Although I struggled to get into this novel for the first
several chapters, I’m glad I was persistent – it paid off. The
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a very complex, suspenseful, intellectual
novel. The author was obviously a very
well-rounded individual, as every aspect of this novel – from computer programs
to security equipment to forensics – was very detailed in nature. There are at least twenty main characters,
and dozens of suspects to the unsolved murder, the conflict of the plot. I was almost convinced that I needed a
graphic organizer to keep track of it all.
The novel
starts with Old Man Vanger, a wealthy business owner, who receives a framed
pressed flower, marking the anniversary of the disappearance of his then
teenage niece, Harriet, and the flower was most likely a sick, taunting symbol
from the killer. From this moment on,
the disappearance of Harriet captivates the reader with the infinite
possibilities linked with this mystery.
Old Man
Vanger hires a troubled journalist, Mikael Blomkvist (and eventually his
research assistant, Lisbeth Salander) to give the disappearance one last
investigation. He needs to know the
truth about Harriet before he dies. He
has lived his life wondering what happened to the sweet girl and doesn’t want
to die without knowing. Blomkvist has no
option but to accept Vanger’s challenge.
In a “Law
and Order: SVU” and “Jason Bourne” kind of hybrid story that contains rape,
murder, and violence (with a hint of religion), Blomkvist and Salander work
side by side to uncover the truth buried forty years ago. With the truth, Vanger gets what he wanted,
Blomkvist gets his life back in order, and Salander is one step closer to
freedom.
Although
I highly recommend this novel to intellectual, competent readers, I do so with
caution, as this book is rated “R”. Due
to graphic language, sex, and violence, I would urge only mature audiences to
tackle this one.
Other "book club" readers, please feel free to comment!
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