The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

By: Stieg Larsson

Narrated by: Saul Reichlin

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder - and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family.

He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, truculent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from 40 years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history.

But the Vangers are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.

©2005, 2008 Norstedts Agency, Reg Keeland (P)2009 WF Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"I doubt you will read a better book this year." (Val McDermid)

"Intelligent, complex, with a gripping plot and deeply intriguing characters. The author's early death is a great loss." (Philip Pullman)

"What a cracking novel! I haven't read such a stunning thriller debut for years. Brilliantly written and totally gripping." (Minette Walters)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Absolutely magnificent - brilliant read!

Too Violent and Graphic

I couldn't even finish it. I hear it has a great plot and gets quicker towards the end (it's slow in the beginning) but I couldn't get that far with all the sexually explict assaults etc.

Not my kind of book

It could be that it's just not my "kind" of book, but I did not enjoy this story. The 'twist' was fairly obvious, I thought, from early on, as was the 'who'. I found the way that the narrator pronounced place names and character names distracting, and it took me out of the story regularly. I didn't think much of Bloomkvist and had trouble empathising with him. I often found myself starting to let daydreams get in the way as I listened and was constantly rewinding so I could hear what I'd missed. The book is well written and although I can't quite understand the cult status of this book, the characters certainly are well presented and fully thought out. They all felt very 'real'. I guess "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" just wasn't my cup of tea.

A decent story

I like it, but I don’t love it. There’s something a little off about the characters and the way it’s written that doesn’t quite let me fully embrace the story. The actual story is quite good

not bad

I enjoyed it but I am not sure what all the fanfare is about. maybe the next one will be better.