Sure. 'The Silence of the Lambs' is a good start. It's not too complex and the character of Hannibal Lecter is iconic. It has a great blend of mystery and horror.
Well, usually in crime fiction, the focus is on the detective or the killer. Here, it's on the sister, who is neither fully innocent nor fully guilty. This shifts the typical narrative focus.
Serial killer fiction can make readers more aware of the complexity of criminal minds. It often shows the motives and methods of killers, which might make readers more cautious in real life. For example, reading about how killers in fiction target their victims can make people more conscious of their own safety.
One of the best is 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It features the iconic character Hannibal Lecter. The psychological cat - and - mouse game between Clarice Starling and Lecter is gripping.
One great book is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It features a complex female character with some very disturbing and manipulative tendencies that border on serial - killer - like behavior in terms of her psychological warfare against her husband. Another is 'Sharp Objects' also by Flynn, where the main character uncovers the dark secrets of her small town, and there are female characters with some seriously twisted motives. And 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' has Lisbeth Salander, a complex and somewhat vengeful character who has her own brand of justice, which could be related to the idea of a female serial killer in a more abstract way.
'Killing Floor' by Lee Child features a protagonist, Jack Reacher, who gets involved in a case that has elements of serial killing. It's a fast - paced thriller with lots of action and mystery. Reacher uses his sharp mind and combat skills to solve the case.
One great thriller serial killer book in fiction is 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It's a classic that delves deep into the mind of a serial killer through the interactions between FBI trainee Clarice Starling and the brilliant and terrifying Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Often, they have a complex and often deranged antagonist. For example, in 'The Silence of the Lambs', Hannibal Lecter is highly intelligent and has a very unique, disturbing personality. They also usually have a strong sense of mystery and suspense. The reader is constantly trying to figure out who the killer is or what their motives are.
Another good one is 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis. It gives a disturbing look into the mind of a wealthy and seemingly perfect man who is actually a serial killer. The detailed descriptions of his actions and thoughts make it a very intense read.