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Darkly Dreaming Dexter
(Dexter #1)
by
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
...more
Paperback, Media Tie-In; Vintage Crime / Black Lizard, 288 pages
Published
September 19th 2006
by Vintage Books
(first published July 10th 2004)
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(A-) 82% | Very Good
Notes: An economical, almost skeleton series introduction: claustrophobic and bustling, it limits facts to plot and never lags.
Notes: An economical, almost skeleton series introduction: claustrophobic and bustling, it limits facts to plot and never lags.

Like so many others, I loved the Showtime series and wanted to check out the original source material. I was very disappointed indeed. Since a lot of other people seem to have liked it, it may just be a matter of taste, but...
The characters are two-dimensional cliches that can't tie their own shoelaces, except for the daringly deductive Dexter, who *can* tie his own shoelaces. Which makes him a genius. I recall seeing someone else comment that Darkly Dreaming Dexter needs to "show, don't tell." ...more
The characters are two-dimensional cliches that can't tie their own shoelaces, except for the daringly deductive Dexter, who *can* tie his own shoelaces. Which makes him a genius. I recall seeing someone else comment that Darkly Dreaming Dexter needs to "show, don't tell." ...more

Jarringly Jolly Jeff Lindsay has given his Rascally Rabid Readers a serial killer to cheer for.
Hellishly Haunted Harry knew early on that his young son had a personality disorder. e.g. sociopath/ psychopath/ up and coming serial killer.
With that in mind, Hollow Headed Harry figures if child rearing has given him a lemon.... make lemonade.
So Highly Helpful Harry steers his son on a course that he hopes will keep him from a lifetime of incarceration.
Fast forward to present day and Disturbingly ...more
Hellishly Haunted Harry knew early on that his young son had a personality disorder. e.g. sociopath/ psychopath/ up and coming serial killer.
With that in mind, Hollow Headed Harry figures if child rearing has given him a lemon.... make lemonade.
So Highly Helpful Harry steers his son on a course that he hopes will keep him from a lifetime of incarceration.
Fast forward to present day and Disturbingly ...more

Darkly dreaming Dexter (Dexter, #1), c2004, Jeff Lindsay
Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a 2004 novel by Jeff Lindsay, the first in his series about serial killer Dexter Morgan. It formed the basis of the Showtime television series Dexter and won the 2005 Dilys Award and the 2007 Book to TV award.
The novel's protagonist, Dexter Morgan, works for the Miami-Dade Police Department as a forensic blood spatter analyst.
In his spare time, Dexter is a serial killer who kills murderers, rapists, child molester ...more
Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a 2004 novel by Jeff Lindsay, the first in his series about serial killer Dexter Morgan. It formed the basis of the Showtime television series Dexter and won the 2005 Dilys Award and the 2007 Book to TV award.
The novel's protagonist, Dexter Morgan, works for the Miami-Dade Police Department as a forensic blood spatter analyst.
In his spare time, Dexter is a serial killer who kills murderers, rapists, child molester ...more

Ok, well. I'm coming at this from an entirely different angle than most of my friends because I've never seen the tv show (GASP! Amirite?). So, I have nothing to compare the book to...other than the book.
BUT.
Having said that, I only read this because I'd heard about the show and how faboo it supposedly was.

Also, one thing I should mention is that I rare to never read mystery/thrillers, so I don't know how this stacks up to the other popular stuff in this genre. Admittedly, I shy away from stuff ...more
BUT.
Having said that, I only read this because I'd heard about the show and how faboo it supposedly was.

Also, one thing I should mention is that I rare to never read mystery/thrillers, so I don't know how this stacks up to the other popular stuff in this genre. Admittedly, I shy away from stuff ...more

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I am now so far behind in reviewing that all of my read-but-not-yet-reviewed selections can't fit on my home page. Bonus this go 'round is somehow I didn’t even manage to mark this one down as something I was reading at all (#failure).
But wait, you ain’t seen NUTTIN’ yet. Not only have I never read Dexter, but I have never seen an episode of the highly acclaimed television series either . . . .
Yeah yeah yeah . . . .
Since I ...more
I am now so far behind in reviewing that all of my read-but-not-yet-reviewed selections can't fit on my home page. Bonus this go 'round is somehow I didn’t even manage to mark this one down as something I was reading at all (#failure).
But wait, you ain’t seen NUTTIN’ yet. Not only have I never read Dexter, but I have never seen an episode of the highly acclaimed television series either . . . .

Yeah yeah yeah . . . .

Since I ...more

I'm a BIG fan of the Dexter TV show on Showtime. This led to me being a bit hesitant to read the novels because I was worried about a serious case of disappointment. Michael C. Hall's portrayal of the title character is such an integral part of my enjoyment of the series that approached this book with trepidation, worried I wouldn't relate* as well to the novel's main character.
* a dangerous thought, I know, given Dexter's proclivities.
Well, turns out that my fears were groundless. The characte ...more
* a dangerous thought, I know, given Dexter's proclivities.
Well, turns out that my fears were groundless. The characte ...more

Getting in mind of Dexter is never boring his insight is funny and his technique of killing is masterful.Dexter talks of his beginnings, of his first kill, the day his dark passenger became the rider. Recollections of the past with his father Harry and his deadly advice, its a good fast read in the rambling mind of a sociopath Dexter.
...more


This review is brought to you by the letter D.

Dexter is a delightfully demented and dynamic dude...

Well now that is enough of that...
Dexter Morgan is a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami-Dade Police Department, but in his spare time he enjoys boating, eating donuts, spending time with his foster sister Deborah, playing with his girlfriend Rita's children...oh and killing people. Dexter lives by a code, "The Code of Harry". Before Harry Morgan -Dexter's foster father- died, he taught his ...more

Dexter is a delightfully demented and dynamic dude...

Well now that is enough of that...
Dexter Morgan is a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami-Dade Police Department, but in his spare time he enjoys boating, eating donuts, spending time with his foster sister Deborah, playing with his girlfriend Rita's children...oh and killing people. Dexter lives by a code, "The Code of Harry". Before Harry Morgan -Dexter's foster father- died, he taught his ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Dec 01, 2016
Brittany
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
zchallenge-2016,
thriller,
horror,
fiction,
mystery,
5-stars,
action,
psychological-thriller,
reviews
I have wanted to read this book FOREVER! And I'm so glad that I finally did. I loved Dexter the tv show first, so it was great to be able to read what started it all. I have a high appreciation for both the book and the tv show. I can see why certain liberties were made with the tv show and how it worked with the overall feel of the story!
Dexter is a serial killer that happens to work for a police department as a blood splatter analyst; he also happens to kill other serial killers that slip thr ...more
Dexter is a serial killer that happens to work for a police department as a blood splatter analyst; he also happens to kill other serial killers that slip thr ...more

I'm a very neat monster.
I'm really ashamed to say that it took me two weeks to read this book. Two weeks for a 280 pages book! I mean, yeah, the university has been kicking my ass, but still, that is no excuse.
This book is about Dexter, our friendly neighbourhood serial killer. Since I've seen the TV series, I knew even before I started this book that I was going to like it. And I did. It didn't blow my mind or anything, but it was still a pretty great book. It started off great, middle did drag ...more
I'm really ashamed to say that it took me two weeks to read this book. Two weeks for a 280 pages book! I mean, yeah, the university has been kicking my ass, but still, that is no excuse.
This book is about Dexter, our friendly neighbourhood serial killer. Since I've seen the TV series, I knew even before I started this book that I was going to like it. And I did. It didn't blow my mind or anything, but it was still a pretty great book. It started off great, middle did drag ...more

Dexter is a serial killer, a killer who just can't help himself. He doesn't even see himself as human. But he does have something of a conscience and lives by the Code of Harry, his cop foster father, who understood his nature and sought to help Dexter control it somewhat when he was a teenager. Now a blood spatter analyst for Miami police, he's brought in on gruesome murder cases and a new serial killer in the city has Dexter feeling inspired, flattered and awestruck - and frightened that it's
...more

Jun 15, 2007
Chloe
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Those who love to root for the bad guy
Shelves:
mystery-crime-thriller,
fiction
Mysteries and Thrillers are often hit-or-miss for me. I have had the good fortune of being recommended a lot of writings from the creme de la creme of this genre by my father, so grew up ingesting PD James, John le Carre, and Dennis Lehane with the pulp sci-fi that was my fare of choice. I have also, at times, been forced to read a James Patterson or John Grisham for lack of any other reading materials. This has given me a broad exposure to what could arguably be called the most popular genre in
...more

Oh Moon, glorious Moon --- Why did'nt I pick this up when it was first released is beyond me!
I love Dexter and his Dark Passenger. His sarcastic wit, his lizard brain, his fake girlfriend and actual love of little kids. His hobby-related career as a blood-splatter analyst by day, and his moonlighting as a killer of killers by night.
Whats not to love?? If you havent read this book (series) yet, you dont know what your missing! I highly recommend this to everyone.
I am ranking this my #2 favorite ...more
I love Dexter and his Dark Passenger. His sarcastic wit, his lizard brain, his fake girlfriend and actual love of little kids. His hobby-related career as a blood-splatter analyst by day, and his moonlighting as a killer of killers by night.
Whats not to love?? If you havent read this book (series) yet, you dont know what your missing! I highly recommend this to everyone.
I am ranking this my #2 favorite ...more

Mar 09, 2015
Edward Lorn
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Thriller and serial killer fans
Recommended to Edward by:
John
This is going to be a short review.
I've heard people say that the books are better than the series, but I don't agree. I think they are equally enjoyable, and given how much they branch away from each other come season two/book two, it's easy to call them completely different monsters. The show goes off the rails around season four, and the books become illogical after book two, but both the series are fun, to a point. The final season of the Showtime series was such a disappointment that it is ...more
I've heard people say that the books are better than the series, but I don't agree. I think they are equally enjoyable, and given how much they branch away from each other come season two/book two, it's easy to call them completely different monsters. The show goes off the rails around season four, and the books become illogical after book two, but both the series are fun, to a point. The final season of the Showtime series was such a disappointment that it is ...more

I sill enjoyed reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter even though I knew what was gong to happen. Because I have watched most of the first season of Dexter on dvd. The good thing is I haven't watch any of the other seasons of Dexter on dvd. So the rest of the books in the series will be new to me. Will read one a month until I finish the series. Only seven more to go, looking forward to it. I gave Darkly Dreaming Dexter 4 stars.
...more

Anyone who was a fan of the Dexter series, Bones, CSI or NCIS should pick up this novel!
Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a fun, sarcastic crime novel. Instead of following a detective, this novel follows a serial killer, who is trying to catch another serial killer!
I decided to read this book after I watched some of the Dexter television series. Anyone who has watched the series, should know the first book is the first season of the show. The two are almost identical, minus a few changes to make the te ...more
Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a fun, sarcastic crime novel. Instead of following a detective, this novel follows a serial killer, who is trying to catch another serial killer!
I decided to read this book after I watched some of the Dexter television series. Anyone who has watched the series, should know the first book is the first season of the show. The two are almost identical, minus a few changes to make the te ...more

Sep 02, 2017
Vivian
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Vivian by:
PirateSteve
Anybody can be charming if they don't mind faking it, saying all the stupid, obvious, nauseating things that a conscience keeps most people from saying. Happily, I don't have a conscience. I say them.
And this is both charming and terrifying to read. Delightfully so. Just the right amount of shivers tingling up your spine. Mimicry is such a useful tool and Dexter is quite adept at it. Frankly, I find him refreshing and certainly less boring than most. The puzzles and tidiness, I do like them ...more

Firstly I have never seen the show. Not once, not a single episode. Over the years I've been told to watch it countless times and then told I have to read the books. Well finally I decided to read one.
While it was a good story it always felt like something was missing. I prefer my crime books to have more truth about them. The whole plot point of the dreaming was honestly annoying. It felt like it was there just because the author couldn't think of a clever way of getting Dexter to the crime sce ...more
While it was a good story it always felt like something was missing. I prefer my crime books to have more truth about them. The whole plot point of the dreaming was honestly annoying. It felt like it was there just because the author couldn't think of a clever way of getting Dexter to the crime sce ...more

I binge watched Dexter on Netflix a couple years ago and was hoping I would love the books just as much as I loved the television series. As usual, I think I like the book (at least the first one) even better! You really get inside Dexter's head in the book since it is entirely told from his perspective with his mental commentary splashed throughout. He really does have quite the sense of humor. I'm glad I decided to try out the book, and I cannot wait to read the others as well.
...more

Jun 11, 2009
Shelby *trains flying monkeys*
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
read-2006,
serial-killer-dude
Book with a whole new idea. I actually rooted for the not so bad guy!

I simply love Showtime's Dexter. If Dexter the TV show were a book, I'd give it 5 stars. I've held off on reading the books that the show is based on for a while, because I didn't want anything to sully my Dexter-love. Was it possible they could favorably compare?
Luckily, Jeff Lindsay's first Dexter novel is pretty damn charming. Like The Princess Bride, the screen version by its very nature ends up missing a lot of the wonderfulness that's hidden in the narration. I loved the constant use of al ...more
Luckily, Jeff Lindsay's first Dexter novel is pretty damn charming. Like The Princess Bride, the screen version by its very nature ends up missing a lot of the wonderfulness that's hidden in the narration. I loved the constant use of al ...more

Brilliant! What a character to adore: so fresh, crazy, ironic, scathing... I love Dexter!
I haven't seen the TV adaptation but if the book is like this, I can imagine it will be very good too...Maybe some day...
I have enjoyed a lot this first book. The way is written without separating the dialogues, the well-defined characters, their sarcastic names like "Sangre" or "LaGuerta" (what makes me think of "lagarta" in spanish eheh), the sentences in spanish, Dexter's thoughts and dreams...
It is a ver ...more
I haven't seen the TV adaptation but if the book is like this, I can imagine it will be very good too...Maybe some day...
I have enjoyed a lot this first book. The way is written without separating the dialogues, the well-defined characters, their sarcastic names like "Sangre" or "LaGuerta" (what makes me think of "lagarta" in spanish eheh), the sentences in spanish, Dexter's thoughts and dreams...
It is a ver ...more

Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books
Narrated by: Author Jeff Lindsay
Darkly Dreaming Dexter introduces Dexter Morgan serial killer of serial killers. To the outside world he is a charming, attractive normal guy with a respectable job with the forensic department. But Dexter (for anyone who hasn’t watched the tv show) is constantly battling his “dark passenger” who dreams of death and can only be assuaged by brutal murder and clinical dismemberment. He was adopted as a young boy by a polic ...more
Publisher: Recorded Books
Narrated by: Author Jeff Lindsay
Darkly Dreaming Dexter introduces Dexter Morgan serial killer of serial killers. To the outside world he is a charming, attractive normal guy with a respectable job with the forensic department. But Dexter (for anyone who hasn’t watched the tv show) is constantly battling his “dark passenger” who dreams of death and can only be assuaged by brutal murder and clinical dismemberment. He was adopted as a young boy by a polic ...more

Nov 01, 2007
Lauryl
rated it
it was ok
Recommends it for:
people who like thrillers who don't watch the show
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
so I picked this up because I saw the Showtime series. I admit, I have become a big fan of the show, which is pretty smart and complex, despite its kind of silly premise. AND it's gruesome, which is always good. The book, however, lacks the depth and character development of the show. I suppose that's one thing that television, as a medium, is actually really good at. The book feels a little flip, and a little silly, andeven though it's the first in a series, it doesn't feel l ...more
so I picked this up because I saw the Showtime series. I admit, I have become a big fan of the show, which is pretty smart and complex, despite its kind of silly premise. AND it's gruesome, which is always good. The book, however, lacks the depth and character development of the show. I suppose that's one thing that television, as a medium, is actually really good at. The book feels a little flip, and a little silly, andeven though it's the first in a series, it doesn't feel l ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

A page-turner. I'm a bit hazy on the ending of this book. But I will read the sequels.
I rather enjoyed the book, the narration and the descriptions. Though many aspects of this book are non-scientific, it is enjoyable nonetheless. ...more
I rather enjoyed the book, the narration and the descriptions. Though many aspects of this book are non-scientific, it is enjoyable nonetheless. ...more

OK, so I will just get this out of the way: I have NOT seen the show. I don't know a thing about it, except, of course, that Dexter is a murderer. So I had nothing to go on when I started this, which is the way that I like it.
Now that I've read it, I guess I can see why it was made into a show, but I admit that I was a bit let down by it. Not that it was a bad book... I basically read it straight through in two chunks (I had to pause in the middle for my bookclub book) and it was compelling eno ...more
Now that I've read it, I guess I can see why it was made into a show, but I admit that I was a bit let down by it. Not that it was a bad book... I basically read it straight through in two chunks (I had to pause in the middle for my bookclub book) and it was compelling eno ...more

Dexter, book No. 1.: The first Dexter book, from which the TV series is based, features the 'Ice-Box Killer', and introduces Dexter Morgan the blood spatter criminologist and part-time serial killer with a heart; his sister Deborah Morgan, a beat cop aspiring to be a detective; and the eclectic cast of characters serving at Miami PD. A lot like the TV series in places but also markedly different at times, and overall quite readable. 6 out of 12
...more

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Jeff Lindsay lives in Florida with his wife, author Hilary Hemingway, daughter of Leicester Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's brother.
Lindsay is best known for writing the Dexter series of novels. Several of his earlier published works include his wife as a co-author.
Jeff graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1975, and Celebration Mime Theatre's Clown School the same year. He received a doub ...more
Lindsay is best known for writing the Dexter series of novels. Several of his earlier published works include his wife as a co-author.
Jeff graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1975, and Celebration Mime Theatre's Clown School the same year. He received a doub ...more
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“Weren't we all crazy in our sleep? What was sleep, after all, but the process by which we dumped our insanity into a dark subconscious pit and came out on the other side ready to eat cereal instead of our neighbor's children?”
—
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“I'm not sure what I am. I just know there's something dark in me. I hide it. I certainly don't talk about it, but it's there always, this Dark Passenger. And when he's driving, I feel alive, half sick with the thrill of complete wrongness. I don't fight him, I don't want to. He's all I've got. Nothing else could love me, not even... especially not me. Or is that just a lie the Dark Passenger tells me? Because lately there are these moments when I feel connected to something else... someone. It's like the mask is slipping and things... people... who never mattered before are suddenly starting to matter. It scares the hell out of me.”
—
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