This collection of 12 essays about Thomas Harris' popular works focuses particularly on his internationally known antihero Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter in the classic novels Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal. The essays examine several themes, including Harris' exploration of repressed desires, his refinement of neo-noir themes and the serial killer motif, and his perceptions of feminine gender roles. Several essays also focus on Harris' works before and after the popular trilogy, examining gothic romance (in Harris' first novel Black Sunday) and the making of a monster (in the trilogy's 2006 prequel Hannibal Rising).