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  • The Silence of the Lambs

  • By: Thomas Harris
  • Narrated by: Frank Muller
  • Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (8,071 ratings)

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The Silence of the Lambs

By: Thomas Harris
Narrated by: Frank Muller
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Editorial review


By Seth Hartman

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS IS AS CHILLING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING AS EVER

At its core, the setup for Silence isn’t all that novel. It follows a classic "unlikely allies" plot, as FBI trainee Clarice Starling is compelled to team up with psychologist and serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter in order to crack a high profile case. What makes this story stand out is the special care it takes with these characters and their relationship. Dr. Lecter is a psychopathic genius who takes great pleasure in toying with people, yet it is clear throughout the story that he seems to have a soft spot for Clarice. This feeling often manifests as a playful demeanor, with Hannibal taking great pleasure in making her squirm while still providing her with useful help. Clarice, on the other hand, is justifiably afraid of the doctor and takes great measures to appear professional and "hard" in front of him. As they work on the case of "Buffalo Bill" (a murderer whose methods seem to copy Lecter’s), Hannibal employs his advanced analytical skills to slowly but surely chip away at Clarice’s defenses, waiting for any advantage he can find to play this situation to his advantage.

Silence of the Lambs taught me that horror can show itself in many forms. The true horror of this story is not found in the serial killings, but in the uncomfortably fraught relationship between Dr. Lecter and Clarice. Despite being behind bars for the vast majority of the novel, the power Dr. Lecter wields with words alone is staggering. He is, without a doubt, among the most terrifying villains in modern storytelling, yet he brandishes his power while doing little more than pacing around a jail cell.

While the film adaptation of this novel dragged me mercilessly into the twisted world of Hannibal Lecter, it wasn’t until years later that I dove into Thomas Harris’s extended Hannibal Lecter series. Getting a chance to read about Hannibal’s reign of terror before he was incarcerated as well as his other exploits added a level to this character that I never knew I needed. This coupled with Frank Muller’s masterful voice work in the audiobook makes the listening experience of these novels an absolute treat for any horror fan.

Continue reading Seth's review >

Publisher's summary

A serial murderer known only by a grotesquely apt nickname—Buffalo Bill—is stalking women. He has a purpose, but no one can fathom it, for the bodies are discovered in different states. Clarice Starling, a young trainee at the FBI Academy, is surprised to be summoned by Jack Crawford, chief of the Bureau's Behavioral Science section. Her assignment: to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter—Hannibal the Cannibal—who is kept under close watch in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.

Dr. Lecter is a former psychiatrist with a grisly history, unusual tastes, and an intense curiosity about the darker corners of the mind. His intimate understanding of the killer and of Clarice herself form the core of Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs—and ingenious, masterfully written book and an unforgettable classic of suspense fiction.

Please note: This is an historical recording. The audio quality represents the technology of the time when it was produced.

©1998 Thomas Harris (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Scary Tales are always best when told out loud, which is why a novel such as The Silence of the Lambs works so well on tape." (Playboy)

"Even if you’ve already loved the movie and the book, you’ll still love this production of this wildly successful thriller.... This telling should not be missed. Acclaimed and popular narrator Frank Muller does his usual great narration by changing timbre and the level of his voice and sometimes his accent. The characters sound exactly as they should in this wonderful production. It’s probably wise to stay away from listening to this while eating, but otherwise it’s a triumph." (AudioFile)

Featured Article: Listen Before You Watch—The Biggest Page-to-Screen Adaptations in Fall/Winter 2022


It’s not just crunchy leaves and cozy vibes that autumn brings. This fall and winter, television and movie fans also have a lot to look forward to, with major page-to-screen adaptations slated from streaming and theatrical releases. So, as your next listen, consider tuning in to the original works that have inspired what are sure to be our new book-to-movie and book-to-television obsessions.

What listeners say about The Silence of the Lambs

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing. Frank Muller is once again the best

A crazy story wonderfully read by the late great Frank Muller. Anything he does is perfect

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best audiobook experiences of the past several years of my life

Extraordinary from start to finish. Impeccable and chilling performance, a truly terrifying and thrilling mystery that deals with really disturbing subject matter in a way that lets it be truly horrifying without feeling grueling on the reader salacious on the part of the writer, unbelievably good thriller pacing with some gasp out loud moments, a few really touching and insightful moment, and many memorable & impactful lines.
And extraordinary book. It’s so clear how it changed our popular culture in far-reaching ways.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Franks narration is excellent he captures all the words honourably he evokes all the emotions ever so darkly. The story itself is excellent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Too good

Absolutely perfect. Perfect narrator, perfect novel. The hours flew by. Absolutely going to be giving this one another listen on the future

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Masterpiece

This is one of the very best recordings I have experienced on Audible. The story and performance are both flawless.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The tension and difference between the characters

I really liked how the characters interacted and led up to the penultimate finish, quite a great story

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So good

If you love the movie you will love this. You get to spend a little more time with the characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bravura Performance of an outstanding work.

Sometimes, the total of something is greater than the sum of its parts, and the discovery of such turns out to be an experience of pure joy; particularly for the rarity of the occurrence. As an avid audio book listener, I have been delighted to find that this is often the case with practically every performance by the late, great, Frank Muller. This chilling and profoundly interesting story is enhanced by the excellent performance (yet again!), by Frank Muller. When Frank passed a couple of years back as the result of a tragic motorcycle accident, the world lost a true virtuoso artist. I cannot adequately praise this particular combination of reading performance and subject material in a mere review; one must experience it for themselves, but I promise anyone who embarks on this work a truly a wonderful listen. I often do repeat listens to Frank Muller's performances and this one does not lose its edge even after many listens over the years. This is one of Audible's offerings which I must recommend most highly.
Other stupendous works by Frank Muller in which the performance and material merge into pure art transcending the separate components:
"1984" by George Orwell. "The Green Mile", "The Talisman" and others by Stephen King.
"The Hunt for Red October" by Tom Clancy, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, a couple of novels by John LeCarre, and the Vampire Chronicles ("Interview with a Vampire", "The Vampire Lestat", "The Queen of the Damned" and "The Tale of the Body Thief") by Anne Rice.
I heartily recommend any and all of Frank Muller's performances which are available on Audible. There are several here, and I am aware of none which would disappoint. Further, I wish that Audible could finally add all of the above and indeed all of Frank's performances (of which several are yet unavailable through Audible) to their library so that the legacy and art of one of the World's most outstanding audio book performers could be easily accessible to discerning audio book aficionados for generations to come.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Better than the movie and I loved the movie

Would you listen to The Silence of the Lambs again? Why?

I love this book and have listen to it several times. I will continue listening to Silence of the Lambs

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes with Hanable and Clares

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes,

Any additional comments?

A classic

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A really great listen

What did you love best about The Silence of the Lambs?

Like reading a great book, I couldn't stop listening to this one.

What did you like best about this story?

The detail the writer goes into detail about his characters - I had seen the movie years ago, but the book is much, much better.

What about Frank Muller???s performance did you like?

The voice he used to portray Lecter was frighteningly brilliant.

Who was the most memorable character of The Silence of the Lambs and why?

Hannibal Lecter because of his mannerisms and what a truly evil but brilliant character he is.

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