Dexter Is Dead: DEXTER NEW BLOOD, the major new TV thriller on Sky Atlantic (Book Eight)

3.5★s

Dexter is Dead is the eighth and final book in the popular Dexter series by American author, Jeff Lindsay. Dexter Morgan, blood spatter expert with the Miami Dade Police Force (and everyone's favourite serial killer), is being held in Turner Guildford Knight Correctional Centre. He knows he's innocent (this time) of the murders (see Dexter's Final Cut), but how to convince anyone when he has been held for two weeks with no sign of a lawyer, an arraignment or even his sister, the ever-scowling Sergeant Deborah. It's all the work of his nemesis, Detective Anderson, Dexter is certain.

With Rita dead, Deb wants custody of Astor, Cody and Lily Anne, and nothing further to do with the brother she's now disowning. Eventually released, courtesy of a high-power lawyer arranged by brother Brian (and funded how, exactly?), Dexter finds himself struggling to maintain his liberty (surprisingly, his colleague, Vince Masuoka is of assistance) and his life (thanks to Brian's activities, Dexter is on a drug lord's hitlist). Yep, life's being a real bitch for Dexter. And then, to complicate things further, estranged Deb rings wanting Dexter's help after all: the kids have been kidnapped.

After a very slow start (Dexter is sure that two weeks in detention has slowed his brain, and maybe Lindsay's too?) in which Dexter expends brain power on the quality of mattresses, the action hots up: two dead bodies in Dexter's hotel room, a car bomb, Dexter is cuffed and slapped, perforated by glass slivers, sets a clever trap or two to lure out drogas, and then a grand finale involving a Mexican drug lord, a very expensive yacht and a big boom. There's still some black humour and dry wit to entertain, and it's no spoiler to reveal that, true to the title, at the end Dexter is definitely dead. The series was flagging a bit, so it's fitting to bid Dexter Rest In Peace.