Book News and Reviews

Book: Dexter in the Dark

Author: Jeff Lindsay

Genre: Thriller/Serial Killer

Julia Rating: 10 (for humor)

Comments: Obviously I’m on a roll with the Dexter stories. Jeff Lindsay has a pattern - much like a serial killer does - of formatting his books. In the beginning, there is some commenting on Dexter or his dark passenger, next comes a killing, then on to the story. A compelling, interesting and predictable beginning. Predictable only if you have read the previous Dexter books, of course.

I am in a bit of a quandary about how to rate this book.  It was much funnier than the previous books - filled with dark humor - however it is also kind of fantastic - which bothered me a bit.  I was actually tempted to put “Fantasy” as a genre for this book.  Here’s the deal, Dexter has a “dark passenger” riding along in the back seat of his mind all the time.  This passenger is what tells him to kill. One day, his passenger gets scared and disappears.  Dexter has to find out why and how… finally asking himself “What is my dark passenger - where did he come from?”  The answer to these questions is located in the realm of fantasy.

Adding to Dexter’s disquiet - he is getting married and becoming a stepfather and mentor to his fiancee’s two children - one of whom carries a dark secret of his own.  To boot, he’s starting to dream and sleepwalk - both firsts for Dexter.

Dexter’s sister, Deborah, is less involved in this one - though she appears once in a while just to shake things up - and there are two surprise appearances of Sergeant Dokes, but as the old characters are featured less, Dexter’s new stepchildren are featured more.