by Stieg Larsson
Genre: Mystery
Publication Date: 2009
Number of Pages: 590
Geographical Setting: Sweden
Time Period: Present day (2002)
Series: Millennium
Trilogy (#1)
Plot Summary: Mikael Blomkvist is an investigative reporter who has just been convicted
of libel against business powerhouse Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. Lisbeth Salander is a mysterious young woman
with a troubled past and a talent for hacking.
Before Blomkvist is to start his prison sentence, he receives an offer
from the retired CEO of the Vanger Corporation, Henrik Vanger—he wants
Blomkvist to work with Salander to solve the mystery of his grand-niece
Harriet’s disappearance of 40 years ago, in exchange for evidence of
Wennerstrom’s corrupt practices. Agreeing
in hopes of clearing his name and saving his magazine Millennium, Blomkvist sets out with Salander to uncover Vanger
family secrets and to discover what happened to Henrik’s beloved Harriet. This book intertwines the corruption of the
business world, psychosexual drama, and the inevitability of family secrets
with the mysterious disappearance of a 16-year-old girl, revealing connections
that the characters had never anticipated.
Subject Headings: Missing persons – Sweden; Rich people – Sweden; Journalists – Sweden;
Corruption – Sweden
Characteristics and Appeal:
Plot – This book is very character-driven.
The author spends a great deal of time giving backstory and histories of
characters (even of those who are not an integral part of the plot). The development of characters, as well as
their pasts, are crucial to the plot.
The story is focused on the investigative team of Blomkvist and
Salander, who are present throughout the rest of the Millennium Trilogy.
Writing Style – This book is gritty and compelling. It focuses on dark issues of sexual violence,
family secrets, and corruption. The
intricate details of these issues in the story create a compelling narrative,
pushing the reader to get closer and closer to the conclusion. The plot slows in places in order for the
author to give details of time and place, but all of these details are
necessary for the solving of the murder mystery.
Frame/Setting – The story is set in Sweden, and it focuses primarily around the Vanger family’s compound in Hedestad, where Harriet disappeared. This location and details surrounding it are crucial to the plot.
Frame/Setting – The story is set in Sweden, and it focuses primarily around the Vanger family’s compound in Hedestad, where Harriet disappeared. This location and details surrounding it are crucial to the plot.
Read-alikes:
Other titles in the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson
The
Girl Who Played with Fire
The
Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Box 21 by Anders
Roslund – Set in Sweden and written by another Swedish author, this is a
fast-paced thriller about sexual violence and crime
The Man from Beijing
by Henning Mankell – A suspenseful and character-driven mystery novel set in
Sweden that connects crimes from the past with those of today
An excellent book and an excellent series overall. Jo Nesbo has written a few good read-alikes. Are you excited for the fourth book coming out this year?
ReplyDeleteI loved this series and was very sad when I finished "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" and discovered Steig Larsson had died and would not be writing any more books.
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