• The Silence of the Lambs

  • By: Thomas Harris
  • Narrated by: Frank Muller
  • Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (7,932 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Silence of the Lambs  By  cover art

The Silence of the Lambs

By: Thomas Harris
Narrated by: Frank Muller
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.96

Buy for $17.96

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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: The 20 Best Thriller Audiobooks to Get Your Heart Racing


Few stories lend themselves to audio better than thrillers. Listening gives you time to play detective and figure out the mysteries with the characters. There’s no way to quickly flip through the tense, nerve-wracking parts—and that’s what makes hearing them so much more exciting. Whether you enjoy classic detective thrillers, or something more sinister, there are endless stories to choose from. Here are the 20 best thriller audiobooks to get you started.

What listeners say about The Silence of the Lambs

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6,920
  • 4 Stars
    879
  • 3 Stars
    104
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    17
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6,131
  • 4 Stars
    841
  • 3 Stars
    143
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    16
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6,361
  • 4 Stars
    670
  • 3 Stars
    80
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    11

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really adds to the movie

I really loved the movie but this book, as is so often the case, was better; there was more room for character development and all. Great performance as well!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Frank Muller does it again

great book. enjoyed it more than red dragon thanks to frank mullers amazing range of personalities and emotional states. he gets the flat kinda lost but intent voice of clarise just right.cant wait to start the next one

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Well, Frank Muller Narrates It. Need I Say More?

Would you consider the audio edition of The Silence of the Lambs to be better than the print version?

Absolutely. Frank Muller turns everything into gold and this is no exception. The characters are 3D and engaging. The author is so talented that I fell in love with Lector--how creepy is that?

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Absolutely. Circled the block and sat in the driveway listening to it. Can't think of a thing to make it better.

Have you listened to any of Frank Muller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to everything Mr. Muller has done, used to do audiobook searches by his name. The Green Mile is the best in my opinion, but this one is right up there. Mr. Muller can't do anything wrong, what a terrible loss to us all.

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

Well HL himself of course. Is there a more memorable character out there?

Any additional comments?

If you are remotely interested, get it. You won't be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Amazing book!

This book was written extremely well and the performer portrayed all the characters very well! I would definitely recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, poor sound quality

A very good interpretation of the book, but there was always a hum or hiss in the background, which I found very distracting. First time I've ever had this problem with an Audible book. Otherwise, I would've given it five stars all around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story if I could hear it properly!

I love this book and story but the narrator was VERY hard to hear in some parts. He starts out loud and then mumbles his way put of chapters. Overall a good story, just be prepared to have the sound all the way up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

excellent

excellent narration if you like the movie you will love the book. now I'm off to the rest of the series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

What can I say? This book is incredible

One of the most unique and disturbing books one will ever read. All I could think while listening to it was, "I wish I had never seen the movie so that I could experience this story for the first time!" Nothing against the movie, it is amazingly close to the book and a fantastic film, but I don't think i could have enjoyed this audiobook anymore than I did.
As past reviewers have stated, this was a perfect choice of narrator and the book is presented in the way where it is clear and serious (not overly dramatic or theatrical) and that's how this book should be.
Loved every second of it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

5 stars

This is possibly one of the best books ever written. I have read it at least 5 times, this was the first time listening to it. The story never gets old, and the narrator is exceptional in this version. Equally as entertaining as the first time reading it. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Great listen

I highly recommend this novel. The narrator gives chilling renditions of both Lecter and Buffalo Bill

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!