In this rare case, the TV show is better than the book. ( )

I was a big fan of the Dexter TV show when it was on the air, but I hadn’t gotten around to reading the books until just now. I’ve recently developed an interest in the novels that some of my favorite TV shows are based on (I recently finished Deja Dead, which was the inspiration for the TV show Bones), and I was glad to finally grab this one, too. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was fast paced, yet lyrical and exceptionally well written. Dexter’s voice is dry, witty, and engaging - and it makes me appreciate the actor who plays Dexter on TV that much more. I’ll definitely be continuing with the series. ( )

The first in the series, this introduces Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter specialist for the Miami police and a serial killer who hunts down other serial killers. While his co-workers are tracking down a killer who dismembers and packages the body parts like presents, Dexter is studying the methods of his fellow murderer with admiration, while also hoping he can solve the case on his own and take the killer out by his own method. ( )

Anyone who was a fan of the Dexter series, Bones, CSI or NCIS should pick up this novel!

Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a fun, sarcastic crime novel. Instead of following a detective, this novel follows a serial killer, who is trying to catch another serial killer!

I decided to read this book after I watched some of the Dexter television series. Anyone who has watched the series, should know the first book is the first season of the show. The two are almost identical, minus a few changes to make the television show more showbiz worthy.

Dexter Morgan is a serial killer who is out of touch with people. He is awkward, very smart and is a bit naive with women. He has killed over dozens of people, and somebody seems to know he was doing it. This person leaves clues for him all over the city in his deaths, that Dexter has to investigate since he works for the Miami Police as a forensic officer. Dexter has never been caught, yet he seems to be getting a bit sloppy once he knows somebody has their eyes on him...

Chaos ensues when Dexter's mysterious background is figured out. Dexter can barely remember his own pats, but when he finds out the result is shocking!

I loved this novel. The entire book is filled with alliterations and lots of sarcasm. On top of the typical murder story, seeing the book in the eyes of a serial killer gives it a bit of charm!

Five out of five stars! ( )

I am not familiar with the television series inspired by this book so was completely unaware of what to expect. As most people will be aware, Dexter Morgan is a forensic scientist working with the Miami-Dade Police Department. He is, however, also a practising psychopath and serial killer, with a string of murders to his name. His victims are general murderers or serial rapists themselves, and Dexter is just bringing justice to bear beyond the remit of the official system.

I found this novel entertaining - written in the first person, it effectively captures Dexter’s ability to consider his ‘quest’ dispassionately, as he sets out his thought processes. In this first outing he explains a little of his background in which he was adopted and raised by the Morgan family. His adoptive father, himself an accomplished policeman, had identified a level of mental disengagement in the young Dexter, and had counselled him to direct his psychopathy towards as generally beneficial ends as possible, hence his ‘crusade’ against people who hitherto have escaped the criminal justice system.

Dexter’s fractured relationships with colleagues are also put forward in an appealing manner. One may feel uncomfortable about empathising with a working psychopath, but he certainly puts forward a compelling case. ( )