Hannibal Lecter Books in Order

Thomas Harris's quartet of psychological thrillers following the brilliant cannibalistic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, from his pursuit by FBI investigators to his own dark origins. The series spans serial-killer manhunts, the unforgettable bond with agent Clarice Starling, and a prequel tracing Lecter's traumatic youth.

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of Red Dragon

    Red Dragon

    1981 · Thomas Harris

    Red Dragon is a 1981 novel by American author Thomas Harris. The story follows Will Graham, a retired FBI profiler who returns to active duty to…

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  2. Cover of The Silence of the Lambs

    The Silence of the Lambs

    1988 · Thomas Harris

    The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological horror novel by Thomas Harris, published in 1988. It is the sequel to Harris's 1981 novel Red Dragon,…

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  3. Cover of Hannibal

    Hannibal

    1999 · Thomas Harris

    Hannibal is a 1999 novel by American author Thomas Harris. It is the third book in his series featuring Dr. Hannibal Lecter and the second to include…

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Companion & related books

Short-story collections and companion titles in this series.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Hannibal Lecter books in?

Read them in publication order, starting with “Red Dragon”. Start with “Red Dragon.”

How many books are in the Hannibal Lecter series?

We list 4 books by Thomas Harris , published between 1981–2006.

Where can I buy the Hannibal Lecter books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.