After Silence of the Lambs this was certainly a change in tac. It’s much more cinematic and over-the-top, though there are a few really great scenes with Hannibal. The largest departure (from what I remember) from the movie is the ending. And I can’t decide if I prefer either or, despite the pretty major differences. Actually, reading this has enriched my love for the Hannibal TV, which honestly transcends all of these books and show adaptations—and kind of remixes bits from all places, including stuff that was solely in this novel. So, that’s neat.

This feels significantly more meandering, self-indulgent, and fairly devoid of interesting themes. It’s meant to be just fun, I think. Near the end it does try to establish something… but I don’t think it really quite hits home. Pulling from the former book and relationship with Hannibal, I do like that this effort tries to take Clarice someplace in the future, rather than releasing the narrative tension and ending. It’s more satisfying even though the ending feels suspect. And Clarice feels less well realized. Her attractiveness is weirdly annunciated too, where the previous book is much better at building her character and being less male gaze and feeling respectful. And that’s why this feels a lot more Hollywood, primarily.

A highlight is the mind palace and what’s done with it, with some literature being sighted with that. I know some iteration, maybe the original?, Sherlock Holmes also utilized this. Under the cognition of Hannibal it becomes much more interesting, and it transitions to something more pertinent than expected. It’ll be interesting to see how this one settles, with the ending tugging at me. Undeniably though, I think it’s a weaker effort than the previous two books.