Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Vintage (2010), Edition: Reprint, 752 pages
Description
On the eve of publisher Mikael Blomkvist's story about sex trafficking between Eastern Europe and Sweden, two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Mikael 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 years before.
Media reviews
When a novel moves or affects me deeply, I think about it when I’m walking around. I don’t find myself thinking about The Girl Who Played With Fire, but while I was reading it, I was useless until I got to the end. In retrospect, my experience of the book, like it’s characters, seems unreal.
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As, of course, it was. Show Less
When Larsson gets down to the business of telling a story, he tells a nerve-tingling tale.
For all the complications of the melodramatic story, which advances at a brisk, violently cinematic clip in Reg Keeland’s translation, it’s clear where Larsson’s strongest interests lie — in his heroine and the ill-concealed attitudes she brings out in men.
Mr. Larsson’s two central characters, Salander and Blomkvist, transcend their genre and insinuate themselves in the reader’s mind through their oddball individuality, their professional competence and, surprisingly, their emotional vulnerability.
Lecturalia
Lisbeth Salander se ha tomado un tiempo: necesita apartarse del foco de atención y salir de Estocolmo. Trata de seguir una férrea disciplina y no contestar a las llamadas y mensajes de un Mikael que no entiende por qué ha desaparecido de su vida sin dar ningún tipo de explicación. Las heridas
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del amor las cura Lisbeth en soledad, aunque intente despistar el desencanto con el estudio de las matemáticas y ciertos felices placeres en una playa del Caribe. ¿Y Mikael? El gran héroe, el súper Blomkvist, vive buenos momentos en Millennium, con las finanzas de la revista saneadas y reconocimiento profesional de colegas y medios. Ahora tiene entre manos un reportaje apasionante que le propone una pareja, Dag y Mia, sobre el tráfico y prostitución de mujeres provenientes del Este. Las vidas de nuestros dos protagonistas parecen haberse separado por completo, y mientras... una muchacha, atada a una cama soporta un día y otro día las horribles visitas de un ser despreciable, y sin decir una palabra, sueña con una cerilla y un bidón de gasolina, con la forma de provocar el fuego que acabe con todo. Show Less
Kristianstadsbladet
Der zweite Band ist noch einen Tick besser. Nicht mal der eifrigste Fehlersucher findet hier etwas Störendes. Stieg Larsson ist der bedeutendste Krimiautor unserer Zeit.
Gefle Dagblad
Wenn ein Autor ein so komplexes und faszinierendes Portrait abliefert wie das von Lisbeth Salander, können wir nur schweigend und dankbar den Hut ziehen.
taz
Larssons Gespür für Timing und Spannung ist überragend.
Hamburger Abendblatt
Selten hat es in skandinavischer Krimiliteratur eine so originelle, widersprüchliche und packende Hauptfigur gegeben wie die gegen den Strich lebende Lisbeth Salander.
Bild am Sonntag
Stieg Larssons Romane sind so mitreißend, dass sie eine Gefahr für das öffentliche Leben darstellen. Lesende Menschen werden Fußgängerzonen und Parks besetzen, die Arbeitswelt wird lahmgelegt – alles wegen Larssons Romanen, die man nicht aus der Hand legen kann.
Bremer
Einmal zur Hand genommen, liest man ›Verdammnis‹ in einem Rutsch durch – andere Dinge werden einfach nebensächlich.
Der Spiegel
Lisbeth Salander überwältigt mit ihrer Unwiderstehlichkeit. Sie gewinnt die Liebe des Lesers im Sturm.
Conscious of the way crime and other networks transcend national boundaries, it's a very modern novel. What makes it outstanding is the author's ability to handle dozens of characters and parallel narratives without ever losing tension.
What follows is a combination of urgent, multilayered thriller, traditional police procedural and articulate examination of the way a supposedly open-minded country like Sweden treats both its vulnerable women and children in care.
User reviews
LibraryThing member PandorasRequiem
Ever since I finished this book, I've been pondering the reasons behind why this trilogy has been such a worldwide phenomenonal bestseller in the millions.
Generally speaking, the standards of the genre of worldwide bestsellers would likely entail that this be either: a happy, bodice-ripping savage
This trilogy does NOT fit into any of those categories. So why the sudden and irresistable worldwide appeal? Namely this: THE HEROINE, Lisbeth Salander.
She, however, does NOT fit into any of the cardboard cut-out, silicone-enhanced heroines Hollywood has made billions capitalizing on. I.E.:
Angelina Jolie in "Lara Croft: Tombraider", Kate Beckinsale as a highly stylized elite Vampire vixen in "Underworld", or even Jennifer Garner in the hit TV series "Alias". Nor is Lisbeth even remotely similar to any other popular heroine in the literary world, or have any "super powers" she saves the world with like in a Comic Book Series.
She is in fact the very antithesis of all the heroines named above. She is not stunningly beautiful, or use her vamped up powers of ultra-massive seduction to sway men in their steps. She is not tall, or have a Hollywood starlet figure. She is not a social person either, nor does she fit into society's standards of what is accepted as "normal" in any way.
Lisbeth Salander is a short, waif-like thin, extremely intelligent but just as hostile and anti-social woman. She usually revels in offensive behaviour, and her clothing and looks reflect this attitude. Bottom Line? By all accounts, she is an anti-social, borderline psychopathic bitch with a FTW credo who seethes animosity with every breath and lives for revenge and blood.
Which begs the question: Why do we like her so much when she thrives on being so unlikeable and difficult? Because, IMHO, the world needs MORE women like her. A no-holds-barred, take-charge, violently-fuelled woman out for blood who answers to NO ONE and refuses to remain a victim of those who have tried to force her into that role repeatedly.
The world is chock-full of victims, and thousands (if not millions) become a new one each day. Whether by circumstance, natural disaster, or at the hands of others. Helpless and powerless to regain their lost worlds, the sad majority of these victims never fully move on from their tragedy. This series is about an unlikely woman who, against IMMEASURABLE and very violent odds, actually fights back. She has been used and abused in nearly every frighteningly imaginable way, tortured and very nearly killed for her efforts, but (and here's the clincher); SHE NEVER GIVES UP or accepts any other way out except to fight those who hold her down and exact revenge on those who (quite rightly) deserve it.
Now, having said all of that, I must point out that while I DO NOT condone violence, hacking, revenge, murder, theft, or any other grisly arsenal of weapons used by Lisbeth in the series... I strongly believe that if more victims (in any way, shape, or form of the word) fought to take back their independence and escape the stigma of victimized mentality, people would come to realize that once you refuse to remain a victim, they gain back some power. And that power is one that can be used to draw strength from and to reshape their own world, whether for good or evil.
Today we live in a world where tragedy strikes daily and leaves countless victims in its wake. I believe that the worldwide appeal of Stieg Larsson's trilogy lies in its sheer ability to give us a new ray of hope in the most unlikeliest form: Lisbeth Salander, the Eternal Survivor.
Generally speaking, the standards of the genre of worldwide bestsellers would likely entail that this be either: a happy, bodice-ripping savage
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romance a la Danielle Steele, a gripping action-packed male-centered conspiracy political theory novel, or a historical fiction novel that claims to reveal "hidden meanings" of a religious nature like The Da Vinci Code. Lately, it appears that these have been the predominant subjects that the worldwide masses have snapped up greedily and universally.This trilogy does NOT fit into any of those categories. So why the sudden and irresistable worldwide appeal? Namely this: THE HEROINE, Lisbeth Salander.
She, however, does NOT fit into any of the cardboard cut-out, silicone-enhanced heroines Hollywood has made billions capitalizing on. I.E.:
Angelina Jolie in "Lara Croft: Tombraider", Kate Beckinsale as a highly stylized elite Vampire vixen in "Underworld", or even Jennifer Garner in the hit TV series "Alias". Nor is Lisbeth even remotely similar to any other popular heroine in the literary world, or have any "super powers" she saves the world with like in a Comic Book Series.
She is in fact the very antithesis of all the heroines named above. She is not stunningly beautiful, or use her vamped up powers of ultra-massive seduction to sway men in their steps. She is not tall, or have a Hollywood starlet figure. She is not a social person either, nor does she fit into society's standards of what is accepted as "normal" in any way.
Lisbeth Salander is a short, waif-like thin, extremely intelligent but just as hostile and anti-social woman. She usually revels in offensive behaviour, and her clothing and looks reflect this attitude. Bottom Line? By all accounts, she is an anti-social, borderline psychopathic bitch with a FTW credo who seethes animosity with every breath and lives for revenge and blood.
Which begs the question: Why do we like her so much when she thrives on being so unlikeable and difficult? Because, IMHO, the world needs MORE women like her. A no-holds-barred, take-charge, violently-fuelled woman out for blood who answers to NO ONE and refuses to remain a victim of those who have tried to force her into that role repeatedly.
The world is chock-full of victims, and thousands (if not millions) become a new one each day. Whether by circumstance, natural disaster, or at the hands of others. Helpless and powerless to regain their lost worlds, the sad majority of these victims never fully move on from their tragedy. This series is about an unlikely woman who, against IMMEASURABLE and very violent odds, actually fights back. She has been used and abused in nearly every frighteningly imaginable way, tortured and very nearly killed for her efforts, but (and here's the clincher); SHE NEVER GIVES UP or accepts any other way out except to fight those who hold her down and exact revenge on those who (quite rightly) deserve it.
Now, having said all of that, I must point out that while I DO NOT condone violence, hacking, revenge, murder, theft, or any other grisly arsenal of weapons used by Lisbeth in the series... I strongly believe that if more victims (in any way, shape, or form of the word) fought to take back their independence and escape the stigma of victimized mentality, people would come to realize that once you refuse to remain a victim, they gain back some power. And that power is one that can be used to draw strength from and to reshape their own world, whether for good or evil.
Today we live in a world where tragedy strikes daily and leaves countless victims in its wake. I believe that the worldwide appeal of Stieg Larsson's trilogy lies in its sheer ability to give us a new ray of hope in the most unlikeliest form: Lisbeth Salander, the Eternal Survivor.
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LibraryThing member BlackSheepDances
I was really eager to start this book, and even more eager to finish it. I had high hopes for this book, having read the first novel in the Millennium Series (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) by Stieg Larsson, and enjoying it so much.
That said, this book was a huge disappointment. I’m going to
The problem with the sequel is that Mikael is virtually non-existent. He shows up here and there with a role verging on incidental. Rather the focus is on Lisbeth, and while that might have been interesting to see how she’s grown and what she’s overcome, it never gets to that. It discusses her newfound wealth (shopping spree at IKEA, new boobs) and what she does for a few days. But it never gets into what makes up her personality and why she behaves as she does. Sure, there’s the big mystery of “All the Evil”, but it’s foreshadowed so much in the first ¾ of the book that once you found out you really aren’t interested anymore. Further revelations about her were also unsurprising.
Besides Lisbeth, there’s an enormous amount of new characters as well as repeats from the previous book. It seems most of the characters are either very, very good or very, very bad. Not much of a middle ground and none of them become fleshed out enough to seem real. Some were dumbed down caricatures (i.e. the sexist cop, the introspective and troubled captain, the good hearted and selfless female detective, the bumbling and fame hungry prosecutor). And the mystery that unfolds has so many subplots that it seems like an especially complex Venn diagram that becomes ridiculous and unbelievable after awhile. The new characters are intertwined in such a complicated way that normally I would have kept notes on who was who. But at that point, I really didn’t care anymore.
Another letdown was that none of the puzzles were solved by deduction and clever questions or even thinking outside of the box. Instead, Lisbeth basically hacks everyone else’s computer to view their research. And there is not a single scene where Mikael and Lisbeth interact, so the partnership that was so enthralling before doesn’t exist anymore.
In the first book, everything seemed clever. But in this, simple mistakes are made that seem jarring: Lisbeth’s leaving the keys with Mikael, the police not interviewing Palmgren, etc. Essentially every twist could be predicted (when Lisbeth moves out of her apartment and Mimmi moves in? Anyone could see that coming). And while this may seem trivial, this book had no sense of place like the first. Sweden was as much a character as Mikael in the former, and descriptions of the land and people added depth and meat to the story.
That said, this book was a huge disappointment. I’m going to
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review it based on the premise that most readers will have read the first book like I did before taking up this sequel. What worked so well for the first were the two fascinating characters of Mikael Blomquist and Lisbeth Salander. They were unusual on their own but as they worked together to solve a mystery they became intriguing. They solved a complicated problem using common sense, detective skills, some computer hacking, and hard work. While there was a large cast of assorted lesser characters, it was a great read.The problem with the sequel is that Mikael is virtually non-existent. He shows up here and there with a role verging on incidental. Rather the focus is on Lisbeth, and while that might have been interesting to see how she’s grown and what she’s overcome, it never gets to that. It discusses her newfound wealth (shopping spree at IKEA, new boobs) and what she does for a few days. But it never gets into what makes up her personality and why she behaves as she does. Sure, there’s the big mystery of “All the Evil”, but it’s foreshadowed so much in the first ¾ of the book that once you found out you really aren’t interested anymore. Further revelations about her were also unsurprising.
Besides Lisbeth, there’s an enormous amount of new characters as well as repeats from the previous book. It seems most of the characters are either very, very good or very, very bad. Not much of a middle ground and none of them become fleshed out enough to seem real. Some were dumbed down caricatures (i.e. the sexist cop, the introspective and troubled captain, the good hearted and selfless female detective, the bumbling and fame hungry prosecutor). And the mystery that unfolds has so many subplots that it seems like an especially complex Venn diagram that becomes ridiculous and unbelievable after awhile. The new characters are intertwined in such a complicated way that normally I would have kept notes on who was who. But at that point, I really didn’t care anymore.
Another letdown was that none of the puzzles were solved by deduction and clever questions or even thinking outside of the box. Instead, Lisbeth basically hacks everyone else’s computer to view their research. And there is not a single scene where Mikael and Lisbeth interact, so the partnership that was so enthralling before doesn’t exist anymore.
In the first book, everything seemed clever. But in this, simple mistakes are made that seem jarring: Lisbeth’s leaving the keys with Mikael, the police not interviewing Palmgren, etc. Essentially every twist could be predicted (when Lisbeth moves out of her apartment and Mimmi moves in? Anyone could see that coming). And while this may seem trivial, this book had no sense of place like the first. Sweden was as much a character as Mikael in the former, and descriptions of the land and people added depth and meat to the story.
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LibraryThing member CaroTheLibrarian
PLUS -
* Pacy and exciting with lots of twists and turns of plot.
* The return Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist, two great characters.
MINUS -
* Very complex plot. I did get a bit lost in places, but maybe that says more about me as a reader than the book itself. I do spend a lot of time reading
* I don't especially like the more explicit sexual content, violence and language used but again, that's a case of personal preference. It's not one for the easily offended however!
OVERALL -
* An excellent read. You probably need to have read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo first.
* Pacy and exciting with lots of twists and turns of plot.
* The return Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist, two great characters.
MINUS -
* Very complex plot. I did get a bit lost in places, but maybe that says more about me as a reader than the book itself. I do spend a lot of time reading
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kids' books. This takes rather more concentration than I'm used to!* I don't especially like the more explicit sexual content, violence and language used but again, that's a case of personal preference. It's not one for the easily offended however!
OVERALL -
* An excellent read. You probably need to have read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo first.
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LibraryThing member flexatone
[English version] There is a lot to like about 'Fire' and 'Hornet's Nest': exciting action, two interesting characters, a valuable social message. Many people think of the books as 'page turners.' Is this because they are compelled to find out what happens next, or because they realize that they
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won't miss a beat by skimming? Because of the author's early death, editing the books became a delicate issue. I am impressed with the overall construction of the plots of all three books, but the realization of the story in the second and third books suffer from tedium! Show Less
LibraryThing member bfister
Interesting to read the reviews here. Unlike many, I found this book to be a much stronger, more focused, more engaging book all around than the first in the series. In the second of the Millennium Trilogy (I always feel a little awkward saying that since it was not planned as a trilogy, but rather
The sections where we see the story from Salander's perspective were the most compelling for me. Not only is she an interesting character (with admittedly larger-than-life characteristics), the story has more verve and energy when she's on the page. I was disappointed when she disappears from the story and the focus switches to the hunt for the supposedly insane and violent killer. But that, too, grew on me, particularly as the police involved begin to realize that the two pictures they have of their suspect - that she's an unbalanced, illiterate, and extremely violent psychotic who spent much of her childhood confined in a mental hospital versus a competent, principled, and brilliant professional - are incompatible and that they must be after the wrong person.
One reason I thought this book was an improvement was the focus and pacing. With the exception of the introductory section (Salander's travels) the book drills down into one issue: who killed the journalists and the guardian, and how is Salander involved? The fist book seemed uncertain whether to present a locked room mystery, a financial thriller, or an all-out shocker; the parts of the plot seemed to be struggling to cohere, and the tone was wobbly. Second, the shocking reality behind the crimes in Fire, once exposed, is not as outlandish and overblown as in the first book; they're more believable, and therefore pack more punch. Finally, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ended less with a bang and more in a dwindling away of energy. That's certainly not the case here. The auxiliary characters are better developed, and I found myself much more interested in and compelled by Salander in this book. She still has the super-woman characteristics that make her slightly cartoonish, but the backstory we learn in this book is much more believable, with less shock factor and more nuance.
For me, she is becoming human, and that makes her far more interesting.
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as a 10-book series), we switch between the perspectives of many characters but in every case they revolve around two: 'Kalle' Blomqvist and Lisbeth Salander. Salander has gone on a long trip around the world (covered in the first section of the book) and returns to Sweden to set up a carefully isolated life, supported by her extraordinary skills for subterfuge and a fortune that she acquired in the first book. She has cut off relations with Blomqvist, unwilling to be hurt by him, and instead resumes a low-stakes friendship with Mimmi, who helps her concealment by living in her apartment and forwarding her mail. Millenium, the muckraking publication where Blomqvist works, is preparing a bombshell issue, to be followed by a book, on sex trafficking, naming many prominent politicians, businessmen, and even police as patrons of an organized industry that exploits women. When soon before publication the two principle authors are murdered and Salander's scumbag guardian is shot with the same gun, one with Salander's prints on it, she becomes the prime suspect. The sections where we see the story from Salander's perspective were the most compelling for me. Not only is she an interesting character (with admittedly larger-than-life characteristics), the story has more verve and energy when she's on the page. I was disappointed when she disappears from the story and the focus switches to the hunt for the supposedly insane and violent killer. But that, too, grew on me, particularly as the police involved begin to realize that the two pictures they have of their suspect - that she's an unbalanced, illiterate, and extremely violent psychotic who spent much of her childhood confined in a mental hospital versus a competent, principled, and brilliant professional - are incompatible and that they must be after the wrong person.
One reason I thought this book was an improvement was the focus and pacing. With the exception of the introductory section (Salander's travels) the book drills down into one issue: who killed the journalists and the guardian, and how is Salander involved? The fist book seemed uncertain whether to present a locked room mystery, a financial thriller, or an all-out shocker; the parts of the plot seemed to be struggling to cohere, and the tone was wobbly. Second, the shocking reality behind the crimes in Fire, once exposed, is not as outlandish and overblown as in the first book; they're more believable, and therefore pack more punch. Finally, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ended less with a bang and more in a dwindling away of energy. That's certainly not the case here. The auxiliary characters are better developed, and I found myself much more interested in and compelled by Salander in this book. She still has the super-woman characteristics that make her slightly cartoonish, but the backstory we learn in this book is much more believable, with less shock factor and more nuance.
For me, she is becoming human, and that makes her far more interesting.
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LibraryThing member candyschultz
I tried not to read this book yet but it didn't work. I finished The White Tiger, about which I will only say I hated it, and needed something fun to counteract the bad taste. My fingers had been twitching every time I passed Larsson's second and once I picked it up I couldn't set it down. The
The Girl Who Played With Fire picks up exactly where Dragon Tattoo left off. Lisbeth broke off contact with Mikael at the end of Dragon and this book finds her in the Caribbean having traveled the globe for a year. Fire is definitely Salander's book. As I had thought it continues her life story. There were many clues and whispers in Dragon about Salander's childhood and what she calls "All That Evil". In this book we discover the rest of her tale. I should just say right here that it is hard to believe anyone could have survived everything that happened to Salander. Suspension of disbelief is necessary. I also don't know anything about Swedish law but their social services system seems medieval.
Lisbeth is in the Caribbean recovering from a broken heart and breast augmentation and trying to solve Fermat's last theorem. She begins Fire with a new image - tattoos have been removed she has a new hairstyle and body. Then she finally goes home where she purchases a monstrous apartment to hide out in. She no longer needs to work but she won't be left alone for long.
Blomkvist meanwhile has been working on a long article and book which a freelance journalist has penned on sex trafficking in Sweden. Salander discovers this when she hacks back into his computer. A name shouts out to her and she decides to pay a visit to the freelancer and his girlfriend. As these two characters are found dead shortly after she leaves she then becomes the object of a nationwide manhunt. With her mental health record the press paints her as a violent psychopath. So she is basically stuck in her new apartment. But she is not without resources.
As more people from Salander's life are drawn into the conflict she must come out to get information. She has to fight her way out of confrontations with bikers and vicious gangsters. By the end of the book her resources are almost gone. She and Blomkvist do not reunite until the last page of the novel.
Now that I've read this one I could kick myself since I understand I will have to wait about a year for the third book to be translated. Since Larsson may have been planning more books with these characters it could turn out that we are left hanging so to speak after book #3. Of course I can always read these two again. The Girl Who Played With Fire is due in the U. S. in July but it can be purchased from Amazon U.K. or the Book Depository now.
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second book is even better than the first.The Girl Who Played With Fire picks up exactly where Dragon Tattoo left off. Lisbeth broke off contact with Mikael at the end of Dragon and this book finds her in the Caribbean having traveled the globe for a year. Fire is definitely Salander's book. As I had thought it continues her life story. There were many clues and whispers in Dragon about Salander's childhood and what she calls "All That Evil". In this book we discover the rest of her tale. I should just say right here that it is hard to believe anyone could have survived everything that happened to Salander. Suspension of disbelief is necessary. I also don't know anything about Swedish law but their social services system seems medieval.
Lisbeth is in the Caribbean recovering from a broken heart and breast augmentation and trying to solve Fermat's last theorem. She begins Fire with a new image - tattoos have been removed she has a new hairstyle and body. Then she finally goes home where she purchases a monstrous apartment to hide out in. She no longer needs to work but she won't be left alone for long.
Blomkvist meanwhile has been working on a long article and book which a freelance journalist has penned on sex trafficking in Sweden. Salander discovers this when she hacks back into his computer. A name shouts out to her and she decides to pay a visit to the freelancer and his girlfriend. As these two characters are found dead shortly after she leaves she then becomes the object of a nationwide manhunt. With her mental health record the press paints her as a violent psychopath. So she is basically stuck in her new apartment. But she is not without resources.
As more people from Salander's life are drawn into the conflict she must come out to get information. She has to fight her way out of confrontations with bikers and vicious gangsters. By the end of the book her resources are almost gone. She and Blomkvist do not reunite until the last page of the novel.
Now that I've read this one I could kick myself since I understand I will have to wait about a year for the third book to be translated. Since Larsson may have been planning more books with these characters it could turn out that we are left hanging so to speak after book #3. Of course I can always read these two again. The Girl Who Played With Fire is due in the U. S. in July but it can be purchased from Amazon U.K. or the Book Depository now.
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LibraryThing member pierthinker
‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’ is the second volume in Stieg Larsson’s posthumous Millenium Trilogy. And follows the very successful ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’. It is safe to say that the girl in both volumes is the same person, Lisbeth Salander.
This is a murder mystery with
The strangeness in this novel comes from peering into modern Swedish society where everyone seems to have a summer home in the country and enjoys a fulfilling sex life.
The ending is exciting and nail-biting, but leaves several threads dangling (less so with the first volume) presumably to be tidied up in the final volume.
This is a murder mystery with
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strong political/social thriller overtones and more twists and turns in its complex plot than many other twisty-turny things. Although the Salander character comes across like Wonder Woman, with her photographic memory, world-class hacker skills and ability to beat up people many times her size, these do not feature strongly enough to interfere with an exciting read.The strangeness in this novel comes from peering into modern Swedish society where everyone seems to have a summer home in the country and enjoys a fulfilling sex life.
The ending is exciting and nail-biting, but leaves several threads dangling (less so with the first volume) presumably to be tidied up in the final volume.
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LibraryThing member suetu
It feels like a ridiculous cliché to call Stieg Larsson’s premature death a tragedy—no matter how true it is. But now, as I am still breathless having finished the second novel of his dazzling Millennium Trilogy, I truly believe this man has achieved immortality. I can easily imagine his
The Girl Who Played With Fire opens quite provocatively, with an unknown 13-year-old girl being held captive by a sexual predator. Whatever ideas you form at that point—you’re wrong. Trust me, you are. From there, we have some one-on-one time with Lisbeth. She’s been busy since we last saw her, getting a personal makeover and taking some time to see the world. She’s been away from Sweden for about a year, and it’s time for her to return home. She left without a word to anyone, and she cautiously begins making contact with the people who care about her, with the notable exception of Mikael Blomkvist. Much to his consternation, she wants nothing to do with him, and has refused all contact.
That’s okay. Mikael’s busy running Millennium magazine and jumping in and out of affairs. And, as it happens, a huge story has just walked into Millennium’s office in the form of Dag Svensson. Dag’s a young journalist who has been researching sex trafficking in Sweden for years. He’s written an explosive book, and he wants Millennium to publish it. They decide not only to take the book, but to build an entire issue of the magazine around it. The question is, how far is someone willing to go to keep a crime quiet?
As an American, I’ve always had a very positive opinion of the Scandinavian peoples. They always seemed “better” than us, more enlightened somehow. Let me tell you, Stieg Larsson has disavowed me of that notion. The Swedes are just as unpleasant as we are. God, maybe worse! Reading this book, written by a native, is a fascinating glimpse at a culture in many ways quite different from our own. Regardless, it seems that people are people and there’s a lot of ignorance, hatred, violence, venality, and sickness in the world.
Others will write more about the plot, but I see no reason to go there. I read this novel without knowing what to expect, and the reading experience was the more enjoyable for it. There were some BIG surprises. That said, the plot was the most flawed part of a luminous novel. On the one had, I absolutely loved it. On the other, Stieg Larsson cheated—not once, but twice! Deep into the middle of the novel, a major plot point revolves around a coincidence. That’s not cool. I had a conflicted internal debate, and had just about decided to let Larsson have a pass on at least a semi-plausible coincidence when he did it again! A second major plot point based on a coincidence. That’s bad. I was so disgusted at that point that I put the book down for a day. But, I have to admit that when I picked it back up, the story moved along at such a headlong pace that I could hardly bare to set it down again. Seriously, I went without food. Ultimately, it’s an amazing story being told, but very flawed from a technical standpoint. As much as I want to, I just can’t give it five stars.
Now, what aren’t flawed are Larsson’s characterizations, and that’s what elevates this novel from being one hell of a good mystery to a work of far greater significance. And as I alluded earlier, it is Lisbeth Salander that is his showstopper. I’ve never met anyone like her. You’ve never met anyone like her. She’s one of a kind; a damaged genius who will break your heart while pissing you off. Lisbeth’s past had only been hinted at in Dragon. We learn a lot more about her in Fire. Happily, I feel confident there is still much to unravel in Hornet’s Nest. The ending of this novel will leave you deeply impatient to get your hands on the final installment, and fearful of how that one will end.
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creation Lisbeth Salander joining the ranks of the most enduring literary characters. Once you’ve met Lisbeth, you’ll never forget her. The Girl Who Played With Fire opens quite provocatively, with an unknown 13-year-old girl being held captive by a sexual predator. Whatever ideas you form at that point—you’re wrong. Trust me, you are. From there, we have some one-on-one time with Lisbeth. She’s been busy since we last saw her, getting a personal makeover and taking some time to see the world. She’s been away from Sweden for about a year, and it’s time for her to return home. She left without a word to anyone, and she cautiously begins making contact with the people who care about her, with the notable exception of Mikael Blomkvist. Much to his consternation, she wants nothing to do with him, and has refused all contact.
That’s okay. Mikael’s busy running Millennium magazine and jumping in and out of affairs. And, as it happens, a huge story has just walked into Millennium’s office in the form of Dag Svensson. Dag’s a young journalist who has been researching sex trafficking in Sweden for years. He’s written an explosive book, and he wants Millennium to publish it. They decide not only to take the book, but to build an entire issue of the magazine around it. The question is, how far is someone willing to go to keep a crime quiet?
As an American, I’ve always had a very positive opinion of the Scandinavian peoples. They always seemed “better” than us, more enlightened somehow. Let me tell you, Stieg Larsson has disavowed me of that notion. The Swedes are just as unpleasant as we are. God, maybe worse! Reading this book, written by a native, is a fascinating glimpse at a culture in many ways quite different from our own. Regardless, it seems that people are people and there’s a lot of ignorance, hatred, violence, venality, and sickness in the world.
Others will write more about the plot, but I see no reason to go there. I read this novel without knowing what to expect, and the reading experience was the more enjoyable for it. There were some BIG surprises. That said, the plot was the most flawed part of a luminous novel. On the one had, I absolutely loved it. On the other, Stieg Larsson cheated—not once, but twice! Deep into the middle of the novel, a major plot point revolves around a coincidence. That’s not cool. I had a conflicted internal debate, and had just about decided to let Larsson have a pass on at least a semi-plausible coincidence when he did it again! A second major plot point based on a coincidence. That’s bad. I was so disgusted at that point that I put the book down for a day. But, I have to admit that when I picked it back up, the story moved along at such a headlong pace that I could hardly bare to set it down again. Seriously, I went without food. Ultimately, it’s an amazing story being told, but very flawed from a technical standpoint. As much as I want to, I just can’t give it five stars.
Now, what aren’t flawed are Larsson’s characterizations, and that’s what elevates this novel from being one hell of a good mystery to a work of far greater significance. And as I alluded earlier, it is Lisbeth Salander that is his showstopper. I’ve never met anyone like her. You’ve never met anyone like her. She’s one of a kind; a damaged genius who will break your heart while pissing you off. Lisbeth’s past had only been hinted at in Dragon. We learn a lot more about her in Fire. Happily, I feel confident there is still much to unravel in Hornet’s Nest. The ending of this novel will leave you deeply impatient to get your hands on the final installment, and fearful of how that one will end.
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LibraryThing member Tpoi
I like the trilogy. Exciting, page turner. You can see Larsson's progressive politics coming through, and as odd as it was initially (because of sexual violence, etc.), how the book is pro-feminist. NB: If you have issues with or a past that include sexual abuse or trauma, I'd warn you away from
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the books (though the scenes with this are not many word count-wise). Show Less
LibraryThing member sunniefromoz
I’ve heard the expression “curates egg” and know what it means but I’ve often wondered where that expression came from. I found a nice explanation of its origin on the Phrase Finder website.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE fits that definition exactly. Good in parts but annoying and
My reaction to the book had me asking questions about the accolades the book has received. Does it truly merit this or is there the “Marilyn Monroe” effect happening? Would the books have been as universally acclaimed if the author hadn’t died tragically young before the books were published? How much editing was done on THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE? Was there a sense of “we mustn’t’ touch this work”? Would the publishers have allowed nearly 150 pages of back story and Salander’s daily life to stand as it does if Larsson had lived?
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, but I enjoyed it with reservations which not many seem to have expressed. Am I alone? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE fits that definition exactly. Good in parts but annoying and
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exasperating in others. The book begins with a recap of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and a very detailed account on the minutiae of the life of Lisbeth Salander. In fact these elements are so detailed that its past page 150 before the meat of the story even begins. I nearly gave up on the book, but a number of people urged me to keep going because it was worth it. I did persevere and I’m glad I did. But there were other things in the book that I struggled with: overlong-fight scenes with a minor character that was almost invincible which might have worked in an action movie but seemed silly and out of place in the book and a scene with Salander in danger towards the end that had me rolling my eyes. My reaction to the book had me asking questions about the accolades the book has received. Does it truly merit this or is there the “Marilyn Monroe” effect happening? Would the books have been as universally acclaimed if the author hadn’t died tragically young before the books were published? How much editing was done on THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE? Was there a sense of “we mustn’t’ touch this work”? Would the publishers have allowed nearly 150 pages of back story and Salander’s daily life to stand as it does if Larsson had lived?
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, but I enjoyed it with reservations which not many seem to have expressed. Am I alone? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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LibraryThing member Romonko
I absolutely loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and was thrilled to get this book. I really enjoyed it although it is quite different from the first one. This book is all about Lisbeth and her fight to take charge of her life. We learn a lot about Lisbeth's childhood and the things that
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happened to her. We also learn her survival skills when she seems to take on the world single-handedly. I love Lisbeth. She is a truly unique heroine and that in itself is enough to make me want to continue reading the next book. Sadly, that is the last book in this series, but I look forward to reading it. This novel has a storyline that grips right from the beginning and does not let go right until the very end. Larsson really knew how to tell a story and how to develop believable and realistic characters. This book is rated by the New York Times as one of the best books in 2009, and I agree with that rating. Show Less
LibraryThing member idiotgirl
Liked the first book in this trilogy better. More things happening that were unexpected. For this book, it was more one story. I get the sense the more I read this that the prose is a bit clunky. Not sure if this is translation or the original. I'll still read the third book. But the continuing
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story isn't as enamoring as the first. Show Less
LibraryThing member kakadoo202
what a rollercoaster ride. so fast and exciting. los of poeple again and some times it is hard to sort out who is who and lots of crazy twists. no really believable but for sure great to read. like it better then the first book. can.not wait to read the third book and hopefully one day book four
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which is on Stieg's girl freind's laptop - probably a MAC..... Show Less
LibraryThing member livrecache
Interesting. I'm hooked on the trilogy, and I am reading number 3 now. And I'm not going to cheat and see what has already been written about these books.
In book 1 the narrative is gripping (when it gets going). But the translation is clunky at best. The editing is woeful, and I can't tell whether
Also, the back story of various characters/institutions needed to be culled. If one is into the thriller genre, the author needs to know that his readers aren't going to be happy about being taking back 50 years – oh, I'm talking about the Hornet's Nest again. Strike that. The Girl Who Played With Fire is probably the best of the trilogy. But you have to read them all, For all their faults, they are captivating.
In book 1 the narrative is gripping (when it gets going). But the translation is clunky at best. The editing is woeful, and I can't tell whether
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that's the the original story or the translation. I suspect the original story. I wonder whether if the author lived, he might have got advice from his editor about structure, or at least repetition. Another problem is that the author had no idea when to cut down on detail (and it's even worse in the third book). Maybe he was on some sort of grant for product placement, but I felt overwhelmed by the detail included (this applied particularly to the second book).Also, the back story of various characters/institutions needed to be culled. If one is into the thriller genre, the author needs to know that his readers aren't going to be happy about being taking back 50 years – oh, I'm talking about the Hornet's Nest again. Strike that. The Girl Who Played With Fire is probably the best of the trilogy. But you have to read them all, For all their faults, they are captivating.
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LibraryThing member cinnamonowl
I liked this one much better than Dragon Tattoo, and I really enjoyed that one. I loved that we learned more about Lisbeth- and the more I learned, the more I liked her. And I liked her before! What a great character.
LibraryThing member eljabo
Surprisingly, I loved this book even more than I loved the first one, although the cliffhanger ending left a little to be desired.
I still stumbled over the odd Swedish terms like kroner. And could there be more characters in this book? They all seem to have the last name blah-blah-blah-son, so I
But the action kept going from beginning to end and there were some plot twists I didn't see coming.
I love Lisbeth - I find it funny that for all she avoids making real connections, connections somehow manage to find her. She's like a young, female House.
I still stumbled over the odd Swedish terms like kroner. And could there be more characters in this book? They all seem to have the last name blah-blah-blah-son, so I
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kept getting them all mixed up.But the action kept going from beginning to end and there were some plot twists I didn't see coming.
I love Lisbeth - I find it funny that for all she avoids making real connections, connections somehow manage to find her. She's like a young, female House.
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LibraryThing member lorieac
Excellent! Exciting! Read it now! It reminds me of William Gibson. I can't wait for the third novel to be translated and released here.
LibraryThing member multiplexer
"The Girl who Played with Fire" has middle book of a trilogy syndrome. It doesn't have all the setup and introductions and background and exploration of character that the first book has and it doesn't have the resolution of a final book. It is the Empire Strikes Back of the Millennium Trilogy ---
My biggest issue with "The Girl who Played with Fire" is that nothing of plot consequence happens for the first full third of the book. It opens with a big "meanwhile" where Lisbeth Salandar does stuff for a while and Mikhael Blomqvist does stuff for a while and the magazine does stuff for a while and really, people do stuff for a while. There's some good old fashioned lesbian sex, some regular straight sex, and lots of people sitting around drinking and talking. Then people get shot up real good and blood splatters and the book becomes enjoyable. We demand blood splatters! Give us dead bodies or go home!
The book tosses in characters who are so numerous it gets hard to follow after a while: cops, bikers, a professional boxer, the staff at Millennium magazine, the people at Milton Security, some dude named Zala, a big blond giant who goes around hitting people with his fists, government flunkies... and they all have names that end in "... berg." It becomes an exercise in being cross-eyed after a while. The story becomes /super/ exciting when it involves Lisbeth Salandar (our autistic heroine) or Mikael Blomqvist (our intrepid reporter) but then stalls a bit when it flashes to this secondary character or that secondary character. Well, I guess those characters need to have lives, too. Then there are fights --- one thing I can say about Stieg Larsson books is the guy knew how to write an exciting fight scene --- and implacable villains who are implacable and villainous and an absolutely amazing final 10% of the book full of, to put it bluntly, Empire Strikes Back moments with Big! Gasping! Revelations! GASP! Read that passage again! GASP!!!!
Except Lisbeth Salander gets to keep her hand. Sort of.
For the final 10% I bumped my review from three stars to four simply because the payoff is worth the slog at the beginning. For the most part, "The Girl who Played with Fire" is a three and a half star book. It plods in the beginning and bogs in places where the cops run around coming to incorrect conclusions. It is not as tightly plotted or as cleanly written as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." It isn't as enjoyably trashy, either -- sure, it has a lesbian sex scene but it is a bit on the tame side and Blomqvist doesn't sleep with /everyone/. It is trashy, sure, but it is not quite as trashy as the first book. In places it even feels a little conservative. The closing scenes, though, are worth the price of admission.
It also has no resolution. It's a middle series book. No opening and no closing. Luckily one can get "the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" from Amazon and it downloads right to the Kindle...
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neither an opener nor a closer, but with plenty of "I am your father, Luke" moments. This leaves the book feeling a little bit at loose ends.My biggest issue with "The Girl who Played with Fire" is that nothing of plot consequence happens for the first full third of the book. It opens with a big "meanwhile" where Lisbeth Salandar does stuff for a while and Mikhael Blomqvist does stuff for a while and the magazine does stuff for a while and really, people do stuff for a while. There's some good old fashioned lesbian sex, some regular straight sex, and lots of people sitting around drinking and talking. Then people get shot up real good and blood splatters and the book becomes enjoyable. We demand blood splatters! Give us dead bodies or go home!
The book tosses in characters who are so numerous it gets hard to follow after a while: cops, bikers, a professional boxer, the staff at Millennium magazine, the people at Milton Security, some dude named Zala, a big blond giant who goes around hitting people with his fists, government flunkies... and they all have names that end in "... berg." It becomes an exercise in being cross-eyed after a while. The story becomes /super/ exciting when it involves Lisbeth Salandar (our autistic heroine) or Mikael Blomqvist (our intrepid reporter) but then stalls a bit when it flashes to this secondary character or that secondary character. Well, I guess those characters need to have lives, too. Then there are fights --- one thing I can say about Stieg Larsson books is the guy knew how to write an exciting fight scene --- and implacable villains who are implacable and villainous and an absolutely amazing final 10% of the book full of, to put it bluntly, Empire Strikes Back moments with Big! Gasping! Revelations! GASP! Read that passage again! GASP!!!!
Except Lisbeth Salander gets to keep her hand. Sort of.
For the final 10% I bumped my review from three stars to four simply because the payoff is worth the slog at the beginning. For the most part, "The Girl who Played with Fire" is a three and a half star book. It plods in the beginning and bogs in places where the cops run around coming to incorrect conclusions. It is not as tightly plotted or as cleanly written as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." It isn't as enjoyably trashy, either -- sure, it has a lesbian sex scene but it is a bit on the tame side and Blomqvist doesn't sleep with /everyone/. It is trashy, sure, but it is not quite as trashy as the first book. In places it even feels a little conservative. The closing scenes, though, are worth the price of admission.
It also has no resolution. It's a middle series book. No opening and no closing. Luckily one can get "the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" from Amazon and it downloads right to the Kindle...
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LibraryThing member helgagrace
I read and enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo when it came out last year, although I felt that it was a bit heavy-handed at times. The Girl who Played with Fire is the second of the trilogy written by Swedish author Stieg Larsson before his untimely death. Fire, like the previous novel,
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features the characters of Lisbeth Salander (socially awkward hacker extraordinaire) and Mikael Blomkvist (investigative journalist and ladies' man). Larsson's characters are for the most part deeply flawed, and a refreshing number of them are women. This book, unlike the first, focuses on Salander's past and has as its main plot point her fugitive status after three mysterious killings shake Stockholm. As one of the victims is Salander's court-appointed guardian and her fingerprints are found at both crime scenes, she is naturally under suspicion from the outset. Blomkvist and the rest of the staff of Millennium magazine, the police department, and the security firm where Salander was once employed are all on the hunt for her, as well as a group of thugs that would rather she disappeared for good. I can't tell if I thought there were too many characters because there really were--several minor story lines seemed to disappear by the end of the book--or because they all had similar (and therefore somewhat confusing) Swedish names. I am all for Scandinavian naming conventions, but it was occasionally hard to remember who individual characters were when they popped up after being absent for some time. The book is gripping, however, and ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving me eager for the final installment. Show Less
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Primarily the story of Lisbeth Salander and her being wanted for murdering three people, one of whom was freelancing for Mikael Blomkvist at Millenium, regarding the Swedish sex trade industry.
There were some revalations in the book. However, there was a lot of repetition in the book as well.
The
There were some revalations in the book. However, there was a lot of repetition in the book as well.
The
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book started off very slow and gained some speed in the middle. It could have been 100 pages shorter and tighter. Additionally, the gun battle at the end involving Lisbeth was somewhat unbelievable. These two items reduced the rating to the 3 1/2 stars. This was not as good as the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Show Less
LibraryThing member ACleveland
The book was good but it was a long read, as in the story kept beating around the push. Out of the whole book. I think that part four was the best and the most shocking. Its not one of those books where you have to digest what happened, but it does keep you on your toes.
I am not sad that i read
I am not sad that i read
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it..i just...i wish there was more. Maybe thats why theres a third book. Its one story set up in three different books. Not like Harry Potter or Twilight. The book left the main story unfinished so you have to read the last one to know what really happens in the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member AJBraithwaite
Better than the first book, I thought. A well-crafted murder mystery with slightly less distracting bed-hopping and a smaller cast of characters than in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'.
My only complaint is the number of times the characters repaired to Burger King and McDonald's for food. Was the
My only complaint is the number of times the characters repaired to Burger King and McDonald's for food. Was the
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publisher getting paid sponsorship? Show Less
LibraryThing member ddelmoni
Even better than Dragon Tatoo. Larsson really surprised me this time. Never saw it coming -- leading me to talk out loud to an empty room at 1 a.m.!!!
LibraryThing member ejj1955
The second of Larsson's three books, this also featured the journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the eccentric genius hacker Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist hasn't seen Salander for a year or more; she's been out of the country (Sweden) traveling, enjoying the fortune she stole. Blomkvist and his colleagues
The book ends with a lot hanging in the balance and there I sat last night, glumly reading online that the third book won't be available in the United States until late May. But it's available now on Amazon UK . . . with a pricey shipping cost. I barely managed to keep from trying for immediate gratification, but I would pick up the third one and read it immediately if it were available. What a tragedy that this author is lost. (Note: Ended up ordering the third book from the Book Depository--thanks to an LT'er who told me about that site.)
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are planning to publish a magazine edition and a book exposing Sweden's sex trade, naming many highly placed 'johns.' But the author of the book and his fiancee, whose doctoral dissertation contains her research on the subject from the viewpoint of the victimized prostitutes, are murdered, and Lisbeth's fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Blomkvist is one of very few who believe in her innocence, and while the police institute a hunt for her, Blomkvist searches for the real motive behind the killings.The book ends with a lot hanging in the balance and there I sat last night, glumly reading online that the third book won't be available in the United States until late May. But it's available now on Amazon UK . . . with a pricey shipping cost. I barely managed to keep from trying for immediate gratification, but I would pick up the third one and read it immediately if it were available. What a tragedy that this author is lost. (Note: Ended up ordering the third book from the Book Depository--thanks to an LT'er who told me about that site.)
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LibraryThing member knitbusy
I have been slightly depressed since I finished reading this book. How I wish I hadn't rushed through it quite so quickly! I should have savored it, but I found it almost impossible to stop reading once I picked this book up.
This is the second book in Larsson's Millennium trilogy, following The
Let me start by saying that I think it is important to read the books in order. There are plenty of references to the first novel in the story, and without the background you might find yourself getting a bit lost.
The novel begins shortly after the conclusion of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lisbeth Salander is traveling the world, enjoying her newly acquired millions, while Blomkvist is still riding high from his Wennerström coup. Salander has cut off all contact with Blomkvist, and is busy trying to establish a new life for herself. Meanwhile, Millennium magazine has agreed to publish a special issue and a book that will highlight the sex trafficking trade that is thriving in Sweden. Salander's guardian Bjurman is desperate to revenge himself upon Salander, and to escape from her control. Bjurman reaches out to a man from his past, and suddenly Salander finds herself the most wanted woman in Sweden, and Blomkvist is dragged into the fray as he must choose what to believe about Salander.
The above description might seem pretty generalized, but I really don't want to give anything away. There are plenty of great revelations in this book about Salander and her past, and I don't want to spoil them. The first book left me wanting more Salander, and this book delivered. She is without doubt one of the most vibrant characters I have ever encountered. I really loved this book, and I was sad to turn the last page. I am anxiously awaiting the third novel in the trilogy, and am genuinely sorry that Larsson passed away before he could write all 10 of his planned novels. If all of them were as great as the first two, I might never need to read anything else.
One caveat: as with the first novel, this book has some adult content. I didn't find it over the top, and none of the material is graphic in nature, but if you are offended by even the suggestion of bisexuality then you should steer clear of this book.
This is the second book in Larsson's Millennium trilogy, following The
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Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and it surpasses the first, which is really saying something.Let me start by saying that I think it is important to read the books in order. There are plenty of references to the first novel in the story, and without the background you might find yourself getting a bit lost.
The novel begins shortly after the conclusion of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lisbeth Salander is traveling the world, enjoying her newly acquired millions, while Blomkvist is still riding high from his Wennerström coup. Salander has cut off all contact with Blomkvist, and is busy trying to establish a new life for herself. Meanwhile, Millennium magazine has agreed to publish a special issue and a book that will highlight the sex trafficking trade that is thriving in Sweden. Salander's guardian Bjurman is desperate to revenge himself upon Salander, and to escape from her control. Bjurman reaches out to a man from his past, and suddenly Salander finds herself the most wanted woman in Sweden, and Blomkvist is dragged into the fray as he must choose what to believe about Salander.
The above description might seem pretty generalized, but I really don't want to give anything away. There are plenty of great revelations in this book about Salander and her past, and I don't want to spoil them. The first book left me wanting more Salander, and this book delivered. She is without doubt one of the most vibrant characters I have ever encountered. I really loved this book, and I was sad to turn the last page. I am anxiously awaiting the third novel in the trilogy, and am genuinely sorry that Larsson passed away before he could write all 10 of his planned novels. If all of them were as great as the first two, I might never need to read anything else.
One caveat: as with the first novel, this book has some adult content. I didn't find it over the top, and none of the material is graphic in nature, but if you are offended by even the suggestion of bisexuality then you should steer clear of this book.
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Awards
Anthony Award (Nominee — Novel — 2010)
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 2009)
Dilys Award (Nominee — 2010)
Crimefest Awards (Winner — 2010)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006-06 (original Swedish)
2009 (English: Keeland)
ISBN
0307476154 / 9780307476159