Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Darkly Dreaming Dexter
by Jeff Lindsay
Vintage Books, 2004

This is a crime thriller with a different kind of hero! Dexter Morgan works as a blood spatter expert for the Miami police. His foster sister is also with the force. A brutal series of murders is rocking the community and Dexter's job on the force gives him the opportunity he needs to track the man down. But Dexter has both a special interest in this case and an advantage over his colleagues: he is a serial killer himself.

In this first novel in a series, we learn that Dexter's foster father, a cop, discovered early on about his lethal tendencies--and taught him how to discriminate in his victims. He also taught his foster son how to blend in with "normal" people by simulating the emotions and responses to others that he is incapable of actually feeling. Thanks to this training, Dexter only kills those who deserve his attentions. And a rival serial killer definitely fall in that category.

This is a darkly humorous and swiftly paced novel that is hard to put down. Jeff Lindsay has done an amazing thing: he created a sadistic, emotionless killer that holds the reader's sympathy and support.

The second book in the series, Dearly Devoted Dexter, is just as good a read and has the addition of an interesting twist at its conclusion.