BookBingeHannibal Lecter Books in Order
Thomas Harris's quartet of crime-horror novels centred on Dr Hannibal Lecter, the brilliant psychiatrist and cannibal whose insight into other killers makes him indispensable to the FBI agents who must bargain with him.
Here is the complete Hannibal Lecter reading order — all 4 books by Thomas Harris, in the order you should read them:
Publication order (recommended)
- Red Dragon(1981)
- The Silence of the Lambs(1988)
- Hannibal(1999)
- Hannibal Rising(2006)
Good news: for this series, publication order and chronological order are the same — just read straight down the list.
Track your place in Hannibal Lecter
BookBinge remembers which book you're on and writes a spoiler-safe recap before every sequel. Free on iOS.
Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many books are in the Hannibal Lecter series?
There are 4 books in the Hannibal Lecter series by Thomas Harris, beginning with Red Dragon (1981) and most recently Hannibal Rising (2006).
What is the first Hannibal Lecter book?
The first book is Red Dragon, published in 1981. That's where new readers should start.
Should I read Hannibal Lecter in publication or chronological order?
Publication and chronological order are identical for this series, so just follow the list.