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Book Reviews of Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4)

Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4)
Dexter by Design - Dexter, Bk 4
Author: Jeff Lindsay
ISBN-13: 9780385518369
ISBN-10: 0385518366
Publication Date: 8/4/2009
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 41

3.9 stars, based on 41 ratings
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

11 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

perryfran avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 1183 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Dexter is one of my favorite TV series - it's currently in its fourth season on Showtime and I have enjoyed all of it. This is the first Dexter novel I have read. Since this is the 4th novel, I have obviously missed out on some of the storyline in the books that differ from the Showtime series. For example, in the TV show, Sgt. Doakes was killed off in the second season. In the book, Doakes is still around although severely maimed. Also, Dex's sister Deborah knows about Dexter's "dark passenger" unlike in the TV series. And probably the most shocking difference is that Dexter has his stepchildren in training to follow in his footsteps in the novel! I did enjoy this book and I definitely need to go back and read the prior three. I give Lindsay a lot of credit for coming up with this great character but to me, the TV series is superior.
reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 35 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I tried really hard to get into this book, but after the first 100 pages, I had to give up. It became more of a chore than a pleasure. It seems that Lindsay has lost his touch with Dexter in the past two books. I don't plan on reading anymore of the Dexter books, which is a pity since I loved the first two.
ReadswhenIcan avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 66 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the fourth Dexter book in the series. I would say that I liked it much more than the third one, by far. It had a lot of gore, suspense, and plenty of witty Dexterisms. Read a lot like the show and was a great way to get a nice shot of Dexter while in between seasons.
drkgoddess avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Not my favorite of the series, but still a fun read. I have to admit it, but I am a wee bit disappointed that Dex only got to kill one person.
4fabfelines avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 112 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Dexter and His sister Debbie find themselves at a crime scene with a highly decorated body. This body is designed with fruits and vegetables. Dexter finds out the bodies were already dead when they were decorated.
Dexter and Deb get leads and go after this guy to question him, but he stabs Debbie while Dexter is distracted.
Deb is hospitalized, and Dexter is faced with descions, and questions. He discovers there is more than one decorater.
When he goes after that one, he finds another sadistic decorater and he has Dark Dexter on film. Will Dexter get exposed for what he really is?
suzyshadow avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 125 more book reviews
Different from some of the other Dexters in that he is married now and that colors what he does or doesn't do. Sister Deb gets hurt, Rita gets kidnapped and someone else kills the bad guy...better written than the first 3.
Spuddie avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 412 more book reviews
This book refers to the audio version.

#4 Dexter series book. Dexter Morgan--the blood spatter forensics expert who works with the Miami police department and also happens to be a cold-blooded killer--is on his honeymoon with Rita in Paris. Of course he's bored silly while Rita is in seventh heaven--until they come upon a strange art exhibit featuring self-amputation as art. 'Jennifer's Leg' depicts Jennifer slowly removing parts of her leg and she appears at the end of the display in the flesh--on crutches, of course. Dexter is enthralled!

Upon arriving back in Miami, it doesn't take long for the honeymoon to be literally over as someone is displaying their own 'body art'--corpses with their insides removed, posed and stuffed with various items advertising 'The New Miami.' Dex's sister Sgt. Deborah is in charge of the case and looking to her brother--whom she now knows about--to help with clues. But before they get very far, Deborah is stabbed nearly fatally by one of the suspects and Dexter is on his own--under the too-watchful eye of her partner, Lt. Coulter and the ever present Sgt Doakes.

This is the first of the series that I have listened to in audio format and I really enjoyed it--the reader did a great job capturing Dexter's "spirit." Despite the dark subject matter, there were several laugh out loud moments and it was interesting seeing how Dexter would get out of yet another scrape. One of the funnier parts was Dexter's step-kids telling him he was in trouble with Rita, because he was going to be in the "poop van." In actuality, she was fixing a special French dinner, and her atrocious pronunciation had the kids thinking she had said "caca-van" instead of "coq au vin." LOL
Tunerlady avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 581 more book reviews
Another absolutely riveting Dexter book! I could not put it down...Jeff Lindsay writes with such humor and macabre-ness that I find myself chuckling while reading. Can't wait to read the next one!
vhope00 avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 30 more book reviews
Jumping back into the written form of Dexter was great. This book includes a killer that enjoys decorating his work in the most interesting of ways. Things become personal with Dexter when his "loved" ones become involved...also our Dexter is very close to getting caught. Witty writing as usual. It was enjoyable.
kaiaaa avatar reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 8 more book reviews
As in Book 3, Dexter keeps making egregious mistakes and not putting clues together until the last pages of the book, when he stumbles into the bad guy's arena and - one fortunate accident later - miraculously his problems all go away. He has no plan for solving his problems other than getting to the killer. I almost feel he doesn't deserve to get off so easy.

Was going to buy the last book (PBS waiting list is too long), but now I'm thinking not... If I do, it'll be for the lure of Dexter's sunny thoughts, not for the plot development.
reviewed Dexter by Design (Dexter, Bk 4) on + 34 more book reviews
I loved this book. Dexter is up to his usual skullduggery, and I love his interaction with the kids. Lindsay is in top form for this one.