Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Darkly Dreaming Dexter
Book Review: Really Disappointing
Summary: 1 Stars
This is perhaps a two star book, rather than a one star book, but I was so disappointed and let-down that I just couldn't give it two. The premise is awesome. A serial killer who stalks other serial killers, and you get a look at how he thinks? Wow! Great! Only this book falls far short of any excitement.
The characters are all so overly-written and stereotypical that I wanted to slap each one, every time they showed up.
- the sister has a cuss word every sentence (note, I'm not squeamish about this sort of thing, and admittedly my language is pretty bad, but it gets old really, really fast), is oh so pretty, and of course stupid.
- The lead detective is beyond stupid and got to where she is because she's so pretty, and such a good butt-kisser and it's all politics, to bad she can't see a plank until she's walked into it. We get treated to long monologues about how stupid she is every time we see her. To bad no one else is any smarter, including Dexter. Sorry author, you don't make your character smarter by dumbing everyone else down.
Dexter would go on lovely pointless monologues about how everyone was so stupid (by the way, if you're in Florida and you have a crime committed against you, don't expect it to be resolved, apparently the police there are for looks only.). Meanwhile I'm gritting my teeth as he mulls it over because it's so obvious a 3 year old could figure out each and every step. Dexter is apparently the only one with at least the intellect of a three year old by the way. Isn't he brilliant? Blech. Which leads me to the next let down: Dexter. So he kills people, and gets all weepy and romantic and poet-y about it. He feels no emotion. He doesn't get women. Then, next thing you know he understand his sister must be upset. He doesn't feel emotions, but he likes his sister, cares for her happiness. The point of being a sociopath is that you pretty much fake everything. You can't like people. You don't like children. You go through life doing what it takes to fit in, faking it. We keep hearing how Dexter's faking it, and then suddenly he's not, he's doing something out of character: feeling bad for his sister, kissing his girlfriend. If I wanted a man with a little trouble fitting in there are tons of books on the shelf. I wanted a sociopathic killer. Not some dude with a rather un-original voice in his head(who by the way, is said to not talk during some random flashback - don't get me started on long, rambling, heart-wreching-(not)-gag-me backstories).
My final disappointment: the mystery. As I said, no ones to bright. Shocking that no one notices the killer wasn't interrupted enough to not wrap the limbs! Shocking that no once can come up with any symbolism for the rear view mirror. And brilliant Dexter, nothing for miles but a gas station, the guys vanished, hmm, lets not check behind the gas station. And our taunting rival sociopath is all about being clean and keeping everything wrapped and piled up, but he throws a head at Dexter? It would have been really climactic, but I was busy wondering if this was some other guy or else why would this guy be breaking his M.O.? Oh, because the author thinks it'll be cool. Got it. When I've already got it figured out, I don't want to listen to the main character wax poetic about how there must be some meaning, oh right, he's so brilliant, it only took him ages worth of deep exploration to figure it out (remember, everyone else is stupid and doesn't stand a chance! They need Dexter to point out everything to them and everyone loves him even though even he admits he's a kiss-butt)
Admittedly, I did not read the book, rather listed to it on audiobook on a long car ride, maybe if I'd been able to put it down and go to something else I would have been able to make it through. Stopped just short of the end, my blood pressure was going up with every moment of pointless dribble. Maybe still, if I had been able to skip to the end of long paragraphs about how stupid people were, how brilliant he was, how he didn't know what emotion was, repeat 6 or 7 times per hour, I would have been fine. I doubt it. I'm not hard to please when I'm driving 8 hours alone. Most entertainment will suffice. Darkly Dreaming Dexter fell well short of "entertainment".
Book Review: An original and engaging anti-hero
Summary: 4 Stars
Having been introduced to the show before even knowing there was a literary basis for it, I had high hopes for this book. I was not disappointed. Lindsay does a superb job of engaging us with his now iconic anti-hero, making Dexter a fully realized human being who is charming and repulsive in almost equal measure. Though some reviewers have expressed a preference for the televised version, I think this book makes a solid companion piece that will fit nicely on the shelf of any fan of the series. I'd also urge anyone who enjoys the deliriously twisted world of Dexter to check out Crimson Orgy, a new novel by Austin Williams that blends dark humor and jolting suspense/horror to great effect.Book Review: 3 1/2 Stars: A Good Book -- But I Expected More!
Summary: 3 Stars
After reading the first half of the book, I felt that it was going to deserve a 5-star rating. This was due to Lindsay's providing a fresh, surprising, fast-paced writing style and a rather unique main character. However, once I became accustomed to the novelty of his style and the wittiness of the character, I realized the story was too passive for a story about serial killers and not as exciting as I thought it would be. Further, with the exception of Dexter, all of the other characters are not very well-developed nor are they particularly interesting. While I wasn't disappointed in Darkly Dreaming Dexter, it is not a book that I'd urge you to rush out to read. Book Review: Ho-hum story and unimaginative writing
Summary: 2 Stars
Strange that such a clever series with a witty, suave protagonist could have come from this book. I opened Darkly Dreaming Dexter, hoping that the occasionally stiff writing of Showtime's series would be washed away by something far more clever and engaging. Nope. Just the opposite. The book's lead is missing the flair of his TV alter-ego and he seems prone to major idiot-level gaffes. The sharp banter's gone; replaced by tired puns. The season 1 storyline is somewhat on display but apparently, the show's writers improved drastically upon the book's two-dimensional characters and the hurried, poorly-conceived climax.
It's not often I say this but the books aren't worth your time, while the show's one of the best things on television. Dexter in the book isn't charming, isn't smart and isn't all that good as being a serial killer. The book's further saddled with poorly written side-characters and nothing approaching the humor or wit of the series. I only gave the book a 2 because the concept is great. The execution of the book though? I'm all for it.
Book Review: Curiously gripping...
Summary: 5 Stars
An interesting take on what shapes a personality. I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next... hard to put down. Well written and a quick read.