Dexter in the Dark - Jeff Lindsay (Dexter #3)

In the third installment of the serial killer who only kills more horrible serial killers, Dexter finds himself planning a wedding far outside of his budget, and trying to solve a couple of decapitated and burned ritualistic murders. The difference is that this time, Dexter finds himself without the Dark Passenger - the voice/feeling/being inside him that cues him to all his unsavory hunches. Dexter's sister, Deborah, is the lead dectective on the case - and I found myself increasingly irritated with her stubborness as an investigator. In the previous books, she has always needed Dexter's help to move her along on a case, but in this one, her tunnel vision and willingness to jump to conclusions about suspects was really a strong comment on the ineptitude of police officers, and the danger of being caught in their accusatory cross-hairs. While Dexter laments the loss of his inner demon, he also begins "mentoring" his soon to be step-children in the ways of altrusitic killings - the first rule being "Don't get caught." Cody, the step-son proves to be quite Dexter-like, though uncharacteristically, it is Dexter himself who ignores Cody's warnings about the murders. As with the previous two books, Lindsay does not exactly wow with his prose, his mysteries, or his dialogue, but he has still managed to create a very interesting semi-protagonist, endearing enough to keep me checking out his books. I thought this was the final book in the series, but I was quite happy to discover that a fourth will be released in September (Dexter by Design).