Product Description

Even more gripping and astonishing than the first ... this novel will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-09
• Released on: 2009-07-09
• Original language: Swedish
• Binding: Paperback
• 608 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Review
'Intelligent, complex, with a gripping plot and deeply intriguing characters' Philip Pullman, Guardian. 'A frighteningly suspenseful mystery' Harlen Coben. 'Brilliantly written and totally gripping' Minette Walters. 'As vivid as bloodstains on snow' Lee Child. 'In her (Salander) Larsson has created a heroine unique to detective fiction. Where else can you find a bisexual female detective with punk-era fashion sense who just happens to be an expert computer hacker?' Independent. --Reviews

Star of the show is, once again, the brilliant and misanthropic computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, an eccentric and unique heroine...it is tightly orchestrated, with all the twists and turns of an old-fashioned spy novel, and the most jaw-dropping ending. It s a perfect summer read. --Kate Mosse

Pascale Frey, Elle
Warning - addictive thriller. All who taste it get hooked!

Customer Reviews

Amazing
An outstanding and dare I say superior sequel to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Having read the first story of the trilogy this summer I was eager to know how the sequel would compare. In the girl with the dragon tattoo, Lisebeth Salander is definitely an enigmatic character and there are subtle hints that there is a lot of back story to her character. Am I glad that this back story has been developed and interwoven into this sequel. Too often we say "I couldn't put a book down" but in this case it is definitely a book you will be glued to.

The story comes to life when Salander is wanted in connection with some murders that have been commited. From this point the story moves on at a frenetic pace with all characters connected to Salander such as Blomkvist the journalist and Armansky her former employer defending her and trying to get to the bottom of the case alongside a national police investigation.

Ultimately this book is about why is Salander the way she is. What drives her and what is she willing to do to get to the truth?

Enjoy and look forward to the third part of the trilogy which should hopefully be translated from Swedish before the end of the year. If you're lucky (not me) and can read Swedish then why not get the third installment asap. Having said that if you're Swedish you've probably already read it.

THE must-buy sequel of the year
Having read 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' earlier this year, I couldn't WAIT for the next installment in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy..
And WHAT a sequel!
Oh my god from the moment the story gets going you won't want to stop reading. I finished it in one weekend it, was that good!
In brief, Michael Blomkvist hasn't seen or heard from Lisbeth Salander since she disappered after their successful partnership on the Vanger case nearly 2 years ago.
But when Salander suddenly hits the national headlines as the prime suspect in three killings, Blomkvist has his doubts, and is compelled to do some of his own research..
What follows is an exciting rollercoaster ride filled at every corner with shocks, twists, and turns.. but most importantly, the answer to the question:
Who is Lisbeth Salander??

Can't wait for the next one!
I loved this book!! I was bought the first book of the Millennium Trilogy (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) for my birthday a few months ago. Despite having a very young baby and having little or no time to do anything but the essential things in a day, I managed to squirrel enough time to read it and feed my addiction. As soon as I finished it I ordered The Girl Who Played With Fire. I was a bit worried I might be disappointed but, on the contrary, I thought it was better than the first. I loved the fact that Lisbeth Salander's life - both past and present - was shown to us in more detail. How fascinating that the description of her apartment near the end of the book bore little relation to how she appeared to see it!

Apart from that, I thought the book was really well written and I found it to be in the extremely-hard-to-put-down category. Larsson misses nothing in giving us all we need to follow the detailed plot interweaved with many characters. He wraps up the story neatly at the end but also manages to leave us with a giant cliffhanger. Roll on 1 October for The Girl Who Played With Fire!!