for purposes of him getting finally falling for the mental patient) becomes the serial killer’s sixth victim. Along the plot, we see a lot of: “Oh no! I might be falling in love with this girl and I am so scared” kind of thing that I would expect from an insecure teenage character. Aside form that, instead of focusing in solving the case, he spends unnecessary time at a mental institution recruiting the help of some patients, who in the end, crack it. Brad came across as incompetent and immature.Paradise: She is the novel’s “heroine”, who has suffered at least, 2 huge traumas (she witnessed the murder of her family in the hands of her father and nearly became a rape victim) and as a result has been institutionalized for 7 years. She doesn’t care much for her appearance or personal hygiene, wears jeans that are too short and doesn’t trust men. Additionally, she is agoraphobic and mnemophobic. However, in only 5 days, she manages to overcome her phobias, trust and fall in love with a George Clooney type of guy, who in return, falls for her (inspite of his own commitment issues with women) and, pretty much save his life.Allison: She is the head of the mental institution, who loves Paradise as her own child, but notwithstanding encourages the FBIagent to make her fall for him and kind of exposes her to him. I’m not sure her behaviour regarding her patients can be deemed either common or ethical for someone in her position. In any case, I found it unbelievable.Nikki: She is this incredibly attractive woman and insightful psychologist that works for the FBI, who finds herself attracted to themain character and is conveniently murdered just after her first date with him.Ruby: She used to be Brad’s fiancé. He describes her as beautiful, smart and witty. Brad claims that they werevery happy and that she was as much in love with him as much as he was with her and they wereengaged to be married. However, inexplicably she commits suicide because “she didn’t feel beautiful enough”.Really???? Come on! And to make matters worse ther is this bizarre love triangle (which could have easily become a square if the Nikki character had survived) among the three main characters. Coincidentally, (1) the man who tried to rape Paradise a few years ago is our one and only Bride Collector, (who murders people as a result of Paradise’s rejection), (2) is being hunted by FBI agent Brad Raines who, against all odds, falls in love with Paradise and (3) in turn becomes her love interest. It felt that the writer just tried to hard to surprise the reader. The ” twists” didn’t seem natural, and frankly seemed ridiculous.The characters were frivolous and acted in absurd ways. Along the book, there were many unrealistic situations, especially since the characters are supposed to be extremely smart, insightful and capable.

⭐ This book has so many ways the plot could go. It keeps you guessing! Mad, sad, what the…..Warning. It’s kinda gory. Not to the point where it’s overly descriptive. Theres love, friendship, tears, and suspense. A book that you won’t want to put down!

⭐ This book had a LOT of promise, and I’ll be honest, I read/listened (bought both the Audible version and the kindle version) to the entire thing in about two days. It was that intriguing. The story-line is very interesting and a nice spin off of your traditional crime/psychological thriller type novel. There is a mental-health component that is refreshingly unique in its presentation and that part, in and of itself, was great. What really got to me about this book was that I just couldn’t bring myself to fully buy most of the major relationships between the main characters. (WARNING – spoilers ahead). When you start off with Brad looking like he and Nikki the assistant might eventually end up together you get a feeling of eye-rolling predictability. When Nikki is taken out of the equation (a move which I respect the author for doing since many authors wouldn’t), you get the sensation that another possible relationship is brewing but between the time you start to suspect that may be the case you blink and ‘poof’ they’re in love. I get that the author couldn’t really let a lot of time span between these two main characters to get their relationship solidified to the point where they’re truly, madly, deeply in love but REALLY? They knew each other for a whopping 5 minutes and all of a sudden the borderline psychotic, beautiful, brilliant but horrifically scarred woman and the insanely good looking, somewhat shallow yet equally flawed male lead are in so in love that they would pretty much die for each other? It just didn’t link up for me – I couldn’t get past how poorly that was developed and, as a result, couldn’t really buy any part of that. Normally, a poorly constructed romantic component wouldn’t bother me when you have a good suspense/thriller plot line going on but because the reader’s understanding and acceptance of that love is a major element of the dynamic towards the end of the story, it just fell flat. Having said all of that, again, it was a good read and the overall plot line is well thought out with some nice twists. I would recommend it for those who can see past impossible relationship conclusions and just enjoy the crime aspect of the book.

⭐ This is exceptionally well weaved story of sanity, special gifting and murder. Catching a serial killer, learning about love and forgiveness. It’s hard to put down and wishing for more at the end. Thank you.

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