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I was a bit grumpy about Jeff Lindsay's previous Dexter outing. Don't get me wrong, it was a fun read, but it also felt a touch too precious and a bit too clever for its own good. I wasn't fussed about keeping up with the series, but a chance viewing of an episode in the TV adaptations made me change my mind. And while DEXTER IN THE DARK is pretty much more of the same as we've already seen in DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER and DEARLY DEVOTED DEXTER, it's an entertaining enough read. This time out our hero, a Miami CSI with a sideline as a serial killer, encounters a hitch. It appears that his 'Dark Passenger', the voice in his head, or call it what you will, that keeps his killing focussed on those who supposedly deserve it, has done a runner. The reason appears to be a particularly gruesome killing on a university campus. Two girls are found burned to death by a lake with their heads missing and replaced by a ceramic bull's head. Even the friendly neighbourhood magic man does a swift about-turn and legs it from the scene when he sees what's happened. Dexter's unsubtle detective sister Deborah is leading the case, and she's not at all happy when her brother can't offer his usual insights. And he's got other things on his mind with the forthcoming marriage to Rita, who has caterers and bands on the brain. Oh, and Rita's kids Astor and Cody are showing an unhealthy interest in Dexter's special powers. There's nothing frantically new in DEXTER IN THE DARK, aside from Dexter floundering around and wondering if the Dark Passenger will deign to return and save him from the brown stuff. And the sections from The Watcher, who has Dexter in his sights, are rather a yawn. But there's nicely dry humour in the shape of Dexter's colleague Vince and his efforts to book a chi-chi caterer for the wedding. The book will transfer very nicely to TV and in the meantime is entertaining enough to keep you out of mischief for a while!
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, September 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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