Product Description

Brilliantly written ... the characters are superbly drawn and the story grips from first to last.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 542 pages

Review
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. --Reviews

Observer
A striking novel, full of passion, an evocative sense of place and subtle insights into venal, corrupt minds

Independent
Our surrender to the novel is guaranteed

Customer Reviews

Intelligent tense thriller with a conscience
Some incredible thrillers are coming from Scandinavian countries these days. Anyone who is a fan of the Kurt Wallander series of books by Henning Mankell will know what I mean. Now we have a new addition to the shelf, courtesy of deceased author, Stieg Larsson.

This is the first volume in the Millenium trilogy and after finishing this first book, I am very much looking forward to the next two volumes. Larssson died in 2004 soon after delivering the manuscripts for 3 crime novels to his publisher. It's a pity that this gifted author isn't around for a long time to come.

The tale is split between the shady secrets of a wealthy family and the murky dealings of a famous businessman. Mikael Blomkvist, a recently convicted journalist, is hired by Henrik Vanger to investigate the disappearance of his niece almost 40 years ago. Vanger promises Blomkvist the means to clear his good name as part of the payment and Blomkvist accepts.

The author manages to maintain an excellent pace throughout, but still delivers a strong social lesson while providing the thrills. It is an intelligent thriller with a conscience. Probably one of the best of its kind in recent years.

Flawed but compelling...
This book is a real conundrum, rarely have I had such mixed opinions about a book. On the one hand the whole story is compelling, certainly keeps you reading and makes you want to read the second volume. On the other hand, without giving away any spoilers, it is flawed in so many places. Some of the characters are one dimensional and yet intrigueing, while parts of the plot, especially the way the central mystery of Harriet's disappearance is solved, leave many questions. For example I find it hard to accept that the police would have missed the breakthrough discovery that leads to the answer.

There lies the conundrum that is this book. It has great flaws and yet not once did I feel I wanted to give up. Not perfect by any means but compelling nonetheless.

Excellent
For someone who normally reads one chapter of a book each night before bed, I found myself reading chapter after chapter with this one - it was so riveting I could not put it down.
Once the characters are developed in the first few chapters, the story takes on a pace which gets more and more exciting as it heads towards it's crescendo. Excactly as all good stories should be.

I can't wait for the next installment!