The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Martin Wenner did a marvelous job narrating. I believe equal or better than Simon Vance, (whom I heard on "Played with Fire". I also watched the movie and was sorry to see it rushed the ending. After listening to the "unabridged version" of "Played with Fire" I wished I purchased the "unabridged" version of "Dragon Tatto". I would agree with some of the comments that it starts off slow. As far as characters are concerned....there are far fewer in this book than the second book. I read them both in order and watched the movie in between the two.

This is a mystery about twisted human beings, whose secrets are uncovered and avenged by other twisted human beings. However, you would never guess it was a mystery about people judging by the first 100 or so pages. A large chunk of the beginning of the book has to do with a financial scandal. Get past that and you'll meet some really interesting characters. While the ending ties back to the financial scandal, it's not enough of a connection to justify so much time and detail up front.

Lots of characters to keep you properly thinking. An absolutely superb reader who makes lots of characters come alive. Highly adventurous.

The writing is good. Descriptive and great character development.....but slow. I got half way through and lost interest.

It takes too long to kick into gear but it is far superior to most of the other leading mystery authors out there, bar none. It is R rated but intelligent and engaging.

This plot was so well devised that I wish i had bought the unabridged version. Many said the long version was slow in the beginning, but I really did not want the abridged version to end; 8 hours was not near enough!

I was surprised that none of the reviewers pointed out that this book contains very graphic depictions of rape and sexual torture. What made it all the more incredible is that we're dragged through these disgusting scenes for no apparent reason. The passages neither further the plot or factor into the overall story in any way. It seems as though they're just tossed in to give the story more of a thriller's "edge". Stay away unless you have a strong stomach for kinky rape etc. After reading this one I look forward to a rating system for books similar to movies and video games.

Suspensful, shocking, and exciting.

The building of the relationship between the two main characters.

He added another depth of emotion and excitement.

It would have been nice, yes, but not possible due to personal schedule.

Before you start reading my re-buff (at the beginning) be it known that I just purchased the next book in the trilogy and it is unabridged.

I had heard that this book was hard to get into. Thus, I purchased the abridged version. Thank God that I did because the first half, even abridged, really dragged. Why this was a European blockbuster best-seller is beyond me. Along with the VERY slow start, the Swedish names because they unfamiliar were difficult to keep straight and remember. A good book, yes, but a blockbuster is a stretch.

Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker with an amazing photographic memory and anti-social tendencies who has a dragon tattoo did not have an important part in the book until the second half. Even then, she was not a focal character. Thus, I do not understand the name of the book. If you are trying to quit smoking or drink coffee, don’t read this book. These two items are more focal that Lisbeth.

Get past the first half and you'll meet some really interesting characters and get into a good complex mystery. The book takes many twists. That is why I have purchased the next in the series.

Martin Wenner is probably the worst narrator that I have heard. He doesn’t even attempt women’s voices. It is a straight read. He is NOT the reader of the next book that I have purchased.

The writer kept you captivated the whole book.

Loved the narrator.

The book was very graphic but I couldn't stop listening and hoping for revenge.