Title: SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Author: Thomas Harris
Date Published: 1988
Series: Hannibal Lecter (1^st published)
Genre: Contemporary Horror
Rating: A
ISBN:0-312-92458-5

Continuing my reimmersion into the world of Hannibal Lecter, I dove right into SILENCE OF THE LAMBS after my re-read of RED DRAGON. SILENCE while technically book 3 of the Lecter series was the second published. It is here that we meet Clarice Starling, a trainee who managed to capture the attention of Section Chief Jack Crawford. And it is here that we get to know more about Hannibal Lecter. In RED DRAGON he wasn't seen more than once or twice, though we "heard" from him through his various correspondence. Clarice's assignment: Attempt to get Hannibal Lecter to answer a questionairre they're trying to get all serial killers to answer. Harris dials up the drama in SILENCE. Not only do we get into the killer's head, but we learn more of Lecter, and unlike Will Graham who knew more or less what he was getting into, we have the still pretty green Clarice Starling entering the scene.

We learn a lot about Clarice throughout the book. Some of it via Lecter's uncanny ability to see through her, some of it through recollection. One thing's for sure, she's no quitter and she doesn't spook easily. One thing I do wish is that the reader got more of what happened to Clarice's family. It had been a while since I'd read SILENCE and I admit I'd forgotten the mention, more than one, of her having had siblings. Where were they in her adult life? I guess we're supposed to presume that once she left her mother's home out of sight equated out of mind, but it's a difficult pill for this reader to swallow. Wouldn't she be, perhaps, curious to see if they fared any better than she had, since they'd remained with her mother and she did not?

Jack Crawford becomes more personalized in SILENCE. His wife is terminally ill and despite helping with her care he still rabidly pursues a new serial killer on the loose. One being touted as Buffalo Bill, because he skins his humps. When we come into the story, five women have already fallen victim to Bill. So, Jack has a lot on his mind and from the looks of things has no leads.

From the outset, it's clear that Hannibal Lecter has some knowledge of Buffalo Bill. Eventually, he gives Clarice partial information - accurate as it may have been, it was not complete information. Facts still needed to be checked, evidence still needed to be chased down. Their cat and mouse game is fine until a sixth victim, the daughter of a senator, is kidnapped. From there, things spiral and get out of hand, betrayal ensues by many but the reader can't be sure that it isn't Clarice's betrayal of Lecter that has upset the applecart the most. A change of the guard occurs as Lecter is moved from Baltimore to Memphis where Clarice pays him one last visit. Last because he manages to do the unthinkable: escape. The escape scene, from the time Clarice leaves the impromptu cell to the point we know he actually got away rank among my two favorite scenes ever in a book (or movie for that matter). (The other, btw, is the baptism scene in The Godfather when Michael unilaterally exacts revenge against everyone.)

Again, the good guys prevail, but there's a cost and it's more than just Will Graham this time (who, sadly, is mentioned as being nothing more than a drunk, scarred man in this book). A promising career may have been squelched before it had the chance to shine through no fault of her own really. A serial killer is once again on the loose, and the reader just knows that he will be even more careful this time than he was the last time. For he values his freedom.

It feels rather odd saying I enjoy these books, but I do. SILENCE was a strong story. One of the strongest images produced for me comes from the movie, that of "Bill" displaying his new look for the viewer. Thomas Harris' experience as a crime reporter shows in his attention to procedural detail, his ability to get inside everyone's head (including the reader's). I admit I've noticed some inconsistencies in his books, but nothing significant enough to make me like these books less than I do. Perhaps if I could care less about them I wouldn't look for the inconsistencies!

There is no doubt closing this book that the reader will once again come face-to-face with Hannibal Lecter. I, for one, look forward to it.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com