In preparation for viewing NBC's show Hannibal, I decided to read all the books and watch all the movies regarding one of literature's most well-known and beloved (is that the right word?) cannibalistic serial killers: Hannibal Lecter. I wasn't disappointed although I must say that the experience was not what I was altogether expecting. 
 Thomas Harris' style is more poetic than one usually sees in this kind of fiction, but it was a welcome surprise. The language is so moving at times that you forget that you're reading about individuals who are truly and profoundly troubled. Other times, you shudder as that inescapable fact is presented to you without sugarcoating or veneer. 
 The book's one weakness is not really a fault but a sign of the time in which it was written. While not by any means terrible, the investigation methods employed in the book do come across as a little dated. Overall however, I was surprised at how well the book held up. The plot dragged a couple times, but these instances are easily forgivable. I highly enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait to read more, especially since Hannibal Lecter is a fairly cursory character in this one.