Boy, this is good. This has some disturbing (if you think about it too long) elements but it's a great read. I enjoyed it tremendously. ( )

After reading the first book in this series last month, I figured I might as well come back and read the newer one. The basic setup is the same: you have Dexter, our serial killer narrator, only operating on those who slipped through the justice system cracks; his sister, a hard-bitten cop on the force; a police-side antagonist, making it harder for Dexter to get done what he wants; and another killer, even more unspeakable than our hero, who Dexter and the police try to track down.

Really, the main differences are in the details. We get more of Dexter's non-murderous life with his girlfriend and her kids, and it works well. It also provides what I felt to be the funniest moment in the book, and also the one that's the creepiest (and that's saying something). Also, if the main character types are the same, the characters themselves are a bit better. Dexter is more interesting in this one, I think, and the police antagonist, Doakes, is much more interesting than the one from the last book, who was consistantly portrayed as a bit dim. On the other hand, I liked Deborah, the sister, less here, and the murderer is less interesting, in a sense.

Still, the plot is good, and the writing is very good; Dexter's narration and the style of it is quite interesting, and he's a compelling character. The dialogue isn't always great, but the internal monologue usually is. And since that's the bulk of the book, it carries the day. I'll look into the next one... probably in paperback, which'll leave about a year or so between me and it, but I'll still look into it. ( )

The writing in this book is appallingly atrocious. I can’t believe I made it though the whole thing. Not only is the sentence structure appalling, but the guy is guilty of breaking the first rule of fiction; show, don’t tell. The first person perspective could have been used to so much better effect if he didn’t use it to have the guy talk about how unusual he is instead of showing the same.

But I did get through it. Doakes makes a pain in the ass of himself and when the diamond pinky ring (still around the now detached finger) of his old FBI buddy (and Dexter’s sister’s current boyfriend) turns up, Dexter pockets it and his girlfriend finds it and assumes it’s for her. Now he’s trapped; but the woman’s son is showing some psychotic tendencies and Dexter finds himself fantasizing about assuming his step-father’s role of tutor and coach. To shape the young psychotic into being a productive citizen.

Dexter is somewhat fascinated by the other killer in this novel. His technique is to strap the victim down onto a table and position a mirror at just the right angle above him in order to view the killer removing his hands, feet, arms, legs, ears, lips, nose and eyelids. All the while psychotropic drugs are flowing through his veins heightening his sense of terror.

Dexter does a bunch of dumb stuff, gets captured by said psychotic and has to be rescued by the owner of the pinky (and the ring, the same guy who Dexter rescued from the same killer before he had a chance to remove more than just the guys lower left leg and arm) and his sister who drills him in the chest with two rounds.

I’ll probably read another one because it is slightly interesting and makes me laugh in spots. But it annoys the crap out of me at the same time. And with Doakes permanently maimed beyond hope, Dexter will have free reign to unleash the Dark Passenger whenever he needs to. ( )

The second book in the Dexter series. This time Dexter is being watched by Sergeant Doakes and he has to lay low so as not to attract attention to himself. I found this a little annoying at times, sitting on the couch drinking beer and acting normal is not what Dexter is about, there's nothing thrilling about that so the first part was a little slow due to this. It soon picks up though and Dexter's true character comes out once again to hunt yet another serial killer.

Lindsay got quite creative with this monster and what he does to his victims is utterly horrible, but you can count on Dexter and his Dark Passenger to get to the bottom of it. He also explores more characters in this book and shows another side of Dexter's tough sister Deborah, which really irritated me sometimes. Of course Dexter's wit and insight on normal human beings as he's pushed into the family life makes the book highly entertaining.

Although not as edgy and well written as the first book it is still an enjoyable read. The strange thing is that whatever happens you still find yourself on Dexter's side, which is a serial killer himself. ( )

Dexter is back in this second book, and things have shifted in Dexter's world. He and his sister have the weight of awareness between the two of them. Dexter is being mercilessly stalked by Sgt. Doakes, so his normal activities are largely out of the question. He's settled in for a new life with Rita and her two children, but carrying the burden of Dearly Devoted Dexter can only hold his interest for so long...

Until things get interesting. When Kyle Chutsky takes over this investigation and a lot of time with his sister, Dexter's world gets a whole lot more interesting...

This volume is quick on action and on the perils of being a well-adjusted killer. Dexter is even given a chance to grow emotionally in the limited way that's available to one with his talents. ( )