Review: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

Publisher: Knopf (hardcover)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Swedish
Awards Won: Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery/Thriller (2009)

Mikael Blomkvist has decided to publish a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation implicating well-known members of Swedish society. But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander — the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all.

Just like the first book in this series, The Girl Who Played With Fire definitely delivers! This action-packed crime novel is filled with mystery, intrigue, violence and tons of suspense. From the very minute I began reading, I never wanted to stop.

One of the greatest things about this novel is that you can pick it up and read it as an individual book. You won’t necessarily get confused if you don’t know the back-story behind all the relationships. However, in my opinion, you should DEFINITELY read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo first. The bond that you’ll form with these characters, and the way you’ll find yourself caring about them is priceless. At one point, toward the end of the novel, I was actually teary-eyed because I believed one of the characters was going to die. Any author that can make you truly feel like their story is real….well, I think that’s the mark of an amazing writer.

If you read my review of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, you already know how much I love the main female character, Lisbeth Salander. To my delight, she only gets even more awesome in this novel. She’s smarter (if that’s even possible), stronger and sexier (literally, lol). If I were ever to try to become a female spy, this girl would be my role model.

If it’s not obvious by now, this book deserves 5 out 5 stars. I can’t wait to pick up the last and final book in the series. Look for my review soon!