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    Darkly Dreaming Dexter
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    Darkly Dreaming Dexter
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    Darkly Dreaming Dexter
    Audiobook7 hours

    Darkly Dreaming Dexter

    Published by Penguin Random House Audio

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The Basis for a New Showtime® Original Series Starring Michael C. Hall

    Meet Dexter Morgan, a polite wolf in sheep's clothing. He's handsome and charming, but something in his past has made him abide by a different set of rules. He's a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likeable: he only kills bad people. And his job as a blood splatter expert for the Miami police department puts him in the perfect position to identify his victims. But when a series of brutal murders bearing a striking similarity to his own style start turning up, Dexter is caught between being flattered and being frightened-of himself or some other fiend.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 27, 2012
    ISBN9780449012314
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for Darkly Dreaming Dexter

    3.5/5

    2,380 ratings176 reviews

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    • 3/5
      My knowledge of the psychology of serial killers is limited to the probably inaccurate information I’ve learned from TV shows. However, given what I know, I felt the author did a creepily good job of capturing Dexter’s feeling of anticipation, need to kill, and satisfaction at doing so. He also did an impressive but even more creepy job of making Dexter likeable. In fact, while I enjoyed these books, being asked to empathize with a guy who, oh by the way, cuts people up while they’re still alive (!) was just too weird for me. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of the series.

      If you like thrillers though, I’d check this out. The author does a great job giving just enough details to make you imagine terrible things. This made the book readable for even someone with my aversion to gore without losing any impact. I liked the authors dark sense of humor and did enjoy Dexter’s morally ambiguous character. If you like being creeped out more than I do, this book might be just what you’re looking for.

      This review first published on Doing Dewey.
    • 3/5
      I've got mixed feelings. The characters (narrator included) don't quite ring true to me, and the main character's seemingly psychic dreams never seem to be plausibly explained... which might not be so bad if the middle portion of the book didn't hammer on the need for a plausible explanation.Still, it's good enough to make me inclined to read the next in the series.
    • 4/5
      Although the 1st season of Dexter was adapted from this book, there are definitely some significant differences, and I actually preferred the book. You get a better sense of just how messed up Dexter really is and how his Dark Passenger is almost like a possessing spirit urging Dexter on. Very enjoyable read.
    • 3/5
      Not as good as the show. But interesting. Not opposed to reading the next one
    • 5/5
      I love Dexter and I loved everything about this book. There were a few moments where his dark and dry sense of humor didn't really appeal to me, but I think it's all in his personality so it works. Can't wait to continue on with this series!
    • 2/5
      Wow, this was BAD. I said... She said... She said...
      And way too much pointless swearing.
      Didn't really notice these "faults" when I read the novel, may have been distracted by the story line - pretty novel...
      But I couldn't finish it, there are too many GOOD audio books out there.

      (Note: was not overly keen on the TV show either)
    • 3/5
      "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" is the first in the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay. Dexter is a blood spatter expert in Miami with a dark secret: he likes to kill people. Now, having been raised by a cop, Dexter has a strict moral code. He can only kill people who are bad. He carefully chooses his victims: murderers, pedophiles, rapists, and sacrifices them to his "dark passenger". His adopted sister, Deb, is working vice, anxious to get her big break into homicide, and it looks like she might get her chance with the latest string of murders of prostitutes, drained of blood and cut into pieces. Dexter is intrigued by the kills. I love how snarky and darkly humorous Dexter is. Lindsay is a fun writer, I wish he would write more.
    • 5/5
      Dexter is my hero!
    • 5/5
      my new hero!
    • 4/5
      It was a quirky read (love the alliteration that runs throughout the book) but not a must-read-more book. It was a quick read, good for the beach
    • 5/5
      A sociopath with a social conscience - what a concept. ;)
    • 5/5
      Really dark, funny, creative and original murder mystery. Don't miss it.
    • 4/5
      OK, so this story of a sociopath with a code of honour really makes me root for the bad guy, if indeed, the lead character Dexter Morgan can be considered to be a "bad guy". Told with a dark sense of humour and more than a touch of whimsy, this book was almost impossible to put down. This book makes me impatient for Lindsay's next book.
    • 5/5
      A wonderfully written book, it is easy and a fun read. Our hero is a psychopath who only kills people who deserve it. This is his only moral and he sticks to it as a lifeline. This was a gift from his only known parent. The poor man can't feel emotions and has to fake his way through life, but he does it so successfully, there are only a few people who can see him for the monster he may be.Another psychopath has arrived on his home turf and is killing in much the same way as Dexter does and it is calling to his Dark passenger in the beauty and art of the murders.
    • 5/5
      For those of you familiar with your extended cable or satellite TV, there's a show on Showtime called Dexter. The first season finished, and it's been renewed for a second season. The show centers around Dexter, a serial killer who abides by a self-imposed set of rules, and who is a blood spatter analyst for the Miami police department. Sound good? Excellent.These are the books that the TV series was based on, and for those of you who have watched the TV show and not read the books [or vice-versa], there are some significant plot differences. The first season was based on Darkly Dreaming Dexter, and while there are key similarities between the novel and the show, there are still distinct differences.The novels are narrated by Dexter and contain significant amounts of his thought processes, letting the reader know that he had been orphaned at a young age and had been adopted by a policeman, Harry, and his wife. He's protective of his foster sister, Deborah, who knows a little bit of his "condition". Harry spotted his homicidal tendencies first and taught Dexter the framework to what Dexter adopted as his guidelines for killing people--first and foremost, for instance, the person in question must be deserving of being killed.Now, Dexter's narration adds a depth to the books that wouldn't otherwise be present had it been told in the third person, or if it had been in a more detached first person style. Dexter portrays himself as not-quite-a-human--though he acts normal, that's all it is. He [and before that, Harry] had taught himself to blend in with other people, to mask his lack of emotions with words and appropriate facial expressions. He even has a girlfriend to further his seeming normalcy. Because of all this, no one he works with aside from Deborah [who is a homicide detective in the same precinct as Dexter] knows about his true self.A character called the Dark Passenger is an alter ego of sorts for Dexter--this is his killer instinct, and the one who insists upon things being killed in general. Due to Harry's rules, Dexter is able to control the Dark Passenger to some extent while still interacting with it.Dexter is completely logical in all he does because he doesn't feel emotion at all. In the books, it seems to be implied that this is what makes him a good cop--that, and his firsthand knowledge of how killers act gives him an insight. The narration is full of his mental processes and all of the thought that goes into making his decision: when he's preparing to kill someone, he researches them first and ensures that they actually deserve to be killed.The thing about these books that I like so well is that in addition to being compelling stories [I went to bed an hour later than I had planned to because I kept telling myself "One more chapter..." last night], they're also well written, or at least well-written enough to keep me from noticing any shoddy writing. The tone of the book, since it's Dexter's thoughts, is very conversational and very casual, simply lacking in the emotion that comes with most other novels, much less those written in first person.The only caveat I would give about these books is that they're fairly graphic. An excerpt from the second book [having nothing to do with the plot] gives a better example of what "graphic" would mean in this case:"The day passed quickly, with only one trip out to a homicide scene, a routine dismemberment with garden equipment. It was strictly amateur work; the idiot had tried to use an electric hedge clipper and succeeded only in making a great deal of extra work for me, before finishing off his wife with the pruning shears. A truly nasty mess, and it served him right that they caught him at the airport. A well-done dismemberment is neat, above all, or so I always say. None of this puddled blood and caked flesh on the walls. It shows a real lack of class."That's part of the narration--and in that passage, you could also see the calculating nature of Dexter as a character. He hates blood, but in spite of the gore in the scene, he doesn't reveal anything about that. In fact, the only time he really does reveal that he hates blood, he says straight out that he hates the mess it makes.
    • 3/5
      I picked this book up after watching the entire first season of Dexter, the Showtime series, based on Jeff Lindsay's novels. The book is a more fun and in depth examination of the characters in the show, and I enjoyed reading the book. There are some definite forks in the road between the novel and the show. This is one case where I am having a hard time deciding which I like better, and why. There is a slightly manic feeling to the way Lindsay has Dexter recite his tale, and I suppose that is to keep him in character, but it is sometimes darkly funny. I am looking forward to reading more of Dexter's tales and watching them on Showtime too.
    • 3/5
      Dexter Morgan is a serial killer. He has 36 kills under his belt and the first chapter proceeds to follow his 37th. Meanwhile his police officer sister, Deb, a wannabe detective, is working on a case with a killer that Dexter finds is using techniques similar to his own. At Deb's request he joins her in tracking down the killer. I didn't really enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would. Right from the start I did not enjoy the first person narrative which I found awkward in a mystery. I also just did not like the main character's voice.There were inconsistencies. He's supposed to be a blood spatter analyst but he spent all his time visiting crime scenes he wasn't involved with and tracking down the killer. I don't believe he performed his real job once in the whole book. I also think the narrative was meant to be humourous but the humour fell flat with me. Mind you, it was interesting enough to keep me reading. The second half was much better for me than the first. I'm not sure if I'll continue on with this series. I will probably read the next one to see if it gets any better. I haven't seen the TV show so I thinking maybe this works better on TV?
    • 4/5
      I haven't seen the TV series so I enjoyed the book for what it was, a good series opener with a fantastic lead character. There's enough plot information around without me going into detail but Dexter has an aversion to blood (taken from the blurb) and despite this still works for the police as an analyst. This was my only query with the plot. Otherwise he is devilish and easy to like until you remember who he actually is. Good fun, not too tricky to work out. A worthwhile read over the course of an evening. I will certainly be following this series through.
    • 2/5
      Darkly Dreaming Dexter has been languishing on my to-read list for a couple of years, and I finally picked it up. The gimmick of the book is that the "hero" of the book is a serial killer, but we're supposed to sympathize with him because he only kills other serial killers. He's a blood-splatter analyst with the Miami police department, in this book, the first of the series, he gets involved with crime solving to help out his sister, who's trying to advance her career int the department. I didn't care much for the book. I saw the ending coming a mile away, the Miami setting didn't interest me, and amazingly enough, I didn't like the hero. Call me judgmental. Serial killers, I just have problems with them.
    • 1/5
      A strange case of the book not being nearly as good as the TV series. I like the slightly darker tone the book takes however the writing is so sub-par I couldn't even finish this novel.
    • 2/5
      A fun, pulpy book that's great as a "beach read". The premise is interesting enough, though the actual writing leaves a lot to be desired. Don't expect anything great, just fun gore. The differences from the television series are numerous, and many readers may prefer the TV Dexter to the original. The series, in what I feel to be good taste, skims over the grizzly parts of Dexter's life and puts emphasis on the buildup. Though the book reads nothing like a police report, there are more details, specifically in the case of the janitor.
    • 4/5
      I thought that Dexter was a very well-written character. However, I felt that the other characters and the plot were underdeveloped. That being said, I am still eager to see the show.
    • 4/5
      What a novel and delicious story. It was like trying a new chocolate dessert. Dexter's narrative turned the really gruesome bits into a slice of black comedy that was so enticingly rich that long after I started cringing, I couldn't help still wanting more.
    • 4/5
      I read the first 2 dex books out of order, and I shouldn't have. But by doing so I think I figured out what my little niggling criticism of this series is. I mean it's brilliant, unique, and irrisistible. Dragged this book everywhere, read it at stoplights. Told everone about it.BUT: for a mystery series to work, I think, the continuing characters become secondary to the PLOT. Or in other words, the villain/mystery becomes the main character. It's not that we don't love the characters/world. In fact, they may be the reason we keep returning to the series (like Dennis Lehane's Genarro/whoever series.)But without the story structure to motivate and hang their journey on, it reads a little flat.And the problem here is that Dexter IS the story. The mystery is just a map to another twisting path in his mind. And this is fascinating, and it rates a 4, for me. BUT how can it be retold again and again and stay fresh? My fear is that each time it JL comes out with a book the impact will pale a little. Because in the end, we won't accept a Dexter who TRULY grows and changes - because everyone knows a sociopath cannot. And while some might suggest his growth is to morph back into his human beginnings, I think that would be a mistake; he would then be just another ordinary detective. Clever to introduce Rita, Deborah, and now little Cody. I will definitely be right in line to buy the next book. However, it would be a real shame if this all ended up like the last season of LA Law, where all the brilliance of the early years had degraded into pure silliness.
    • 2/5
      creepy, gory and unsettling, but interesting look into the mind of a murderer
    • 4/5
      This is a case where the TV show has improved on the book. HBO's Dexter is based on Lindsay's book and I think ultimately brings it to life. In either case though, you can't help but root for Dexter - a serial killer.
    • 4/5
      Dexter Morgan is not your average, everyday kind of guy. Sure, he's likable, although he is rather bewildered by the attentions of women. He can be charming and witty, and he's always supportive of his foster sister, Deborah, a Miami vice squad cop. But Dexter leads one hell of a double life. During the day, he's a blood-splatter lab technician with the Miami Police Department. At night, he's a serial killer with a marked difference: he only slays bad people (as if that excuse will save him from the electric chair). Orphaned by tragedy as a boy, he was adopted aged 4 by a cop, Harry Morgan, who set about trying to channel his new son's animal nature, his aberrant "need." It was Harry who convinced Dexter only to prey upon other killers - such as the paedophiliac priest whom he dispatches at the beginning of the book. But with thirty-six kills to his name, Dexter suddenly finds that he has a competitor. This newcomer is responsible for the gruesome murders of prostitutes. Not only does he take their lives, but he drains their blood and wraps up their body parts like prized possessions. Though Dex admires the technique, which mirrors his own modus operandi, he decides to help his sister solve these serial slayings - a fateful decision that will compel him to question his own life. Could Dex Morgan, "the best-dressed monster in Dade County," be more involved in these abominations than even he realizes? I'll just say that Lindsay's readers won't be the only ones surprised by this tale's outcome. Written with a playful and hip style, Darkly Dreaming Dexter manages to avoid farce or to tumble into bad taste.
    • 5/5
      Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a refreshingly original novel told in first person from the killer's point of view. It is interesting to get into the head of a psychopath who, though he has no conscience, tries to live by the 'code of Harry' - that is, he only kills people who deserve it. Despite some disturbing statements and chilling actions on the part of Dexter, by the end of the book we are left feeling sympathetic and definitely don't want him caught. In fact, Dexter is only doing what most have us have wished for in our darkest dreams. I highly recommend Darkly Dreaming Dexter and look forward to reading more books by this highly talented author.
    • 4/5
      I had seen some of the television adaptation and enjoyed its style, so thought I would give the books a go too. The plot of this is similar but not identical to the television series, which was a good thing as it meant that there was still some suspense in there for me. The central character is interesting although perhaps not fully developed in this one book, but it has left me wanting to read more about him in the later books in the series.
    • 4/5
      arkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay has been made into a television series for the cable network Showtime. That's where I first encountered this mystery series, and, I admit, it took some time for me to warm up to it. The idea behind it is both immediately fascinating and immediately off-putting. The narrator/hero/anti-hero is Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter specialist for the Miami police. (Already a bit queasy?) By day Dexter is a straight arrow, honest citizen serving the public good. By night he is a serial killer with a code. Dexter's code, instilled by his police officer foster father--only kill those who deserve it. So Dexter is a serial killer who only kills other serial killers. He is not nice about it either. Now you're either hooked or completely turned off, and there's probably not much more I can say to sway your view. I wish there were.In Darkly Dreaming Dexter (which was the basis for the first year of the television series) Dexter is up against a killer who targets Miami prostitutes leaving behind completely bloodless corpses. Dexter can't help but admire the killer's work until he begins to target Dexter by entering his home to leave a series of clues which both intrigue and endanger Dexter.An addition to the story that adds character, complexity and some compassion to the novel is Dexter's sister, a novice police officer, who is trying to work her way up into the homicide squad in spite of a superior officer who is out to get her. Dexter understands the prostitute killer, has profound insight into his actions, but finds it challenging to help his sister without tipping his own hand and revealing too much about himself.All of this makes for a highly entertaining, breezy read. Reading the details in the book is much less gruesome than seeing them portrayed on television, and overall the book is much less violent. The relationship between Dexter and his father, portrayed in flashbacks, is at the heart of the novel and provides a strangely humanizing element to the story. Dexter's father teaches Dexter how to deal with his impulses, how to use them for society's benefit which is something I've not encountered before. But it's one of the things that I like most about the novel; how far would a father go to protect his son? As far as this?The ending of the book is different enough from the television show to make it worth reading even if you've already seen it. In fact, things are so different that I expect the rest of the novels will take a far different path than the television show has. I also expect I'll be reading more of them.