Dexter in the Dark: A Novel

I've found it fascinating to read the various reviews of this book.As for myself, I first saw "Dexter" on TV, like most people have. It was suggested to me by a friend. I initially wasn't interested, but constant pressure led me to "try it out." And I was hooked.I've read the first three Dexter novels, now. And truth be told, this is my favorite one of the book series so far. And probably for the exact same reason that so many of the other reviewers HATE it so desperately. That is... because it plays with the character of Dexter as not being an atheistic "anti-super-hero" like, evidently, so many of them would prefer him to be. Bluntly stated, it re-establishes that there is actual evil (and thus also actual good)... and yes, that Dexter has chosen a side, all his delusions of "code" aside.It's remarkable the sheer level of hatred that some folks respond with if you even SUGGEST that there is such a thing as "the supernatural." Of course, "supernatural" is a bit of a misnomer anyway... anything that exists is, by definition, part of nature, and it's ludicrous to pretend that we already know everything that exists... ostrich-like head-burying at best and fatuous arrogance at worst.This is a really interesting read... but just suggesting that there are actually "demons" (and worse, that they were "cast out" by SOMETHING "higher") is enough to drive the violently-anti-God people into apoplexy. ;)So, in this book, we're told about a "spirit" who is "cast out" and is the most senior, perhaps even the "father" of many other similar "dark spirits" who "hitchhike" inside of people. Perhaps they can influence many people, but they only "hitchhike" with a certain type of person... someone who is actually open and receptive to taking on a "passenger." What sort of person is "open" to it? Well, sometimes, these are people who are damaged by traumas. And sometimes, they're people obsessed with absolute selfishness. Sometimes they're people with "perversions" of some type. Sometimes they're egotistic, arrogant types who feel that other people are beneath them. Yeah, lots of directly-derived Judeo-Christian theology to be found in there... and even a HINT of that will cause some folks to react with sheer unadulterated hatred, won't it?Of course, this doesn't "ruin" Dexter. It doesn't mean that it's not Dexter who's done all this stuff... as he puts it, "the heavy lifting." It DOES work with the "Dexter as psychopath" part... it's not that he's a killer because of the "dark passenger," but rather, it's because he's a psychopath that the "dark passenger" sticks around and "plays" with him.Lots of folks think that "possession" means having your skin turn funky colors, speaking latin backwards, and geiser-vomiting split-pea soup. Nahhh... that's just a hollywood fake-out. For people who really believe in this sort of thing, they don't envision goofy guys with goatees and pitchforks and red tights. Rather, the idea is of an incorporeal entity which (figuratively speaking) "sits on your shoulder" and whispers suggestions into the back of your mind. "Tempters" is how demons are normally described, after all... not "big scary monsters." And Dexter's "passenger" does exactly this, doesn't it? It whispers to him, encourages him, tells him things he might not otherwise know, and yes, "toys" with him. And he's happy to have it along for the ride, isn't he?So... the author has made it clear... Dexter has a demon, riding along, "encouraging" him to continue in his "mission." And that particular demon, evidently a "lesser" one, is terrified of the higher, more powerful demons in the "hierarchy of hell."That's the story the author is telling here. The "Villain" in this story is a "higher demon" called Moloch" (or "Molek?") who was "cast out" before mankind existed. And through this story, Dexter discovers that much of what has made him "powerful" was the assistance of Dexter's own possessor. Losing "the passenger" means that Dexter loses those advantages... his "superheroic powers"... and becomes, simply stated, a normal (if psychopathic) human. This makes the character MORE interesting... unless you're reading him as though he's actually a "superhero" (and it's clear that many of you DO see him... a mass-murderer... in that light, don't you?)But by removing the "passenger," Dexter isn't "super-powerful" anymore... and much of this books tells us that he's still warped, sick and twisted... but also is now vulnerable to "human" mistakes, and even feelings (like fear) that he hasn't really experienced before. Just like the REAL psychopaths that exist in the world around us.Dexter, as a more "human" character, is more interesting... and that's part of why I personally enjoyed this book MORE than I enjoyed the first two, and in some ways even more than the TV series (which I do agree is amazingly well-done). The person in the book... after the departure of the "passenger"... is someone who you can imagine actually meeting (but who you truly wouldn't want to meet!) Not the "imperturbable" smooth, perfect, creature from the first two books, or the "I can't really believe that this nice guy is also this evil guy" character who somehow the audience wants to hang out with, and who they sincerely LIKE, despite his murderous and sadistic behavior, from the TV series. Dexter isn't a "good guy," he's a villain. But like most villains, he thinks he's the hero. And when he's facing other villains, it's temptingly easy to be seduced by that argument, isn't it?SO... this is a good book. It's not "high literature" but its good entertainment, and it's enjoyable to read unless you're the sort who finds any suggestion of anything "supernatural" to be the literary equivalent of a sharp pointy stick to the eye.

I was given the Shotime 1st Season DVD set as a gift and enjoyed the dark, quick humor of the whole. In going online to check if the second season was available, I discovered that the tv show was based on these novels. I read the first two quite happily, enjoying and understanding that there were going to be some veering away of the events of the tv show and books.Don't get me wrong, I do like this book. I even like the way it veered off track into a philosophical and religious debate. I just don't think that the sudden switch to the potential origins of Dexter's madness beyond the obvious childhood trauma was holding true to the story. If anything it subtracts from its originality of creating a psychopath that you could not only care about, but actively root for.At this point I suppose I should warn that I'm about to throw down some heavy spoilers.1) Dear Dexter continues to be swept along in his inadvertant assumption of a marriage proposal by his girlfriend and is now actively living with them while dealing with catering issues. Well and fine, but even Dexter misses the first clues of what later causes him actually go through with the marriage with the closest thing to happiness as is possible.2) This being his fiancee's children, whom he comes to realize are little psychopaths in the first place. Not just one, but both of them. Suddenly Dexter is ready and raring to go to teach them 'Harry's Way' though they both chafe at the restrictions at first.The problem I find with this is that while it is completely believable to have a three-year-old Dexter and the circumstances in which he was found by his adoptive Cop-father, Harry - you simply cannot believe that 10-year-old Astor and her little brother Cody's relatively mild experience at much older ages would cause Cody, must less Astor, to not only be psychopaths in the early stages of testing their wings, but even more aware of what's behind other psychopaths, including the one that they recognize is going to be their new father and hope to learn from.3) Which leads me to the big, bad idea revolving around this book - what really is evil? Where did it originate from? How did it get into Dexter? What would happen if it left? While I enjoy these sorts of debates, I didn't need it cropping up here so strongly that I find myself wondering if I can still file this book in my Mystery section vs. Fantasy or perhaps religion. Essentially, Dexter's 'Dark Passenger' is so frightend of whatever is causing the latest set of strange ritual murders, that it tucks tail between legs and abandons Dexter's ship. Adding to the fun that every time they do manage to capture a believable suspect who will range from admitting to possibly doing it during a black out or admitting to do it, yet another victim shows up, including one probably suspect. Dexter delves deeply into online research attempting to discover where his murderous side has gone and stumbles on a cult and 'demon' going back to King Solomon, and the 'demon's' ill-advised offspring, which he is one by one attempting to track down and kill (hence Dexter's abandoment of his own personal demon).So, now not only is Dexter technically not a psychopath, he seems to lose most of his thinking processes, fearlessness, and so on while maintaining the hallmark lack of emotions that comes with psychopathy. Not a good mix. I almost think that Astor and Cody were turned into mini-psychopaths simply to suddenly be dragged along to multiple crime scenes and point out that there was just another psychopath watching Dexter, but never in time for Dexter to get a good look.4) Because of all this, I find it somewhat difficult to believe that a few months after the head honcho demon-possessed guy is taken down, Dexter is at the alter about to be married when he feels a certain euphoria, confirmed by Cody, that his Dark Passenger has returned from wherever it had been hiding.5) On a slightly, "Oh, please..." note, Dexter's archnemisis in the police department, Sgt. Doakes, who was conveniently sliced and diced in the previous book, leaving him handless, footless, and tongueless with a healthy side of mentally screwed; suddenly reappears long enough to glare at Dexter with the Captain explaining that as Doakes was a few years away from receiving pension, they were keeping him on, prosthetics and inability to speak be damned, so that Doakes could receive his pension when he retires in a few years. I don't know about Dexter, but having the completly full-bore Doakes keeping an eye on him versus this shadow of Doakes it more than contrived.All in all, I now await the next book with some concern while simultaneously hoping that the TV show doesn't start to follow any of these radical diversions multiple characters have taken from their original paths.

I must admit, I came into the Dexter universe from the TV series. I loved it and wanted to know more, so naturally I picked up the books (the first two). I loved them, but I did prefer the second book to the first - probably because I actually preferred the TV series to the first book - it seemed to make more sense and flow better, which is saying something because I rarely prefer TV or film to the actual books they're based on. So naturally when the third book came out I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Having just finished reading it, I must admit that the format is different to the previous books. It is much less your standard crime thriller with the Dexter twist, its almost more of a horror, with the idea of the God. However having started my forray into reading on the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz I did still enjoy it, although not quite as much as the others. My advice would be that if you are a fan of Dexter, you cannot help but read this book and there are many parts of it which will give the reader further insight into how he came to be and exactly what his Dark Passenger is, but I must admit a curiosity as to exactly where the author will go from here. Personally I hope it is back to the original format, as that worked for me and made me laugh about things I really shouldn't laugh about - but hey. That's just Dexter.

Enjoyed the first book of the series but this one was pretty dull!Flimsy plot.Could have been a short story the plot was so thin!

This next instalment gives us even more of an insight into the world of Dexter. Previously defined by his mysterious Dark Passenger, what is Dexter without this driving force?And now he's a family man too, how on earth is that ever going to work?Gripping story, my only criticism would be a slightly predictable ending, but that isn't going to stop me reaching for the next one!

After seeing other reviews on the 3rd Dexter novel it felt like somewhat of a chore, after all I am one of those people who just cannot miss a book in a series, regardless of other critics say. And what a surprise I had! I have my own interpretation of this book after reading a book written by Stephanie Meyer, called the Host. Without going off topic I suggest you check out the reviews and blurb of the Host. And now, for my interpretation, which I think I've grasped after reading the Host andI hope you will too! IT is a parasite, this is how he transfers to different hosts, there is a similar book out there that explains how the parasites are bought about. Not so much supernatural themed and mythological creatures as others have described because surely then none of the other books Lindsay has written about Dexter wouldn't be believable.

Some readers don't like this book, saying it goes off track. I disagree, it is most definitely on track. It explains what Dexter is. Ok, so it's entering the supernatural so what? These are books about a serial killer after all. His dark passenger is explained and I hope we hear more from IT in later books. Starting on the next one straight away!