A serial murderer known only by a grotesquely apt nickname–Buffalo Bill–is stalking women. He has a purpose, but no one can fathom it, for the bodies are discovered in different states. Clarice Starling, a young trainee at the FBI Academy, is surprised to be summoned by Jack Crawford, chief of the Bureau’s Behavioral Science section. Her assignment: to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter–Hannibal … the Cannibal–who is kept under close watch in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
Dr. Lecter is a former psychiatrist with a grisly history, unusual tastes, and an intense curiosity about the darker corners of the mind. His intimate understanding of the killer and of Clarice herself form the core of Thomas Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs–and ingenious, masterfully written book and an unforgettable classic of suspense fiction.
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Forget the movie, this book is a must read. Seriously. When this book came out in the late 1980’s it was the first fiction book I’d read that went into the psychology behind a serial killer and the forensics that went into solving a case. it was so gripping and fascinating it made me want to join the FBI for all of about 2 seconds.
I was asked by BookBub to review a book that took me out of my comfort zone. I first thought about The Exorcist, which had me looking under my bed every night for months. Then I remembered Hannibal Lector. I first saw the movie Silence of the Lambs and had nightmares. I thought if I read the first book, I might get more understanding, and I did. Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal are the first three books in order. Thomas Harris has created a horrible, scary and evil man, with whom readers and film goers become as fascinated as Clarice Starling, an FBI agent assigned to learn what she can from interviewing Hannibal in prison. Once you start reading, you will be unable to put the book down, will sleep with your lights on, and be very grateful to be behind locked doors with the alarm on and the nearest police station only two blocks away.
I do encourage you to read Red Dragon, but it was not my favorite of the series. It does explain how he was caught and jailed. Hannibal is a must read after Silence of the Lambs. I didn’t see the events in Hannibal coming. It is just as good as Silence of the Lambs.
I saw the movie before I read the book. The book is so much more detailed. Scary good story telling.
This and its older sibling “Red Dragon”—which first introduced the brilliant character Hannibal Lecter—are two essential thrillers. Brutal and honest and raw: I adore them.
Hannibal the Cannibal. If you aren’t familiar with the character, where ya been? One of the all-time Horror/Thriller classics. Not for the squeamish, but oh so worth it if your up to it. Twisted doesnt come close, but written in such a fantastic way you cant put it down.
Gorgeously written by Thomas Harris, “Silence of the Lambs” is a chilling look at the fine line between good and evil. Clarice Starling grew up poor and struggling, but the one thing that kept her afloat was her father, a cop who believed in justice. After he died Clarice got sent away to live with relatives, where she witnessed the slaughter of the spring lambs. The death of the lambs drove Clarice to become the kind of person her dad would’ve been proud of. But it’s just the kind of psychological weakness Hannibal Lector preys on. Clarice needs his help to stop a psychotic creep from skinning more victims, and she allows Hannibal probe her psyche, but instead of manipulating and controlling her, Hannibal comes to admire this dauntless woman. Clarice is a hero who can’t be corrupted and she outwits both monsters in the end.
You might think it silly, but I read this book all in one sitting because it scared me so much that I had to see how it turned out. This is the ultimate in horror/suspense . It will keep your attention, that’s for certain!!!!
Simply a masterpiece
One of my favorite books; the kind that I can read over and over again
A master storyteller
I read this book before it was used to make a movie. I enjoyed the book so well I just had to see the movie.
My only complaint is his writing style is sort of “choppy” to me. Otherwise, great story.
A truly horrific book. Unforgettable characters whose actions raise the hair in your neck. There’s never been anyone like Dr. Lechter. If you’ve seen the movies and liked them the book is even better. Highly recommended.
Very good book!! I was surprised how closely the movie followed the book. You don’t see movies or TV shows follow books that close, but this one was an exception. I recommend any of the books in the Hannibal Lecter series. I have one more to read, but I have enjoyed the past three that I have read. If the fourth book follows suit I know that I will enjoy that one. Harris takes his time to set the story up, but when it hits go it goes. I found myself not wanting to put the book down in the later chapters. I just had to keep going until I finished it. I love it when a book makes me do that.
Wow!!! That was my only final thought when I was done with this book.
I should put a trigger warning but let’s be real, it should not be needed, reading the synopsis.
It has all the gruesome things you can think of and more …. Murder, rape, dismemberment, cannibalism, and the list goes on. So, if any of that is not for you DO NOT read this book.
After the ending of the last book Will is “out of the picture” and we get Clarice….. I really liked her, I liked that she had flaws and not perfect ….. I was not a big fan of Crawford in this book…. Not even sure why, but I often found myself annoyed by him. But overall, I still loved it and it made sense.
Hannibal. Well he is himself, creepy as fuck in this book…. or so I thought.
Same goes for Buffalo Bill, but dint want to say to much…because of, you know … spoilers
The overall feel of this book gave me goosebumps and made my stomach twist at times.
I really was surprised how closely the movie followed the book. It was many years since I watched this movie but things came back to be reading the book. I might actually re-watch the movie now sometime.
I wanted something creepy for my October and again it did not fail. I think now I need something happy and funny to balance the darkness out.
I rate it 4.5 and can’t wait to see what the next book brings ….. Next year
I love thrillers that haunt long after. This is one of them. I read the books in the wrong order. I got through Red Dragon first, not knowing …Lambs was the first book. It didn’t take anything away from my enjoyment.
Ultimately too ugly for my sleep
Glad I read it during the day with others at home
As good as the movie was, the book is much better, as if should be. Harris just scares the heck out of you as you follow a young FBI agent on her first case.
As usual, the book is better than the movie. This is the book that kept me awake at night and made me sleep with a lights on.