I loved this second book in the Millennium Trilogy. The Girl Who Played with Fire is faster paced than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and gives us more insight into the complex character of Lisbeth Salander. This time, Millennium magazine and Mikael Blomkvist are drawn into an expose of sex trafficking in Sweden. Salander is accused of a brutal double murder of a journalist working with Blomkvist and his partner, a PhD about to publish her thesis on trafficking. None of Salander's few friends believe she could or would have shot the two writers, and the hunt is on for the real killers. Some interesting revelations about Salander's early years are thrown in, and she continues her shameless hacking into others' computers and their secrets. I understand that the third book follows immediately the action that end this book. I can't wait until the next book is release in the US.

The Girl Who Played with Fire is truly one of those books that you read with conflicting emotions -- sheer enjoyment and love for the story combined with the sorrow that every page brings you closer to the end. This feeling is heightened in this case because of the tragic premature death of Stieg Larsson -- no more Salander after book three! ( )

A great second novel, leads directly into the third. I read this so fast that I can hardly remember the plot though so must take the time to reread before I get my hands on the third. ( )

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, the first colume in the late Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, was largely about Mikael Blomqvist publisher of Millenium magazine and his search for a presumed-dead heiress. This second volume focuses squarely on young computer genius and social misfit Lisbeth Salander and her difficult adjustment with society.

At the end of the first book, she abruptly walked away from her faithless lover Blomqvist. THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE opens with Salander enjoying her newly ripped-off wealth lazing in a hotel in Granada. No one knows where she is (as usual). She is avoiding Blomkvist - ignoring him, hanging up on his cell phone calls, tossing out letters, and otherwise pretending he doesn't exist. He's broken her heart and Lisbeth Salander is not one to forgive.

Back in Sweden, Blomkvist is preparing an expose of the sex slave business in Sweden. Then the journalist who is preparing the expose is murdered, along with his partner, and, in a seemingly unrelated case, so is Salander's legal guardian. Blomkvist and the police are conducting parallel investigations into the three horrifying murders - and their initial evidence points straight at Lisbeth Salander. Kalle Bastard Blomkvist (as Salander calls him) hasn't seen Salander in nearly two years, except for one night when he happened to witness a huge man attempting to kidnap her and both she and the attacker eluded him. He's bewildered about why she cut him off cold, but had accepted her decision - until now. He doesn't believe Salander killed these victims. Well, at least not two of them. He has to contact her, find out how she's become embroiled in this, and help her. Salander, as usual, has her own ideas about who she'll see and when.

To say things get complicated from this point is an understatement. There are multiple investigations, multiple suspects, more murders, red herrings galore, and just general mayhem. Dark as all this is, it is actually quite funny in places: the police have no idea at all what is going on, despite a well meaning and competent detective in charge.

In this book, we learn more about Salander. Skilfully exposed throughout the course of the novel, bits and pieces of her background appear until by the end a full picture has emerged. She's a fascinating character - a smart, strong, flawed, pint-sized underdog. She is every bit as gritty and clever as she was in the first book, and her stark determination to live by her own moral code drives the plot. But let's get one thing straight: even with the more humanising portrait, you would not want to meet her in a dark alley. Nor would you want to give her access to your computer.

The characters in this book are wonderfully drawn, the pace breathtaking and the plot intricate. There's a lot going on. Lesser authors could not have drawn it all together. But Larsson does, in a skilful and exciting manner. I can't wait to read the third book in the series. ( )

Basically this is a comic book in prose. There are very few characters that are not extremes. The villains are super-villains, the hero a super-heroes. Everything is big, bold and brightly colored. When there is action it is swift and intense. When there is dialogue it’s pithy and snappy. Reality hardly enters into the equation and that’s what makes these so much fun to read. That and the convoluted plot which, however improbable, is engrossing. This book makes an even bigger statement than the first one I think. The central conspiracy is more personal since it revolves around Salander herself. Yes, she’s a Mary-Sue, but like a performer on a stage in front of thousands, he must make every gesture huge, every expression grotesque, every move exaggerated in order for it to come across to the poor slobs in the nosebleed seats. Larsson’s contempt and enmity for men who hate women is an extreme one and a light hand cannot convey what he feels.

I don’t know where he wanted to take this series ultimately since his life was cut short before he could finish, but it’s clear that this second book is only a rung on the ladder. The action ends abruptly and without resolution and I hope we get that in the next book. ( )

With 150 pages of this 550 page epic to go, I was ready to write a blistering put down of this second novel in the 'Girl Who' trilogy.
The characters were re-introduced a little too fulsomely and the soft porn concerning Salander's lesbian affair with Miriam Wu were tedious in the extreme. Zala was a poor man's Darth Vada and Ronald Niedermann, the man who could feel no pain, was an amalgam of two Bond baddies (Renard and Jaws); although slightly less realistically portrayed, if such be possible.
Solander has become a creature that makes Superman look ineffective; she beats multiple thugs twice her size, slips into police computer networks in seconds, has a photographic memory and a ridiculously convoluted childhood.
The book is nonsense: and yet, and yet, Larsson has something of the storyteller about him and I simply could not put the book down through the final hundred pages or so.
This work could do with some serious editing and I do wish that he were able to create realistic characters - only Blomkvist, the reporter whom, I assume, is an idealised version of Larsson, is anywhere near believable. The story skirts around an unconvincing plot but, after that last hundred pages, I would have to say, albeit in a disbelieving way, that I enjoyed the read! ( )

A great follow up to Verblendung - I can't wait to find out what happens in the last book. ( )

When we last left Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, one of my favorite novels of 2009, they were on the outs. When The Girl Who Played with Fire, Mikael didn't understand why and Lisbeth has been spending time out of Sweden, especially in the Carribean. Although they continue to think of each other, they both move on with their lives. Mikael is involved in a large project at Millenium, which is focused on shedding life on the ugly underground world of sex trafficking. Lisbeth, finally back in Sweden, has decided to get used to the money at her dispense. She's bought a beautiful condo and, after rekindling her mainly sexual relationship with Miriam Wu, she lets her stay in her old flat so that she can continue to receive mail at her old address. It isn't long, however, before circumstances surrounding the brutal murders of Nils Bjurman, Salandar's corrupt legal guardian, and two of the people working with Blomkvist on the trafficking story make it impossible for the two to avoid each other.

This novel picks up the intensity of the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and never lets it go. Lisbeth is an immediate target and is branded as a "psychotic lesbian SM satanist." Safe for a while in her new posh condo, she is forced out of hiding and into action when Miriam, living in her old apartment, is caught in the crossfire. All of Sweden believes that Lisbeth is a serial killer except Mikael. Given Lisbeth's path and "all the evil" she has experienced, the reader is also kept guessing about so much. It was another excellent novel to listen to on audio for all of these reasons. Simon Vance is once against a consummate narrator, making the murders, the chase, and Lisbeth's past come to life.

I loved this novel. Lisbeth, breast implants and all, is such a complex and strong character. She deals with hardship as it comes along and refuses to be mastered by it. I love how her abusive childhood and all it entailed was translated from the Swedish to "all the evil." Such a simple phrase, but it conveys her situation to perfection. With this second installment, I continue to be as entranced by Stieg Larsson's Milleium trilogy. I cannot wait until Reg Keeland's English translation of the last book in the series is available in the United States next year. The only thing stopping me from buying a copy of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest from overseas is the fact that I want to finish the series with Simon Vance. This is a series I know I will revisit over the years, wondering what would have happened to Lisbeth and Mikael had Stieg Larsson lived long enough to finish this project, which was meant to continue on past the first three novels.

http://literatehousewife.com/2009/12/... ( )

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 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. ( )

I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could. I love Lisbeth Salander. This is the second book in a trilogy. I would recommend reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo first so you get to know the characters. Can't wait for the last in the trilogy. The author died suddenly but will be remembered for these great books. It you like mystery and excitement read this series. ( )

This book was even better than the first. I really liked the subject matter of the sex trade/slavery industry. I couldn't put this book down once I picked it up. They developed Salander's character and explained a bit of her background. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. ( )

Another 'can't put this book down' entry from Larsson. Beginning over a year after the last events in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo we find Salander and Blomkvist separately pursuing some very dangerous information and a very dangerous man. I really want to read the third book as soon as I can get it.

excellent 2nd book... and we have to wait until 2010 for the 3rd!! ( )

I couldn't put this book down. Larsson has created unique characters with Blomkvist and Salander who give the story credibility and an added urgency. I liked the first book, but this book made me apreciate both even more. ( )

It's hard not to get pulled into this one. I think you'd definitely want to read Larssen's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo first to give you some background, but the real "meat" of Lisbeth's character & history are explored in this second novel of the trilogy. The ending may seem a little far-fetched, but if you can tackle & keep track of all the Swedish names & locations, you'll definitely enjoy the ride from beginning to end. For those of us in the States, it's a pity we have to wait a while for the 3rd installment to be released here. Can't wait! ( )

Excellent sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The same interesting characters are here with a focus on Lisbeth Salander and her life after being disappointed by Mikael BLomkvist. Exciting and compelling. ( )

Read a quarter of this Swedish thriller since yesterday (my kindle tells me) and had to force myself to put it down. Larrsen's storytelling is so captivating, weaving in several threads that may come together eventually. Lisbeth Salander is such a likeable character, so tough and fragile. ( )

Loved this. Although I thought the first in the series was good I had seen reviews that said the second was even better. So true! When I finished the last page of "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" I went and grabbed the next one to start straight away. ( )

Like the first novel in the series, this is an engaging mystery thriller dealing with an extremely important social theme. Entertaining and well worth the time. ( )

Not my thing at all, I did finish it but the last fifty pages were a struggle (I refuse to give up on a book that near the end). The characters - especially the Girl were either sterotypes, wooden or completely unrealistic, the whole thing completely unbelivable and the ending utterly barmy ,impossible and implausable.
Maybe if you read books of this type regularily it might be a better read but not for me (Help! I have 'The girl with the Dragon Tattoo' in the tbr pile) ( )

Mysteries are not my thing but the first two books of Larsson's trilogy totally captivated me. As I started "The Girl Who Played with Fire" I was skeptical. It seemed so like the previous that I feared that it was one of those situations where once was spectacular, but unrepeatable. Then somewhere a third of the way through, I found myself completely captivated once again. I find Lisbeth a totally intriguing character and it was fascinating to put together her amazing past. While the fleshing out of the Lisbeth character was the focus of the book, each of the other characters were drawn clearly enough to add to the depth of the novel.

I can not begin to imagine where a third book will go, but I'll be checking it out. ( )

A fantastic book, could not praise it highly enough. In my opinion a more rounded effort than the first book in the series with more energy and a constant drive towards its conclusion which was far from inevitable. ( )

The Short of It:

After reading The Girl Who Played with Fire you’ll need a nice manicure as it’s quite a nail biter! Tense at times with a very quick pace, this one will keep you on your toes.

The Rest of It:

This is book #2 in the Millennium series and after reading and reviewing The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, I knew I had to pick this one up quickly and that’s exactly what I did. Those that love the character of Lisbeth Salander will be happy to know that book #2 focuses on her and her story but when two journalists are murdered and Lisbeth is the prime suspect, she goes missing for quite a while and in fact, is not in a large portion of the book! I know! Scandalous!

As law enforcement gathers the evidence, Mikael Blomkvist and his staff at Millennium, try to put their own case together to find the real killer. As they conduct their investigation, additional details surface and the reader is given a very private glimpse into Salandar’s life. To be honest with you, I found myself frustrated with this portion of the story. I wanted to know what happened but it seemed as if so much time was spent on the forensic stuff. Yeah, I know that you sort of have to do that to solve a case but in the mean time, Salander is missing and you just want to know where she is and if she did it.

I was also slightly annoyed with the whole Giant thing. There is a Giant. A big, huge guy that is impervious to pain. It reminded me of that movie from the late 70’s, Foul Play. You know the one. It has Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn (good movie by the way). In that movie, she references a dwarf and she is given the warning “beware of the dwarf.” This was sort of like that. BEWARE OF THE GIANT LISBETH! I tired of the Giant.

We also get to know Mikael Blomkvist a little better but he is still the man with all the women! How he manages to bed these women and then remain friends with them afterward is beyond me. In real life I wouldn’t think too highly of someone like him, but for some reason he comes across as ‘okay’ in the novel, sort of an “Everyman” character which is really sad if you think about it.

However, even though I had some nit-picky moments with this one, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. It took off right out of the gate and kept going and it didn’t disappoint in the end. It all came together and left me feeling completely wrung-out and incredibly anxious for the next book. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is not available here in the U.S. but you can get it from The Book Depository and they have free shipping worldwide! However, they are now out of stock on the paperback so I will have to check back later.

Source: Purchased ( )

This is the follow-up to The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. I'm enjoying this book as much as the first one I just mentioned. If you are a fan of Lisbeth Salander (a character in the book) you will love this read.

Ik heb er lang over gedaan om dit boek uit te krijgen. Het las wel lekker weg, maar uiteindelijk vond ik het verhaal erg toevallig en onwaarschijnlijk. ( )