The Girl Who Played With Fire

By: Stieg Larsson

Narrated by: Saul Reichlin

Length: 20 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Lisbeth Salander is a wanted woman. Two Millennium journalists about to expose the truth about sex trafficking in Sweden are murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behaviour makes her an official danger to society - but no-one can find her.

Mikael Blomkvist, Millennium magazine's legendary star reporter, does not believe the police. Using all his magazine staff and resources to prove Salander's innocence, Blomkvist also uncovers her terrible past, spent in criminally corrupt institutions. Yet Salander is more avenging angel than helpless victim. She may be an expert at staying out of sight - but she has ways of tracking down her most elusive enemies.

©2006/ 2009 Norstedts Agency / Reg Keeland (P)2009 WF Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"As good as crime writing gets." ( Times Literary Supplement)
"Even more gripping and astonishing than the first...this novel will leave readers on the edge of their seats." (Joan Smith, The Sunday Times)

Hard to put down

After seeing the movie and hearing about the trilogy I decided to download this book. It is the first book of the more than twenty I have downloaded that I could not put down, getting through the 20 hours within a week and between work, life and spending time with my family.

Gripping suspense throughout and more twists and turns than Lombard Street. Ok maybe that's a bad simile but that book was incredibly good and I'm about to head back to download book three.

Excellent story and narration

Would you consider the audio edition of The Girl Who Played with Fire to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version but the audio was great. The narrator was excellent although the production quality could have been better. It seemed to be translated from cassette tapes to digital format. Don't let that stop you from listening though.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Blomkvist is my favourite character because he never gives up on finding the truth and making things right.

What about Saul Reichlin’s performance did you like?

His voices for the different characters was great!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending leaves you hanging with a desire to find out what happens next.

This takes me back

I had forgotten all about the Salander series by stig Larson, so many years ago I read them in paperback, by chance I saw them come up on audible and am now beginning the 3rd and final. Love the characters, the narrator, Mikael and Lisbeth are brilliant

Great conclusion to the trilogy

I enjoyed this final installment. It was very easy to listen to, and the narrator did a great job.

Continuing a high standard

Enjoyed listening to this second book more than when I actually read the trilogy when first published. The fluent narrator, Saul Reichlin, made me listen to the many mathematical equations and complicated computer language, which I have to shamefully admit I skipped during my initial reading, I was ALMOST tempted to put them into practice. The ease with which he pronounced the unpronouncable made such a difference to the enjoyment of this great epic. He kept me glued until the end and I was truly delighted to download the final third book. Bravo Mr Reichlin

Worth the wait

I know that a lot of people say that they can't get into this series because they can't get past the beginning of the first novel, however PERSEVERE! The first book takes about 1/2 the book before all the introductions are over and the story really begins. The second book it took about 1/4 of the book before it got good and the third, it was excellent from the very beginning of the novel.

Enjoyed it more than the first

I must be getting into the swing of this series, as I definitely found I enjoyed this book, and was less critical of it than I initially was of the first one. It's still a very long book, but once I'd started it didn't seem boring or hard work to get through. I still think these books could use a good edit, but since Mr Larsson isn't with us any more, we'll just have to take them as they are. I'm now looking forward to the third installment.

The first one was better

This is the second book in the Millenium series. The story continues as Mikael Blomkvist plans to report on a sex trafficking operation. When his investigating reporters are murdered, Lisbeth Salander is the main suspect. Having previously worked together, their fates once again intertwine. The story progresses to Lisbeth’s sordid past as she battles to fight for the truth to come out.

Although ultimately a good story, it was somewhat drawn out. The characters continued to develop from the first story with Lisbeth’s past coming through to develop as the main plot of this story. I liked the first in the series because of the gripping story and the great sub-plots of Mikael and Lisbeth’s lives coming through. This one focused more on Lisbeth’s life and although interesting, I didn’t find it as captivating as the first in the series.

The narration was good with excellent tone, tempo, and character variations.

Liesbeth's determination.

Difficult to keep track of so many characters but overall spellbounding. I could not put it down.

Absolutely outstanding

Once again, Stieg Larsson has produced a jaw-dropping murder mystery without parallel. Salander is an incredible heroine, and the book is filled with plot twists that simply can't be foreseen. I can't quite believe how good this series is, and I can't wait to get to the next book.