Dexter's Final Cut

Dexter's Final Cut

Author	Jeff Lindsay
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Dexter Morgan
Genre	Crime novel
Publisher	Orion Books Limited
Publication date	September 17, 2013
Media type	Print (hardback)
Pages	368
ISBN	978-0385536516
Preceded by	Double Dexter
Followed by	Dexter is Dead

Dexter's Final Cut is the seventh novel written by Jeff Lindsay, and the seventh book in the 'Dexter Morgan' book series about a serial killer who targets serial killers. The book was released on September 17, 2013.^[1] Responding to the lack of alliteration on the title in comparison to the previous ones in the series, Lindsay has stated, "It's because this novel is very different than the previous, shockingly so..." ^[2]

Plot

A famous celebrity becomes obsessed with Dexter Morgan after researching him for his new role. When the Big Ticket Network comes to Miami, Deborah and Dexter are assigned as "technical advisors" to the stars of the show. Deborah is followed by female lead Jackie Forrest and Dexter is left with over-the-hill star Robert Chase. Sensing a strangeness in him, Dexter keeps Robert at arms length. When a series of murders leads Miami Metro's Detective Anderson through a loop, Dexter is assigned to guard the network's big female star. With deadly results.....

Deborah and Dexter quickly realize that the string of bodies all bear a striking resemblance to Jackie. Dexter is assigned to protect her in her hotel room. At first, things seem perfectly routine; Dexter accompanies Jackie to the station each morning and returns with her to the hotel at night, but when the killer's identity is revealed to him the Dark Passenger leads Dexter out into the streets in pursuit.

While working a crime scene where police have found another body matching the pattern of Jackie's obsessed fan, Dexter notices a man fitting the description in a kayak out in the bay watching the scene. Stealing away to his boat, Dexter slips alongside him and makes the kill, returning to his new routine safe in the knowledge that Jackie is now safe. After a hard day's work, they return to the hotel only to be disturbed in the night by sirens; Jackie's assistant Kathy has been murdered in the room below. The murder seems to fit the pattern, but Dexter notices several errors. That night, Dexter and Jackie fall into bed together and start a brief but intense physical affair.

Dexter is called onto the set to appear as a minor character in the series following a conversation with Jackie and Robert. Suddenly Rita goes into a panic as Astor has disappeared. Fearing the worst, Dexter goes in search of Robert, who had shown a strange interest in Astor, and finds the dead body of Jackie in her trailer. Realizing Robert has been responsible for both Jackie and Kathy's death, he follows a hunch and heads to his and Rita's new house. Robert catches him sneaking in and knocks him unconscious.

Waking some time later, Dexter finds Astor and Robert together in the house. Robert has promised Astor a life of stardom but under scrutiny from Dexter it all comes untangled. Astor sees the betrayal and stabs Robert. After being freed by Astor, Dexter realizes that the current events implicate him as the murderer of Robert and Jackie, and that the only person that can exonerate him is Rita. Upon discovering that Rita was already killed, Dexter realizes that there is no action that he can take that won't involve jail time, and waits for the police to arrive.

References