The Gist:
Dexter Morgan works for the Miami Dade Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. He also moonlights as a serial killer. His victims are mainly criminals and those that have evaded the justice system.
Review:
So the series ended on a somewhat disappointing note but what about the books that started it all? Well Darkly Dreaming Dexter is basically the first season in one book. For those that haven’t seen the series or read the books, Dexter Morgan is a serial killer that works for the Miami Dade Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. (I don’t think anyone knew such positions existed, except for actual analysts that is)
He’s polite, understands work politics and has a basic understanding of what make people tick. The world through his eyes is vastly different from us since he doesn’t consider himself human. At times Dexter can also be vain and sees himself above the rest since he has been able to evade detection for so long. Except for Sergeant Doakes that is.
However, it isn’t long until a new serial killer has entered the scene and is leaving behind a trail of dismembered but drained body parts throughout Miami. Dexter is intrigued and wants to play with his new friend. What follows is a psychological game of cat and mouse as Dexter starts questioning his own sanity (or what’s left of it for that matter) at times believing that he can be the Tamiami Slasher.
The book is primarily told in first person perspective. Usually I have my qualms on first person narrative but when in the right hands such as writer Jeff Lindsay has shown us, it can be done well. In the show we get brief voice-overs from Michael C Hall which worked well, here we are always inside his head, it can be dark as well as downright laugh out loud funny since Dexter is quite witty and at most times sarcastic. Also, his Dark Passenger is given a voice which makes the book unnerving at times.
The rest of the characters such as Dexter’s potty mouthed sister Deborah don’t stand out as much but they are left for the following books. This is all about Dexter and it is a blast.
Verdict:
Author Jeff Lindsay has brought us one of the most interesting and charming characters of late. His wording is perfect and at times the book can be quite exhilarating as we see the world through the eyes of a killer. The following books differ greatly from the show but that isn’t a bad thing in my opinion. I personally see it as a “what if” scenario, plus as a fan of the show it’s nice to have some extra stories to sink your teeth in to.
Publisher: Orion
Released: 2005
1 Comment
I had literally no idea that the series was based on books! Just when I thought I’d seen the last of Dexter Morgan, now I’ve just got to read the books that the series were based on. I agree that the ending of the series was particularly disappointing, but leading up to that, I loved every minute.