Dexter Morgan indeed met his demise in the novel. The author chose this ending to bring a conclusive and perhaps unexpected turn to his character's journey.
Dexter Morgan's life story is complex. He was a forensic blood spatter analyst by day. But he had a dark secret - he was a serial killer. He targeted other killers who had escaped justice. Growing up, he witnessed a traumatic event that led to his 'Dark Passenger', his urge to kill. His adoptive father, Harry, recognized Dexter's tendencies early on and taught him a 'code' to only kill bad people. This way, Dexter was able to function in society while satisfying his inner need to kill in a way he thought was just.
One key event was witnessing his mother's murder as a child. This was a major trauma that influenced his whole life. Another is when his adoptive father, Harry, taught him the code for killing bad guys. Also, his various encounters with killers he targeted are important events in his life story.
Definitely fiction. Dexter is a fictional character and the storylines are made up to engage and thrill the audience. The events and scenarios presented are not based on real-life occurrences.
Probably 'Dexter by Design' is also among the popular ones. It has a great plot that involves Dexter's interactions with other complex characters and some really exciting and unexpected events.
Sure is. Dexter is adapted from the novels. The rich and complex world created in the novels was brought to life on the screen with some creative changes for the TV format.