Red Dragon
by Thomas Harris
|
Dell: 1981. Paperback: 455 pages. ISBN-10: 0-440-20615-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-440-20615-6 Suggested retail price: $7.99 (US) Tags: Crime; Hannibal Lecter; made into movie; serial murder; Thriller Tactical strength: [6/10] |
Compare prices on Red Dragon by Thomas Harris at Book Cost
Will Graham, the man who originally tracked down and captured Hannibal Lecter, quit the FBI because he no longer wanted to get into the minds of serial murderers. When Graham's old boss brings a difficult case where entire families get butchered, Graham hesitates but cannot turn down the investigation. Graham also hesitates because he worries for the safety of his family. When Graham's investigation stalls, he pays Lecter a visit, seeking help and inspiration.
We also get to watch Francis Dolarhyde and see how a twisted childhood turned an abnormal boy into a serial killer. Francis works in a film processing plant and chooses his victims based on the home movies they send to the lab for processing. Although Red Dragon spends most if its time describing Graham's methodical approach to discovering Dolarhyde, Hannibal Lecter steals the show as the most interesting character in the dramatis personae.
Harris writes excellent suspense scenes. You feel the emotional tension building in the characters as they go about their work -- either good or evil. You also get a good feel for real police work. The investigators follow every possible clue, knowing that most will lead to dead ends, but trudge through the work anyway hoping to find the single piece of information that takes you in the right direction. But in the end, Harris has created only suspense. Graham still hates his work and probably has more psychological problems than when he started. Unhappy people engaged in a tense but unhappy business.
You can watch Manhunter, a somewhat creepy but otherwise forgetable adaptation of Harris's Red Dragon. And now Universal Studios has released another version of Red Dragon starring Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter.
Related Items from Amazon.com
  DVD |   DVD |   VHS [Full screen] |
