Reviewed by Anne Boiling for Readers' Favorite

In Ted Dekker’s latest thriller, FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is trying to capture a serial killer. The killer, aka, Bride Collector, aka Quentin Gould, glues his captives to the wall, drills holes in their heels and drains their blood. Of course this all happens after he gives them a manicure and does their makeup.

I was surprise and a bit perplexed when Raines seeks help from a group of mentally ill patients at a private psychiatric hospital. Each of the patients that assist him are gifted. Paradise is one of the patients. She is schizophrenic and also sees ghosts. Raines befriends the young woman to gain her cooperation. Soon, she is falling in love with him and he surprises himself by depth of his love for her.

Throughout the book, the reader watches as the killer directs Raine`s actions . The killer always seems to be in control. While I found the idea of turning to the mentally ill for assistance strange, at first, I became very attached to the patients. Paradise, Rowdy, Andrea, and Casanova are very developed characters. I could picture Rowdy. The author did an excellent job. Brad Raines is an intense character with his own personal battles. The killer is evil all the way through.

The action in this book is fast-paced and thrilling. This book is entertaining, more than a bit frightening, and an edge-of-your-seat read. This book has twists and turns that kept me guessing. I knew who the killer was, but how would they find him? How sane was Paradise? I highly recommend "The Bride Collector"!