If you have, I have a question. Do you need to read the series in order? If not, would you recommend it anyway? I've read the first book in the series, "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" but haven't started the next book. Just wanted to see how important it was, if at all, to read them in order.

Thanks!

I read the first two--would say order doesn't matter, but avoided the third one since a friend said it veered off into strange spiritual possession directions. I have the most recent one on order from the library, and hope it's as good as the first two.

I have a question,does not the show follow the books, as far as the plots go?

Margiehope, I agree with your friend about the third book - it was strange.

George48, the first book is similar - the Ice Truck Killer, etc. However, there are some major differences, which I won't reveal here.

Elements of the different books crop up in various different series. For instance, in book 2 Deb's boyfriend is taken by the killer. This happened in series 3, but it was a different killer with a different method. Rita's children are, how shall we say, a little more interesting in the books.

I found the books darker, and never lost sight of the fact that Dexter is cold blooded and emotionless, and loves no-one. That doesn't always come across so much in the series.

I've just read the first book and am well into the second,and you're not kidding about the differences. I'm hooked. It's fun to have two different versions in my head,it makes for some interesting reading and viewing.
It's a good thing the series never followed the books,there are some happenings that would never translate into television, gruesomeness to say the least,it would take away a lot of the sympathy that viewers have for Dexter.

Agree with you on everything. I'm about a quarter of the way into the second book and I'm actually glad that it isn't anything like the show, because like you, it's fun having two different versions. The books will be a good "filler" for my Dexter fix now that it is the offseason for the show again. :p

Not pleased to hear the third book veers off like that...but I'll read it anyway when I get to it. I decided to go in order for the heck of it.

I'm about three quarters of the way through the third book now, and it is my least favorite thus far. Just doesn't seem to "fit" with the first two. Hoping the fourth gets back to real life, rather than the spiritual aspect of it. Those types of books I have absolutely no interest in.

I'm about halfway through the fourth, and thoroughly enjoying it. The differences from the series are quite interesting, especially with Rita's children, but reading the books doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the series, and vice versa.

Just finished the 5th book, "Dexter is Delicious". It was not Jeff Lindsay's best work. I read a couple reviews over on Amazon while in the middle of it, to see the general consensus on it and found that I agreed with some of the poor reviews. Dexter feels more like a lapdog to Deb in this one and the book is pretty predictable.

I'm a gigantic fan of the television series, and this is one of those few times I've thought the TV show was infinitely better than the books. I really wanted to enjoy the books...but overall I'd say I really only enjoyed the first two.

This is one of those book series that I think of as completely separate from the show. I like them both, but comparing doesn't help either. The closest comparison for me is The Wizard of Oz books. Or Bones. Both good, but very different.