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Darkly Dreaming Dexter
by Jeff Lindsay

Published: 2006-09-19
Paperback : 288 pages
9 members reading this now
5 clubs reading this now
6 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 5 of 5 members
The Basis for a New Showtime® Original Series Starring Michael C. Hall

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 ...
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Introduction

The Basis for a New Showtime® Original Series Starring Michael C. Hall

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 victims. But when a series of brutal murders bearing a striking similarity to his own style start turning up, Dexter is caught between being flattered and being frightened–of himself or some other fiend.

Editorial Review

Meet Dexter Morgan. He's a highly respected lab technician specializing in blood spatter for the Miami Dade Police Department. He's a handsome, though reluctant, ladies' man. He's polite, says all the right things, and rarely calls attention to himself. He's also a sociopathic serial killer whose "Dark Passenger" drives him to commit the occasional dismemberment.

Mind you, Dexter's the good guy in this story.

Adopted at the age of four after an unnamed tragedy left him orphaned, Dexter's learned, with help from his pragmatic policeman father, to channel his "gift," killing only those who deal in death themselves. But when a new serial killer starts working in Miami, staging elaborately grisly scenes that are, to Dexter, an obvious attempt at communication from one monster to another, the eponymous protagonist finds himself at a loss. Should he help his policewoman sister Deborah earn a promotion to the Homicide desk by finding the fiend? Or should he locate this new killer himself, so he can express his admiration for the other's "art?" Or is it possible that psycho Dexter himself, admittedly not the most balanced of fellows, is finally going completely insane and committing these messy crimes himself?

Despite his penchant for vivisection, it's hard not to like Dexter as his coldly logical personality struggles to emulate emotions he doesn't feel and to keep up his appearance as a caring, unremarkable human being. Breakout author Jeff Lindsay's plot is tense and absorbing, but it's the voice of Dexter and his reactions to the other characters that will keep readers glued to Darkly Dreaming Dexter, as well as making it one of the most original and highly recommended serial killer stories in a long time. --Benjamin Reese

Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

Does Dexter have a conscience?
Could Dexter have "feelings" for Harry & Deborah without a conscience?
Why does Harry help Dexter?
by bchamplin (see profile) 09/18/09

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Strong stomach
by moosegirl (see profile) 03/08/13
If you don\\\'t like details of blood and guts, choose another book to read.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "Awesome"by Jen B. (see profile) 03/08/13

I loved this book. I thought I had the whole thing figured out, but I was completely wrong. I was a little disappointed with the very end, however, but over all I loved it. I couldn't put it down.

 
  "Back of the Book Review"by Kellie B. (see profile) 04/11/12

Our club split right down the middle on this one. Several members watch the series and really liked it; the rest of us - not so much. The pro side really liked the character and the issues he dealt with... (read more)

 
  "Dexter is good."by Brenda C. (see profile) 09/18/09

I liked this book. I found it witty and clever. The dark humor, the twists and turns all were very entertaining. After reading this book I decided to watch a few episodes of the TV show and I really liked... (read more)

 
  "Darkly Dreaming Dexter"by Leslie M. (see profile) 09/18/09

 
  "Darkly Dreaming Dexter"by Amanda W. (see profile) 09/16/09

I think one of the signs of a great writer is that he or she can take an otherwise deplorable character and have you rooting for them in the end! I really enjoyed reading this book and will definitely... (read more)

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