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Quick answer: If you finished The Silence of the Lambs, try Red Dragon, Hannibal, The Alienist, Mindhunter, The Bone Collector and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. They share profilers, brilliant killers and a growing sense of dread.
Thomas Harris's 1988 novel follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks help from Dr. Hannibal Lecter to catch Buffalo Bill. Its mix of psychology, procedure and fear made it a classic. Readers who finish it want more tense, intelligent thrillers about serial killers and the people who hunt them. These 15 books include Harris's other novels, true-crime classics and modern thrillers. Expect violence and disturbing content.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Dragon | Thomas Harris | Adult | the prequel to read first |
| Hannibal | Thomas Harris | Adult | series readers |
| Hannibal Rising | Thomas Harris | Adult | readers who want his backstory |
| Mindhunter | John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker | Adult | readers who like real cases |
| The Alienist | Caleb Carr | Adult | readers who like historical thrillers |
| The Bone Collector | Jeffery Deaver | Adult | readers who like forensics |
| The Surgeon | Tess Gerritsen | Adult | readers who want a female detective |
| Kiss the Girls | James Patterson | Adult | readers who want speed |
| Along Came a Spider | James Patterson | Adult | readers who like cat-and-mouse |
| The Wire in the Blood | Val McDermid | Adult | readers who like profiling |
| Mr. Mercedes | Stephen King | Adult | readers who like King |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Stieg Larsson | Adult | readers who like long thrillers |
| Sharp Objects | Gillian Flynn | Adult | readers who like psychological suspense |
| In Cold Blood | Truman Capote | Adult | readers who want the classic |
| I'll Be Gone in the Dark | Michelle McNamara | Adult | true-crime readers |
1. Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
The first Hannibal Lecter novel. FBI agent Will Graham hunts the Tooth Fairy killer and consults Lecter. Tight and tense.
Best for: the prequel to read first.
2. Hannibal by Thomas Harris
Years later, Clarice Starling is pulled back into Lecter's world. Darker, more extravagant and controversial.
Best for: series readers.
3. Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
Lecter's youth in wartime Lithuania and the crimes that shaped him. A shorter, more gothic origin tale.
Best for: readers who want his backstory.
4. Mindhunter by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker
A former FBI profiler describes the birth of criminal profiling and some of his famous cases. Nonfiction that inspired many thrillers.
Best for: readers who like real cases.
5. The Alienist by Caleb Carr
In 1896 New York, a psychologist, a reporter and an illustrator hunt a killer of boys. Historical and atmospheric.
Best for: readers who like historical thrillers.
6. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
A paralyzed forensic expert and a young cop track a killer who leaves clues. Twisty and detailed.
Best for: readers who like forensics.
7. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Detective Jane Rizzoli faces a killer who targets women in Boston. The first Rizzoli & Isles novel.
Best for: readers who want a female detective.
8. Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
Alex Cross hunts a kidnapper who collects women. Short chapters and fast pace.
Best for: readers who want speed.
9. Along Came a Spider by James Patterson
Alex Cross faces a kidnapper who plans the perfect crime. The first Cross novel.
Best for: readers who like cat-and-mouse.
10. The Wire in the Blood by Val McDermid
Psychologist Tony Hill and DI Carol Jordan track a killer in Northern England. Smart and gripping.
Best for: readers who like profiling.
11. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Retired detective Bill Hodges tries to stop a killer who drove a car into a crowd. Tense and character-driven.
Best for: readers who like King.
12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
A journalist and a hacker investigate a decades-old disappearance. Dark and addictive.
Best for: readers who like long thrillers.
13. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Camille returns to her hometown to report on murders and faces her family. Dark and stylish.
Best for: readers who like psychological suspense.
14. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Capote's nonfiction novel about the Clutter family murders in Kansas. A literary true-crime landmark.
Best for: readers who want the classic.
15. I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
McNamara's obsessive search for the Golden State Killer, completed after her death. Gripping and humane.
Best for: true-crime readers.
How to Choose
If you want more Harris, start with Red Dragon and Hannibal. For true stories, read Mindhunter, In Cold Blood or I'll Be Gone in the Dark. For fast modern thrillers, choose The Bone Collector, The Surgeon or Kiss the Girls. A simple plan is to alternate one novel and one true-crime book so the dread does not pile up. All of these include violence, and some include sexual violence, so choose with care. Audiobooks can be intense with this material, so listen in the daytime. If you want a break from dread, follow a Harris novel with something lighter, such as a cozy mystery.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read Red Dragon before The Silence of the Lambs?
No, but Red Dragon comes first in the story and makes a good start.
Is the movie faithful?
The 1991 film follows the book closely and won the top five Oscars.
Is The Silence of the Lambs a true story?
No, but Harris drew on real FBI profiling and cases such as Ed Gein.
What should I read after Harris?
The Bone Collector and The Surgeon are the most common next steps.
Is Hannibal Lecter based on a real person?
Harris has said Lecter was inspired by a doctor he met in a Mexican prison, mixed with his own imagination.
Which Harris book is best?
Many readers rank Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs at the top.