Dexter by Design

I've seen the series on Showtime, now I'm catching up on the books. These are such thrillers, hard to put down. I'm still on #3, Dexter in the Dark. So will be a while before I get to this one. Lindsay is one fantastic story teller. Can't wait to get to this one. Book is in great shape.

A married Dexter Morgan? It has happened in both the books and the tv series, with married life for Dexter and his Passenger due to be explored in season four of the Showtime series Both stand on their own merit, and contrary to the negative reviews, I did not find this a tedious expendeture in the least The tv series and books run parrallell in some aspects, whilst the Showtime series adds original material Debonair Deadly Dexter is still in fine form, with the supernatural Dark Passenger elements from book three severely downplayed or ignored One can only hope the course set in the first two books continues in book five (wit, pregnancy, et al) Long Live Dexter

Having discovered Dexter at Blockbuster a year or so ago and watched season one and two, I only knew of Dexter in that medium. So once I started reading, the characters came to life immediately, especially Dexter's innner dialogue which has always been the best part. Some minor differences from the Showtime series, but was laughing out loud at Dexter and how his mind works. Sometimes awkward reading in public, especially when strangers out of curiosity or to break the ice ask "So what are you reading?" You kind of feel like a sociopath freak for loving Dexter. But love him we do...

Dexter is back in full form, as well as educating his children in the art. Have always loved the books more than the TV show, but that is just me. If you love Dexter, you will enjoy this newest book.

The latest saga of Dexter Morgan starts off in Paris... as Dexter the man with no true inner feelings... other than the ones ruled by the "DARK-PASSENGER"... is on his honeymoon with his new bride Rita. Dexter's only true enjoyable moments on his Parisian honeymoon were when they attended an art piece called "Jennifer's Leg" in which they viewed a woman cut her own leg off... and then come back... and see and touch her own leg bone that was "mounted on a square of raw plywood and set in a steel frame." After returning to Miami and going back to work readers are reintroduced to existing storyline characters... such as co-worker Vince... whose daily highlight still revolves around who brought in the donuts... Angel Batista... and of course Dexter's cantankerous sister Sergeant Deborah... who between "snorts"... always has Dexter on edge... anticipating one of her famous brutal punches in the arm. Sergeant Doakes who had been Dexter's most dangerous and enduring adversary has a minuscule role in this segment... perhaps because "an amateur surgeon had captured Doakes and removed his hands, feet, and tongue"... and the only way he could communicate was with a "small handheld computer or PDA"... and by tapping at the keys with his claw (formerly a hand)... he would activate pre-stored computer generated phrases such as "I AM STILL WATCHING YOU"... and others laced with four letter words. Shortly after Dexter's return there are four uniquely grisly murders with a similar M.O.. The person committing the murders seems to have more "creative-fun" with the bodies after the death... than any type of enjoyment during the committing of the homicides. One such example was a corpse that had the shirt unbuttoned "and pulled back to reveal that the man's chest had been removed and the cavity emptied out of all the natural and awful stuff that should go in there. It was now filled instead with ice, bottles of beer, and what appeared to be a shrimp-cocktail ring from the grocery store. His right hand was clutching a fistful of Monopoly money, and his face was covered with a glued on plastic mask." Sergeant Deb grabs Dexter instead of her partner and follows up on leads in an attempt to track down the killer. While Dexter sits in the car contemplating whether his sister... who now knows what he does for enjoyment at night... is going to turn him in... Deb gets stabbed and winds up in serious condition in the ICU. Dexter is forced to deal with emotions that he never thought he even remotely possessed. When he kills the man ... that he thought stabbed his sister... in retaliation... all hell breaks loose in Dexter's previously secret life. Simultaneously Rita's two young children Cody and Astor who are two "junior-Dexter-future-serial-killers-in-the-making" keep begging Dexter for some hands on training. The author gives tremendous "screen" time to an ingenious supporting character with almost unlimited dramatic and poker-face humor potential... Kyle Chutsky. Chutsky

In "Dexter by Design," Jeff Lindsay makes a bold move and it pays off. The first three books of the series are filled with twisted humor and dark satire; they are also nauseatingly violent and gruesome. Dexter has always reveled in his passion for inflicting pain on those who deserve it. Now, much to his consternation, Dexter is experiencing stirrings of vulnerability, guilt, and even compassion. Although a normal person might welcome this development, Dexter is chagrined. Since he was a child, the strongest feeling that he had was the joy of murdering, dismembering, and disposing of his victims. What is one to make of this Drastically Different Dexter? Part of the change may stem from Dexter's new living arrangements. After a honeymoon in Paris, he is settling into a domestic routine with his devoted wife and stepchildren, Cody and Astor. Dexter returns to his job as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department and he looks forward longingly to resuming his favorite pastime--hunting at night with his ropes and cutting tools. However, Dexter soon learns that he has a competitor for the title of Miami's sickest dude. Someone is leaving dead bodies decorated with floral arrangements and tropical fruit in various spots around the city. The stakes are raised when an individual whom Dexter cares about is attacked and seriously wounded. The Dark Passenger is stirring once again, and Dexter's newfound humanity may not be enough to keep him from exploding with rage. "Dexter by Design" is Lindsay's most accomplished work to date. Although Dexter (who still refers to himself alliteratively in the third person) insists that he has no soul, his actions belie his words. After he commits a brutal act that may have stemmed from an error in judgment, he is remorseful and frightened of the possible consequences. For the first time in his life, Dexter is at a loss, and he turns to others to help him find his way. In spite of his angst, Dexter continues to amuse us with clever wisecracks that are often tasteless, outrageously inappropriate, and laugh-out-loud funny. Adding to our delight is the excellent supporting cast. Rita, Dexter's wife, fusses lovingly over her new husband; Cody and Astor eagerly await further lessons from Dexter in how to commit mayhem and get away with it; Dex's sister, Deb, and her clingy boyfriend, Kyle Chutsky, show sides of themselves that we have never seen before. The author keeps us guessing as to who is on the rampage in Miami and why. How will this villain react when he learns that Dexter is out to get him? Dexter's adversary proves to be a devious and vicious psychopath who threatens everything that our hero holds dear. "Dexter by Design" is a hilarious, suspenseful, and action-filled thriller. The twists and turns keep coming at a furious pace and the ending is a humdinger, with a major surprise that promises to keep this series fresh for some time to come.