The Girl Who Played With Fire

This second novel is even more gripping and astonishing than the first . . . 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. Larsson was a fantastic storyteller. This novel will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

The essential first step to appreciating Stieg Larsson is to rid yourself of any fixed image you have of Swedish crime fiction. If Mankell is Swedish gloomy, Larsson is Swedish noir. Very . . . Lisbeth is a heroine like no other in crime fiction . . . Her mental and physical strengths are beyond those of ordinary humans. Yet Larsson’s writing manages to make her intriguing, admirable and even sympathetic. . . The Girl who Played with Fire becomes an absorbing, exciting and bloody multi-layered chase . . . A riveting read.

Modern Novel, National Boundaries, Storyteller, Swedish Gloomy, Swedish Crime Fiction, Ordinary Humans, Sympathetic