One of the library book sale finds was a pristine paperback of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon. This is the thriller novel that put serial killers on the map. The book was first published in 1981. There were other novels that had serial killers (James Ellroy) but Harris took it to the next level.

The mass paperback is 354 pages. The novel starts with Will Graham visited by his old boss Crawford from the F.B.I. Crawford wants Graham to look into the murders of two families space a month apart. Graham has been retired after putting Dr. Hannibal Lector away a few years earlier. There is a race against time before the killer butchers another family in a month.

The first 100 pages are more like a police procedural with Will Graham going to the murder scenes. Lots of details on the homes and families. The novel gets interesting when Hannibal Lector is introduced. The Lector character elevates Red Dragon from other serial killer novels.

The serial killer, called the Tooth Fairy is introduced and his background filled in. Francis Dolarhyde is born with a cleft palate, shunned by his mother, raised by his grand-mother. Deformed in body, deformed in spirit.

The novel moves right along when not detouring to fill in Dolarhyde’s life to the climax. I had forgotten that Dolarhyde was in contact with Hannibal Lector who finds out where Will Graham’s family lives.

I had seen the movie Silence of the Lambs when it came out. I rented the first cinematic version of Red Dragon (Manhunter) afterward. I had missed it back in 1986 when it came out. Made by Michael Mann, it has a Miami Vice gloss to it. I remember little of it outside music from Shriekback in the soundtrack. The ending is different between book and movie. I have never seen the version of Red Dragon with Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector.

Hannibal Lector: Manhunter

I have been told Red Dragon is a better novel than Silence of the Lambs. Having read the first novel, the second looks like a repetition of plot. Red Dragon is appropriate October reading.

Hannibal Lector: Red Dragon