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A review by cutenanya
The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker
1.0
When I first read this book, I thought it was a debut because of the poor structure of the story. I had no idea until listening to the interview with the author that this book was written by a highly experienced author who has written more than 20 books! Seriously!? Maybe it's the writing style. I really cannot follow the plot (because there is not much to begin with). The premise of the story is great, you get a bunch of grisly murders where the murderer dressed the victims as bride and drained them to death. That part I liked. The rest just went downhill.
To begin, I never thought a book would fit this tag so perfectly: the police is way too dumb and here, not only are the police utterly useless, the FBI is not much better. Even FBI needs to hire consultant once in a while, and I have no problem the FBI trying to consult mentally ill but highly intelligent patients because after all, they are trying to catch a lunatic. HOWEVER, there is a difference between CONSULTING and RELYING on these patients to catch a serial killer. The FBI should WORK to get results, not just sit there and ASK others for help, especially when you have a forensic psychologist on your team. That's minus infinite stars but let's say at least minus one for now.
Then, there are the main cast. I love most of the patients, particularly Rudy because hey, they are playing the part. It's the folks outside of the facility I have problem with. The police is supposed to protect the forensic psychologist but it seems they are utterly hopeless in doing that. Then, there should be a team of guys working round the clock if they are going to try to catch a serial killer who has already murdered five women in a frenzy but nope, we seem to only have two people on the team, one is at a mental health facility and the other sipping tea with her mother. SERIOUSLY!? What kind of world is this!? I would be extremely scared if the FBI really works at this pace. There again, minus infinite stars but once again, just one right now.
The next problem is the focus on people who seemingly have mental disorders (or they would not be locked up) but I don't find them to be that mentally ill or the FBI wouldn't be consulting them. Also, Alison, the lady who runs the mental health facility is supposed to be watching her patients, not going about acting as a match maker. Erk, all these minus infinite stars really but another one for now.
I have still lots to rant but let's make this the last one: The finale where the FBI agent faces off the killer, is that a joke or something? First, Raines is a FBI agent, not superman, how the heck can he live so long with a bullet wound !? If he lays down, I can sorta believe it but this guy is running around and crashing himself into a pole for HOURS! How the heck can he still survive. Sorry, I have little knowledge about medicine but that seems WAY TOO FAR FETCH FOR ME. Then, Raines is a FBI agent and yet none of his hard training and brain power is useful against the killer. Maybe FBI should try letting him do the lecture instead. I guess maybe the author likes the killer but he is too omnipotent at this point. Finally, Paradise! Were this lady not a mentally ill patient, I would already have added the tag: heroine is way too dumb. Since she is suffering from schizophrenia, I can stay dumbfounded.
Overall, I would give this book negative ratings if only that were possible. At the moment, I'll stick with one. I highly discourage people wasting your precious time on a very illogical book (unless you enjoy watching the hero of the story being crushed by the intelligence of the killer).
P.S. That scene about the killer beating the boy in the toilet is completely unnecessary and only serves to disturb the readers without furthering the plot whatsoever! And even then the police cannot arrest him? What's the use of CCTV! Crazy book.
To begin, I never thought a book would fit this tag so perfectly: the police is way too dumb and here, not only are the police utterly useless, the FBI is not much better. Even FBI needs to hire consultant once in a while, and I have no problem the FBI trying to consult mentally ill but highly intelligent patients because after all, they are trying to catch a lunatic. HOWEVER, there is a difference between CONSULTING and RELYING on these patients to catch a serial killer. The FBI should WORK to get results, not just sit there and ASK others for help, especially when you have a forensic psychologist on your team. That's minus infinite stars but let's say at least minus one for now.
Then, there are the main cast. I love most of the patients, particularly Rudy because hey, they are playing the part. It's the folks outside of the facility I have problem with. The police is supposed to protect the forensic psychologist but it seems they are utterly hopeless in doing that. Then, there should be a team of guys working round the clock if they are going to try to catch a serial killer who has already murdered five women in a frenzy but nope, we seem to only have two people on the team, one is at a mental health facility and the other sipping tea with her mother. SERIOUSLY!? What kind of world is this!? I would be extremely scared if the FBI really works at this pace. There again, minus infinite stars but once again, just one right now.
The next problem is the focus on people who seemingly have mental disorders (or they would not be locked up) but I don't find them to be that mentally ill or the FBI wouldn't be consulting them. Also, Alison, the lady who runs the mental health facility is supposed to be watching her patients, not going about acting as a match maker. Erk, all these minus infinite stars really but another one for now.
I have still lots to rant but let's make this the last one: The finale where the FBI agent faces off the killer, is that a joke or something? First, Raines is a FBI agent, not superman, how the heck can he live so long with a bullet wound !? If he lays down, I can sorta believe it but this guy is running around and crashing himself into a pole for HOURS! How the heck can he still survive. Sorry, I have little knowledge about medicine but that seems WAY TOO FAR FETCH FOR ME. Then, Raines is a FBI agent and yet none of his hard training and brain power is useful against the killer. Maybe FBI should try letting him do the lecture instead. I guess maybe the author likes the killer but he is too omnipotent at this point. Finally, Paradise! Were this lady not a mentally ill patient, I would already have added the tag: heroine is way too dumb. Since she is suffering from schizophrenia, I can stay dumbfounded.
Overall, I would give this book negative ratings if only that were possible. At the moment, I'll stick with one. I highly discourage people wasting your precious time on a very illogical book (unless you enjoy watching the hero of the story being crushed by the intelligence of the killer).
P.S. That scene about the killer beating the boy in the toilet is completely unnecessary and only serves to disturb the readers without furthering the plot whatsoever! And even then the police cannot arrest him? What's the use of CCTV! Crazy book.