The Dexter is a Crime Fiction / Literary Fiction series by Jeff Lindsay, made up of 8 books published between 2004 and 2015. It begins with Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is Dexter Is Dead (2015), spanning 11 years of storytelling.
| # | Title | Year | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | |||
| 1 | Darkly Dreaming Dexter 🏆 Dilys Award 2005Lincoln Award 2007Barry Award 2005Macavity Award 2005Full award history → 🎬 Adapted for film/TV → | 2004 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 2 | Dearly Devoted Dexter | 2005 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 3 | Dexter in the Dark ★ NYT 1w · peaked #11 | 2006 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 4 | Dexter By Design ★ NYT 1w · peaked #8 | 2008 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 2010s | |||
| 5 | Dexter Is Delicious | 2010 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 6 | Double Dexter ★ NYT 1w · peaked #14 | 2011 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 7 | Dexter's Final Cut | 2012 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 8 | Dexter Is DeadLatest | 2015 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
Dexter series: frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Dexter series?
Start with Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004), the first book in the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.
How many books are in the Dexter series?
There are 8 books in the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay, published between 2004 and 2015.
What is the first book in the Dexter series?
The first book in the Dexter series is Darkly Dreaming Dexter, published in 2004 by Jeff Lindsay.
What is the latest book in the Dexter series?
The most recent book in the Dexter series is Dexter Is Dead (2015) by Jeff Lindsay.
About the Dexter series
Jeff Lindsay's Dexter novels are the darkly comic source of the hit TV series. Dexter Morgan is a Miami blood-spatter analyst with a secret: he is a serial killer who, thanks to a code instilled by his foster father, only murders other murderers. The books live inside his chillingly cheerful, conscience-free narration.
Lindsay's tone is pitch-black satire — Dexter's deadpan voice makes the macabre genuinely funny while never letting you forget what he is. The novels diverge significantly from the TV show, and lean further into strange, almost supernatural territory.
Read in order from "Darkly Dreaming Dexter," as Dexter's family entanglements and his "Dark Passenger" develop across the series.