Scan barcode
gawdz0rz's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
the overall idea of dexter morgan—serial killer, blood spatter analyst for miami metro homicide, definitely normal human being—is a fascinating one with so much potential. compared to bret easton ellis’ patrick bateman, dexter is a saint. he’s a moral sociopathy trope living by harry’s code where he (ironically) only kills (other) murderers.
now, this—combined with the plot of the story—is an excellent idea. but it was poorly executed.
first, let me say what i do like about this book:
(the book deviates from the show pretty early on, so fair warning to anyone who has watched the show first.)
now, this—combined with the plot of the story—is an excellent idea. but it was poorly executed.
first, let me say what i do like about this book:
(the book deviates from the show pretty early on, so fair warning to anyone who has watched the show first.)
the alliteration was clever. playing off the title of the book and adding similar alliteration throughout was neat, i liked that.
i’m a little torn how i feel about the ending twist, but i’ll say it’s not a negative feeling. it was an okay twist.
i think having deb’s personality be the complete opposite of dexter’s was a fantastic idea. (in the show, at least, and in my opinion) deb exhibits signs of borderline personality disorder (bpd), and from what i remember hearing from someone with antisocial personality disorder (aspd), people with bpd tend to gravitate toward people with aspd for some reason, so dexter and deb being close makes sense. not sure if that was the intention or if it even went that deep, but still.
i also really like the idea of the dark passenger being its own sort of entity inside dexter. in the show, the dark passenger is just an urge; but in the book, it’s like a separate person, and i think that’s a really interesting perspective. i like seeing it from both, too.
on the other hand, i do have a lot of issues with the book. such as:
some of the characters feel like they’re maybe bordering on a bit racist?
all the side characters felt pretty flat and empty, but the two female characters—deb and detective laguerta—were extremely stupid. deb had dexter give her all her ideas (dexter helped in the show, but at least in the show she came up with stuff on her own), but laguerta is just… dumb. but also somehow successful at being a detective? like, how? she’s clearly not a good detective. and she’s alsosexually harassing and eventually sexually assaulting dexter at work?? like??? then thinking something was wrong with him when he didn’t want to be non-consensually humped and fondled in the office??? and then stalking him??? like, i know she flirts with him in the show but this is waaay beyond that. like, waaay beyond. so, yeah, it’s just A Lot.
and finally,when dexter wakes up, there’s the immediate switch between “deb didn’t come home last night” to “i know he has her,” which felt really off and abrupt. and then the “i know this is the container, i have no idea why, but i feel it in my bones” like a midwesterner saying it’s about to rain on a sunny day, which was also just really out there. like, there’s no way lol. i get he “knew” from when he was a child but like… did he really
i know there are more books in the series, but i think more could have been done with dexter as a character in this book. i do hope the next one(s) do him, the other characters, and the overall idea justice, because this book was disappointing.
i’m a little torn how i feel about the ending twist, but i’ll say it’s not a negative feeling. it was an okay twist.
i think having deb’s personality be the complete opposite of dexter’s was a fantastic idea. (in the show, at least, and in my opinion) deb exhibits signs of borderline personality disorder (bpd), and from what i remember hearing from someone with antisocial personality disorder (aspd), people with bpd tend to gravitate toward people with aspd for some reason, so dexter and deb being close makes sense. not sure if that was the intention or if it even went that deep, but still.
i also really like the idea of the dark passenger being its own sort of entity inside dexter. in the show, the dark passenger is just an urge; but in the book, it’s like a separate person, and i think that’s a really interesting perspective. i like seeing it from both, too.
on the other hand, i do have a lot of issues with the book. such as:
some of the characters feel like they’re maybe bordering on a bit racist?
all the side characters felt pretty flat and empty, but the two female characters—deb and detective laguerta—were extremely stupid. deb had dexter give her all her ideas (dexter helped in the show, but at least in the show she came up with stuff on her own), but laguerta is just… dumb. but also somehow successful at being a detective? like, how? she’s clearly not a good detective. and she’s also
and finally,
i know there are more books in the series, but i think more could have been done with dexter as a character in this book. i do hope the next one(s) do him, the other characters, and the overall idea justice, because this book was disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
refrejarator's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A lot of alliteration. Dexter is really annoying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
frankieweenie's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Dexter is an amazing character, reflective of the complexities of the human psyche and what can happen to a person when they're traumatized. I enjoy the way he is written. And the plot is very interesting, very close to the show as well, nearly word for word sometimes.
I DO not like the racism and sexism from the author leaking through into the writing, the way that LaGuerta is portrayed in the book, even SAing Dexter? </spoiler? I dunno. And the incest plotline is so ingrained into the writing from the very beginning it's hard to get past. Overall though it's a good book and I enjoyed it and I enjoyed Dexter. 4/5
I DO not like the racism and sexism from the author leaking through into the writing, the way that LaGuerta is portrayed in the book, even
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
flederm4us's review against another edition
It has a very racist and sexist framing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Murder
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was adapted very well as the TV series Dexter. Some of it was adapted line by line except of course for what happened with Laguerta and Deb finding out
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
More...