Maybe it's because I've had such a long break from Dexter, but this might just be the most enjoyable book in the series since the first one. Not only does Lindsay understand that he can't re-use the same recipe forever, he handles the... complications in the Morgan household better, I admit, than I would have expected. The first chapter, a.k.a. the Ode to Lily Anne, had me grinning like an idiot, partially because it was just so good and partially out of relief that after two lukewarm volumes, Lindsay and Dexter are back on form. Damn, for all the gore and cannibalism, the whole thing was adorable.

Also, Brian? My new favourite cheesy sociopath.

Honestly I'm only still reading these because (1) I downloaded the entire series from the library at once in preparation for several long plane rides and (2) I'm stubborn. They're so bad.

From the other reviews I've read, this book seems to have gotten better than the previous, Dexter by Design, which was decent but seemed to be missing a certain punch and structure.
For me, I'm not sure this book got it back like most other people thought it did. Although, I will admit to the story structure being more formed.

Once again, the clues were too easy and I knew pretty much everything there was clues about before Dexter and found it annoying that he couldn't piece it together. Also, a lot of people seemed to say he "grew as a character" in this book, due to hid new father-hood. I'm sorry, but fussing over your amazing new baby does not make your character grow, it makes them annoying as hell and normal, like every body else. I do not want my Dexter to be normal. Overall, nothing too impressive here, (though I did really enjoy the girl who's dream was to be eaten by people-that was nicely done and strangely real and believable).

Technically, I think this book would've gotten 2.5 stars. I read it slow, and it was slow in general for me. I just don't care much for babies, OK?

I only have the first 5 books of the series and am not sad that I won't be reading the rest. I liked the story concept, but the writing style didn't suit me at all - over the top cheesy. I have not watches the tv show yet but I think this may be a case of the show being better than the books.

WTF this was messed up big time.

I love Dex-Daddy though!

A bizarre plot line, but it was nice to see Dexter with more humanity, even if he's clueless about what to do with it! I've no idea if there will be / are more books in this series, but right up until the end, I would have said I'll skip the rest of the series. It's been upgraded to a maybe I'll get the next one, if there is one, just because of Deborah.

While I haven't read the novel yet, I have watched season one of the series, and I have to say this book is very in line with that. Dexter's "dark passenger" is dealt with in an interesting way artistically and the supporting cast is handled well. My problems with this were the enormity of the situation and the art. Dexter's face looked like all the other white males in the book. Overall, the book was lacking drama and was a little forgettable.

Dexter is Dull would be a more suitable title. No Dexter action...highly predictable plot...no suspense or drama...annoying characters and it is really quite badly written overall.

The latest installment in the serial killing vigilante series and it picks up where the last one left off, with the fact Dexter is about to become a father. This one opens up with Dexter looking through the viewing window at Lily Anne, his newborn daughter and realizes a change is coming over him: he’s feeling emotions. So much so Dexter swears off his Dark Deeds Dexter life to become Dex-Daddy, protector of Lily Anne.

Of course Miami isn’t about let him off so easily. Deborah has caught a case arguing it with the FBI over jurisdiction, a young girl has gone missing then they realize that so has her wealthy friend and it looks like the son of a wealthy important politician might be behind it. The boy has a penchant for the vampire lifestyle complete with teeth. Things get worse when they’re called out to the everglades where someone has been barbequed and eaten, one of the teenaged girls. They have a pack of cannibals on the loose.

As if this isn’t enough, Brian, Dexter’s serial killing (innocents, unlike Dexter) has made a reappearance to become Uncle Brian. Cody and Astor love him, especially when he takes them hunting while Dexter is trying to see if he can change the course of their lives before they become fully functioning psychopathic killers instead of directing it like Harry did him.

Sounds exciting. The crime itself is. However, there was a lot that just didn’t’ do it for me. The FBI get forgotten halfway in (I just realized that in typing this up). Deb’s moodiness grates. Dexter going on and on and on about becoming a good guy, while not unbelievable, gets old. Maybe I’ve read too many mysteries and watched too many forensic programs (one even addressed the ideas put forth in the book about advertising to find people who want to be eaten and vice versa, it’s happened for real) but it was a bit predictable including the ending.

But I think the thing that bothered me the most was Brian. He’s an obvious threat to Dexter’s little girl and while he is Dex’s brother I would have thought he’d have done more to run him off. Well, that and the ending bothered me too. I’m getting very tired of the trope where we make the hero do something moronic to rachet up the tension at the end. Okay if it were amateur detectives I could maybe see it but to have seasoned cops run off alone without telling anyone and having no backup? This is like the 10th time I’ve seen that this year alone. It makes me lose respect for the characters and the author. Surely there has to be better ways than that? Sigh. It wasn’t a horrible book but I’m glad I got it from the library.