The Collector, in my opinion, is the scariest book ever written. It is basically every woman’s nightmare realized. I read the entire book in one sitting, and after the book was finished it stayed with me.

The story is about Ferdinand Clegg, a strange and quiet young clerk in London who collects butterflies. He develops an obsession with a college art student, Miranda Grey, and decides to collect her as well. His meticulous plan is successful, and she ends up trapped in his basement, miles into the woods. The following story takes place entirely in the cottage, and through both of their perspectives. We get to understand the depth of Clegg’s madness, and Miranda’s struggle to come to terms with her captivity.
Multiple serial killers have cited The Collector as an influence and a framework for their plans. Leonard Lake killed a dozen people in California in the 80’s and called his plan to kidnap and keep women as sex slaves “Operation Miranda.”
The Collector is as riveting as it is haunting, and I highly recommend it.