Mondays Book Talk - The Girl who Played with Fire

Written by Ben Kesp

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

For those who could not get enough from book I in the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson, well a page turner awaits for you in book II, “The Girl who Played with Fire”. 

Millennium publisher Mikael Blomkvist, investigates sex trafficking in Sweden and cannot resist the challenge of exposing the figures behind the industry, after two of his friends are murdered. Shortly afterwards, Lisbeth Salander’s legal guardian is found dead. A major police hunt throughout Sweden begins to track Salander who becomes accused of all three murders. Her whereabouts cannot be located however Mikael Blomkvist is the only person who is able to make contact with her. 

The pace of this book is phenomenal. It will have your turning page after page. From the beginning the book grabs your interest and pulls you right in. It left me wishing I would never reach the end. Larsson has created intricate detail in character development and background information, right down to what daily food Salander buys to the furniture she purchased from Ikea for her apartment. The plots of the story are complex and Larsson provides a detailed understanding in the workings of the Swedish Police Force. 

I found that the character of Lisbeth Salander takes on a new level in this book and it shows how her character can switch from being ruthlessly cold, inflicting hurt and pain to a softer and caring side with feelings towards her friend Miriam Wu and Holger Palmgrenher, former guardian whom she only trusts. We learn more about her upbringing and how she was placed under guardianship of the state. Lisbeth Salander really is portrayed as a unique heroine and her ability to tackle hardened gangsters and criminals and deal out punishment is at times almost incredible. 

Like the first book “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, there are many subplots incorporating the other characters and story carries a strong underlying message of violence and abuse of women. This is an absolute recommended read and excellent follow on from the first book. The naming of the characters can be slightly confusing as a many of the Swedish names are very similar. Stieg Larsson has created complex and detailed plots full of drama, suspense and intrigue.