Jeff Lindsay - Darkly Dreaming Dexter

I'm guessing that most of you must have heard of Dexter (the TV show is really popular at the moment) - Blood spatter specialist by day, serial killer by night? But, he's a serial killer with a conscience - you see, he only kills the people who deserve to die. The pedophiles, the rapists, the evil nurse.

And, he does it artfully. Neatly. Covers his tracks, and makes sure he's never caught. Because that's what Harry taught him - Harry, his foster father, who is now dead, but his voice still echoes in Dexter's head, as a guiding light. Dexter has an inner Dark Passenger that takes over, and leaves him with an urge to kill. Harry, an ex-cop, did understand that, and inculcated in Dexter the moral code: Kill only those who deserve to die. He also taught Dexter the basics, to ensure he was never caught: fit in, dress well, have a normal job, have a girlfriend, and always cover your traces.

The book is written in first person, narrated by Dexter. In the first book of this series, another serial killer is in town, and his practices and methods seem to mirror Dexter's. All the blood is drained, the bodies are cut into numerous "neat" pieces, and disposed off in garbage disposal bags. Deborah, Dexter's foster sister, is an aspiring detective, and she seeks Dexter's help, for Dexter seems to have a "knack" to figure out these crimes. Dexter, on the other hand, needs to figure out if he wants to get "emotionally involved" with this serial killer, or help his sister, who's been having a hard time, courtesy another detective on the force.

What would I do? I need to decide now, before I get too helpful for Deborah. I could help her solve this, absolutely, no one better. Nobody else was even moving in the right direction. But did I want to help? Did I want this killer arrested? Or did I want to find him and stop him myself? Beyond this - oh, nagging little thought - did I even want him to stop?

As the killings increase, Dexter finds himself more involved, so much so that he thinks that the killer on the loose is speaking to him directly, or, that he's losing his mind. Which one is it?

By no means is this book perfect - the plot is not the strongest, and it's not a literary masterpiece. However, the book is a page-turner, like no other. Dexter's character is amazing, and sometimes, I had to avert my eyes from the page and shake my head, because I really couldn't believe what I was reading. It's funny, serious, and point-blank. Dexter doesn't really mince words.

By four-thirty in the morning, the priest was all cleaned up. I felt a lot better. I always did, after. Killing makes me feel good. It works the knots out of darling Dexter's dark schemata.

If you like page-turners, that are slightly dark, slightly disturbing, go ahead and pick this up. You will not be disappointed, for Dexter really is unforgettable, and, in his own way, he's charismatic as well!

Rating: 3.5