Dexter is not your average blood splatter analyst. He's a serial killer. He works with the police but cannot resist, and frankly doesn't want to, the urge to feed the dark need inside him. Dexter tries to keep his head down among people. He says the right things and smiles at the right times. Few ever notice that he's slightly off. When Dexter's foster sister, Deborah, asks for his help catching a serial killer Dexter is torn between his personal desires and the urge to help her.

I really liked the voice of this book. I was easily pulled through the pages. The mix of dark humor, confusion with human emotions, and unapologetic need to kill worked for me. I fell easily into the mind of Dexter and enjoyed my time there. I think that it is the mark of a skilled writer that I was able to like a character so much when he was clearly a sociopath. I couldn't help but feel for him even when I was repelled by his actions.

I enjoyed watching Dexter fumble with the emotions of people around him. Seeing him try to figure out what most normal people know by instinct was very amusing. I particularly enjoyed his confusion in relation to Rita. What seemed so obscure to him was obvious and hilarious to me (as well as most readers I'm sure). I really loved how he was disturbed and confused over what ended up happening with Rita. The embarrassment and definite yuck feeling was funny, but also kind of sad.

I was faintly disbelieving of Harry's reaction to Dexter. I mean, the guy was a cop. I really thought the teaching and honing of his setup and clean up was an odd thing to do. I don't know, maybe I'm just being idealistic.

I can honestly say that I wasn't expecting the serial killer to be who it turned out to be. It occurred to me when Deborah and Dexter were watching the video, but I discounted it. I guess I should have listened to myself.

The ending really bothered me. What happened exactly? How did that get resolved with all the cops? What happened in that final moment before it skipped to the last chapter? It's bugging me that I don't know. Hopefully it's covered in the next book. I'll definitely be buying it. I can't wait to see how Dexter's story continues. ( )

Dark and light hearted. Scary. By 2/3rds thru I wanted relief from the battering. Didn’t let up until the end. ( )

Tries so hard to be dark and unemotional that I found I could not feel anything for the main character. Might have been my mood.

Enjoyed this character. It was nice to delve a little deeper in his mind after watching the TV series. Wasn't expecting the completely different ending from the series but enjoyed how it played out. ( )

Weirdly enough, didn't like it as much as the TV show. ( )

First I'll mention that I have not seen the television show so can't speak to whether or not this is similar to that.

It is dark, droll and entertaining. A character study of a sociopath: someone with no human feelings, and with the knowledge that he has no human feelings. The author tries very hard to be funny - and uses a lot of alliteration (Darkly Dreaming Dexter is just one of dozen or more "funny" (?) alliterations he does).

While it is told in a manner that is intended to be humorous... whether it is very funny or not is another story. I'm not convinced it's as funny as the author thinks it is.

But overall it's a very quick and enjoyable read, and I'll read more in the series. ( )

Currently reading ( )

Can a sociopathic serial killer be the hero? I'm not sure, but Jeff Lindsay writes brilliantly trying to prove the answer is yes. This book had flaws, but ultimately it works. Fans of crime fiction will enjoy it. ( )

My deep devotion towards Dexter started with the TV show... then I found out the show was based on a book series. Jackpot. Darkly Dreaming Dexter describes with daring disquiet the devilish Dexter Morgan. Dexter is a blood splatter analyst by trade and a serial killer by profession. Unlike most killers, Dexter follows a code and only kills those who "deserve" it. Murderers, rapists and pedophiles beware, for you may be next. Fans of the TV series should definitely try out the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending that deviates delightfully from the show. ( )

I first discovered the title when surfing through channels and finding the TV series based off the book. I really only watched one episode, but it was enough for me to be curious with the story - as much as it creeped me out. Darkly Dreaming Dexter is apparently the first book of a new series... It focuses on a considerably normal and attractive blood spatter specialist in the Miami Police Department, who seems to have a feel for serial cases - most likely because he moonlights as a serial killer himself. The writing style of the book itself is fairly simple and a little cliche, making a fast read... It's worth checking out, though. ( )

Fast paced, fun read that really makes you think. It is a must have for any mystery fan! ( )

This book should be called 'Deeply Disturbing Dexter' but in a good way :) One of the blurbs on the back cover says 'Maybe the first serial killer who unabashedly solicits our love'. I didn't feel that way, in fact Dexter is a very disturbing, very scary, very much the monster he describes himself to be. But, he is quite intriguing. And Jeff Lindsay manages to write about the mind of a serial killer that is believable, that captures the imagination, but still in keeping with a cold blooded psycho path.

My only complaint, and its me, not the book, is that I saw a few episodes of the TV show, and knew who the other killer is. It totally ruined my 'first read' enjoyment of this book.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series. ( )

Cotton candy at a demented carnival. ( )

Dreadfully desirable diversion! ( )

For all the colour and whit the narration alludes to, the outcome was both predictable and disappointing. That's not to say this book is without its charm. Far from, in fact. If it didn't have at least that, it never would have become the basis of a successful prime time series.

The story follows an unconventional hero: the most obviously anti-hero type of hero possible. A blood-spatter expert, code-restrained serial killer and self-described monster. Whist going about his carefully normalized routine, he becomes involved in a case involving a fellow serial killer that manages to put everything Dexter thought he had set straight in his life into question.

While it loosely follows the same line that the first series of the TV show has taken, it lacks a lot of the bold characterization that makes the show so appealing. There are a few strokes of genius to be found here, but ultimately the narrative seems forced and cluttered with cutesy alliteration.

With that in mind, I don't think that anyone's expecting new frontiers of literary fiction when they pull something with a "Showtime" sticker from the shelf. Darkly Dreaming Dexter certainly delivers on pace and popcorn-worthy fun. The only problem is how to get the buttery fingerprints off all the pages once you're done with it. ( )

I'm not one for mysteries, or murders, or books that involve both. They stress me out: I think about them all day and worry what types of things have happened while I sleep or eat my breakfast. That said, one of my favorite librarians (Hello, Stella Baker) recommended this to me and I loved it. A great mix of wit, OCD, and tense moments. A+ would sell to again. ( )

I came to this having watched the TV series, and that has rather confused me about the book.

There is a plot here, but it's not as good as the TV show's plot. The characters are rather different (save Debs and Dexter), in particular LaGuerta is very different and Matsuko and Angel have rather smaller parts. Debs is meant to look like a playboy model too... and whilst the actress that plays her is pretty enough, not a centrefold I'd say.

And my feelings and thoughts see-saw like that. Dexter's soliloquies are better, but I don't believe how he catches Briney. Debs is better in the TV show, but some of Dexter's comments about her face are great. If you've not seen the show I'm not sure how you'd react - the plot's ending is very weak but maybe the characters would work better? ( )

i've never watched the television series - so i'm speaking directly from reading the book. go out and get your copy NOW, if you're at all a fan of this genre. it's completely enchanting the way this dark book is laced with humor and heart. 'darkly dreaming dexter' is the first in this book series - and i'd say it's by far the best - but the other two are definitely worth checking out as well. i fell in love with dexter from the very first chapter. five stars for me. ( )

Dexter Morgan works as a blood splatter analysis for the Miami Police. Oh, and on his spare time he's a serial killer. But don't worry, he only kills the bad guys - those that really have it coming. When Miami is plagued by a brutal serial killer murdering and dismembering hookers, Dexter finds himself unwillingly and unexpectantly drawn in by the case. Who is the killer, and why is he so interested in Dexter?

This fast and exciting read will have you on the edge of your seatthe through the entire read. ( )

This short novel is a dark and amusing tale of a serial killer. I would give the main character and story premise, five stars for originality and dark humor. But the overall story is just average. This is one of the very rare times when I think the television show is better. ( )

I read this book after becoming addicted to the TV show. The TV show is much more dryly, darkly humourous whereas more of the elements of horror novels come though in the book. (The first season of the TV show roughly follows the first novel.) With the right narrator, the humour might be more obvious, but with the way I read, it was easy to miss some of the subtle observations. Dexter is one of the very, very rare cases where I actually prefer the video version to the print version. Also, in Lindsay's version, Dexter is the host to the "Dark Passenger", a demon who is driving him to act. I liked the show's twist of having Brian court Deborah, which would not have worked in the compressed novel plot. The novel is told in first person, so the reader mostly sees into Dexter's mind and life, without the show's insights into the other characters. ( )

I'm a huge fan of the tv series. This book lived up to the promise, although the series actually added to the story, and in a good way. But the book still holds up great. Going to read the next one soon :-) ( )

Upon finishing a non-fiction book that took me quite a while to read, this change over to lighter fiction seemed to call for something fast and easy. And boy, did this book fill the bill. I think I was only at it for a couple of days.

The story is fairly simple: we have a serial killer narrator, whose foster sister is a police officer, and who himself works as a blood spatter expert for the Miami police. In turn, another serial killer appears on the screen, and while he is entranced by the killings, he wants to help his sister solve the case and work her way up in the department hierarchy. There are a bunch of bodies that turn up over the course of the book, and a bunch of police politics.

It's a fairly straightforward tale, but really, the key to it is the style of the narration. The story, of itself, is an interesting enough mystery, but it's a bit thin, since there's really no way you could figure it out on your own. It's not that sort of mystery. It's more of a character study, in a sense, and the character is a very interesting one. The wordplay, and the coolness of the character, and the real feeling that he found his niche and he's just trying to stay in it, being as amused as he can, is very well played. Sure, he may be reprehensible, but it's a lot of fun to read him.

Anyway, this one is worth reading, if you're a fan of the genre. I'd track down the second one, but I think I'll wait and see if I can't get it through Bookmooch, as well. Or something like that. ( )

Dearly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay is the first book of the Dexter series, and the basis for the first season of Showtime’s Dexter. I’ve definitely decided darling Dexter is a delightfully delicious diversion (Okay, Lindsay does the alliteration-thing a lot better than me ;-) )

For those who might not know, Dexter Morgan is a forensic officer specializing in blood splatter for the Miami police department. He’s a nice guy, well-groomed, a quiet gentleman with a witty repartee. He has a sweet and shy girlfriend who has two young children. And to keep the stress levels down and help him stay centered and focused, Dexter has a little hobby. He likes to hunt.

People.

Dexter has a Dark Passenger that demands he kill, but Harry, Dexter’s adopted father, recognized the predator in him at an early age and gave him a code of conduct. He must be 100% sure the person is guilty before killing him. Dexter is a serial killer who kills serial killers. A monster with a conscious.

But Dexter is deeply impressed, one artist of another’s talent, when his sister Deb calls him to get over to the scene of a recently discovered, BLOODLESS, disassembled body. He knows that, according to the Code of Harry, the Tamiami Butcher (as he is called in the book) deserves to be caught and killed, yet there is beauty in his presentation and work, Dexter wants to meet his new playmate.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay is a fun and compelling page-turning. Showtime was good enough to make the show different enough from the book that you can still be surprised by the book if you’ve seen the series. And I’d have to say Michael C. Hall is the best actor for Dexter I could think of (their Deb is perfect, too). Of course, since I saw the show before I knew of the book (in fact, that’s how I found out about the book, it’s mentioned in the credits), so naturally I see the shows faces in the roles as I read the book.

"Another beautiful Miami day. Mutilated corpses with a chance of afternoon showers." -page 164

Darkly Dreaming Dexter has a bit of a paranormal mystery to it, where as the show seems to lean more on logic. The Dark Passenger is a character, a spiritual being, with a connection to other dark passengers and silent watchers in other killers, which enable Dexter to have something of a psychic understanding of them. It’s this skill that make the detectives, and even his cop sister, turn to him on solving the serial murders. It’s also what creates a crisis within Dexter, as he is unsure whether he himself is the Tamiami Butcher, killing his victims while sleeping.

click for full review: http://thekoolaidmom.wordpress.com/20... ( )

I'm doubting I can honestly review this book because I love the T.V. series so much. In fact, I prefer the screen version to the written word. The premise is good, but the book doesn't draw me into this character like the series. If you are a fan of the show, you will definitely see some big differences between the two, and again, I prefer Showtimes's take on it. But it is fun to see how creative types can read something and see the potential it has and make it so much more.

If I had read this first before seeing the show, I'm not sure I would have been interested enough to keep reading the follow-up books. Having seen the visual take of it first, I found the book lacking. All the bits and pieces are there, but the creators of the TV version really deserve the credit for making it the break-out hit that it has become. I will continue to read the books as I am interested in how they are the same and how they are different from what we are shown. ( )