Dexter by Design

Jeff Lindsay

Sep 2009 · Vintage Crime/Black Lizard

About this ebook

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The Dexter series continues with Dexter’s deadliest case yet. • The Killer Character That Inspired the Hit Showtime Series Dexter
 
After his surprisingly glorious honeymoon in Paris, life is almost normal for Dexter Morgan. Married life seems to agree with him: he’s devoted to his bride, his stomach is full, and his homicidal hobbies are nicely under control. But old habits die hard—and Dexter’s work as a blood spatter analyst never fails to offer new temptations that appeal to his offbeat sense of justice.  Not to mention that his Dark Passenger still waits to hunt with him in the moonlight.  The discovery of a corpse (artfully displayed as a sunbather relaxing on a Miami beach chair) naturally piques Dexter’s curiosity and Miami’s finest realize they’ve got a terrifying new serial killer on the loose. And Dexter, of course, is back in business.

Ratings and reviews

Thankfully, Jeff Lindsay returns to the good ole Dexter in Book 4, "Dexter by Design." There's no mention of the supernatural Moloch or any silly cults. Dexter is simply back to his old tricks, but now must deal with them as they relate to his family life. We see an increased attachment from Dexter to his mundane roles: husband, father, brother. I really enjoyed the focus of this book on Deborah and how Dexter interacts with his sister, as well as Cody and Astor, his step-children. There was a lot of build-up in the plot, with a quicky pay-off that felt like it didn't really pay-up. The characters are great, and the plot was there, but the ending just fell flat. I really expected something, I'm not sure what, but something MORE. I'll continue to read the series for its unique voice and great characters. This one was certainly better than Book 3, so here's hoping to a steady improvement process!

So far, this has been my least favorite Dexter book. Although it was entertaining enough to get through, it really didn't add anything to the ongoing storyline, and the plotline (particularly the climax) seemed contrived and unbelievable. Here's to hoping Lindsay picks up the pace in the fifth installment, due out in September.

Disappointing Dexter. I don't like big climaxes, and this book had a doozy, one that magically resolved all his problems. The charm of Dexter lies in his working against type - he's a monster and a hero at the same time - but this plot operated at a much more conventional level. The resolution avoided real resolution - everything was sidestepped at the end. Bring back the quirkiness!

About the author

Jeff Lindsay is the New York Times bestselling author of the Dexter novels, which debuted in 2004 with Darkly Dreaming Dexter. They are the basis of the hit Showtime and CBS series, Dexter. He lives in South Florida with his family.