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Dexter's Final Cut    by Jeff Lindsay Amazon.com order for
Dexter's Final Cut
by Jeff Lindsay
Order:  USA  Can
Doubleday, 2013 (2013)
Hardcover, CD, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Though I've often had to close my eyes (can't watch graphic violence) I've been enjoying the Dexter TV series from the beginning (a little after the fact, via the DVD releases). I finally read one of the books, Dexter's Final Cut (seventh in the series after Double Dexter), in which author Jeff Lindsay has great fun exposing Dexter to the Hollywood experience (and vice versa!)

The book and TV series have diverged in plot (Rita is still alive in this episode) but I actually enjoyed reading about Dexter more than watching him in action as most of the violence and gore is left to the imagination. As Dexter's Final Cut opens, Big Ticket Network is shooting a movie in Miami and both Morgans are assigned to do whatever they ask. Turns out the two leads need to shadow the Morgan siblings for character research. Dexter is stuck with Robert Chase, while a surly Deb gets the actress Dexter immediately dubs the Goddess - he falls hard for Jackie Forrest.

Naturally a serial killer stalks Miami, and what he or she does to the corpses is as gruesome as series fans have come to expect. The actors are fascinated, and Dexter puts himself in the headspace of the perp. As more corpses surface, Dexter realizes that these killings are all about Jackie. Afraid that the studio will fire her, she begs him and Deb to keep it a secret, so Dexter agrees to act as her bodyguard - and rather enjoys the life of luxury that ensues, especially as it compares to his harried existence with Rita and the kids. His Dark Passenger purrs.

Though Dexter grows to appreciate the celebrity life, eventually his dream bubble has to burst and his Dark Passenger gets to play his part once more. And the latter always gets his prey, though Astor plays a starring role this time too. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving us wondering what Jeff Lindsay has in store for his antihero next. Series fans will not want to miss Dexter's Final Cut.

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