Dexter's Final Cut Trivia Quiz

Answer: Violet

A mildly comic scene occurs when Dexter first sees Jackie, as he is so struck by her incredible beauty that he pauses in mid-stride to goggle in uncharacteristic amazement. In particular, he notes that, "her eyes were a startling violet, a color so unlikely and yet so compelling that I felt an urgent need to move near and study her eyes at close range." Jackie, who is used to this sort of reaction, responds with an amused smile, while his sister Deborah nudges him with her elbow and accuses him of drooling. Dexter himself is taken aback by his own reaction, as he does not normally pay attention to feminine beauty but notes that there was something about Jackie that was unseen but somehow felt that made her seem far more attractive than her admittedly good looks actually warranted.

Indeed, nearly every other character in the book - with the notable exception of her co-star Robert Chase - seems to find her adorable.

Answer: By looking at his Facebook profile

As well as being psychotically deluded, Patrick, Jackie's stalker, is not very bright, as shown by his garbled, barely literate letters to her that he signed with his real name. Even so, Dexter is amazed that Patrick would make it so easy for someone to find him. Patrick's Facebook profile contains a recent photo of him at a camping site in Miami and Dexter is able to recognize the location by the landmarks in the background. Dexter manages to find Patrick's tent at a local campground but not the man himself.

However, Patrick soon makes things easy for him for by kayaking past the scene of another murder that he has recently committed while the police are still investigating, apparently hoping to get a glimpse of Jackie. Dexter recognizes him, then excuses himself and takes his speedboat out on to the river where Patrick is kayaking and catches up with him. Dexter quickly disposes of him, but it turns out that Patrick was not the only person who could pose a threat to Jackie, as eventually becomes all too clear.

Answer: He is a pedophile

Although Robert is a big star who is very handsome, and Dexter's colleague Vince goes gaga upon meeting him, Dexter himself is less than thrilled about having to hang around him and answer his incessant questions. To Dexter's chagrin, Robert constantly studies Dexter's behavior and even begins imitating his mannerisms as a way to get into his TV role.

In addition to this, Robert seems strangely furtive about his personal life. At one point he mentions flying down to a "special private resort" in Mexico for the weekend where the staff understand his "needs." However, when Dexter makes a point of how expensive this must have been, Robert seems oddly reluctant to provide any further details, as if he is embarrassed by his admission. Dexter often notices Robert looking at him intensely in a way he finds unsettling. Furthermore, he notices Robert gazing longingly at a photo of Dexter's family. Dexter eventually concludes - mistakenly - that Robert is secretly gay and has a crush on Dexter. The truth turns out to be far more disturbing as Robert has actually taken an unwholesome interest in Dexter's 11-year-old stepdaughter, Astor. Towards the end of the novel, Dexter questions the director of the TV show, who confesses with great mortification that he had heard rumors that Robert is sexually attracted to underage girls.

He had dismissed these as baseless celebrity gossip, although he guiltily admits that he would have turned a blind eye even if he had thought they were true, because he needed a leading man with Robert's star-power. Dexter eventually feels very stupid for not having worked this out himself as there were some subtle warning signs that he did not twig to until it was too late.

Answer: Foul-mouthed and rudely confrontational

Renny's manner is so offensive that his language would make a proverbial sailor blush! Within moments of being introduced to Dexter, he responds to an innocuous comment by swearing, using offensive slurs, and making sexually explicit comments. Dexter initially does not know what on earth to make of this behavior, but Robert seems to find it funny, and explains that Renny is a popular comedian. Renny is quick to note that what he does is not comedy but "social commentary", even though his foul-mouthed comments on social issues do seem to make people laugh.

Answer: Murder victim

Dexter plays a forensics worker who gets shot and falls down dead. Hence, for most of the filming, which takes a surprisingly long time, he simply has to lie still and pretend to be dead. Jackie arranged this role for him as an elaborate subterfuge because Robert Chase had asked why Dexter had accompanied her to the production site on a Saturday.

The real reason was that she had asked Dexter to discreetly act as her informal bodyguard, as she did not want the production company to find out she was being stalked, as they might fire her because of the increased insurance costs.

There was an intense enmity between her and Robert, and she thought he would relish the opportunity to have her booted out. Hence, she made up an explanation on the spot that Dexter would be in an "under-five," that is, a role involving less than five lines.

Answer: Yes

For several days prior to this incident, Dexter had been staying with Jackie in her hotel for her protection. During this time, they had gotten to know each other very well, and she clearly finds Dexter fascinating. Dexter for his part has been enjoying his stay with the glamorous Jackie in a luxury hotel and the comforts it affords. Furthermore, he has begun to tire of the petty drudgeries of family life and is keenly aware that his wife Rita seems to have aged prematurely and to have lost her once good looks.

The evening prior to Kathy's murder, Dexter escorts Jackie to a show by Renny Boudreaux. On the way, Jackie admits to being frightened because she thinks her stalker might be lurking near the venue, not knowing, of course, that Dexter has already gotten rid of him. To reassure her, he says boldly, "He'll have to get through me first." Jackie then astonishes him by kissing him on the lips.

As enjoyable as this is for him, it became a little awkward later when Dexter meets his wife Rita at the show, and she briefly wonders why there is lipstick on his shirt sleeve (he used it to wipe Jackie's lipstick off his mouth), although she does not press the issue.

After the show, Dexter bids Rita good night, and returns to the hotel with Jackie. During the night, they are awakened by the arrival of the police at the hotel. Deborah informs them that Kathy has been killed in a manner similar to the other victims of Jackie's stalker (although Dexter alone knows that her stalker is dead). Jackie is very distressed and blames herself for putting Kathy in harm's way, although Dexter reassures he that it is not her fault. After Deborah leaves, Jackie tells Dexter meaningfully that she is really frightened and does not want to be alone for the night. Dexter is quite happy to take care of her needs. The next morning, they have a heart-to-heart conversation, in which Jackie states that although she is attracted to Dexter she doesn't want to be the sort of selfish person who takes away a man from his wife and family. (She probably should have thought of that before sleeping with him, but never mind.) Dexter, on the other hand, finds the prospect of ditching his unfulfilling family life for one of carefree hedonism with the charming and beautiful Jackie highly appealing and they begin a passionate affair.

Answer: "Thank you. But I already have a nice warm blanket."

Anderson is clearly enamored of the gorgeous Jackie and all of the other potential responses listed would certainly have been applicable comebacks to the creepy and bungling detective. However, rather than insulting him directly, Jackie opts to taunt him more subtly.

When she makes this statement about having a nice warm blanket, she pointedly leans over to Dexter and rubs the back of his neck. Anderson, who has been portrayed as something of a joke up to this point, gives Dexter a look of pure hatred as soon as Jackie has left the room. Dexter initially finds this amusing, yet Anderson would prove to be a thorn in his side from this point on.

Answer: Angry

Dexter does not tell Deborah directly about the affair; she quickly figures it out for herself. Specifically, Dexter mentions Jackie's conversation with Deborah's less-than-esteemed colleague Detective Anderson, and Jackie's pointed remark about already having a nice warm blanket.

Hearing this, Deborah realizes what is going on and furiously accuses Dexter of sleeping with Jackie, which he does not deny. Not mincing words, she makes her disapproval very clear, reminding him that he is married with kids.

She concludes by stating that she doesn't think she ever wants to speak to him again. Indeed, she begins avoiding him from then on.

Answer: Astor stabs Robert in the back

Dexter was having a really good time with Jackie and looking forward to entering an exciting new lifestyle, when events take a series of disastrous turns. Rita informs him in a state of near panic that Astor has gone missing. After making enquiries, he learns that she has gone somewhere with Robert Chase. Returning to Jackie's dressing room, he makes the horrific discovery that she has been murdered.

Although not a sentimental man by any means, this development is emotionally devastating for Dexter and he feels like his world is crashing around him in flames. Eventually, he deduces correctly that Robert killed Kathy because she had caught him kissing Astor in his dressing room, and threatened to make this public.

While Dexter had been looking for Astor, Jackie had accessed Kathy's schedule online and discovered that she had had a meeting with Robert at the time she was killed.

Unfortunately, Jackie chose to confront Robert directly rather than immediately telling the police - even wet blanket Detective Anderson might have helped - and so he killed her too. Dexter works out that Robert and Astor are hiding at Dexter's new family home that they had not yet moved into, and decides to confront him stealthily.

This bold but reckless plan does not go as expected, because Robert knocks him unconscious as he attempts to sneak into the house. When he awakens, Astor explains to him that Robert is in love with her and has promised her that he can help her become a movie star. Dexter sensibly points out that he can hardly get her into movies while hiding from the cops. Robert enters the room, and Dexter taunts him about lying to Astor, as there is no way that he can escape the country as he plans, and he will only end in jail. Robert, who has clearly not thought things through, becomes alarmed and blurts out that he will use Astor as a bargaining chip with the police, offering to release her in return for safe passage out of the country. Then, he says he is sorry, but he will now have to kill Dexter. Before he can do this, Astor, who is furious at Robert's ready betrayal, takes a kitchen knife and stabs him in the back, killing him.

Answer: No

Despite the apparent finality implied by the title, the novel is actually the penultimate book by Jeff Lindsey in the Dexter series. By the end of the novel, things are looking bleak for Dexter. Prior to Dexter's arrival at the house, Rita had come looking for Astor and Robert had knocked her out as well.

Unfortunately, she never recovers consciousness and while Dexter is trying to revive her, she dies. At this point, Dexter realizes that he is now a suspect in multiple murders - even though for once he is innocent - as he does not expect anyone to believe that beloved celebrity Robert Chase was a murderer and a pervert, and that he will be blamed instead.

The aftermath of the tragic ending of "Dexter's Final Cut" is explored in Jeff Lindsey's ominously titled sequel, "Dexter is Dead", which brings down the curtain on Dexter's adventures once and for all.