Hannibal Lecter. Hardly anybody on the planet would not have heard of this name. Even the mention of it sends chills down your spine. Hannibal, of course, is the creation of author extraordinaire, Thomas Harris. Don't worry, I'm not going to give too much away. Hmm, let's just say that you are in for a feast. I mean... a treat. And that is such a lovely cologne you are wearing... th-th-th-th-th...

Pardon my exhuberance.

I have followed this character through the series right from "Red Dragon" through to the massively popular "The Silence of the Lambs" then the book simply titled "Hannibal." Now Harris has released "Hannibal Rising" (ISBN: 9780434014088).

Before I commence my review of this, the latest, Hannibal the Cannibal novel I have three admissions to make:

First, I have not read the first book that Harris wrote, that being "Black Sunday."

Second, the book following "The Silence of the Lambs," simply titled "Hannibal," thoroughly disgusted me because I thought it was just gore for gore's sake. I considered it to be Harris simply cashing in on the character like so many other serial writers have done.

Third, I haven't finished the last few chapters. I have done this deliberately as I don't want to inadvertently give anything away and become a spoiler of the novel.

So... "Hannibal Rising" - hold onto your hats folks - and anything else you can get hold of. This book is seriously creepy and disturbing. It certainly is NOT for the queasy or faint-hearted. Don't give this book to your grandmother to read!

It tells the story of young Hannibal and what happened to him and his family during World War II. At this point of chronology young Hannibal is 13. Europe is being ravaged by war. Atrocities are being committed everywhere. The description of what happened to Hannibal's little sister "Mischa" is haunting. In the book Hannibal plays it over and over again in his mind. You just know that he is going to explode into action. But you don't know quite when. Harris skillfully leads his readers to the precipice many times.

This "back story" of the Lecters explains precisely why Hannibal becomes the psychotic killer that we are so fearful of in the earlier books. Unlike the novel "Hannibal" this latest novel is more skillfully and sensibly written. We also get an insight into Hannibal's so-called "memory palace."

There are five guys in this book that commit heinous crimes against the Lecters. You won't have to guess too hard about what Hannibal commences to do when he is old enough. Let me say I would NOT want to be ANY of them.

There are times when Hannibal shows his sensitive side but they are few and far between - just enough to allow us to know that the beast is not entirely in control. For most of the book, let me just say that Hannibal is predictably unpredictable - and that makes him chillingly frightening.

I read hundreds of books - fiction and non-fiction. They give me the inspiration and motivation to write my own material. I can't put this book down! It is interfering with my normal routines.

Harris, in my opinion, has written a very worthy novel. I hope it gets turned into a movie. It will explain a great deal about the good Doctor Lecter. Did I say good?

Now for a score... Well, I still have about one-eighth of the novel to go but I have to give credit where it is due. So - 10/10. Like I said, I read hundreds of books. This magnificently crafted novel is right up there with the very best of them.

Whew! I think I'll finish off "Hannibal Rising" and then, perhaps, have a little chianti with my dinner.

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