The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium #2) in 100+ Books in 2025

Sep 27, 2009 Jeffrey rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2009, mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a very good mystery novel that takes a little time to get going. The first 150 pages are so is just a lot of background on the main character Lisbeth Salander and her friend the journalist Mikhael Bloomkvist, but also on other people in the story, but after that first say 20% of the book, wham it moves fast like a roller coaster.

The story is a little complicated. To summarize, Salander is under the guardianship of Bjurman, who decided to rape Salander in book 1 because he thought she was This is a very good mystery novel that takes a little time to get going. The first 150 pages are so is just a lot of background on the main character Lisbeth Salander and her friend the journalist Mikhael Bloomkvist, but also on other people in the story, but after that first say 20% of the book, wham it moves fast like a roller coaster.

The story is a little complicated. To summarize, Salander is under the guardianship of Bjurman, who decided to rape Salander in book 1 because he thought she was docile and had a lot of money and had no place to turn. In other words she would take it because if she complained no one would believe her over a lawyer and she was psychotic. He seriously misjudged Salander as she taped the session, then beat him up and threatened to expose him if he didnt do what she wanted.

Now a year has past and Bjurman has contacted someone to get rid of Salander - to kill her that is. The people who he has talked to work for a mysterious figure known only as Zala. Coincidentally, Zala is being investigated by two journalists, who are working on a book and an article for Millenium, the news magazine where Bloomkvist works. The article and book are about the sex trade and who in this country are involved, the johns and prostitutes and the men who bring in the girls and facilitate it. Zala has come up in the investigation as a gangster, supplier of the girls and others are fearful of him. Unfortunately, Bjurman, and the two journalists are killed and Salander is suspected of the murder because of some forensic evidence.

After this point, the book involves three separate investigations to find Salander and/or the murderer. There is the police investigation, Bloomkvist investigation and Milton Security's investigation. For about 100 pages after the murders we do not even hear anything from Salander as the author concentrates on the various investigations and how no one can find Salander. Meanwhile there are two different tales of Salander circulating. On one hand is the official version mostly talked about by her psychologist (a sadistic guy) who claims she is a psychotic and a destructive, but fails to reveal some interesting information about why he was treating her. On the other hand is the people who know Salander and uniformly say, while different, she is very moral and would not have done this crime.

The murder investigation proceeds at a breakneck pace and the last 200 pages of this book are great especially as Salander is back on the case investigating.

All in all a great read.

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Mar 31, 2011 Dolly rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, other-usa, russia, sweden, 2012, ocean-seashore, easter, caribbean

It's probably a bit silly, but when I found out that I was getting an opportunity to go to Sweden this year, I planned to bring the Millennium series with me. I started the first book on the flight to Stockholm and finished the third book the day after I returned home. In between, I was in a constant state of suspense, itching to be able to read more and find out what happened.

While the first book seemed to be a complete story, the second book ended with such a cliff hanger that I just couldn't ...more

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Oct 26, 2009 Carmen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-and-thrillers

What a terrific read. This book has it all, plot, well written characters and good writing. I didn't want to put it down, but had to. Often the second book with the same characters is not as good as the first, but not the case with this author. In my mind, Sweden is the country where they have everything pulled together. This book makes that idea a lie. His character, Salander, is such a weird person, but I swear he must have been a teacher in a high school at some point to have dreamed her up. ...more

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Jul 04, 2010 Tanya rated it really liked it

Looking forward to the next book!

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Aug 07, 2009 Carol rated it it was amazing

WOW! I loved it and I think I enjoyed it more than "Tattoo". Now, the long wait for the third and final book. ...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Tamara rated it really liked it

Once again, another great book by Stieg Larsson. I did not think it was as good as the first but loved the flow and storyline it continued from the first book. Great characters and great set-up for the third book

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Mar 12, 2009 A marked it as to-read

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