The Silence of the Lambs

By Thomas Harris

The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris
  • Release Date: 2009-12-28
  • Genre: Horror
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 935 Ratings

Description

An ingenious, masterfully written novel, Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs is a classic of suspense and storytelling and the basis for the Oscar award-winning horror film starring Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

A serial murderer known only by a grotesquely apt nickname—Buffalo Bill—is stalking particular 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 F.B.I. Academy, is surprised to be summoned by Jack Crawford, Chief of the Bureau's Behavioral Science section. Her assignment: to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and grisly killer now kept under close watch in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Lecter's insight into the minds of murderers could help track and capture Buffalo Bill.

Smart and attractive, Starling is shaken to find herself in a strange, intense relationship with the acutely perceptive Lecter. His cryptic clues—about Buffalo Bill and about her—launch Clarice on a search that every reader will find startling, harrowing, and totally compelling.

Reviews

  • I liked it

    5
    By Paris McDoogal
    Starling and Hannibal were great and I especially liked how the author expanded on Crawford’s character from the first book. Crawford’s personal stuff and the arc of his relationship with Starling was barely touched on in the movie and was one of my favorite parts to read. I think Red Dragon had a bit of a better pace. This book seemed to have a couple parts where I was bored and the narrative felt unfocused, but not very often. The characters and the voice of the author kept me reading even though I already knew what would happen from seeing the movie. I loved the details of Starling’s determination and intelligence coupled with her humility and moments of self-doubt. I found her to be an admirable woman and a highly competent FBI agent in training. She faces the sexism of her world with dignity and persistence and she pushes herself to do her best work in honor of the women who Buffalo Bill has savaged. She also makes a great foil for the empathy-lacking sociopathic yet brilliant Hannibal. They treat each other with a rare respect that they otherwise nearly live their lives without, Hannibal being a murderous convict and Starling being a woman in a male-dominated world. I think the characterizations were deeper than in Red Dragon but the narrative wasn’t as focused, and it’s hard to top the ending of Dragon. Great secondary characters in this one who really come to life such as Starling’s roommate Ardelia Mapp and the bug nerds at the Smithsonian with whom Starling consults. Red Dragon scared me more. Although the killer in that one and Buffalo Bill in this one are equally believable and interesting, the author spent more time fleshing out the background and perspective on the killer in RD. Where the Red Dragon killer struck me as inevitable and undefeatable, Bill came off as sort of predictable and almost boring by comparison. But we also get lots more Hannibal in this one, and his chemistry with Starling alone is very much worth the read. Overall I didn’t think this one was quite as clean or irrefutable as Red Dragon, but it was still very smart and full of terrific scenes.
  • jusr

    5
    By aricaravan
    wonderful
  • Delicious

    5
    By Ozcrome
    My first introduction to this novel was through the movie. I loved it then and still do to this day. But as usual, it is in the book where the best of the story springs to life and the little details from the movie which may have seemed inconsequential suddenly make sense.
  • A Wonderful Read

    5
    By WeAllFloatHere
    I was one of those people who saw the movie before I read the book, and after having experienced both mediums I have to say that I am equally impressed with both. The book, however, does a better job at story telling considering that it goes into great detail and offers more insight. It was easy to understand and follow the plot. The characters were grounded, memorable, and most notably, Hannibal Lecter was as villainous as he was mysterious. I’d definitely recommend this book, especially to those who loved the movie and want a little more from the story.
  • Excellently Written

    5
    By Peter 14
    Well done. As good as the movie!
  • What a book!!

    5
    By maham n
    My all time favourite book and movie. Once you start reading this you cannot stop until you’ve reached the end. Most movies don’t do justice to the books they are based on, but this one was exceptional. Anthony Hopkins is phenomenal in his portrayal of Hannibal the cannibal Lecter! Love love love silence of the lambs!
  • Loved it

    5
    By hp.lovecraft. 2.0
    I watched the movie first, years ago before reading the book. and I must say both are amazing.
  • Psychiatry is eugenics

    5
    By Psyway2hell
    Eugenics is psychiatry
  • Favorite Hannibal book

    5
    By Nicolewt
    Couldn't put this one down
  • Loved it

    5
    By Smarieb85
    Really good read