Thriller Annotation: The Silence of the Lambs

Author: Thomas Harris

Title: The Silence of the Lambs

Genre: Thriller

Publication Date: July 1, 1988

Number of Pages: 436 (Kindle edition)

Geographical Setting: The United States (Baltimore, Memphis, Arkansas, and a few other locations)

Time Period: 1988

Series (If applicable): Hannibal Lecter

Plot Summary:

Smart, capable FBI student Clarice Starling finds herself with an opportunity to use her psychology and criminology background to help her higher-ups solve a high-alert serial murder case. The perpetrator known only as “Buffalo Bill” is at large, kidnapping young women and leaving their bodies to be found days later in various cities across the U.S., without a trace leading back to him. Starling interviews known serial murderer and psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, whose sociopathic genius may be useful in solving the case, if only Starling can get on his good side. When Buffalo Bill kidnaps a U.S. Senator’s daughter, the case gets national attention, throwing Starling into a race against time to unlock what Dr. Lecter knows and save the Senator’s daughter. In the process, she finds out: what is she willing to tell Hannibal Lecter about herself that will compel him to share his own secrets?

Subject Headings:

Lecter, Hannibal (Fictitious character), 1933- — Fiction.

Government investigators — Fiction.

Serial murderers — Fiction.

Serial murders — Fiction.

Thriller Appeal:

David and Goliath: Clarice, the young FBI student, is pitted against a huge man who has killed 6 women. She uses her wits to best him.

Expertise and Competency: Clarice can rattle off her FBI training like a computer. She is well-trained and ready to show her skills.

Amoral Heroes: Though far from a “hero,” we get insight into the mind of Hannibal Lecter and see his point of view. We gain an appreciation for his intellect and his scorn of some of the men who have imprisoned him.

Amateur and Jaded Professional: Clarice is the amateur, Crawford her jaded professional. He’s done all of this before (in a previous novel) with Hannibal.

3 terms that best describe this book:

Disturbing, Engaging, Horrific

Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker

Mindhunter is a perfect companion novel to this story because it dictates the inception of the Behavioral Crimes Unit of the FBI, which Starling is aspiring to work in someday. It gives an intriguing look into the real-life experience of FBI agents who worked with known serial killers to learn about those who are as yet uncaptured. It also has a fantastic tv adaptation, though it was canceled.

Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation’s Most Elusive Serial Killer by Robert Graysmith

Zodiac is a different take into hunting a serial killer. This story is told by a journalist who became so obsessed with the case, his personal life fell apart. However it is utterly fascinating to see what went on behind the scenes of this manhunt.

 

 

 

Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:

None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney

This teen novel takes some notes from The Silence of the Lambs. Set in 1982, the book follows two teenagers, one the survivor of a serial killer and the other a US Marshall candidate. They are recruited by the FBI to work on cold cases, but soon after asked to help with an active case—a serial killer who seems to exclusively murders teens.

 

 

 Shutter Island by Dennis LeHane

U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels travels to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to investigate the disappearance of an inmate. Although little different from an FBI procedural, this murder mystery is incredibly fast-paced and includes similarly fascinating characters to The Silence of the Lambs.