Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004) is the first in a series crime novels by Jeff Lindsay (pen name for Jeffry Freundlich) and featuring Dexter Morgan. It won the 2005 Dilys Award and the 2007 Book to TV award.

There are 6 books in the series, concluding with Dexter is Dead (20025).

In both the novels and the Dexter series which followed, Dexter works as a forensic analyst for Miami-Metro Police Dept. When he’s not working, he’s a vigilante serial killer.

Dexter has a code of ethics he follows which was taught to him by his adoptive father: only kill those who are guilty of murder and don’t get caught.

Dexter Morgan was adopted about the age of 3. When he was 2 he saw his mother being murdered and he & his older brother, Brian, were left sitting in a crate surrounded by body parts & blood for 2 days.