[b:Darkly Dreaming Dexter|17231|Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Dexter, #1)|Jeff Lindsay|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557598685l/17231._SY75_.jpg|2113743] before there was a Dexter.

This is one of those books that I was surprised to find was far older than expected. The writing feels quite modern, despite being an early '50s novel.

I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped, and there's a few passages I had to read a few times in order to parse what was happening.

I don't find this nearly as grim as the reviewers suggest, but maybe it's my general preference for horror.