Darkly Dreaming Dexter is the first Dexter book in a (rather lengthy) series, and it sates a reader with a brief and impatient appetite.  I wanted to really love it, and in certain parts, I did, but overall I found myself marveling at the author himself.

The basic estimation I took from this book is:  Jeff Lindsay uses a lot of run-on grammatical structure, and it’s unclear if this is a deliberate Mind-of-a-Psychopath technique, or something less deliberate.  There are flaws, but the overall delivery works on some level, even though its brief size (less than 300 pages) contributes to a feeling of being rushed through the story.

There are points where the text is delightful, and points where it is ugly, and some points where an attempt at suspense carries on far too long, or an execution of action leaves too much description unspoken.  It’s interesting to observe that, despite all this, coupled with some unclear moments, characterization is apt, and the overall story flow works.

It should be said that, technical expertise and critiquing aside, this is a very worthwhile read.  Jeff Lindsay has a vivid imagination and knows overall plot structure and planning.  He frames a concise storyline and carries between scenes, or instills doubt, at just the right moments.

By now, almost anyone knows the story of Dexter Morgan.  A compulsive sociopath with an abhorrence and obsession for blood, Dexter has turned his flaws into strengths and urges into weapons.  He rarely sleeps (and never dreams), is a forensic blood analysis expert by day, and murders killers by night.  Sometimes not in that order.

This book’s main task is to introduce us to the people and places that make up Dexter’s world, and lay the foundation for volumes to come.  You find yourself loving some characters and hating others – very few sit ambivalently in the sidelines with no real personality.

Overall, I admit to being a little disappointed in the book, although I still feel like any follower of Dexter should take the time to read it, and I am definitely looking forward to the next volume – Dearly Devoted Dexter.