Having lost an expensive libel case, Mikael Blomkvist finds himself faced with a huge damages payment and discredited as a journalist. Hoping to be given information to fight his case, he takes a job with Henrik Vanger, head of huge family firm Vanger Corporation - ostensibly to write a family history but actually to investigate the disappearance or death of Vanger's great-niece back in the 60s. He's aided in his investigation by Lisbeth Salander - anorexic tattooed security specialist and computer hacker extraordinaire. Together they uncover a gruesome series of murders, hidden in the idyllic setting of Vanger's estate.
When this book was first published I was offered a review copy from somewhere - and turned it down! For years I've wondered what I missed out on and if it was possible for it to live up to its hype so when I saw a copy at the library ...
It's always difficult reading a book that's had such a lot of publicity, rave reviews and film adaptations - expectations are often raised far too high. So how did The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fare? Actually, it didn't do too badly. The story line was intriguing with a variety of twists and turns. It's not perfect - I felt the setting up chapters stretched on for too long, I found it difficult to care very much about the characters and the I guessed some of the key plot twists in advance. All in all though an interesting read.
Would I read the rest of the trilogy? Probably not if I had to go out of my way to find them; if for some reason they crossed my path - in front of me on a library or holiday cottage shelf - then I possibly would.
Maryom's review - 3.5 stars
Publisher - Maclehose Press/Quercus Books
Genre - adult crime fiction
Buy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy Book 1)
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