Jeff Lindsay Dexter in the Dark Review

Overall Rating

The third novel to arrive from Jeff Lindsay of Dexter, an anti christ hero. He remains a psychopathic killer but with out the psychopathic force which normally guides him.

Plot and style of writing differs from the first two novels.

This third book of Dexter's adventures goes off on a tangent from the others. Here Dexter is on the trail of a cold blooded killer yet again. Unfortunately he has some personal issues vexing him. Particularly the Dark Passenger. A being or force within Dexter which had motivated him to kill has decided to vacate. As though it has been scared away. He's also on the precipice of getting married to his long term girl friend Rita and contends not with doubts about this but rather as a side line to his lost Dark Passenger. And lastly Dexter as a step father comes forward as he tries to gently coach Cody and Astor and their Dark Passengers in the way of Harry. Harry being Dexter's own deceased step father. A cop who taught him how to avoid being caught.

In fact this book is somewhat of an identity crisis exploration for the hero, without his Dark Passenger he is becoming more emotional and more human. He gets to feel what real people feel and he is not sure he likes it. His Dark Passenger was always there to give him advice but now it is not. He to is lost. He wonders around in a half daze trying to find the thing that was inside of him, even researching it. Dexter has to coax himself to carry on as his shallow mask begins to slip. A little bit at a time he fall to pieces.

Behind this all Dexter has acquired the attention of a more powerful malevolent other being. Which is termed as Thing by Jeff Lindsay. This other being has Dexter in sight and wants to kill him. As Dexter struggles with his psychological imbalance the Thing follows him and takes delight in Dexter's own nervous trending disposition. The game is in play and Dexter's time is now being marked.

The book travels along like a train gently trudging up a steep hill. Until the finale when it's time to show down and it comes to a sudden end. Though I would remark it is an enjoyable read, I had more delight reading the first two novels.