The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

          In the sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, Swedish posthumous author, Stieg Larsson, focusses more of this plot on the talented and mysterious Lisbeth Salander.  In his first novel, Lisbeth played a supporting role to journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the disappearance of Harriet Vanger, but in The Girl Who Played with Fire audiences are given insight into Salander’s messed up life. 

            I was more easily hooked from the beginning of this novel, unlike the first in the series, because I was already familiar with many of the characters.  I was always left wanting more information about the introverted genius Salander in the first novel, and this sequel catered right to my curiosities.  After the creepy prologue, readers learn that Salander made out pretty well at the end of the first book, and is now able to do some traveling throughout Europe and the Caribbean.  When she finally returns to Sweden, she realizes that she has ruined any chance at a friendship with the two almost-friends she had: Blomkvist and an on-again, off-again lover.  Salander continues to live in hiding, although she does upgrade to a better apartment.  But it isn’t until she is accused of murder, a triple-murder in fact, that she has to put her hacker genius to work—this time to save her own life. 

            Although Salander ignores Blomkvist’s attempts to rekindle their friendship/romance, he still works behind the scenes, with the police investigation, with the media, and he even puts himself in harms-way several times in order to prove Salander’s innocence. 

            I found this novel much more “page-turning” than the first, because unlike Harriet Vanger, I had a much more loyal interest in Salander’s situation because I had grown to know her as a leading character.  The more readers learn about her dysfunctional childhood, the more they support her innocence (even though the author keeps us in suspense about Salander’s involvements in the murders until the very end).  And what a good ending it was!

            When I finished this 752 page novel, I did not take a break, get a snack, use the bathroom, take a nap, etc.  I immediately downloaded the third book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, and began reading.  Look for this review soon!