Stieg Larsson gleaned a remarkable degree of success before his too-early death in 2004. He had delivered to his publisher three remarkable crime novels; the initial book in his ‘Millennium’ sequence, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, had enjoyed an unprecedented success in his native Sweden before the translation took the UK by storm. Larsson had made a considerable mark as a crusading journalist, with a speciality in tackling political extremist groups. But he offered assistance to many people and groups who he felt were vulnerable – something of a modern hero, in fact.

One of Larsson’s key achievements as a writer was to create an innovative kind of heroine for the crime novel. His unconventional sleuth, the highly intelligent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, is a confrontational young woman, whose Goth accoutrements sometimes alienate those around her (except the individuals she opts to have sexual relations with – strictly, that is, according to the rules she lays down). In the second book in the Millennium sequence, The Girl Who Played with Fire (as in its its predecessor), Lisbeth’s closest ally is the older journalist Mikael Blomqvist, even though she has abruptly ended her emotional relationship with him. Lisbeth has left all she knows behinds her and has begun a relationship with a gauche young lover. But after a grim revenge run-in with a man who has abused her, she becomes a suspect in three murders, and is the subject of a nationwide search. Blomqvist, however, is convinced of her innocence (he has just been responsible for a blistering report on the sex trafficking industry in Sweden), and is determined to help her – whether she wants his help or not.

As with Larsson’s earlier book, this is highly compelling fare, with tautly orchestrated suspense; it’s often grisly and uncompromising (not a problem for many readers), and the massive text may be longer than is good for it, but Larsson admirers won’t begrudge the late author a word,and will be impatient for the third (and, regrettably, concluding) book in the sequence. –Barry Forshaw

5 Responses to “The Girl Who Played with Fire”

1. V., CuiQing sagt:

   26. März 2010 um 00:00

   I’m generally satisfied with the article received. It would be perfect if it could be sent earlier.
2. Vielleser sagt:

   19. März 2010 um 00:00

   Plant viel freie Zeit ein, wenn ihr das Buch beginnt. Wie beim ersten Band kam ich nicht von der Geschichte los. Mit viel Tempo und Spannung führt Larsson durch die Story, doch der Schluss kommt daher, als ob er sich verschluckt hat. Mitten im Fluss der Ereignisse ist plötzlich Schluss. Das Buch macht Lust auf Band 3.

   Nur zu empfehlen
3. Julianna sagt:

   18. Februar 2010 um 00:00

   A great read!

   Hot Lisbeth just rocks the cold and icy swedish society!

   She has everything going against her there, but she never gives up or lets others determine her life.

   A fantastic character in a great book by an even greater author who unfotunately passed away.
4. Himate sagt:

   17. Dezember 2009 um 00:00

   Obwohl sonst kein Krimileser habe ich einen nach dem anderen der drei Bände verschlungen. Sehr interessante, nicht alltägliche Charaktere, fesselnder Fortgang der Handlung. Der Leser fühlt sich eingebunden in die Entwicklung des Geschehens. Die Sympathie für die anfangs etwas abgedreht erscheinende Heldin steigt mit fortschreitender Kenntnis der Hintergründe ihrer Entwicklung, ebenso wie die Bewunderung für eine Figur mit derartigen Fähigkeiten. Manches geht allerdings etwas sehr weit. Finde auch toll, wie Zeitgeschichtliches eingearbeitet wird.
5. Thorsten sagt:

   4. Dezember 2009 um 00:00

   OK, being a German I read it in English …. and I hesitated as the book, no the triology, is THE NUMBER ONE, TWO and THREE here in Germany. That makes it sort of … like reading the SUN or DAILY MIRROR. …. BUT, hey it is absolutely readable, the story is complex, far too complex to describe here and now, Stieg Larsson created a world of its own. Yes, there are flaws, there are things you cannot accept (too much superhumanpower of the hero and some characters) but TAKE IT EASY, it is fluently written and the drama is unfolding page by page. I read it in three days (courtesy of a cracked rip) and it was highly entertaining. So, for all you doubters out there, usually I dig myself into Ian Rankin or Peter Robinson, and especially Mr Rankin is still THE NO1, but Larrson is a good read. Try it!