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Darkly Dreaming Dexter | 
| Author: Jeff Lindsay
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $12.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  215 reviews
Sales Rank: 948
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0307277887
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780307277886
ASIN: 0307277887
Publication Date: September 19, 2006
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Amazon.com
Meet Dexter Morgan. He's a highly respected lab technician specializing in blood spatter for the Miami Dade Police Department. He's a handsome, though reluctant, ladies' man. He's polite, says all the right things, and rarely calls attention to himself. He's also a sociopathic serial killer whose "Dark Passenger" drives him to commit the occasional dismemberment. Mind you, Dexter's the good guy in this story. Adopted at the age of four after an unnamed tragedy left him orphaned, Dexter's learned, with help from his pragmatic policeman father, to channel his "gift," killing only those who deal in death themselves. But when a new serial killer starts working in Miami, staging elaborately grisly scenes that are, to Dexter, an obvious attempt at communication from one monster to another, the eponymous protagonist finds himself at a loss. Should he help his policewoman sister Deborah earn a promotion to the Homicide desk by finding the fiend? Or should he locate this new killer himself, so he can express his admiration for the other's "art?" Or is it possible that psycho Dexter himself, admittedly not the most balanced of fellows, is finally going completely insane and committing these messy crimes himself? Despite his penchant for vivisection, it's hard not to like Dexter as his coldly logical personality struggles to emulate emotions he doesn't feel and to keep up his appearance as a caring, unremarkable human being. Breakout author Jeff Lindsay's plot is tense and absorbing, but it's the voice of Dexter and his reactions to the other characters that will keep readers glued to Darkly Dreaming Dexter, as well as making it one of the most original and highly recommended serial killer stories in a long time. --Benjamin Reese
Product Description
The Basis for a New Showtime Original Series Starring Michael C. Hall
Meet Dexter Morgan, a polite wolf in sheep’s clothing. He’s handsome and charming, but something in his past has made him abide by a different set of rules. He’s a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likeable: he only kills bad people. And his job as a blood splatter expert for the Miami police department puts him in the perfect position to identify his victims. But when a series of brutal murders bearing a striking similarity to his own style start turning up, Dexter is caught between being flattered and being frightened–of himself or some other fiend.
Download Description
Jeff Lindsay lives in South Florida with his wife and three daughters. Dearly Devoted Dexter, the second novel featuring Dexter Morgan, will be published in July 2005.
From the Paperback edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 210 more reviews...
 "Blood. Sometimes it sets my teeth on edge, other times it helps me control the chaos." May 6, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I usually don't read crime novels, but I'm a big fan of the Showtime series "Dexter," and I wanted to read the novel the show is based on. "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" is the first installment of Jeff Lindsay's series about Dexter Morgan, a serial killer with a conscience. Dexter routinely kills and dismembers people in and around Miami, but unlike other serial killers, Dexter has a strict moral code that he struggles to adhere to: Basically, he only kills bad guys. Dexter struggles to keep his dark side under wraps by working as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department, hanging out with his foster sister, and even having a girlfriend. However, he always succumbs to his "Dark Passenger" and cannot suppress the urge to kill. When a new serial killer begins preying on Miami hookers, Dexter becomes intrigued by his new colleague and is intent on connecting with the murderer, even if it means exposing his own dark secrets.
This book was pretty good. Unlike most crime novels, which I usually think are very poorly written, "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" is composed of a blend of dark humor, intense drama, mystery and suspense, and good old-fashioned blood and gore. I was pleasantly surprised by how much content from the book was used in Season 1 of the television series "Dexter." There are some big differences between the book and the TV show, though. The "Tamiami Butcher" is referred to as the "Ice Truck Killer" in the TV show. The characters of Angel Batista, Vince Masuka, and James Doakes are relatively minor characters in the novel and are featured much more prominently in the television series. Migdia LaGuerta (who is called Maria LaGuerta in the show) is a supporting character in the novel, but is even nastier in the book that she is in the series, if you can believe that.
There are several other plot differences between the book and the novel, and overall, I think the television series is actually much better than the book. All of the characters are much more interesting in the show, and there are more intriguing subplots in the series as well. Also, I thought the ending of the book was extremely rushed, especially the part detailing the relationship Dexter has with the Tamiami Butcher. Hopefully that aspect of things is explored more in Lindsay's other novels, but I don't know if it is or not.
If you're a fan of the show "Dexter" or simply enjoy the crime novel genre, you'll probably find "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" to be an interesting read. However, don't feel like you absolutely need to read the novel if you're a fan of the Showtime series. This is one of those rare instances where the show is actually a lot better than the book.
Ho Hum April 25, 2008
I got interested in these books after seeing the series on TV, so I bought both of the them. I barely got through the first book. I felt it just "drug on", with too much of Dexter's "thoughts" and very little action or humor. However, I almost enjoyed the second one and I think maybe I would have enjoyed book 1 more if I hadn't seen the TV series.
Having said the above, I think Book 1 was a building block for Dearly Devoted Dexter book 2, which was funny, more action packed and was quicker paced.
 Good Quality April 25, 2008
I saw the series first and then decided to buy the book. The story showed in the series is not exactly the same than the original one in the book, which is very good, otherwise it wouldn't be any surprise.
Regarding the book itself, the quality is what I expected, good, and the shipping was quick even when I am out of the US.
Good, but... if you are watching the show, don't bother with the book. April 25, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm new to Dexter only recently discovering it on CBS as they started out with season one. I purchased this book in high hopes of the typical book to movie experience. That being that you get a lot more detail out of the book and often times a better story. This book surprised me in that it is EXACTLY like the show. I love the show and was excited to find out that it was based on a novel. "Based on" is not true enough of a phrase. This show exactly details the book. I hope the show didn't spend much money bringing in a writer to convert the book to a script. Don't get me wrong... I think this is a good read if you haven't seen the show, but otherwise it is a waste of time.
 Mixed feelings about this book April 25, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The writing is very good. Jeff Lindsay has an unmatched knack for alliteration and the words seemed to flow with a smoothness unmatched by most author. At times it is almost like reading poetry. But the subject matter is very disturbing. Dexter is described as a serial killer with a conscience because he only kill other serial killers. And in this book he is after a killer who is murdering local prostitutes.
I hate reading about innocent people getting hurt especially women and this book has plenty of it. And the killer leaves the bodies of his victims cut up and posed for Dexter to find which in and of itself is very disturbing. But even worse Dexter begins to view the savage murder displays as some sort of art. And begins to feel a very strong empathy for the killer. It was sickening to hear him describe savage murder scenes as beautiful and right. And the killings were horrible. You meet a few of the victims before they are killed and get to see their terror. And later see their dismembered bodies posed in childish displays for Dex.
Plus the ending was very confusing. I was unsure if Brian got away. Or if Dex had gone completely insane and killed Deb.
I saw the TV show once and liked it so I picked up the book but it was much darker than I expected. This is the sort of book that puts bad thoughts in your head. The only positive I can say about this book is that Jeff Lindsay's writing is superb if very dark.
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