Despite the negative reviews, I believe Hannibal is one of the most important novels of our time, for not only is it tremendously suspenseful, it is also gorgeously written. For the second time around, I didn't think Stephen King's praise on the front cover of the book was bullshit (the first time being his good reviews on Under the Lake by Stuart Woods), for it is indeed better than its two previous novels, in my opinion. People loathed the ending, saying it would have made sense if Lecter ate Starling up. I myself was anxious that he might, but something told me the wolf has indeed fallen in love with the sheep. It was a wonderful thing to close the series on--them being together, comfortable in each other's company.