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From the Hardcover edition.
Just as he's cleaning up the considerable mess after executing Puffalump, né Steve Valentine, the pederast clown who'd killed at least three little boys before meeting his doom, Dexter realizes he's been seen at work by someone driving a beat-up Honda. Once a series of unfortunate events allows the witness to connect a name to Dexter's face, he announces his intentions via e-mail. There's a new serial killer in town, smirks the unknown witness, and he intends to learn everything he can from Dexter and then toss his unwilling teacher aside. Of course, Dexter doesn't take this threat to his star billing lightly. His attempts to track down the witness go south, though, when he stumbles over a victim butchered in much the way he would have done the job and hears police sirens in the distance. Dexter escapes this crime scene to return to his wife Rita, who's obsessed with finding the perfect new house for their growing family—her daughter Astor, son Cody and newborn Lily Anne. But Dexter's latest nemesis, remaining one step ahead of him, commits a copycat murder that reopens a case Dexter's adoptive sister Deborah had just solved for Miami-Dade. This throws a deep professional shadow over both Debs and Dexter while the newbie plots his next move and Dexter wonders how he can kill his tormentor even though he's being dogged by his old enemy Sgt. Doakes, and his hands are swollen by poison ivy.
Lindsay, who remains less interested in mystery than in the archly virtuoso first-person narration of his appealingly monstrous Human Impersonator, provides another guilty pleasure. Really, really guilty.
Silly me - I had no idea Dexter was based on a series of books. My husband and I saw most of season one, when it aired on CBS. I don't think it came back because with all the censoring of language and gore, each episode was only 5 minutes long.
The cover, with the double blood-covered knives sets the creepy stage. I was actually surprised how creepy Dexter really is. In the series you get the feeling that he really is a decent guy with a serial killing bend. But no, he's a psychopath all the way. The only reason he follows the rules is to stay out of jail. The only person he really loves is his daughter. He married his wife basically because it helps him blend in more and she's a great cook. The kids are psycho too, and Dexter is taking them in hand to mold them to be like him. That's what creeps me out - instead of getting them help he is encouraging them. The baby girl is the only one with a chance of growing up normal.
The story is from Dexter's perspective, so it does leave all the other characters slightly 2 dimensional. It works in this case. The point being, Dexter doesn't know how to read other people, remember he's psychopathic?
In the beginning Dexter is "playing" with a guy who dresses up like a clown to prey on children. Dexter does pick people you don't mind him killing. The clown had been taking boys from the park near his hotel/apartment. When he was done with them, he disposed of their bodies nearby in a sewer tunnel. Dexter knew this was a bad egg. He's all set up and working in an abandoned house (isn't the foreclosure crisis grand?) when someone happens in and sees him. The witness leaves so fast that Dexter can't catch him. He then spends most of the book tracking this guy down.
Mostly I enjoyed the story. But if Dexter was really worried about this guy, he would have made it more of a priority to find him. Instead it was a spare time hobby, most nights spent doing nothing more than seeing his family. Although perhaps Rita's erratic behavior was puzzling him. Even though he doesn't get people, there is enough description that we readers can guess what is going on. Trust me, you'll know Rita's problem LONG before Dexter does.
Oh and Dexter's brother makes a comeback. He comes over every Friday for dinner and puts on the charm for Rita. He wants Dexter to join him. I thought Dexter had murdered his brother, but then again I can't really remember and the books and the TV show aren't exactly the same. Honestly I like this book better than the show. I may find Dexter extra creepy but it made for a tense, thrilling story.
So yes, if you like Dexter, then read this book. And as someone who has not read any other Dexter book, you can just pick it up and read it. You might get a little confused when he talks about the rules of Harry. Well when Dexter was little his brother and he witnessed the very brutal murder of their mother (parents?) and were locked up with the mess. Harry, a police officer on the case, adopted Dexter. He saw what Dexter was going to be, and shaped him to only go after bad guys and only after he had proof they were indeed guilty. So Dexter has his outlet but in a useful way...kinda...even Dexter realizes it's wrong he is powerless to stop himself. So I guess if you have to better to go after people who are truly wasting air?
7 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 31, 2012
This is the first Jeff Lindsay book I have read. His writing is very well done. I purchased the book as I am a fan of the Dexter TV series. The characters are the same but much different story lines. I really enjoyed reading this book and all the twists and turns it provided. A fantastic book for the Dexter fans.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 27, 2011
I tore through this book like a maniac! Loved it! Worth every penny.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Penned-in-Ink
Posted January 3, 2012
When Dexter finds himself on the receiving end of a serial killer's stalking, things get interesting. It's just a tad slow in the beginning, but picks quickly and you're back on the Dexter Express. It's interesting to watch Dexter as he grows in both of his rolls: "normal" human vs serial killer of those who have abdicated the right to live (according to Dexter's/Harry's Rules). Am eagerly awaiting the next installment as the character's interpersonal links and frictions continue to develop.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 8, 2011
Another good installment from Dexter although for much of this one he is off on his own and away from the characters that he works with. A few loose ends left to wrap up but it ended at a breakneck pace. I couldn't read the last 75 pages fast enough.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 1, 2012
Jeff Lindsay doesn't disappoint. I've read every single Dexter book and each one is a masterpiece.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 28, 2012
Jeff LINDSAY IS A GREAT WRITER, THIS BOOK IS REALLY GOOD I HAVE READ ALL OF THE DEXTER BOOKS AND I THINK THIS ONE IS THE BEST SO FAR.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book is pretty much exactly like the previous books, though the ending felt rushed. There is no growth in Dexter all he does is kill someone, he handles drama in the office, and drama in the family. It felt like 95% of the book was suspense leading up to the resolution. The last 20-ish pages were how Dexter resolves everything. Some of the parts in the book made me want to smack Dexter. It felt like he was oblivious to something so obvious that a child could understand it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 25, 2011
Started a little slow but once the story got going I had a hard time putting it down. I was glad to see that Dexter got Brian involved in his life and hope to see more of that in later books. Loved the ending but won't give it away here.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Got this and A Serial Killers Guide: Born In Blood which is FREE! I am a huge Dexter fan and are finally finishing up the book series and I am loving it. I hope they continue past season 8 even though they said they won't.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 13, 2013
Well, I love the way he writes and it's a good read ... a great read ... However, it is my least favorite of the Dexter series. I feel like Dexter became too afraid/wimpy and scared!!! He is Dexter for goodness sake ... henacted like a kid afraid of the boogyman for a good portion of the book. Some parts it also seemed too obvious what was going on amd that Dexter was just not using his brain anymore, although that was sorta addressed with him being comfortable as Daddy Dexter. The ending was good ... not quite excellent. I would have involved Cody. It seemed to lack being that thr whole book built up to that moment.
I hate that I sound so negative because I really did enjoy this book! I just expected more from this writer in this series.
Anonymous
Posted December 29, 2012
As always jeff lindsay delivers. Dexter is someone we all deep down root on as the good guy even though he is a serial killer. However, he is a vigilante serial killer who takes the really bad guys who are serial killers themselves off the streets when the criminal justice fails society. Every big city needs a secret vigilanty. This one also has a sense of humor, dry maybe., but still he is funny. I also liked in this book how he is working on his relationships with sister, his son, etc. It is so worth reading.------------- review by Judy Wallace
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 25, 2012
I don't know what's going on but Dexter goes from being a cold, calculating killer to a complete idiot. He seems completely out of character throughout the entire novel. It was pretty frustrating to watch him stumble through one act of obvious stupidity to another. Definitely my least favorite of the series.
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Posted August 26, 2012
I really like the show and the books. My only problem is that the kids always seem to need rescuing. It's getting redundant. And Rita seems to be getting dumber each book. I mean, how many times are the children going to get in trouble before she wises up? I don't like the fact that the kids also have a darkness. It makes them less sympathetic. I mean, I care.mor for Dexter that I do the kids.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 28, 2012
In this sixth installment of 'Dexter' we see our protagonist in a situation quite similar to the plot of the fourth book (Dexter by Design). I want to make it clear that I did enjoy this book and found it witty as ever but I do have a few complaints as well. In my opinion, the book seemed to go on just a bit too long and though I definetly don't want a shorter book, I think JL could have figured out some way to fill the negative space and keep us readers more interested. I also found myself quite annoyed with Dexter for being so stupid as it was so in-your-face obvious who the shadow was a good hundred or so pages before he finally figured it out. Also as I said before, the plot was so very similar to that of the fourth book in many ways. Rita seems whiny and boring as ever and theres hardly any killing which, believe it or not, is kinda the point of these books. After the greatness of the previous book, this one seemed rather dissapointing although I enjoy Dexter in any form I can get whether he is doing his usual stuff or fighting off ancient spirits (see Dexter in the Dark).
It was not a GREAT book by any means but its still Dexter so I reccomend it to all Dexter fans. I give it 3.5 stars.
ABookAWeekES
Posted July 8, 2012
There is really only one rule that all criminals must follow: Don't Get Caught!. In the latest Dexter novel by author Jeff Lindsay, Dexter finds himself in this exact situation.
For those who are not familiar with the novels or the hit television show based off of the characters, Dexter Morgan seems like a normal guy. He has a solid job working as a blood splatter analyst at the Miami Police Department. He has a wife, Rita, a new born baby girl, two step kids, and a sister, Deborah, who is his only living blood relative and who happens to be a detective at the Miami P.D. While Dexter seems like the perfect example of a suburban father, he harbors a dark secret. Dexter is a serial killer. He feeds this habit by only killing those who "deserve their punishment."
The novel opens as Dexter is "punishing" a pedophile in a vacant home. Everything seems to be going as planned until he hears someone enter the home. He rushes to make sure he isn't seen, but he is too late. He sees the person leaving, shadowed by the night, and is left to worry that he has been seen. On top of this, someone is killing cops in Miami. Dexter is summoned by his sister to assist in the gruesome murder investigation, which adds to his stress of family life and trying to discover the person who witnessed his crime. When that person beats him to the punch, contacting Dexter through a blog and threatening to expose his secrets, Dexter becomes engulfed in a race to put a stop to this unknown witness before his entire facade of a life comes crashing down.
The Dexter series has certainly gotten better with age. Jeff Lindsay writes with an assured voice that has grown into a unique style that can only be related to this series. The introspective narratives by the main character perfectly capture the twisted, sometimes sarcastic qualities of Dexter. I particularly appreciate the way Lindsay keeps the novels in their own world. This allows the universe of the novels and the television show to coexist without one seemingly copying the other. While this is by no means a "great" work of fiction, it is certainly an entertaining way to spend an afternoon. Six novels into the series and six seasons into the show, I am definitely hooked!
ShelleySargent
Posted June 29, 2012
I found Rita to be highly annoying with her constant ADD talk, and found it frustrating that it seemed Dexter was so dense regarding her very obvious behavior. Otherwise, I loved the book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Love Dexter on t.v. Love Dexter books just as much, if not more. However, this Double Dexter is a bit of a disappointment for me. Not enough action. Debrah doesn't show up enough. Way too much inner narrative. Too much non-speak from Rita. Where is the active Dexter we have all come to know and love?
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Posted February 14, 2012
Runs to deede with med bots in front tending to her
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 15, 2011
This rocks
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Dexter Morgan is not your average serial killer. He enjoys his day job as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department . . . but he lives for his nighttime hobby of hunting other killers. Dexter is therefore not pleased to discover that someone is shadowing him, ...