A serial killer called Buffalo Bill is abducting and skinning young women. When his latest victim turns out to be the daughter of a US Senator, the pressure’s on for the authorities to find her as there’s mere days until she’ll be killed. As a desperate last measure, FBI agent-in-training Clarice Starling is sent to speak with the one man who could lead them to Buffalo Bill in time to save the girl: the imprisoned serial killer Dr. Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter…
I don’t know why I waited so long to read anything by Thomas Harris as I’ve seen the movie adaptation of this book at least twice now and loved it each time. Likewise, Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs is fantastic!
The characters are absolutely amazing. Hannibal is the star of course and every scene this dude was in was utterly electrifying to read. As immortal as Anthony Hopkins’ performance is, I like the literary Hannibal much more as I feel that there’s more time to really get to know the character’s depth and insidiousness in the book than in the snippets we get in the film. His cultured voice is striking, subtle and terrifying all at once, with a nuanced, unknowable personality to match - he’s undoubtedly a monster but so strangely likeable at the same time! Harris has created a character for the ages with Lecter - bravo, sir!
Clarice is also a compelling and unique protagonist and I loved the silly side character of Dr Frederick Chilton too - his shallow and prideful personality made him an amusing foil for the likes of Starling and Lecter to rile against. Buffalo Bill was a remarkable villain - as disturbing and disturbed as someone who does what he does should be. Starling’s boss Jack Crawford was also a decent character though he got more space in the book than he really needed - his storyline about his dying wife didn’t really add anything and felt superfluous.
Harris couples his brilliant characters with an equally-inspired cat-and-mouse story as Starling hunts Bill with Lecter watching on the sidelines. It’s an exciting, well-developed and gripping narrative that builds steadily and enjoyably. I didn’t like the more police-procedural aspects of the story - like when Clarice is autopsying one of Bill’s victims, or the discussion on moth varieties - as they felt very dry and boring, but I was mostly always entertained.
The Silence of the Lambs is a superb crime thriller. First-rate writing, an imaginative story and a fascinating cast of characters - Thomas Harris’ novel is an instant classic.
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