Dexter in the Dark: A Novel | Jeff Lindsay

Dexter in the Dark: A Novel | Jeff Lindsay | GO DEXTER!!!

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Dexter in the Dark...

	Dexter in the Dark: A Novel Jeff Lindsay Doubleday, 2007 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 162 reviews view larger image
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Happy departure

First off, if you like the dexter TV series, this book may not be for you. If you like the lovable Dexter who claims he's not human, but still loves, cares, and has honest true feelings for his sister and a few other characters, this ABSOLUTELY is not for you.

This 2007 novel, the third in the popular "Dexter" series, took a strong departure into the spiritualistic nature of our favorite serial killer. With supernatural entities, and cult like elements running rampant throughout this book, many criticized it for it's strong paranormal overtones. I, however applaud it.

I have not read any comments from Jeff Lindsay as to WHY he took this series into a darker, less realistic course, but I have my ideas. Either way, it is not relevant to the review itself. The key is, it is not the same as it's previous incarnations. You need to get into this book willing to accept that in this imaginary world, the dark passenger is a separate entity. It is recommended that you already like supernatural horror books. If you need a comparison, look to H.P. Lovecraft, or Clive Barker's early works.

Without giving any more away than the dust jacket, Dexter finds himself lost, with his "normal" life about to take over, when his Dark Passenger is scared away by someone or something. Using this odd twist of events, Lindsay unfolded a much different tale than he is used to, and we are used to. Lindsay's unfamiliarity shows, as he stumbles on occasion with his storytelling. But these awkward moments can be easily forgiven if you remind yourself that this is his first foray into the supernatural.

I would give this book 4 1/2 stars if Amazon would let me, but in this case, I'm rounding up. The minor imperfections can be forgiven, and the different story path should be embraced. But you HAVE to go into this story open minded.

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GO DEXTER!!!

I first started watching the series on Showtime and was hooked. I bought the first season DVD and all the books.
I am going to buy the second season DVD as well.
The show is VERY GOOD!! It keeps you on the edge of your seat. The character Dexter is likeable yet scarey. All the characters are very interesting.
I think Showtime did an awesome job in the cast.

Good But Expected More

The Dexter books have kept me fascinated and I couldn't wait for this one to be published. However it's been working its way slowly up my pile of to be read. Well I finally read it and I'm a little disappointed. I wanted it to be so much more. I haven't watched the TV series, so I don't have anything to compare it to. I think that the concept of this series is so interesting. Dexter is a lovable serial killer but in this book he's almost annoying. I understand that he lost what made him who he is but come on, let's try a little harder to find it. I didn't enjoy the killer in this book and found him not to be as smarter or smarter than Dexter. His girlfriend is pushing him to get married and be a daddy. I just felt like Jeff Lindsay didn't take his time with this book. The ending didn't make a lot of sense in the grand scope of the Dexter series. Maybe Mr. Lindsay is just too into the TV series or something. I really hope the next one is better.

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It's not quite what you'd expect but that's not necessarily bad.

The entire Dexter cannon really needs to be taken with a grain of salt. The TV show (the first series at least, I've yet to watch the second) is a flawed gem that makes up in tone, acting, and cinematography what it often lacks in plausibility. The first book, which was adapted semi-faithfully from the first book, is hampered by some bad writing and dubious plot twists. The second book shows obvious improvements in writing and tone but starts to fall apart further in plausibility, and so on. Why keep moving with the series? Well, it is the characters themselves that capture the reader (and the watcher) and keep him returning.

This third book is by far the most professionally written. The lapses that better editing should have caught in the first two novels are gone. The characterization is tighter, the narrative is more focused, the tone is better maintained. All in all it's a far more satisfying read than the first two. Despite all that, the book falls flat, again, on it's plausibility. Other reviews have criticized the novel's dalliances with fantasy, not enjoying the method used to define nature of Dexter. For me this wasn't a problem at all. It was actually a little bit enjoyable. But as the story continues and the twists fall into place, it leads us to an ending that is both unbelievable and rushed. While the story "completes", it doesn't feel like it; it's a device to get you to the next book but without an actual cliffhanger it just leaves you without real resolution.

All of that is not to say you shouldn't read the book. For ninety percent of it's bulk it is an enjoyable read with great characters, just don't expect a juicy, satisfying resolution.

It does, though, explain why the TV series is veering away from the books for their adaptations.

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