Dexter by Design: He's Back!

 First off- Happy New Years!!!  It's the beginning of 2010 and today- 01-02-2010- is a palindrome day!  That's right- today's date is the same backwards and forwards.  Just a little piece of trivia to kick off my '10 blogging adventures.


I'm a fan of Dexter.  I love the Showtime series, which prompted me to read the books the show was based on, and I soon loved the books as well.  The third Dexter book left me a little disappointed, so while I was anxious to read the new book I didn't rush out to buy it as I had the third novel.

Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay is the fourth outing of nice guy serial killer Dexter Morgan.  What's that you say?  A nice guy serial killer?  Well, in a word, yes.  Other than the occasional murder, Dexter is a very likable guy.  Besides, he subscribes to the Harry code -his adoptive father's policeman code of who Dexter can kill (bad guys) and who Dexter can't kill (non-bad guys), as well as How To Blend In As a Normal Human Being

The fourth book opens with Dexter and his new wife, Rita, on their honeymoon in Paris, where Dexter is doing his best to ignore his Dark Passenger's hunger and to put up with Rita's site-seeing requests.  There they get to view a very unusual and disturbing art exhibit.  Then it's back home to Miami and more blood splattering work for Dexter- he works for the police department.

Dexter's adoptive sister, cop Deborah, aware of her brother's killing tendencies is torn between locking him up and letting him stay free.  But in the mean time she enlists his help in tracking down a different type of psychopath- one who likes to carve up his victims into fruit bowls and touristy-like gift baskets and leaving them on display.  After Debs is injured, Dexter must find the killer himself while trying to shake the suspicions of Deb's new partner.  Dexter is also playing daddy to Rita's two little damaged children, mini-Dexter's in the making, and teaching them the Harry Code.

Dexter by Design is classic, awesome Dexter.  Where the third book went off track a bit, Dexter and his dark passenger are now reunited.  As always, the city of Miami is a supporting, if not second main character, in the Dexter books.  One thing I can say from reading the books- I will never, ever, ever drive in Miami.  Ever!

Dexter by Design gets a Midnight Book Rating of Midnight.  Welcome back, Dexter!  You've been missed.