Rating: 
Summary: Chilling, brilliant, addictive
Review: Now this is suspense at its absolute finest. Thomas Harris has created a masterpiece, making you feel as though you know each major character all too well. In the case of The Dragon, you feel a twinge of sympathy, yet an overwhelming wave of utter shock and disgust. This is another one of those that you just can't put down. Definitely not for those who are faint at heart and don't like graphic scenes.And just when you think the story is over and get the "what, could that be it"? thought, ala Blair Witch Project, more imaginative and brilliant writing begins to unfold......
Rating:
Summary: Better Than One Famous Descendant, As Good As The Other
Review: There was a gap of years between my reading "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs" and, for some reason, I did not immediately connect them. It eventually clicked, partway through "Silence of the Lambs", and I then reread "Red Dragon" after I finished "Silence of the Lambs". I'm not sure horror writing gets any better than either of these. The characters are extremely well-developed (I know these people, which is creepy in Lecter's case), there are no slow spots, the writing itself is of high quality, the plot is intricate but coherent, and the tension created is incredible. Don't read either one in an empty house on a stormy night but, if you like the genre, make sure you read both, preferably consecutively. When it comes to "Hannibal", you can tell it's the same author and many of the ingredients are there, but the flow is too slow (I have reviewed it also if you're interested).
Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: Red Dragon was a very interesting book that was hard to put down.This was the first of Thomas Harris's books I have read and it won't be my last. His style pulls you into the story and instead of reading the stroy you feel as if you are watching it on the Big Screen. After seeing "Silence of the Lambs" I expected a different type of story line but it still met if not exceeded my expectations. The ending could have been better but the heart of the book made up for it. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to Hannibal
Review: I saw the movie "Silence of the Lambs" and needed to get a better feel for who Hannibal was...this book provides that and more. Great thriller - I couldn't help but breeze through this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Lector Novel
Review: "Silence of the Lambs" might be the best movie featuring Hannibal Lector but "Red Dragon" is the best novel. "Dragon" really is not about Lector, rather it is about an FBI proflier named Will Graham and his pursuit of the titular serial killer whose real name is Francis Dolarhyde. While the plot is excellent, the characterization is what makes this novel really tick. Harris does a wonderful job of getting the reader inside the heads of the Dolarhyde and Graham. While Lector is not the focus of the book he adds a nice side plot to the novel which culminates in a shocking ending that really is more appropriate to the novel than others here seem to think. Graham is clearly the most sympathetic character here despite Harris' attempts to have us feel for the Dragon. Graham is a tortured and conflicted soul, not unlike his prey. The three men (Graham, Lector, and Dolarhyde)are so very similar and by the end of the novel you're left with the conclusion that the only thing really separating them is which side of the law they are on. Dolarhyde and Lector have given in to their primal urges while Graham uses his in order to catch men like them. The first time I read "Red Dragon" I was a bit upset that Harris told us who the Dragon was so early in the novel. However, in hindsight that works to his advantage since it allows the reader the opportunity to focus on the man and his motivation rather than just his crimes. All in all, a top notch thriller that has been somewhat forgotten due to the success of its sequels.
Rating:
Summary: A great book overshadowed by it's sequel
Review: RED DRAGON is a great and horrifying novel. It combines psychological horror with vivid imagery and elegant writing to make it great. Sadly though, it's sequel THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was more famous due to the spectacular film. Thus, RED DRAGON is overlooked often times. However, if you love great books, you'll want to pick up RED DRAGON today. Will Graham is an FBI Agent pulled out of retirement to hunt a serial killer called "The Tooth Fairy". This sick individual stalks and gruesomely kills whole families. He must be stopped. In order to stop him, Graham must visit Hannibal Lecter and think like the killer. These seemingly simple tasks will challenge Graham in unimaginable ways. RED DRAGON is a scary work that does not get the attention it deserves. In many ways, it is a scarier read than it's sequel. If you are a horror or Hannibal addict, you'll want to get RED DRAGON. Even if you're not, give the book a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: An overlooked creepy classic
Review: Many people have seen the movie, "Silence of the Lambs," and have read the book. But before "Silence" there was the "Red Dragon." This book is creepier, scarier and more suspenseful than the more famous "Silence." I read this book long before "Silence" and was mesmerized. It's about Will Graham, an ex-FBI agent, who is manipulated by his former FBI boss into joining the hunt for a brutal serial killer, who they call the Tooth Fairy because he bites his victims, but who calls himself the Red Dragon. Graham can reach a place in himself where he thinks and feels like serial killers. He has used his talents in the past to understand serial killer's motivations and predict their movements. He caught Hannibal the Cannibal using this ability and almost lost his life when Hannibal attacked him. He hates his "gift," it scares him because he fears there is a fine line between him and a mass murderer, and Hannibal knows it. In Hannibal's super genuis style he tortures Graham with his own terror of himself, and encourages the Red Dragon in his killing spree. The really horific part of the story, however, is that there may be a very fine line between mass muderers and us. Harris gives a truly creepy look into the mind of multiple murderer, Francis Dolarhyde. He graphically portrays Dolarhyde's brutal childhood, and not only do we sypathize, we see the logic of what he's doing. We understand why he kills, and what his killing symbolizes to him. We even feel sorry for him. For example, Dolarhyde breaks all the mirrors in the houses of his victims because he hates the sight of himself. At the same time he inserts pieces of the mirrors in the victim's eyes so they will *see* him. The sorrow and pity generated for the victims and killer is intense. It leads us to question whether we, too, could kill given the right, or wrong, set of circumstanses. Too creepy! The book also gives an interesting view into the workings of the FBI's serial crimes division. Harris describes the forensics process for hair and fiber samples, fingerprints, bite marks, and other details. And we get a fascinating glimpse of the psychological profile process. This book is not for the sqemish, the murder scenes are graphic and bloody and the story is intense. But, if you're looking for a thriller that goes deeper than the usual and has real characters, then this is the book for you. Just don't read it when you're alone at night, it will scare the pants off you!!
Rating: 
Summary: Book was ok, but not as good as others.
Review: Well, I was suckered into reading this book because I had seen Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal on the bigscreen. I wasn't too impressed with this book, and thought that the plot seemed to really closely resemble that of Silence of the Lambs. It wasn't scary or mind-blowing like people say, and I just thought it could have been much better.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading!
Review: Red Dragon is a very well thoughtout/planned book. It seems that Thomas Harris took the time and effort to write a book that is certainly well worth reading. The plot of the book flows so well that there is no time wasted on figuring out 'Who was that again?' or 'Where is this place?' The suspense is well timed and the horror is is well done. All parts of this book are placed together perfectly. The Characters are all well written thoughout. Will Graham has a past and I could actually feel it. I could feel his strong sense of being, his complications and that deep down feeling that he is the only man for this case. Graham faces his fears by asking for help from the person he most hates. Graham is not the spur of the moment hero. The Red Dragon is so well explained that I could also feel from where he is coming from. His demented views and thoughts are always well explained. Through all of his hysteria, it was good to see that he is only human and has a weak spot. I recommend this book. It is hard to put down once the plot really starts to take off. Good Reading!
Rating:
Summary: spellbinding better than silence of the lambs
Review: i read red dragon after silence of the lambs but before hannibal. red dragon was i thought the best out of all of the hannibal lector trilogy. the plot and subplot both kept me turning the page up until the exciting climax. my favorite part was the love story between our villian and our victim i loved it!!
| 
