Just Watch Me

by Jeff Lindsay
358 pgs

Riley Wolfe is a thief. But he's not the typical steal-your-identity, snatch-a-purse, shoplift, or even rob-a-bank variety. Those things are all far below Riley and the jobs he pulls off. For Riley, who doesn't need the things he steals, or even the money he could get from selling them, it's the challenge of stealing something that no one in their right mind would go after that drives him and makes him feel alive. If he's going to steal a piece of art, it's going to be the Mona Lisa. If he's going to break into a vault, it's going to be Ft. Knox.

Just Watch Me begins with Riley's successful theft of a 12.5-ton sculpture in downtown Chicago on the day of its unveiling. But soon afterwards, he falls into a state of near depression, feeling like what he does has become too easy for him. He needs to find the next great, and possibly impossible challenge

It's a diamond called Daryayeh-E-Noor that eventually brings him back to life. Riley learns that it, along with the rest of the Iranian crown jewels, will be traveling to New York, on loan from Tehran in the coming weeks and Riley knows what kind of security will be protecting it. Stealing that diamond is exactly the type of challenge that gives meaning to Riley's life.

Just Watch Me is obviously a heist story, and as such, it's the meticulous planning and tireless preparation needed for pulling off the job that sucks me in, and it's here where Jeff Lindsay's story shines the brightest. Ever since he wrapped up his Dexter series a few years ago, I've been excited and anxious to see what he would come up with next. Thankfully, Just Watch Me is a pretty good second act. I didn't find Riley to have the same appeal as Dexter did (not sure what that says about me), but the story was entertaining and fun, enough so that if I'm right in assuming this is the first book in a new series, I'll be picking up the next book as soon as it's out.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Dexter is Dead

by Jeff Lindsay
286 pgs  (Dexter series #8)

"Jeff Lindsay isn't really going to kill Dexter Morgan, is he?"That was my panicked first thought when I saw the title of what I knew was the last book in his series. i knew Dexter didn't die at the end of the television series (but if he had, it would have been an improvement over the way that ended). But I really didn't want to believe that it would happen. Ive really enjoyed the Dexter books. He's a fantastic character. And while the television series suffered as it progressed, the books never did. I could have happily read many more books featuring the Miami-Dade Police Department's blood-splatter analyst who has a darkside he lets out when someone really needs to die. But I resigned myself to the idea of this being the last book. But still...he wasn't really going to die was he?

The book picks up a short tie after Dexter's Final Cut ended. Dexter is in jail, ironically, for murders that he didn't commit. Detective Anderson has done everything in his power to frame Dexter for the murders, and Deb, his sister, has abandoned him and left him to rot there in jail. It's Dexter's brother Brian who comes to Dexter's rescue. But it's a short-lived rescue, since the money he used to pay for the highest-profile attorney in Miami to represent Dexter, was stolen from a man named Raul, a Mexican drug kingpin. It's out of the frying pan and into the fire. Now Dexter has to find a way to prove his innocence (for the murders he's accused of), deal with Detective Anderson, and keep Brian and himself safe from the Cartel.

I'll admit that the plot of this one leaves a little to be desired. There might have been a little bit of a fatigue factor involved for Lindsay. But needing to know what happens at the end, and whether Dexter does in fact die, or is only presumed to be killed, or maybe it's just his "dark passenger" that dies, I had a tough time putting the book down.

Goodbye darkly-dreaming, dearly-devoted, dastardly-devious Dexter. It was an exciting and enjoyable ride.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Dexter's Final Cut

by Jeff Lindsay
368 pgs  (Dexter series #7)

I didn't know what to expect with this latest installment of the Dexter series by Lindsay, and I'll admit to being a little nervous about what was going to happen at the end of the book. Showtime ended its popular series based on Lindsay's character with the recently concluded seventh season, and when I learned of the title of this forthcoming seventh book I feared the worst--would both the literary and televised versions of Dexter be ending this year? Would there be no more devilishly diabolical Dexter?

In Dexter's Final Cut Dexter is given the chance to put his acting skills to more use than simply acting like a man who possesses human feelings and emotions. While working as a technical advisor on the set of a new crime drama being filmed in Miami, he's been given a small role in the pilot episode being shot. He's also protecting the leading actress, Jackie Forest from a mentally unstable stalker. Jackie confided to Dexter, after multiple women bearing a striking resemblance to her are discovered brutally killed in Miami, that someone had been sending her increasingly frightening and threatening letters recently and she hasn't told anyone about him for fear of becoming too much of a liability in Hollywood to ever be hired again. She needs Dexter to find him and get him into police custody before the industry learns about him. But Dexter doesn't bring killers into custody, he makes sure they'll never be a threat to anyone ever again.

This was definitely not my favorite book in the series. There were parts that were disappointing, first and foremost was Lindsay's decision to give Dexter feelings in this one. Why? Dexter's better being emotionally dead. It's one of the main reasons he's so endearing, but overall, the book was enjoyable and well worth the time to read it. Is this Dexter's swan song? I hate spoilers, so I'll stop here. I will say that I wasn't disappointed with the ending.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Double Dexter

Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
(Dexter series #6)

Dexter, devoid of human feelings, deliverer of deserving death to the detritus of society, and now disguised as a devoted dad, has apparently been on display. While dispatching a man who moonlights as a clown-for-hire in order to prey on young children, Dexter becomes aware that he's being watched. He tries to catch his unwelcomed spectator, but is only able to catch a glimpse of  an old Honda with a dangling taillight as it tears away from the scene.

That, along with some unwanted notoriety in the press has got Dexter decidedly disturbed. He needs to identify and eliminate this person who is now following him around and sending him threatening emails before his fabricated image as a normal member of society comes crashing down.

Double Dexter is the sixth installment in Jeff Lindsay's fantastic series, and I think it's one of the best. Dexter is one of the best characters around and in this one, he doesn't disappoint. It's good to see that he's still active and kicking, even if those who he decides deserve his personal level of justice aren't.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Dexter is Delicious

by Jeff Lindsay
(Dexter series #5)

Dastardly Devilish Dexter has become Diaper Daddy Dexter, and the birth of a daughter has had a wholly unexpected effect on the serial killer. A blood-spatter analyst by day for the Miami Police Department, and a serial killer by night, Dexter satisfies the regular urges of his "dark passenger" by preying on those base members of Miami's population who have been able to slip through the grasp of the city's law enforcement officials.

When the body of a teenage girl turns up that appears to not only have been murdered, but dined on - and not by wild animals, Dexter's alter ego begins to stir once again. But this time things are different. Since the birth of Lily Anne, Dexter has discovered within himself things he previously thought he was immune to - feelings. Can Dexter control his driving desire to kill in order to be a father? Or does being a father give more validity to his need to rid society of those elements that might some day come after his daughter? Either way this is another solid addition to the alliterate Dexter Morgan series.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆