Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder - and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, truculent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history. But the Vangers are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.
About the Author
Stieg Larsson was the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Expo. He was a leading expert on anti-democratic, right-wing extremist organisations. He died in 2004, soon after delivering the text of the novels that make up the Millennium Trilogy.
Reviews
Wealthy young Harriet Vanger disappeared 40 years ago, and Uncle Henrik always thought she was murdered. Now he's drafted a hotshot journalist and a tattooed hacker to investigate. An expert on right-wing extremists, Swedish author Larsson died in 2004. This international best seller arrives here with a 100,000-copy first printing. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
A publishing sensation who seemingly came from nowhere - crime fiction has seldom needed to salute and mourn such a stellar talent as Larsson's in the same breath - Sunday Times. Just when I was thinking there wasn't anything new on the horizon, along comes Stieg Larsson with this wonderfully unique story. I was completely absorbed - Michael Connelly.
With its rich characterizations and intriguing plot, the first book of the late Stieg Larsson's completed trilogy, involving disgraced Swedish journalist-publisher Mikael Blomkvist and the eponymous, pierced and tattooed, emotionally troubled young hacker-investigator Lisbeth Salander, clearly deserves the acclaim it's received overseas. Martin Wenner's almost indifferent, British-accented narration would seem an odd choice for a novel filled with passion, sex and violence, but as the oddly coupled Blomkvist and Salander probe the four-decade-old disappearance of Harriet Vanger, heiress to one of Sweden's wealthiest clans, the objective approach actually accentuates the extreme behavior of both and the strange subjects of their investigation. Wenner's calm, controlled manner aids the listener in keeping track of the numerous members of the Vanger family, a task that the printed book simplifies with a reference page. A Knopf hardcover (Reviews, July 14). (Sept.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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Reviews
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In summary. The title character is not the main character, and this is not a murder mystery novel.
Like many others here I bought this book (and indeed the series) based upon the fantastic reviews it received. And whilst it is an enjoyable read, it does not deserve the littany of praises it has been receiving. It is a sound novel, written simply, which is engrosing enough to flick through the pages. The free flowing style and creative assembly of the main characters keeps you interested. But as a crime/detective/who-dun-it it fails miserably. With a cast of 20+ characters, only 3 are actually fleshed out. And as another reviewer pointed out, the first half is more a study in geneology rather than a crime drama. The title heroine is lacking in soul, feeling, ability, and is contradictory in actions and development. Nothing makes sense with her, but that still doesn't detract from her character, it just makes her not enjoyable as the main character. In fact she isn't.
Without giving anything away the solution to the crime is contrived and contrite, but at least the ending was worth a read, and that in itself does not a good murder mystery make.
This works better as a good drama, rather than a suspense thriller or crime story (as it is portrayed).
A thoroughly enjoyable and good read, but not the raving masterpiece that has had glowing reviews. Something to read when there is nothing else to read.
One of the best thrillers I have read for a long time. It is a bit slow to start with but it inexorably draws you into a seedy and morally corrupt world. The writing is fluid and the pace just intensifies as the book develops. Lisbeth Salander is one of the most interesting characters invented in recent times. She is strong, street-wise, cyber-wise but you feel there is a vulnerability about her...until, of course, her revenge on the lawyer who is her state-appointed legal guardian.
Guaranteed if you read this one you will want to read book 2 in the series...and then there's always book 3.
This is the thinking woman's crime thriller. The first 50 pages were a bit so-so, but then you're hooked in to the plot and the idiosyncracies of the characters. It was really difficult to put down. The twists and turns are never ending and keep you going right to the end, even though the main mystery is solved with 100 pages to go! I love a good whodunnit and this moves the genre up a notch or two. Scarpetta is banal compared to this. Such a shame there's only three to read.
I read this series over the Christmas break. It was a fabulous holiday read and it kept me engrossed the whole way through. I will admit it - as with all three of the books - seemed to drag a little at the start but then things pick up by about half way through. The movie does not do the book justice - but... it would have been a 4 hour movie if they had included everything! I am not a crime fiction lover, but this one was pretty darn good!
I read through the other reviews with interest. Like most, I eventually got around to buying this book because of all of the hype and I admit I was a little underwhelmed. I thought I would be the only one to say so here.
While the story is not bad I found it to be lacking in character depth and was left wanting to know more about Salander. It felt like Larsson had trouble writing for a female character so took the easy way out by making her aloof and confrontational - lacking in any real dialect in many parts of the novel.
I found the setup of the story to be sound. Not the usual amateur criminologist stumbling over a major case but a journalist thrust into the case but a completely separate set of circumstances. Best described as a drama, page turner that would be a good pickup in an airport bookstore for a long flight. By no means the worst I have read but perhaps the hype has made some of us a little more critical than if we had just picked this up as an unknown title.
This award winning novel has worked its way into my top 10 list!
Captivating from start to finish you won't want to put it down as you engross yourself into the main character Lisbeth Slander. Definitely a must read, even if you aren't a "crime" reader..which i usually am not!! Enjoy
This will have you up half the night until you finish. Strong themes of violence against women which can be rather distasteful even if revenge is exacted in one instance in a very satisfying way. The book assumes the reader has some intelligence. I'm looking forward to the next two books in the Trilogy.
Disgraced Swedish finance journalist Mikael Blomkvist has just been convicted of libel, and is forced to resign from his post at Millennium magazine. Out of desperation, he agrees to an offer from Henrik Vanger, an ageing and reclusive industrial magnate. Vanger wants Blomkvist to write a history of the Vanger family but, more importantly, he wants Blomkvist to secretly investigate the disappearance of Vanger's grandniece Harriet, who has been missing, presumed murdered, for forty years. Harriet's disappearance has been tormenting Vanger for years, and the only clue has been a single flower sent to Vanger every year on his birthday.
Lisbeth Salander is an enigmatic and troubled investigator for Milton Security. Before hiring Blomkvist, Vanger uses Milton to conduct a background check on Blomkvist. When he discovers how thorough an investigator Salander is, Blomkvist hires her as a research assistant.
Together they dig into the murky past of the Vanger family, with Blomkvist's dogged investigating and Salander's meticulous research quickly turning up new leads. As they work closely together, the older Blomkvist starts to get under the young, tattooed investigator's skin, and they develop an interesting relationship. Each starts to feel a personal obligation to solve this mystery, but for very different reasons.
The book does take some time to get going. The skeletons in the Vanger family closet are laid bare, and the reasons for Blomkvist ending up in court are fleshed out as Vanger uses them as leverage against Blomkvist. Salander's unique past is also revealed, although not to Mikael. But once it does get going, it rockets! The conclusion is fast-paced, clever and satisfying.
The girl with the dragon tattoo has the ability to draw people in so far that they put the book down and realise they have read through the whole night - The authors ability to articulately describe every minute detail makes you feel as if you are a character in the book trying to solve the mystery - definitely a book to read and own.
Really enjoyed this book. Have just seen the movie and it is great too. The movie sticks pretty close to the book, and I have read that they are also making a Hollywood version of the movie too! A great read for everyone and anyone!!!
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