With family fortune to back him up, Mason Verger will stop at nothing to realize his sadistic fantasy. Verger is willing to up the ante by putting Clarice or anyone else up as bait. Extraordinary in the sequel is the time we are allowed to spend inside Lecter's mind. A huge risk for Harris, as the reader may decide Lecter has become too sane, too incoherent, too sickening, too dramatic. This is a risk that pays off however, as the Doctor remains compelling, fascinating, and above all, chilling.
Starling is cooler and more efficient than in the first book.
I finished it on Thursday after work. It was worth it. This is a story involving Hannibal Lecter, after all.