Book Review: Dexter in the Dark

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Dexter in the Dark     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Jeff Lindsay
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Serial Killer
Doubleday, Sep 2007, $23.95

Miami crime scene investigative cop Dexter Morgan uses his policing skills to solve cases and to hide the evidence of his being a serial killer who heeds his Dark Passenger voice inside him to kill someone although he limits his victims to those he deems evil. His current official assignment is to investigate the gruesome crime scene of a double homicide at the University of Miami. The two female students were burned and beheaded in what seems like a ritual killing.

However, Dexter, who is the best CSI in MPD, seems to fumble the inquiry. He knows why he struggles; his Dark Passenger recognized something in the vicious murders that sent the creature into some hiding hell hole from even Dexter. The Dark Passenger is actually the brains behind Dexter’s incredible rate of solving cases. With only donut power to sustain him, Dexter must solve the ritual coed murders and try to figure out just what is the Dark Passenger as Dexter feels in the dark on the case and a bit alone without his mental companion.

The third Dexter Morgan entry is much different in tone than his previous appearances in DARKLY DEVOTED DEXTER and DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER; as the serial killing CSI is more pensive since he is alone. His fascinating thought processes are his own as he reflects on the murders, his own self worth, and his vanished “partner” as opposed to the witty schizoid-like dialogue with his “partner”. This switch, still graveyard humorous, keeps the Dexter tales fresh as the hero works a case while feeling alone without his Dark Passenger providing him with ghoulish insights into life and death.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner