The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

A Lisbeth Salander Novel

By: Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland - translator

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 16 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The thrilling first book in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series featuring Lisbeth Salander: “Combine the chilly Swedish backdrop and moody psychodrama of a Bergman movie with the grisly pyrotechnics of a serial-killer thriller, then add an angry punk heroine and a down-on-his-luck investigative journalist, and you have the ingredients of Stieg Larsson’s first novel” (The New York Times). • Also known as the Millennium series

Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

Look for the latest book in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, The Girl in the Eagle's Talons, coming soon!

Listen to the rest of The Millennium Trilogy.

©2008 Stieg Larsson (P)2008 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Cases rarely come much colder than the decades-old disappearance of teen heiress Harriet Vanger from her family's remote island retreat north of Stockholm, nor do fiction debuts hotter than this European best seller...At once a strikingly original thriller and a vivisection of Sweden's dirty not-so-little secrets, this first of a trilogy introduces a provocatively odd couple." (Publishers Weekly)

"Combine the chilly Swedish backdrop and moody psychodrama of a Bergman movie with the grisly pyrotechnics of a serial-killer thriller, then add an angry punk heroine and a down-on-his-luck investigative journalist, and you have the ingredients of Stieg Larsson's first novel." (The New York Times)

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a striking novel. Just when I was thinking there wasn't anything new on the horizon, along comes Stieg Larsson with this wonderfully unique story. I was completely absorbed." (Michael Connelly)

Superb story.

What did you love best about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

The story, it was different and held your interest.

What did you like best about this story?

The story, it was different and held your interest.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

Of course, the girl.

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

The ending.

Any additional comments?

Great read (listen).

wow!

The best story and writing style I've come across in years! Can't wait to get through the next two books!

I approached this book with trepidation...

Ever since this book was published I have been hearing that it was dark and violent. It is a 21st century mystery, after all, and I don't expect a bloodless corpse laid out on the floor in the library. I'm sorry that I put off reading it for so long. Yes, there is violence but it is not gratuitous. Yes, there is sexual scenes but handle without sensationalism. I never felt the dark atmosphere I was warned about.

A lot has been made of the character Lisbeth Salander. I found her to be a wholly original creation. Very much a product of her experience I wonder also if she is autistic though certainly high functioning.

I have heard much less in advance about the true protagonist of the story, Mikhail Blomkvist. He is as interesting and fully developed as Salander.

I'm not a particularly critical reader when it comes to plotting because I'm more interested in being entertained. I do have problems with books that try to solve very old mysteries. They are usually burdened with too many coincidences and improbable leaps. I found this book handled solving a 40-year-old mystery is a very believable manner.

I'm eager now to read the sequels.

Deeply satisfying and dazzling jaunt

Satisfying and touching multilayer denouement to a vivid and crisp Nordic plot. Characters who inspire belief with humor and heart, albeit that the title character remains a perpetual motion machine (dubiously real). She remains the fascinating and new breakout element however, that transforms the tale into a dizzying height of new perspective.

To build such a story and shock the conscience remains a horrific thing. To give us such a multilayer ending is awesome and deeply satisfying.


The central characters live on...

" Great story and Narrator "

I usually listen to my books during my drive to work and back home. I found myself going slower then usual when this book took over. The first chapter I wanted to turn it off, but got through it and couldn't stop listening. Fantastic writer and his life lives on. Looking forward to Book 2 now.

Outstanding book

If you could sum up The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in three words, what would they be?

Action, suspense & mystery..

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Oh yes, I have read the book, but listening to it seems to be more thrilling...

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

I liked it when he changed voices. He did a really good performance

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Suspenseful and thrilling

Any additional comments?

I have read the whole series, but love audiobooks, so will purchase them all..

The Story Begins

I was amazed by how engrossed I became with this story. The way the author introduces the characters and their lives made me want to know more. Good thing there are at least two more in this series.

Stieg Larsson weaves several plotlines into the mix. Some seem to fade into the background with all that is happening in front of you, But fear not, as all the threads are brought to conclusions by the end of the book.

The relationship that develops between Blomkvist and Salander is an unexpected delight as the characters play out their lives. With all the hate that is present in the book, it was so nice to se this powerful and complex relationship develop.

The book is a great listen and rates at least a second listen to get all that it has to offer.

I was completely absorbed from start to finish.

Would you listen to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo again? Why?

Because I never read books a second time.

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

NO

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I was sneaking into the bathroom; listening while others watched TV and missed an important appointment because I was so

Any additional comments?

Probably one of the best books I've read in years.

Couldn't stop listening!

Would you listen to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo again? Why?

Yes. I can't wait to listen to the story with my husband so I can see if he can solve the mystery and I would like to discuss the story line with him.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

It was memorable from beginning to the end.

Good detective story with an Swedish twist.

Interesting story of a disappearing girl that has a few twists and turns. As a Swedish author, Stieg Larson crafts and tale that is all the more interesting being told from a different cultural standpoint. Simon Vance does a top notch job of narration with well voiced (but not over the top) characters that are easily identifiable. The book alone is 4+ stars, but the excellent narration pushes it to 5 and the Author/Narrator combo has me downloading the next in the series as I type.