Book Review: Hannibal

 

Hannibal- Thomas Harris

The third in the eponymous trilogy, Hannibal brings us another duel between legendary Dr. Hannibal Lecter and FBI Agent Clarice Starling. The events in the book happen seven years after Dr. Lecter’s daredevil escape from secure confinement.

Clarice Starling is struggling with a crumbling career when she gets a chance of revival- in the form of an opportunity to face Dr. Hannibal Lecter again. No one who’s met Hannibal is likely to forget the man in a hurry, more so a maimed victim blaming Hannibal for his predicament. That’s two people after Lecter, not to mention his own personal demons.

The last time Starling faced Hannibal, there was blood. What happens this time around? Harris takes us on another chilling ride filled with horror, revenge and intrigue. This time we delve deeper into Hannibal’s mind and the effect is somewhat of an anti-climax. The fear instilled by reading his actions are heightened and then allowed to fall heavily on ground, with a dull thud, after exploring the mind behind the mask of the man.

One can’t decide whether it humanizes Dr. Hannibal Lecter or makes him more grotesque. If you are looking for another Silence of the Lambs, you won’t find it. The book is a must because you have to know, you have to read it after reading Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs, because you have to go the whole mile and see for yourself at what Hannibal has become and has made of others.

Harris still wields power with his words and plot, and at times overwhelms. But you know how a pampered mind is, once it has seen the best, it seldom if ever compromises with the almost best; but let that not deter you and go pick this tale of horror immediately.

You can also read the review here.

Book Review: Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

 

Red Dragon - Thomas Harris

This is the first novel in the Hannibal Lecter series by Thomas Harris. The story brings Special Agent Jack Crawford, trying to rope in his protégé and the man who caught Hannibal Lecter, Will Graham to catch a serial killer called the Tooth Fairy.

The Tooth Fairy seems to be randomly stalking and murdering families and Crawford hopes Will would be able to catch the killer before the next crime. The Tooth Fairy is actually a disturbed man named Francis Dolarhyde who worships Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and a cannibalistic serial killer. Calling himself The Great Red Dragon (because of his obsession with the William Blake painting, “The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in Sun“), the killer is unable to control his violent, sexual urges.

The Tooth Fairy begins correspondence with Dr. Hannibal Lecter and following their secret communication, Will Graham fears that Lecter might divulge his whereabouts and has to uproot his family and place them in security.

Graham already bears scars from his struggles in apprehending Hannibal. What will he take this time in dealing with Hannibal’s protégé? Will he be able to keep his family and himself safe from the killer who has sworn revenge from Graham?

Harris weaves a tightly spun web of deceit and evil, a constant chase between the killer and its nemesis. His portrayal is spine chillingly too close to reality, and his characters enduring on pages of crime and mystery fiction. The greatest achievement probably is the creation of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, appearing in sequels The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Hannibal Rising and who has been immortalized on the silver screen by Anthony Hopkins. It would be hard for anyone who has seen ( or read of ) the image of Dr. Hannibal Lecter with his face covered in an iron mask to keep him from biting his visitors and his maroon eyes, will always get the creeps while reading the Hannibal novels.

Pick this one up to be thrilled and get some well directed heebie-jeebies.

 

You can also read the review here.