Darkly Dreaming Dexter: Dexter, Book 1

Book came in great condition, also just a good book to read. No complaints.

If you're like me, you probably decided to give this a book a read because you're a fan of the Showtime television series. I'll start my review there ...As some other reviewers have pointed out, this book is both similiar to but quite different than the show. This is not inherently a bad thing. The first half of this book pretty closely follows the show; the method of murder for the "Ice Truck Killer" is the same, all the same supporting characters are there, described, more or less, as they appear in the accompanying TV series, and various scenes are replicated for the series ... but once you reach about the final quarter of the novel, things diverge almost entirely from there to the point that saying anything about it would ruin some of the book's plot.Ignoring the TV series' existence, this book is not too bad. When I started reading, the first-person narration, lack of detail or definitive scene setting, and altogether creepiness of Dexter's personality somewhat threw me, but ultimately, the pervasive use of dark humor, mystery, and subversive nature of Dexter's Dark Passenger drew me in and kept me reading. To that end, the author has a fairly captivating style of narration; it's easy to read, at times somewhat funny, but also occasionally philosophical.However, for me, things somewhat fell apart as the book reached the climax, and were all but ruined by the book's ending ... I won't reveal details here, but the author unfortunately kind of rushes through the ending to the point where it's just ... kind of over. There's an epilogue, but it manages to raise more questions than it answers. I'm aware that there are another 6 books in this series, but this doesn't excuse ANY author from a weak, vague, and somewhat confusing ending.---For those who may be wondering: which is better, the TV series or the book? Again, this is coming from someone who saw the TV show first, read the book second (and this may make my opinion tainted), but I'd have to say the TV show is better. Referencing ONLY the first season of "Dexter" (which is the only one based on the book series, specifically, this one), the show generally does a better job of setting up the nature of the mysterious Ice Truck Killer. There's a dynamic involving the Ice Truck Killer in the book that is an interesting angle for the book to take, but ultimately is less satisfying than the one the TV show uses. Further, the characters, including Dexter, are portrayed and developed a lot better in the show; in the book, only Dexter seems to have any appreciable personality, and that's ironic given he's a sociopath (perhaps that too is a bit of dark humor?). Perhaps it's an inherent problem with a book about a sociopathic killer being writtenin the first person, but everyone around Dexter could be cardboard cut-outs, for as well as their characters are portrayed. Finally, as I mentioned above, the ending to this book is pretty vague and ulimately is not as satisfying as the way "Dexter" wrapped it up.Overall, I would have given this book 3 stars, but the quality of the first half and the enthralling nature of the author's writing, combined with a genuine mystery at it's heart, pushes my rating just over the line to 4 stars. Would I recommend this book? Maybe ... Will I read the rest of the books? I'm just not sure at this point, especially based upon a review I saw for book #3 ...

I absolutely love the show its one of my favorites ever i watch it all the time.. so i decided to try to books i just started reading this one and so far its really good its pretty much like the series with some differences but overall good read and good font size

I really enjoyed this first book of the series. So far, I have gone through half of the book series and this is the best offering in terms of plot and how well it is written. The witty remarks of Dexter in the first-person perspective are fantastic and clever and lighten the mood throughout the duration of the story. I do think the TV show's adaption is superior for a few reasons, and this first book is the only one used by the show. My primary gripe against the book version is the rather spiritual aspect of Dexter's condition and the Dark Passenger as opposed to a purely psychological one. I echoed these thoughts to greater effect in my thoughts of book 3, and they are still mild in the first installment, but I feel it detracts from Dexter's state and lessens the accuracy and reality of what he is. Outside of my personal preferences on this matter, I did not want it to end because I appreciated the plot, writing, pace, and perspective so much. Five stars for a well-developed character and story that inspired an also-great show.

Let’s put it this way: the “You” books were better than the show, but this is a baseline inspiration for a great television show that just did it better. Moon moon glorious moon or whatever…..

Jeff Lindsay isn't the first author to try and allow the bad guy to be the hero, but like his predecessors, you have to admire his boldness. While the Showtime series' first season attempts to keep Dexter as the hero by not allowing you to focus soley on him, but on the complex maze of relationships in his life, Lindsay makes no such attempt. In fact, it is this distinction that I find the most fascinating, and certainly remarkable; the fact that Dexter seems even more loveable in his more exposed and vulnerable state. Shocking, really, and it almost makes me feel ashamed.Dexter, of course, does not fit the typical perception of a "serial killer", as you might expect. Linsday allows his readers the freedom to let Dexter be our vicarious vigilante. Dexter's noble mission is to clean up society by being the instrument of justice to those who have escaped the justice of our legal system. He does it by killing and dismembering them, of course, but he only will kill murderers, and preferably those who have killed innocent children or women. Hence, since child killers who aren't brought to justice are perhaps the lowest dreggs of society, anyone who cleans that up has to be a good guy, right?I've been thinking about this whole Dexter thing for some time, and something odd occurred to me. Dexter's basic MO (vigalante killer) isn't exactly new. Ever heard of the Punisher? If you discount their methods, the Punisher's glaring antisocial killing tendencies would seem to make their characters quite similar. A lot of comic books like the dark hero, the hero that wants to clean the "scum" from the streets, wants to act as a vigilante, uses any means necessary, and is, at times, not above killing. Dexter fits that mold perfectly. Let's look at his comic book traits.1) He has an "alter ego." You know Bruce Banner and Hulk. Well, you've got Dexter Morgan, and well, just plain old Dexter. There is the Dexter who pretends to be human, with a job as a blood spatter specialist, and you have Dexter the serial killer. Even his alter ego has a justice seeking air about it, like many super heroes.2) He has a "secret lair." This is a bit of stretch, but bear with me. Dexter has a collection of slides in his apartment. If you watch the first season of Dexter, he kept in the AC. In this book, he keeps it in the bookcase. Still, a place where he can peruse private things that other people don't know about, and it keeps his identity secret.3) He has a "tragic history." We all know from Dexter season one that Dexter's mother was killed in a shipping container along with some other people. In this book, we learn that Dexter's father was killed in it too, along with Dectective LaGuerta. Well, the first book, coming back to visit that haunting site of that tragic event is a typical comic book idea of coming full circle.4) He had a "wise mentor." Harry Morgan, cop, adoptive father, inventor of a code of conduct for Dexter Morgan. No one has shaped Dexter's life like Harry, and even if the book does less to emphasize that than the Showtime series, it is obviously a huge factor in what Dexter has become. Having the fact that Dexter's adoptive mother and adoptive father have both died is very very very typical comic book hero family history.5) He has a "side kick." Another stretch, but many comic book heroes have that faithful friend, or informant, or contact, or even spouse on which they can rely on always. Dexter's adoptive sister Deb fits this bill nicely. She is trying to make it as a cop, and needs to rely on Dexter's keen "intuition" about serial killers. But they play the family angle for all it is worth, like many comic books.6) He has a "super power." This dark passenger, or the thing that drives Dexter to kill is an extremely powerful motivator which allows Dexter to focus tremendous energy and effort into doing his vigilante thing extrordinarily well.7) He has a weakness. No quotes on that one. Yeah, the dark passenger is it's own weakness, like Kryptonite, sometimes creating the need to kill so strongly that it jeopardizes Dexter's safety.8) He serves some sort of justice. Sure, Dexter kills because he likes it, but he will only kill those who "deserve it" based on a very strict set of rules. These rules are based on the idea of justice.9) He holds to a set of morals. Well, who doesn't, but most super heroes have a code of conduct that sets them apart from folks who don't. Dexter has a code of conduct that goes beyond who he kills.What am I saying by all this? I realize that these points don't necessarily mean anything. You could make these statements about a lot of protagonists, and that doesn't degrade the characters. Even though I think Dexter would make a great comic book doesn't mean I don't think Dexter isn't good literature as is. All I am trying to say is that to me, this character seems to be somewhat inspired by comic books, and I think that is why he makes such a good hero. He has so many heroic traits.Yet in the end, he is a messed up sicko; a sociopath with a cause, but a sociopath nonetheless. I still feel a certain "dirty" feeling reading these books, like I've been doing something that I shouldn't have been doing. Overall, it is a good experience, but it feels like continued exposure is just not healthy. I am going to skip the reading Lindsay for a while, and perhaps return to him later. I don't like being in Dexter's head for that long...Recommended.

the book is in a great condition as described. thank you