Dexter by Design
Feb. 18th, 2009 10:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catalyst2I have just finished reading the fourth book in the Dexter series and was pleasantly surprised overall. After the strange events of #3, we're back to a more normal (or at least what passes for normal in Dexter's world) story.
The book opens with Dexter and Rita on their honeymoon in Paris, Cody and Astor being absent. There follows two of the most awkward and cumbersome chapters I have ever read. Lindsay's style confuses me - it can be some of the smoothest slickest writing I have ever read and at other times it is stodgy drivel. Anyway, I shall move on.
Back in Miami a new "artist" appears and things spin rapidly out of control for both Dexter and Deb. It was good to see Kyle Chutsky still on the scene and called into action at this point. There follows a somewhat surreal interlude with Dexter and Kyle in Havana - I kid you not!
Cody and Astor are quite a focus in this book and really step up to the plate in the later parts of the book - in contrast to the TV series, Lindsay has fully embraced the "littlest serial-killers-in-training" scenario and runs it well in the end. And the final words of the book cracked me up!
Overall, a vast improvement on #3 but the simple flowing prose of the first two books is not quite recaptured. All of the central characters develop quite noticeably during the book and that reflects well on the central theme, that of moving on and embracing change.
What didn't work for me was Dexter's voice - that wry, spry monologue was largely absent and, when it did appear, was just off or something. The other part that didn't work for me was the antagonist here - he alternated between such soaring genius and bumbling incompetence that it was hard to take him seriously.
Overall, an enjoyable read that satisfied me to a moderate extent.
The book opens with Dexter and Rita on their honeymoon in Paris, Cody and Astor being absent. There follows two of the most awkward and cumbersome chapters I have ever read. Lindsay's style confuses me - it can be some of the smoothest slickest writing I have ever read and at other times it is stodgy drivel. Anyway, I shall move on.
Back in Miami a new "artist" appears and things spin rapidly out of control for both Dexter and Deb. It was good to see Kyle Chutsky still on the scene and called into action at this point. There follows a somewhat surreal interlude with Dexter and Kyle in Havana - I kid you not!
Cody and Astor are quite a focus in this book and really step up to the plate in the later parts of the book - in contrast to the TV series, Lindsay has fully embraced the "littlest serial-killers-in-training" scenario and runs it well in the end. And the final words of the book cracked me up!
Overall, a vast improvement on #3 but the simple flowing prose of the first two books is not quite recaptured. All of the central characters develop quite noticeably during the book and that reflects well on the central theme, that of moving on and embracing change.
What didn't work for me was Dexter's voice - that wry, spry monologue was largely absent and, when it did appear, was just off or something. The other part that didn't work for me was the antagonist here - he alternated between such soaring genius and bumbling incompetence that it was hard to take him seriously.
Overall, an enjoyable read that satisfied me to a moderate extent.
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-19 09:50 pm (UTC)At least I have something to look forward to.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-20 02:22 pm (UTC)