Read: "Dearly Devoted Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay

Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, 2005.

Very good book. Better than the first in the series which had a far fetched plot twist at the end. This one is a bit darker and highlights Dexter's lack of feeling and emotion.

Dr. Denko is dismembering former Army colleagues piece by piece until the end result is a living torso with a head (minus eyelids, teeth, ears, all hair, and lips). Dexter is, of course, intrigued by the technique and interests of Denko and his reasons for the procedures he uses. Dexter's avocational interests were like that in the first novel but in this one his colleagues and sister are more closely involved and endangered.

Sergeant Doakes, still out to catch Dexter, is kidnapped for dismemberment as is Dexter's sister's new boyfriend, Kyle. Dexter has no concern at all for either of them but he is concerned about his sister's opinion of him and recognizes her importance to his life. He only becomes involved in their rescue through persuasion and pressure. Dexter's disregard for Doakes and Kyle is obvious when he comes across the two of them while they are being cut-up and he is more interested in inspecting than saving them.

Dexter also discovers that the son of his "girlfriend", and newly mistaken fiance, is likely a Dexter-in-progress. Dexter is joyous at the thought of shepherding the kid through the stages of learning to be a killer. Pretty creepy.

But, there is still a lot of humour in the novel and Dexter is a likeable character. Dexter recognizes that he is not normal and his comments and views on human society and behaviours are funny.