Hardcover, 503 pages
English language
Published Nov. 21, 2009 by Alfred A. Knopf.
Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.
But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.
As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit …
Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.
But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.
As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all. (front flap)
Another slow starter from Larsson, but as the book picks up pace it just gets more and more gripping. I was completely floored (in a good way) by the ending, so much so that I started the next book in the series within 10 minutes of finishing this one.
This one played a lot like a long episode of CSI (which I don't enjoy). Also, I'm not the kind of person who cares very much about eloquent sentence structure, but Larsson's awkward phrasing makes me chuckle - to the point that it too oft interrupted the flow of reading.
I did like the book, though. Larsson continues to do a great job with the suspense, action, and character development in this second book from the trilogy. Also, on a personal note: it may just be my horrible memory, but similar to my reaction to the first book, I didn't remember most of the details from the film (even though I loved all of the Swedish-language movies from this trilogy). The third book is in the mail!
