The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first novel in The Millennium Trilogy.
It was published in 2005, one year after the author Stieg Larsson’s death.
It received The Glass Key Award form Crime Writers of Scandinavia in 2006.
According to figures from June 2011, the Millennium Trilogy has together sold 60 million copies in more than 50 countries.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Plot summary
The middle-aged financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist, publisher of the leftwing magazine Millennium in Stockholm is sentenced to a stiff fine and three months in prison for libeling billionaire industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström.
Editor-in-chief Erika Berger, Blomkvist’s friend, lover, and business partner, wants to fight on but he believes that unless he steps down as publisher and from the board, his professional disgrace will drag the magazine down with him. Just as he is at a loose end, Blomkvist is offered two richly rewarded projects by Henrik Vanger, former head of the Vanger industrial empire, who had Blomkvist thoroughly invested by Milton Security, who assigned their top dirt digger, Lisbeth Salander, to the job.
On his estate on the tiny island of Hedeby, several hours from Stockholm, Vanger persuades the reluctant and skeptical Blomkvist to take on the search for his niece, already missing 40 years, presumed dead, by promising him evidence that Wennerström committed fraud. Blomkvist’s cover for his investigation is that he’s to spend a year writing the Vanger family history. Vanger believes Harriet was murdered by a member of the extended Vanger family, dozens of whom were present in Hedeby on the day of her disappearance.
The island was isolated by an accident to a fuel tanker that blocked the only bridge, so this is a locked-room mystery, with this exception: while a murder is presumed, there is no body. Each year on his birthday the murderer torments Vanger by sending him a framed pressed flower, a habit Harriet had while alive. Blomkvist moves to a grimly uncomfortable cottage on Hedeby in the middle of a foul Swedish winter. He analyzes forty years of files Henrik Vanger has obsessively built up in his attempt to isolate his relative who murdered his niece.
Blomkvist discovers that the Vanger family includes rather a large number of wife-beaters and what at times appears to be a predominance of outright Nazis, fellow- travelers and racists. The Vanger family, all with shares in the corporation, want Blomkvist gone: they have plenty to hide and don’t want Henrik, 82 and childless, to spend his money on dirt-digging journalists.
Meanwhile, back in Stockholm, Lisbeth Salander’s legal guardian Holger Palmgren falls ill and is replaced by Nils Bjurman. We discover that Salander has been declared unfit to handle her own affairs and is considered mentally and morally subnormal by social services! Bjurman is a sadist who extorts sexual favors from Salander in return for allowing her to spend her own money on a new computer. Later he rapes her; she videotapes this event, returns with a Tazer to stun him, ties him up, then uses the videotape to blackmail him into writing good reports of her to the social services, with a view to eventually having a court declare her rehabilitated and capable. She roughly tattoos, ‘I am a sadistic pig, a pervert, and a rapist’ in large letters on his belly.
Blomkvist discovers that Salander has hacked into his computer and hires her to help him decode the meaning of baffling entries in Harriet’s diary. After some false starts they discover that what they have is a list of names of brutally murdered women corresponding with Bible verses describing forms of terminal ancient punishments. On the premise that Harriet found out about the serial killer and was killed by him before she could expose him, they investigate further.
While Salander is away following a paper trail already half a century old, Blomkvist stumbles into the torture chamber of a serial killer, who strips him naked, hangs him up, and confesses to forty years of rape and murder. He admits to raping but not murdering Harriet, whose disappearance baffles him too. As the killer starts to strangle Blomkvist, Salander, who has just independently solved the mystery of the biblical killings, bursts in and rescues him. Later they solve the Harriet mystery too.
Vanger, of course, led Blomkvist by the nose on the Wennerström matter; he has no useful evidence. It is left to Salander, the computer hacker, to give Blomkvist the goods on Wennerström, which makes Blomkvist, the convicted libeler, a media superstar and ensures the survival of his magazine Millennium.
In the process Salander ends up with Wennerström’s fortune.
479 comments on “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”
Great Reads! My wife and I spent much of our vacation reading and discussing the books. The Swedish cultural backdrop (coffee, aquavit, IKEA, did we mention coffee?) provided a rich context. What a sad irony that Stieg did not enjoy the fruits of his efforts. Lisbeth Salander is a literary character for the ages.
- Neil & Clarice,
Why could the books not keep their original title?
1:st one in Swedish is acctually called; Men who hates women
A brave title, which fits the book very well.
- Susanne,
This series kept me guessing. It left me in shock at points and kept me wanting more. I would suggest this series to anyone who wants a real page turner.
- Kim,
I couldn’t bare to read the last chapter of the third book, because then I knew it would be over!
- Arlene Dias,
i hear she has the next book , half written by stieg before he died , and she knows his writng style well enough to finish it. revenge enough???
A great book once you get through the first 50 pages. Need to place close attention-don’t skip over anything.
- P. A Davis,
I left the last page for a few days. Couldn’t/didn’t want it to end!
- Janine, Oz,
Simply superb!
- Dima,
Couldn’t agree more with P.A. Davis’s comment
- Arnis Sloka,
I loved these books. the only complaint I had was about The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. it seemed there was a lot of unnecessary side stories that took your focus off of the main plot. I wanted to find out how Lisbeth was going to save herself this time and you had to wade through these stories that in the end had nothing to do with the outcome of the book. Other than that, these books were great, they keep you guessing and you really enjoy the characters.
- Sara,
yes that is right, once i got through the first part it was great
- laura NZ,
Hi,
My name is Andy. I am living in New Zealand. I am a high school teacher.
I am originally from Korea. Korean is my mother tongue.
I have been translating English to Korean.
My dream is to translate a great book into a beautiful Korean language for my people.
If you are interested in, please send me an email.
chch2nz@yahoo.com
- andy,
I couldn’t stop reading until I had read all three books. Lisbeth is an exciting heroine who is tech smart and street savvy.
- K. Fleschner,
“Right out of Central casting” now that’s a phrase from a journalist, you may well have put it down but only after you had read well over 400 pages.A great read and I will be off to get the next one shortly.Can’t wait for the Hollywood movie with DC as Blomqvist.Mike,
Can’t figure what all the fuss is about, really. Pretty routine and cliche detective story stuff here. Maybe the character of Lisbeth is what intrigues people? I actually put it down after Mikael and Martin have their run in. I did not care who “done it” nor did I care about the characters, all of whom were right out of central casting.
- Rachel Levine,
Due to the elaborate details and complexity of the characters and events the story brings to the surface, it may be hard for some people understand and appreciate.I thought the book was great, could not put it down.
- R. Zumker,
So easy to be addicted, isn’t it?
- Diane in DC,
Who is this pompous arse ?
- pimmc,
I slogged it out and skipped to about page 100 and then had to return it to the library. I slogged it out a little more and then couldn’t put it down. Just persevere because it does get really good.
- Brenda, Ottawa, ON,
its an unputdownable action packed book.The characters have been created in a very fascinating manner, lucid in description and easy to imagine… i particularly was fascinated by the cahracter of Lisbeth Salander, intrigued by her persona eagerly awaiting the movie..!!
- swati jalan,
I have read all the Millenium books and seen both movies, excellent writing, thoroughly enjoyable!
- Isobel,
i agree…
- J. Robles,
instead of sleeping on my overseas flight I read the book, what a great read
- traveller,
Wow! I watched the first movie and thought it was fantastic, I promptly went out and bought the second book and read it straight through. I just finished the third book and it was so satisfying! I am so sad that he is gone and we lost such a brilliant and talented artist.
- aldeberon,
Am listening to the audio books. Absolutely rivetting
- Debby Sewell,
Am listening to the audio books. Absolutely rivetting
- Debby Sewell,
I read “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” before watching the Swedish film. The book is far better although if I had seen the film first I believe it would have had more impact. The book was a bit difficult to get into at first but after getting through the necessary exposition, I could not put it down. I found Lisbeth both fascinating and appealing. The character of Mikael Blomkvist was believeable as the one person Lisbeth truly respected.
- theatrix,
hey isobel….should i read or watch the movies first?
- ladyofthelake,
Rachel.. I forced myself to page 187 and gave up…mostly I suffered from a “who cares’ attitude.. a friend made it to page 50 before she ditched it…..another friend never started…”who needs the violence?”. But..every where I go people are raving about the 3 books. My sisiter
- in
- law reported that people all around her in Croatia were hooked.why! why! why!
- dotti,
I read “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” before watching the Swedish film. The book is far better although if I had seen the film first I believe it would have had more impact. The book was a bit difficult to get into at first but after getting through the necessary exposition, I could not put it down. I found Lisbeth both fascinating and appealing. The character of Mikael Blomkvist was believeable as the one person Lisbeth truly respected.
- theatrix,
I agree! 1st Noomi Rapace owned this role 2nd. I don’t know why people are raving about Mara’s performance it was mediocore at best. I believe they could have cast Lisbeth much better than her.
- D.Dezi,
Found the book so much more gripping than the movie
- Bruce,
I have never read three books in two months in a summer. Salander made me feel even more confident that I can do anything. The books were so compelling that the characters were with me for two months as if I am actually living with them. The books spin mystery, hope, suspense, evil, the darkest part of human soul, greed, love and confidence. Fantastic transalation by Reg Keeland great work. Stieg Larson – what a writer who understands the human psyche.
- Moreen Sinclair,
I have never read three books in two months in a summer. Salander made me feel even more confident that I can do anything. The books were so compelling that the characters were with me for two months as if I am actually living with them. The books spin mystery, hope, suspense, evil, the darkest part of human soul, greed, love and confidence. Fantastic transalation by Reg Keeland great work. Stieg Larson – what a writer who understands the human psyche.
- Moreen Sinclair,
Hi, should I read or watch the movie first?
- ladyofthelake,
T totally agree! You have expressed my sentiments exactly as I read this book. However, I have no desire to read the others because I do not like the violence against women nor anyone. I prefer happy reading.
- Alice Jeanne Marques,
I agree the book was a little difficult to get into at first but after a couple of chapters I was hooked, now 3 quarters into book 2 absolutely compelling must see the swedish version of the film.Shame Stieg died could have read endless books about this girl.
- Stephanie Holding,
Hi, should I read or watch the movie first?
- ladyofthelake,
Well, he’s an American, what can you expect? He’s probably an anti
-abortion, pro
-gun, religious right
-wing nutcase, too.
- Carolyn McLuskie,
I hope you realize that your critque of TGWTDT speaks volumes about yourself.
- Gary_NYC,
I was a bit dubious at first, but now I’m hooked! what a tragedy steig died, I’m sure he had loads left in him.
- martmart,
I was a bit dubious at first, but now I’m hooked! what a tragedy steig died, I’m sure he had loads left in him.
- martmart,
Impressive work!!! Thank you for this Stieg… *****
- H. Bacalan,
Impressive work!!! Thank you for this Stieg… *****
- H. Bacalan,
I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest. Now I want to see the movies. I Live in Chicago, IL and wish it was in english and playing in the movies in the states. The book were all fantastic, very well written.
- Beth,
absolutely read the book first
I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest. Now I want to see the movies. I Live in Chicago, IL and wish it was in english and playing in the movies in the states. The book were all fantastic, very well written.
- Beth,
absolutely read the book first
It took a while to get started, but by the time I had slogged through to page 50 or so, I was irrevocably hooked. I read the rest of the book within 2 days!
- Aims,
absolutely amazing…… hard to get started at first but then i couldn’t stop reading.
- sam,
I’m halfway through with the second book and looking forward to reading the last one…Salander is one hell of a character very unpredictable…i must say Larsson’s a genius too bad he died early…
- foureyedmuggle,
It took a while to get started, but by the time I had slogged through to page 50 or so, I was irrevocably hooked. I read the rest of the book within 2 days!
- Aims,
absolutely amazing…… hard to get started at first but then i couldn’t stop reading.
- sam,
I’m halfway through with the second book and looking forward to reading the last one…Salander is one hell of a character very unpredictable…i must say Larsson’s a genius too bad he died early…
- foureyedmuggle,
loved the girl with the dragon tatoo. Reading the girlwho played with fire and cannot put it down. also reading the bio of Larsson by Kurdo Baksi and it is very insightful
- D Haight,
Loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Girl who Played with Fire, but am struggling with the Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. Too much political and governmental discussion….am finally to the last 75 pages and it is getting good…I guess it will be worth hanging in there.
Will absolutely see the movies!!!
- whartsoe,
Look I dont get the discussion between blomvquist and his old school friend on the boat. i was lost but i am still intrigued to read more but god theres so much going on
- wushuwds,
Iam amazed that someone did not like the book , girl w/tat , of course whoever did not like this gem probably loved thirteen moons ( a friggin dog ) by Frazier . His first book was sooo good COLD MOUNTAIN !!!!!!
- BIATCH,
I have never read three books faster in my life
- Chad, London, ont,
There seem to already be a lot of positive reviews here, so I think I’ll put in my opinion. I didn’t like this book. I read because I had heard it was supposed to be good. I guess I was expecting sort a James Bond-type thriller, but anyways, I would encourage potential readers not to waster your time.
This book is bad. Really bad. The whole Harriet Vanger mystery plot is extremely uninteresting and boring, and too much of the book is chewed up by the main character running around a sleepy town getting nowhere fast. I found myself skipping pages here and there just to get on with the story, only to be sadly disappointed when it never picked up any speed.
The main female protagonist for whom the book is named is the only character who is interesting enough for you to actually care about. If the book had just been about her, it might have been good.
As the story progresses, the two main characters meet and solve the mystery and find the killer, but at this point in the book you have most likely forgotten what the mystery actually is since it’s so damn boring! The main plot of the novel ends in a disgustingly violent scene, then the rest of the book is chewed up by an implausible and unnecessary story of the journalist’s revenge on some corporate executive.
Overall, the characters are boring and the dialogue is wooden and unreal. The plot is so bad that it doesn’t even carry all the way to the end of the book, making the story annoyingly lopsided and not going full-circle.
Maybe the second and third books are better, I don’t know and I don’t want to. Again, please DO NO waste your time with this book. You have been warned.
- The Doctor,
you can get the Swedish version from Redbox. it takes a little time to adjust to reading the sub
- titiles but then you hardly notice. It’s a good interpretation I just wish they would have shown Lisbeth’s intellect more. They gave credit to other characters for some things she discovered. I didn’t feel the things that were left out made a huge difference to the story and overall was a good film.
- Sara,
the book did not say that
you should read the book
- ?,
There seem to already be a lot of positive reviews here, so I think I’ll put in my opinion. I didn’t like this book. I read because I had heard it was supposed to be good. I guess I was expecting sort a James Bond-type thriller, but anyways, I would encourage potential readers not to waster your time.
This book is bad. Really bad. The whole Harriet Vanger mystery plot is extremely uninteresting and boring, and too much of the book is chewed up by the main character running around a sleepy town getting nowhere fast. I found myself skipping pages here and there just to get on with the story, only to be sadly disappointed when it never picked up any speed.
The main female protagonist for whom the book is named is the only character who is interesting enough for you to actually care about. If the book had just been about her, it might have been good.
As the story progresses, the two main characters meet and solve the mystery and find the killer, but at this point in the book you have most likely forgotten what the mystery actually is since it’s so damn boring! The main plot of the novel ends in a disgustingly violent scene, then the rest of the book is chewed up by an implausible and unnecessary story of the journalist’s revenge on some corporate executive.
Overall, the characters are boring and the dialogue is wooden and unreal. The plot is so bad that it doesn’t even carry all the way to the end of the book, making the story annoyingly lopsided and not going full-circle.
Maybe the second and third books are better, I don’t know and I don’t want to. Again, please DO NO waste your time with this book. You have been warned.
- The Doctor,
Lennart Hyland was a Swedish jounalist. He was in his days one of the most famous radio and tv
-personality in Sweden. In 1962 he got a tv
-show in Sweden and was the first one to sit behind a desk like Letterman, Leno do today. Im not quiet sure what book you are after…but in 1966 Hylands talkshow produced a book called “Hylands ABC
-Bok, Hylands ABC
-Book”. TV viewers were invited to submit proposals on the ABC Music and tens of thousands of submissions were received. Verses, illustrated by famous artists. It looks like this http://www.tradera.com/ABC
-BOK
-Hylands
-Horna
-Radiohjalpen
-auktion_107124715. The auction is unfortunately closed.
- Michaela, Sweden,
Oh? I hadn’t heard this. Maybe I’ll give him another chance. I thought his voice was that of a middle
-aged guy who wanted to be cool in the GwtDT, sort of like a guy who buys a Miata convertible or something. The latter two books aren’t about Blomquist are they? Maybe SL was able to channel a late 20's pseudo
-punk preternatural hacker girl better than a late 40's Swedish writer…
- trej,
Thank you Michelle, from talking to many people who have read the whole series, that the books get better and that the third is really gripping. Will persevere!
- Caro Eyre,
My wife borrowed the 3 set “girl” series. They sat around the house for weeks, I finally picked up the first book. The world outside stopped. I didn’t resume normal activity until all three books were done! WOW!!! It saddens me that Mr. Larsson has passed and with him this wonderful character array he produced.
- Neil Grayson,
what’s the difference between the the cover showing the girls back and the cover showing the girls face.
- Helen,
what’s the difference between the the cover showing the girls back and the cover showing the girls face.
- Helen,
u simply cannot resist turning the next page
- mahesh latkar”INDIA”,
My irl w/Dragon Tatto bookis missing pages! Please email me pages 122-155 I don’t want to miss anything!!!! dmonte17@yahoo.com
- Dav Monte,
u simply cannot resist turning the next page
- mahesh latkar”INDIA”,
My irl w/Dragon Tatto bookis missing pages! Please email me pages 122-155 I don’t want to miss anything!!!! dmonte17@yahoo.com
- Dav Monte,
I read about two to three crime stories a week. When I read a book that I consider to be bad I put it aside and a week later it goes to the salvation army. And I never write a review about such a book because in my view I dont know a zero star novel. So why didn´t you put the book aside instead of torturing yourself reading this. Take the books you like. My opinion (I read thousands of thrillers)…these three books about Millennium are of an exceptional high level.
- Joop,
Sickly perverted, but quite enjoyable all the same
- T,
Sickly perverted, but quite enjoyable all the same
- T,
love this book and Lisbeth Salander and I think her and Jack Bauer would make a gerat team.
- jim,
love this book and Lisbeth Salander and I think her and Jack Bauer would make a gerat team.
- jim,
Horrendous and extremely disturbing movie. I have no idea if the book is as horrendous but the movie is something I wish I’d never seen and we could not even watch all scenes. This movie is AWFULLY DISTRUBING and for the TWISTED MINDED!
- moviewatcher,
I read about two to three crime stories a week. When I read a book that I consider to be bad I put it aside and a week later it goes to the salvation army. And I never write a review about such a book because in my view I dont know a zero star novel. So why didn´t you put the book aside instead of torturing yourself reading this. Take the books you like. My opinion (I read thousands of thrillers)…these three books about Millennium are of an exceptional high level.
- Joop,
Horrendous and extremely disturbing movie. I have no idea if the book is as horrendous but the movie is something I wish I’d never seen and we could not even watch all scenes. This movie is AWFULLY DISTRUBING and for the TWISTED MINDED!
- moviewatcher,
take the book back to any book store and they will give you a new one
- me,
Yeah, I know, I probably shouldn’t have even bothered finishing the damn thing, but I don’t start books and then stop reading them. Believe me, I wanted to like this book and I thought that by reading it all the way through to the end I might find it satisfying somehow. It didn’t.
- The Doctor,
dis book is out f dis world…i hav lived lisbeth n i love her
- aparna,
dis book is out f dis world…i hav lived lisbeth n i love her
- aparna,
dis book is out f dis world…i hav lived lisbeth n i love her
- aparna,
I’ve finsihed the Millenium series. Read it 5 times in English and 3 times in Swedish.
It is going to be my Christmas read.
- Ingrid,
I’ve finsihed the Millenium series. Read it 5 times in English and 3 times in Swedish.
It is going to be my Christmas read.
- Ingrid,
I’ve finsihed the Millenium series. Read it 5 times in English and 3 times in Swedish.
It is going to be my Christmas read.
- Ingrid,
Just a wonderful book.I loved it.from albania
Got all three books for Christmas … finished reading the last yesterday (Dec. 30). I saw the movies first and was amazed to see how faithful they are to the books. Best reading in this genre that I have ever encountered.
- HimmelBerries, 31 December 2010
Got all three books for Christmas … finished reading the last yesterday (Dec. 30). I saw the movies first and was amazed to see how faithful they are to the books. Best reading in this genre that I have ever encountered.
- HimmelBerries,
I found the book to be very disturbing. Who can write this stuff? This should never be used in high schools. I wouldn’t let my own mother read it.
- al,
Wow you’re a little too young even for an advanced reader… You can really get disturbed. BTW: Twilight ain’t got nothin on this. This would way surpass sales of twilight if all people your age could read it too I’m sure. EPIC book!
- Josh N SA14,
I read this whole series, some content is really unappropriate for a twelve year old.
I found the book to be very disturbing. Who can write this stuff? This should never be used in high schools. I wouldn’t let my own mother read it.
- al,
Andrew I suggest you read the book or your atlas a bit more carefully. The book places the Cochran farm 400kms north form Alice Springs and the sheep station where Anita was found another 120kms further west. That ain’t anywhere near Longreach! More likely the Tanami Desert and there are no sheep in this region. Nice try giving Longreach some unwarranted publicity!!
- Name/signature,
such a shit storyline in my opinion lisbath was as fucked up as the rest of the characters in the film ! watched the film today was disgusted by it, only encourages sickos to carry out violent acts against women !
- san x,
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo mistake. Canberra is not in NEw South Wales, it is in the state ACT (Aust Capital Territory), it is a state surrounded by NSW. Secondly it has no international airport.
- Brumby,
I am 12 years old, and I am an advanced reader. When I was 10 I read the whole entire Twilight series in 8 days, I’ve read books like Wuthering Heights all in my free time, so my aunt and my uncle got me this Triliogy for Christmas because I had said I wanted it. I’m just starting the book and I find it to be an amazing story
- Jenna W.,
violence is all around.not just this generation.you sound like an old winge bag who just has to moan about everything.good luck young reader
12 is too young to be reading this book. It is so telling of our generation that we think it is ok for 12 year olds (even advanced as I was at that age) to be reading sexually graphic and violent materials. No wonder the next generation is growing up with such violence! Just because they can read does not mean that they should be……
Don’t listen to others. I was reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz and other authors of this genre when I was 13. You’re not too young.
I agree it is disturbing, but it really does shed light on the truths of crimes that happen in real life. If you were not mature enough to handle it, you should have put it down at first hint if anything too much for you.
- Josh N SA14,
THANK YOU
- qwerty,
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo mistake. Canberra is not in NEw South Wales, it is in the state ACT (Aust Capital Territory), it is a state surrounded by NSW. Secondly it has no international airport.
- Brumby,
I am 12 years old, and I am an advanced reader. When I was 10 I read the whole entire Twilight series in 8 days, I’ve read books like Wuthering Heights all in my free time, so my aunt and my uncle got me this Triliogy for Christmas because I had said I wanted it. I’m just starting the book and I find it to be an amazing story
- Jenna W.,
I agree it is disturbing, but it really does shed light on the truths of crimes that happen in real life. If you were not mature enough to handle it, you should have put it down at first hint if anything too much for you.
- Josh N SA14,
THANK YOU
- qwerty,
i did NOT want to like these books,but i started reading and couldn’t stop
- A Librarian,
I’m quite serious. What the writer has done was essentially create a story that was written as a formula: Sex, extreme violence, and naturally making the heroine a bisexual to conform with the trend–pathetic, predictable, but it sells more books.It’s an entertaining fast read; that’s all, let’s not go overboard with endless encomiums as if it can compare to the ” Tolstoy’s of the literary world”. It’s just another quick and easy read.
- Giovanni DeCesare,
Is this guy joking or what? One dimensional? Not serious? Not sure what your reading mate, but you should stick to Tolstoy and the like…
- Noe,
I enjoyed the book but the sexual content and the description you put into that one scene where Lisbeth give Bjurman a… well I shouldn’t say it but after that how you describe here taste and as she was wiping off the semen… just really disgusting.
- qwerty,
Do you think for one momento….that I could put down all 3 books….please write some more exciting stuff like this. I simply adore ole’ Lisbeth, but please keep it like a white xmas LOL. A gold medal to Stieg.
- Leon Booysen,
I enjoyed the book but the sexual content and the description you put into that one scene where Lisbeth give Bjurman a… well I shouldn’t say it but after that how you describe here taste and as she was wiping off the semen… just really disgusting.
- qwerty,
Do you think for one momento….that I could put down all 3 books….please write some more exciting stuff like this. I simply adore ole’ Lisbeth, but please keep it like a white xmas LOL. A gold medal to Stieg.
- Leon Booysen,
Just about 2/3 through the first of the books. Seen all three movies. Violent? Yes! Sexual? Yes! Thriller? Yes, all the way baby! An awesome read and much better than the movie, though that was excellent as well.
I won’t bother with the American version though, it will never be as good as the Swedish!
- Akos Lumnitzer, Sydney, Australia,
Just about 2/3 through the first of the books. Seen all three movies. Violent? Yes! Sexual? Yes! Thriller? Yes, all the way baby! An awesome read and much better than the movie, though that was excellent as well.
I won’t bother with the American version though, it will never be as good as the Swedish!
- Akos Lumnitzer, Sydney, Australia,
I don’t get it, seriously I don’t get it! just finished the first two and what is all the hoopla about? the second book goes on and on for the first hundred pages about buying of furniture and things that really bored me to death, I guessed about everything in the first one, martin, harriet, the scripture reference, couldnt figure out the coded numbers I could and it was a total yawn
- Dean bored to death,
Rarely would I read a book twice. This one I would.
- M.H.Twice,
Definitely my favorite series I’ve ever read. The literary world is missing his ingenious style
- Emily,
Best three books I’ve EVER read, and I read alot! All three done and dusted in about 10 days! So disappointed I’ve finished them as now I don’t know what to read to beat it! Just brilliant, such a shame Larsson isn’t around to write more, a great loss to all us avid fans!
- Jacqui,
Yes it was very hard to get into but once I was in a “trance” over the story I could not put it down-it was another great “who could possible have done it” book-but far more complex from a wonderful author!
- Mary Jane Laughlin McConnell,
Lisbeth must have a finnish background, because she’s so reserved.
- enfinneigen,
Try to get pass the first 25 pages and you?re hooked. Two things happens right away; before you know it, you?re in love with Lisbeth. Her cool character and resaved demeanor is catching. The second is the plot. You don?t believe me? Read the book.
- Ashkon; a rocket scientist,
This book was good yet disturbing at the same time. Larsson’s choice of words put vivid images into my head making me feel like I was the experiencing the events. This was an awesome book and would recommend it to everyone!!!
- Ally Yelton,
The movie was so disturbing to me, I will NEVER watch another one.
- Nicole,
Ronald Niedermann
- C,
His name is Ronald Nidermann
- Carina,
Absolutely amazing, the best I have ever read, I could read and watch the movies over and over and never get bored.
- Morgan Zack,
It was an sperb movie unfortunatly the subtitles were impossible to read .I am surprised that in todays day and age they were not done better.
- christine Kmetyk,
My new favorite movie refused to watch it in dubs
- s marriott,
I absolutly love these books. The first one starts slowly and took a while to read but it had my interest up enough to make me want to read the 2nd and 3rd book(sadly the last) I could not put them down. What an incredible story teller. Sadly we will never know where he would have gone with the story since he died suddenly. I have heard that there would have been 10 books in the series. Such a loss to his family and to the literary community.
- Rosanne in IA,
Its been a while since a book has captured my attention like this. Thank You.
Picture this; Im stuck in an airport waiting for my future wife and her son. i had about 2 hours to kill and couldn’t think of anything better to do so i bought this book cause i heard about the movie on some obscure web site. I figured what the hell. i didn’t realize i wasnt going to be able to put it down. Great job, Sir!
- Jon Briere,
It’s difficult to describe or praise Larsson and the trilogy in a short comment. Perhaps I can give a quote from my blog entry and invite you to read it (I’d be fascinated by comments from fans):
“Scandinavian authors (and poets and musicians) bring a certain bleakness to their work. The good ones use it as their canvas, the great writers weave it in to the lyricism of the words they produce. Larsson combines that lyricism with a style based on his journalistic expertise and an expert sense of timing to produce great sweeping novels that never let up.
I’ve just deleted the words “he throws in” as they would be a mis-description. Along the way he gently injects moments of pain and horror, tempering the novelist’s craft with the journalist’s avoidance of editorialising. Where a lesser writer might lapse into buckets-of-blood excess, he guides readers to form their own opinions and emotions. He doesn’t need to state that something is wrong or a huge injustice, his readers do it for him.
After reading the trilogy I was left almost angry that his early death has robbed us of more. If this is the quality of his first works, his later ones would have been magnificent.”
Please have a look at http://paulonbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/stieg-larsson.html and the individual book reviews
- PaulOnBooks,
Amazing, just amazing! I watched the first film then decided to read the series. I was hooked, started reading at 10pm and had to force myself to quit at 5am because I have a 1 year old! I do agree that the first book has a lot of characters to keep track of, which is why I think watching the movie helps put faces on the names. The movies aren’t nearly as good, especially The Girl Who Played With Fire, they didn’t do as good a job. But it’s a movie based on a book, they are never as good.
- Ames,
want to see the movie “The girl with the dragon tattoo” but need to finish the book first which is really good so far.
- B,
Loved Larsson’s style! His characters are so real you can basically even imagine their voices, their movements etc… I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it
- Elisa Welchez,
Loved Larsson’s style! His characters are so real you can basically even imagine their voices, their movements etc… I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it
- Elisa Welchez,
I have just finished “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” and have downloaded “The Girl Who Played With Fire” on my Kindle. If the second book is anything like the first, I’m sure that I won’t be able to put it down. “Terrific” writing and complex characters. A great read!
- Mary in Denver, Colorado,
I have just finished “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” and have downloaded “The Girl Who Played With Fire” on my Kindle. If the second book is anything like the first, I’m sure that I won’t be able to put it down. “Terrific” writing and complex characters. A great read!
- Mary in Denver, Colorado,
Seriously one of the best serises i have ever read. I’m not much of a reader, but i just couldn’t put this book down!!
- Skye,
Don’t you have a library in your town to borrow the books from? Fortunately I do and got all 3 books at the same time. Finished 2 which seriously can be disruptive to your life but luckily I have the time and no one to answer to so its fine. Just about to start the 3rd one. They can get so intense and you don’t mind the details too because there is always the anticipation of something unbelievable to come!
- Rory,
I thought, what a brilliant movie. Can not believe i could enjoy a movie with subtitles so much. Best movie i have seen in a long time.As for comment before mine. There is nothing to get off on. You are the perverted sicko…
- Glen Smith,
Seriously one of the best serises i have ever read. I’m not much of a reader, but i just couldn’t put this book down!!
- Skye,
yes… and the rifle it is AK 47 not AK4…. the same mistake in the second book
- 3th pedant ,
Correct. St Albans is outside the M25, which is the orbital motorway around the outside of London.
- another pedant,
I am 83yyrs. old. My grandaughters(in their 20's) bought me the trilogy and I have enjoyed them immensely.
- Joanne White,
I could never love a human baby more than i love this trilogy!!!!!!! hahaha just kidding! ;D but seriously i’m addicted to these books, they are simply the BEST!
- AisH.,
Spelling not your speciality then?
I’m not an avid reader but I absolutely adore Stieg Larson. I never had a favorite author until I picked up the “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and couldn’t put it down. I’m so saddened that he is no longer with us. The dude was so talented and creative. I can only imagine what he could have produced.
- Arlanda G.,
Best Series of book I have ever read thank you
I can honestly say that it has been a long time since I have enjoyed a set of books as much as I have with this amazing trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I read everyday on the way to and from work and these books had me transported into a most beautifully crafted story with riveting characters and a plot that twisted and turned throughout the whole trilogy. My one disappointment is that this amazing writer did not live to see the impact he had caused.
- Neil O,
Ok, so I went kicking and screaming into the Dragon Tattoo age. I borrowed it from a friend who said I’d love it, even though they know I HATE long books. It took awhile for me to get into the first book, but once I did, I could NOT put it down. Then I borrowed the second one and then I got the third one on CD from the library. One day after I was done with the last book, I rented the first two movies. Now I am about to start the third movie. To say I became addicted is an understatement. You already know the books are better than the movie, but it’s fun to see people and places you’ve read about. Some were exactly as I pictured. Others, nothing like I imagined. Such a shame Stieg Larsson is no longer with us.
- Diane in DC,
I’m lost for words, unlike our talented author here. What an amazing trilogy?
Very rare to be able to craft such wonderment.
Truly saddened that this gift was taken too soon.
I have the imagination but not his skill to tell…
Sweedish films are excellent! The pain of elsbeth & the love of blom’ … sigh!
- ck,
Loved the 1st book…looking forward to the second one
- Xplorer,
I thought it was one of the most fascinating detective stories I’ve ever read! It held my attention the whole way though and I couldn’t bear to put it down. It’s hard to believe an author could form such a complex story and keep it interesting though 3 huge volumes! I LOVED it!
- East Coast 1,
I agree that the “detective stories” are fascinating, riveting, can’t-put iit-down and all of that. But to me the most astonishing aspect is Lisbteth Salander. Has the ever been an character with a more compelling history, psychology and morality?
- kvv,
I want to understand Lisbeth more – what is her story and why does she have a trustee to her money?
- Denise USA,
All three books are in movies. They were released a few years ago with English subtitles…Actually, I watched the 2nd & 3rd online, but a large video store probably has them. (try stagevu.com and veehd.com). What a loss Larsson’s early death is…Why would anyone read a trilogy out of sequence???
- Sandra,
Lisbeth Salander is by far the most compelling charicter in a thriller novel in years.
- rbr,
Absolutely gripping trilogy unearthing eruditely, intelligently interwoven crimes through the truly brilliant victim-genius that is Lisbeth Salander. The complex story is enhanced by the hidden past this unique, anti-social heroine has endured. Stomach-churning and exhilarating. Completely addictive and I wish there were more. I finished
Forget about trying to do anything else whilst you’re reading these books; they are all-consuming.
- Looray,
Not realistic.Believable?
She could not have a photographic memory.
I did not read the other 2 books but nothing about the dragon tattoo is
mentioned.
who taught her to hack computers?
- Fatther michael,
Did you read the book? If so you’d know why
- Jim,
Found the book so much more gripping than the movie
- Bruce,
His comments are quite accurate; without the sex and violence and cliché characters there is essentially a very contrived and unbelievable story.The fact that Ms.McLuskie finds the book to be powerful and mesmerizing only demonstrates her shallowness and lack of true literary taste.Giovanni DeCesare
- Giovanni DeCesare,
I’m on the last 30 pages of book #3 and I’m already having withdrawals. I have no idea what to read next after this…
- Liv Tablante,
What do you mean “She could not have a photographic memory”. I know a biologist who remembers the catalog numbers of thousands of specimens that he has examined.
- phillip,
The books are excellant. Lisbeth is remarkable!
- A. Gosselin,
These were the first books that I have read the entire way through without putting them down in a really long time. They were absolutly AMAZING!!!!
- E. Renegar,
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me intertained and always guessing what could happen next. When I opened the book I never knew what was going to happen next and was never disappointed.
- Laura Close,
It is hard to get started, but once you get hooked you can’t put the book down.Very innovative and compelling characters.
- Jacqueline,
I also read the book and was thrilled with the outcome. However, it seems as if there are more to come – was’nt aware of a follow-up!!!! I was intrigue since I’ve ready about the flower …. and it became worse hence I couldnt put the book aside!!! However – it was an anti climax since it didnt ended the way I wanted it to be.
Annelize – Pretoria, South Africa
- Annelize Pistorius,
greatest freaking book ever!!! and i never say that!!! i love salander!!! my hero and she continues to surprise me in the other books LOVE IT!!
- tattoogirl=),
awesome book!! finally found out which genre i love!!!! gonna read all 3 back to back
- shrutika jha,
Stieg Larsson obviously hasn’t been to the NT of Australia. There isn’t a sheep within a 1000kms of Tennant Creek. Bit more research would have helped his credibility.
- Tony Jennison,
Next year according to newspaper in Sweden today!
- Mark, Stockholm,
Thank you, Swede!
- Norway,
A brilliant book and film also the girl who played with fire and the girl who kicked the hornets nest,should watch all three gives the whole story about lisbeth salander.
- joyce littlejohn,
Actually, the central character, Blomkvist, was in Longreach which is in Queensland not NT (Northern Territory). It is in central Queensland and is a prime beef and wool area.No reference is made to NT in the book. Jeff, Harriet’s son, says they have sheep stations also in NSW and WA. It was a simple error to refer to Jeff as a “studs” manager and not a stud manager.
- Andrew McDonald – Longreach,
Just finished the Girl with a Dragon Tatoo. What a fantastic read from start to finished, The characters just come to life and you feel compelled to keep reading as the plot and pace grows, Truely one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read,
- Peter Marchant,
Love Lisbeth and Mikael to bits – best thriller book I’ve read so far
- Ellen B.,
fuckin awesome
- ladygaga,
Amazing film, a real eye opener. I’ve ordered all three books because I just have to know more!
- Helen H,
I wholeheartedly agree with “Marky Mark”, who posted prior to me. My wife and I walked out. The intensity, length, and inclusiveness of the sexual abuse and rape scene were FAR out of line. Is this director so untalented he is unable to convey the violence of a rape scene without blatantly showing it?
Kudos to Mark for posting. I wrote more here: http://manfrommodesto.hubpages.com/hub/Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo-Movie-Review
- Man from Modesto,
I loved these books. They made me think and kept me thoroughly engrossed. He never had the characters do anything that I didn’t imagine they would be capable of doing. I had to read all three straight through and then go back and read them again. I found new things the second time that I had missed in the first reading. I ached for the characters when they had to make hard decisions. I understood the characters’ flaws and appreciated the integrity of the writing. Larsson truly got people and their nuances. I will be reading them all again. The movie was ok.
- Rip Edmundson, Wisconsin USA,
i did NOT want to like these books,but i started reading and couldn’t stop
- A Librarian,
movie watcher, you have to understand that each scenes is interconnected it has to be discuss in the film to be able to send the real motive of the subject
- super inday,
Yeah, I know, I probably shouldn’t have even bothered finishing the damn thing, but I don’t start books and then stop reading them. Believe me, I wanted to like this book and I thought that by reading it all the way through to the end I might find it satisfying somehow. It didn’t.
- The Doctor,
Excellent series of books. Deep characters and very believable. Hedeby Island is reminscent of Stephen King’s Dark Score Lake in Bag of Bones. A shame the recent movie isn’t doing better, as most do not realize that it was adapted from a novel, and most won’t pick up a book these days.
- Tom S,
Just saw the movie and am wondering who was in the picture that Lisabeth put in the pocket of the leather jacket that she bought at the end of the movie (the one she later threw in the trash. In the book she bought an Elvis sign to give him.
- Marie,
I did not understand the end of the movie. Is there a #2 and that is why you were left hanging?
- jj,
If you have not already seen them, I recommend watching the original film versions!
- Tom S,
Unbelievably disturbing, yet disturbingly unbelievable. A fantastic book and film.
- AJC,
me too. if you find out let me know…i thought it was a pic of Daniel Craig and Robin Wright.
- Judy,
Is the movie telling story just as in the first book or whole trillogy?
- b,
This is a good movie . This one is available at http://tinyurl.com/MovieStreamingOnlinein English, in HQ quality FREE . Plays like youtube .This movie is availabe for free in HD at:http://tinyurl.com/MovieStreamingOnlinerecommended.
- Moviegaze,
i hated this movie ! was disturbing sickening and perverted ! rather sexist !
just try to show the weakness to a women ! i mean all the male characters were general sickos and wanted to abuse and rape women !
i especially hates the character of lisabeth what a weirdo !
only a perverted and sicko would get off on this sort of movie ! made me feel like crap for the rest of the day !
- san x,
It was a pic of Daniel Craig and Robin Wright
- Carolyn,
It is a trilogy. Hope you saw the Swedish one with the subtitles. There are 3 books and 3 movies, all the movies are available on dvd. As far as i am concerned the origional is the better option. GS.
- Glen,
The whole trilogy. GS.
- Glen,
Let me get this straight,,,,Stieg Larson has somehow eased his guilt over doing nothing to help the girl that he witnessed being gang raped, by putting a horrifically brutal rape seen into this mo