Darkly Dreaming Dexter
by Jeff Lindsay
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Book Reviews of Darkly Dreaming Dexter
Book Review: Lacks spontaneity, action, and suspense unlike the showtime program
Summary: 2 Stars
I cannot believe that the showtime writers created such an extraordinary show from this book. As stated in other reviews, this book continually repeats dexters conflicting inner thoughts to the point where it gets overly redundant. The writing is poorly written and it hardly describes the man that is Dexter. This is contrary to how the showtime program perceives Dexter. If you have seen the show, do not even bother with the books. The ending was the worst part of this novel. It seemed like the writer just got lazy at the end and put a few things together to get ready for his next novel. I would write more to vent about the horrible ending but then I would spoil the book for the readers who still are interested in reading it. Overall, I gave the book two stars because I thought it was a great concept with a great plot. Unfortunately, Lindsay could not put a structure to it. But fortunately the showtime writers found a way to put this great concept into a brilliant television series.Book Review: Deeply Disappointing Dexter
Summary: 2 Stars
Having watched Dexter Season 1, I decided to read the source novel in preparation for Season 2 coming out on DVD. I was Deeply Disappointed. This is a readable page-turner and most of the core elements of TV Dexter are here, but the novel lacks the depth and wit of the TV adapation. The Dexter, Deb and Harry dynamic is the same and their whole backstory is here, but all the other characters are two-dimensional compared with the TV adaptation. Rita is introduced but falls away after a few appearances, LaGuerta is shallow, Doakes is shallower still, Angel is almost entirely missing, Rita's husband Paul is not here at all, and the character of the Ice Truck Killer / Tamiami Butcher is not well fleshed out (excuse the pun). The charm and personality of Dexter Morgan is present here, but much else is missing. For the best introduction to Dexter... get the Dexter - The First Season DVD!Book Review: WORST EVER.
Summary: 1 Stars
I was so disappointed. I pounced on this book hungrily, couldn't WAIT to read it.
My problems with it:
Boring and repetitive. Barely a shell of the show, hardly a good read. I had to force myself through it. I honestly don't see why they decided to make this into a show, I guess it was a pretty good decision since the show is so freaking amazing but yeah, the book is riddled with poor writing that could have been fixed with a good editor. Words are used over and over again and gives the impression that the author has a really poor grasp on writing. It really seems like Deb blushes every other page, it disgusts me. The book plays on her sexuality in a way that just makes me feel like a huge creep. Things that were gasp-worthy in the show are diminished and played down in the novel. The ending was likewise poor, I felt that the people who adapted this for the show did a stellar job of cleaning up a messy novel. Would Never Read Again. Anyone want my copy?
Book Review: A little Miami murder...
Summary: 4 Stars
The first in the series of books that led to the television programme Dexter, Darkly Dreaming Dexter is one of the more interesting takes I've read on the idea of text as told from the bad guy's point of view.
The text introduces Dexter Morgan, sociopath with a set of rules, if not a conscience. And though it would be easy to write him off as Patrick Bateman with a little Miami sun, he's an intriguing character - possibly because the book shows him as an individual who - despite being caught in a life that's dependent on rules, finds that he has to think outside them in order to survive.
Coming to the book after seeing the TV show, it's easy to see where the differences are, though difficult to explain them without invoking spoilers. I thought the end of the book, at least, was rushed and something of a bit of a cop-out, though it's so well written that it's hard to hold it against the author.
Book Review: Rooting For the Bad Guy
Summary: 5 Stars
Dexter brings us a new and rather novel bad guy. On first glance it seems normal enough, another police detective book where Dexter works as a forensic invesitgator for the Miami Police.
Staright forward enough, with one minor wrinkle, He takes his work home with him as a hobby - he is also a serial killer. But a serial killer with a sense of morality, killing people who have otherwise escaped justice.
He is a brilliant sociopath, a mix of the Lone rnager meets the Marquis de Sade, and yet thorughout you find yourslef wanting him to figure how he will deal with his secret and keep it hidden, while working through the problems he faces tracking killers and trying to be as normal as possible.
It is different from the show (I have watched the first season of the show on DVD, and it is also good), and the differences makes it worthwhile to read even if you have seen the show.