1. Red Dragon (1981): This novel introduces Hannibal Lecter and tells the story of his encounter with FBI agent Will Graham.
2. The Silence of the Lambs (1988): This novel picks up after Red Dragon and follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling's pursuit of Hannibal Lecter.
3. Hannibal (1999): This novel takes place several years after The Silence of the Lambs and explores the complex relationship between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling.
4. Hannibal Rising (2006): This novel is a prequel to the other three books and tells the story of Hannibal Lecter's childhood and the events that shaped him into the cannibalistic killer he becomes.
Therefore, the reading order should be:
1. Hannibal Rising
2. Red Dragon
3. The Silence of the Lambs
4. Hannibal