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What are readers saying about The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage)?
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-05 06:03:29.
(Language: English)
 
In the sequel to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Mikael Blomkvist and his magazine, Millenium, get an offer from a freelance journalist to run an article and later publish the book on his story about sex trafficking in Sweden. Before it can be published the freelancer and his g/f, who worked with him and is using the work as her dissertation are shot in cold blood execution style in their apart, where they are discovered by Mikael. The police find the murder weapon and the fingerprints belong to Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist is convinced of her innocence and believes their deaths are related to the work they were doing regarding the sex trafficking and its players and johns. As a full on manhunt looks for Lisbeth, Blomkvist tries to figure out what really happened, what the cryptic name "Zala" that keeps popping up in the research means, and to help Lisbeth before the police get ahold of her.A lot of back story for Lisbeth in this book. It once again started with a pretty big event that was never mentioned again throughout the rest of the book. There were so many characters in this one I had to keep stopping to remember who was who. I liked this one much better than the first one. Faster paced story and answers some questions, but still leaves a lot unanswered. Like the first one I liked it, but wasn't blown away by it like everyone else. I will read the third one when it comes out though. 
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MJ posted a review at 2010-12-30 09:06:38.
(Language: English)
Like the first book in the series, I was underwhelmed with this read. In this installment, there were several plot points which seemed inconsistent with the characters and left me puzzled. Also, for the first half of the book, Larsson seems more interested in titillating readers with alternative sexual preferences than with getting the action moving. There's so much focus on Swedish geography (which street people are eating on, which bus they get off on how close one character's home is to another), it was at times distracting because I felt like I should be drawing a map in case all that information was important later (it wasn't). If you actually care about Lisbeth Salander after the first book, you're probably going to be interested in this one to learn her back story. Otherwise, the murder mystery here is too predictable to make this worthwhile.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-28 02:07:16.
(Language: English)
Incredible follow up to "Dragon Tatoo." Larsson carries the characters to another level in this sequel. Twists and turns of a complex plot don't disappoint and carry the reader expertly to the thrilling suspensefull ending. The 2nd book starts with an easy transition from the first and builds upon the foundation quickly into new areas and story lines. Larsson weaves additional background information into the characters while adroitly introducing new ones. Sweden becomes a familiar back drop for the story and while it adds a sense of foreign mystery, the scene descriptions could be as easily set in any small town USA. Larsson is a master at bringing the background world of the story to life. At the end of "The Girl Who Played with Fire" the reader is hungry for more of this extremely unusual herione. I for one an eagerly awaiting Stieg Larsson's third and final work.Incredibly sad that Larsson will never write another word.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-07 02:43:51.
(Language: English)
I love this series. That being said, I actually put this book down for a couple of weeks because it had reached a stagnant point and I didn't see it picking up anytime soon. The Miriam Wu-Salander part got to be a little too much for me and I imagine it might for others as well. Nevertheless, Larsson is still a master of this genre. Yes, I could have done without the first 200 or so pages and yes, I am hoping those pages become relevant at some point, but boy when this book picked up the pace, there was no turning back. I'm still more partial to the first novel, but the development in Salander's character here is crucial and I can't wait to see what happens in the third and final installment. Very gripping.
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Carla posted a review at 2011-08-25 08:09:21.
(Language: English)
This has become one of my favorite series of all time. In this 2nd installment, Lisbeth and Blomkvist tackle the sex trade industry. While I loved the first one, this one was much better. I felt I got to know both characters better and could better anticipate their actions and reactions. There is one more left and I am in no hurry to get. I'm dragging it out because I know there is only one more! This is one of those series that you hope never ends. My only warning would be for the faint of heart. This is sometimes almost like noir fiction--very dark and sexual. No cozy thriller, here; only dark thoughts, violent murders and sadistic sex crimes. The main character, Lisbeth, is truly one of the baddest I've ever seen! I would put my money with her battling the Terminator, Blade, Rocky---you name it. Even though it is difficult to connect with her, it is through her view of the world that you come to love her so much. The plot is one of those that just has you scratching your head the whole time--pure genius. I loved every word and plan to read them all again, just for the pleasure of reading Larson's work. Read them--you won't be sorry.
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Jonathan posted a review at 2010-11-22 03:54:53.
(Language: English)
wish I could remember well what happened in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo... this 2nd book in the series definitely does its part to hold your attention all the way through. a quick read that you can knock off in <2days with Lisbeth Salander as an anti-hero that most everyone can relate with on some level. Unfortunate that we have seen the last of Stieg Larsson's words... aside from the 007-like capability, a novel that is worthy of Trevanian. Also interesting for me as an American to catch between the lines the idiosyncracies of Swedish culture, and of course the setting in Stockholm which I (somehow) still remember very well after 4 bottles of Absinthe in a weekend
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-17 01:05:12.
(Language: English)
Another compelling chapter in the saga of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. I actually enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. In this story, Blomkvist, as editor of Millennium magazine, is working to publish a fellow journalist's research on sex trafficking in Sweden. As he becomes more familiar with the material, it is apparent that heads are going to roll once the information becomes public. When the journalist and his girlfriend, who is using parts this material to write a doctoral dissertation, are found murdered, Blomkvist is stunned. He is even more perplexed when it is revealed that Salander's fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Then when Salander's guardian, Advokat Bjurman, is found dead, it seems obvious that she has gone on a murderous rampage. But has she? What is the connection between Salander, the journalist, and the attorney? Can Blomkvist prove her innocence? There are many plot twists, and many new characters to track in this second installment of the series. I think I enjoyed this better than the first book because more details were revealed about the life and intriguing character of Lisbeth Salander. I'm looking forward to reading the follow-up.
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Lyana posted a review at 2010-08-11 05:27:36.
(Language: English)
I can't wait for the movie, because this book is long, winding, and boring. Where was the editor?? This book is story driven although it mostly tells about Lisbeth. And a book this thick should not be just story driven but also character driveb. It's strange although we get to read about Lisbeth taking a vacation, buy groceries, goes to the hospital, goes to work, clean her apartment, I still don't emphatize or symphatize with her. Mikael was even more one-dimensional. And what was the story anyway?The first part of the trilogy had two plots, one of them a whodunnit, another one not worth mentioning albeit necessary to the development of the sequels. If it wanted to tell about sex trafficking/women abuse, why is the topic repeatedly discussed by the characters but not really given an actual insight? What a waste, the topic had so much potential.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-24 07:11:56.
(Language: English)
I liked this, but not as much as the first one. I was especially annoyed that it ended pretty much right in the middle of the action, with so much still unresolved. I felt cheated. I know it's to get us to buy and read the 3rd book, but even in a series, each book should stand on its own. The translation seemed smoother than the first one, and there was less graphic violence than the first one, so that was good. But I thought the storyline was slower and less interesting. I learned at Reading Group this past week that the author actually planned a 10-book series, but he died of a heart attack at age 50 after having only written the first 3. There's some speculation that his partner of many years may write some of the other ones, since she apparently helped him with the first 3 and presumably knew what the plans were for the rest in the series.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-29 04:49:13.
(Language: English)
In The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson's second novel in his Millennium trilogy, Lisabeth Salander returns; not as the secretive and resourceful private investigator with formidable computer skills, but as a suspect in a triple homicide. As the police begin to dig into Salander's past; they discover a pattern of violent and anti-social behavior that led to her commitment to a psychiatric hospital as a child. When Salander goes into hiding, one of her only friends, Mikael Blomkvest, a journalist who knows her violent tendencies first hand, begins his own investigation to prove Salander's innocence. The plot takes many twists and turns as both the police and Blomkvest look for clues to solve the murders. Salander has always jealously guarded her past, but as more and more details about her are revealed, she knows her life will be forever changed. As the story comes to it's shocking conclusion you can't help but feel real empathy for her character, no matter what she has done. If you liked The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, this addictive page turner will be hard to put down.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-11 06:03:59.
(Language: English)
Ok, so I just finished this book. I’ve read this one and the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo all in a span of two weeks. The second was even better than the first but I have to tell you… I need a break!!! Why? you might ask if I just said that it was even better than the first? Well, I have to say that when you start having dreams about a 7 ft. blond giant and a guy named Zalachenko coming out to get you, you most certainly need a mental respite. Really, Larsson’s characters and unrelenting narrative make it very hard to disconnect from the story. It’s almost as if you wanted to push yourself inside the book so you can help Blomkvist and that love-her-or-hate-her Salander get the bad guys. And to top it all off, in addition to all the drama, there are also moral-political-sociological issues involved that really make your grey matter hurt: Where are the boundaries between right or wrong? What is the role of the state and how effective it is in the protection of children, abused women and other vulnerable groups? What sociological effect does childhood trauma have on a person’s perspective and the way that person’s values emerge? What makes some people survive abuse and others crawl up and die or turn into psychotic killers? All in all, quite a handful of complex and not so black and white issues all wrapped up in a fast paced, intriguing package. Can’t wait for the third… but for my own sake (and my marriage’s), I will give myself a week and go on to read Mathilda Savitch, recommended by a friend and fellow book lover. I really hope that this Mathilda does not look or act anything like a 14 year old skinny-boxer-computer genius-math lover-kind of crazy-loyal-butt-kicking girl with her own not so messed up moral code, if you really think about it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-09-30 08:54:23.
(Language: English)
I just finished this book today (09/29/10). I kind of regret not reading the first book of the series FIRST. Because now I want to read the sequel to THIS one, as I am worried about the fate(s) of the characters, but I do need to catch up with the backstory. Drat. All that said, the only thing I wish these books had was a vocabulary list that would tell you how to pronounce all the Swedish proper nouns. I think getting distracted by wondering how a name should be pronounced slowed me down. (it's a lot like going shopping at an IKEA store.) You can't say much about the book without letting loose spoilers, so let me say this: The pacing for the story is comparable to John Grisham at his best - but without having to wade through 150 pages of creased chinos, perfectly pressed oxford shirts, and shined Italian loafers (as Grisham books always seem to start with...) I think that had I read the first book (girl with the dragon tattoo) first, I would have been sucked into the story even faster than I was, since there were many references to events that happened in that book - but obviously did not elaborate upon. On the other hand, information that came to light in this book may change my perception of the "dragon tattoo" book as I read it. Okay. I admit it. What I've written wouldn't make anybody rush out to buy this book. But any book that makes me MAKE time to sit and read, as opposed to simply keeping me occupied during "down time" is a pretty amazing book.
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Wendy posted a review at 2011-08-02 05:28:17.
(Language: English)
Lisbeth returns from a year long trip around the world to Stockholm. She spends some of the money she stole from the sleazy Wennerstrom on a new apartment and lets her friend Mimmi move into her old one. From her old employer she learns that her original guardian is still alive so she goes to visit him. He is still suffering from the effects of the stroke but Lisbeth pays for a full time rehab expert to help him recover. At loose ends she checks out Blomqvist's computer and reads the details of the new project that Millennium has taken on. A journalist and his sociologist girlfriend have researched the smuggling of girls from former USSR countries into Sweden so that they can become prostitutes. They have names and details that show men from professions such as journalism, law, police and politics have abused these girls. Millennium is going to publish a special issue and a book detailing these. Just weeks before the special issue is going to be released the journalist learns that a shadowy figure named Zala is involved. Lisbeth visits the journalist and his girlfriend to find out more about Zala, in whom she has a special interest. When the journalist and his girlfriend are found murdered by Blomqvist the police start their investigation. A gun was left at the scene and Lisbeth's fingerprints as well as those of her guardian are found on it. So starts a hunt for Lisbeth as the probable murderer. Blomqvist does not believe Lisbeth could have done it and he investigates the people named in the book. This was a gripping read and I'm glad I made a point of picking it up. Even knowing the ending I was still drawn into the story. I'll be reading the third one soon.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-04-03 05:58:30.
(Language: English)
This has become one of my favorite series of all time. In this 2nd installment, Lisbeth and Blomkvist tackle the sex trade industry. While I loved the first one, this one was much better. I felt I got to know both characters better and could better anticipate their actions and reactions. There is one more left and I am in no hurry to get. I'm dragging it out because I know there is only one more! This is one of those series that you hope never ends. My only warning would be for the faint of heart. This is sometimes almost like noir fiction--very dark and sexual. No cozy thriller, here; only dark thoughts, violent murders and sadistic sex crimes. The main character, Lisbeth, is truly one of the baddest I've ever seen! I would put my money with her battling the Terminator, Blade, Rocky---you name it. Even though it is difficult to connect with her, it is through her view of the world that you come to love her so much. The plot is one of those that just has you scratching your head the whole time--pure genius. I loved every word and plan to read them all again, just for the pleasure of reading Larson's work. Read them--you won't be sorry.
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Buzz posted a review at 2010-08-06 09:19:23.
(Language: English)
It’s seldom that subsequent books in a series are better than the first of the series, but “The Girl Who Played with Fire” by Steig Larsson is such an exception. Although “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was excellent, its sequel is even better. I put my life on hold to complete reading this remarkable and exciting whodunit. If you don’t have the time, or can’t make the time to read “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” don’t start it because it will disorder your life. I’m going to wait a while to begin the third and final book in the Millennium series, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” because I can only take so much excitement at one time. I need a rest.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-29 08:11:59.
(Language: English)
Lisbeth Salander is back....and just as antisocial and strange as ever. Estranged from ex-friend, lover and journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she still finds herself partnering with him--albeit, from afar---to bring down a vicious group of criminals specializing in the trafficking of young girls. When three murders are discovered within the city and tied back to Salander, she goes underground. While Blomkvist immerses himself in proving Lisbeth's innocence and finding the real killer of his friends, Lisbeth herself is less concerned with the media's portrayal of her as a murdering psychopath and much more focused on following the trail of blood to see where it leads. Where it takes her is on a trip into her past....a painful past that brings her face-to-face with an age-old enemy whose very existence is impossible to prove.... A huge improvement from its slower predecesser, The Girl Who Played With Fire is a thriller of the highest order. A true pageturner that most readers will find impossible to put down. Great book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-26 01:18:21.
(Language: English)
Larsson's follow-up to "Girl With A Dragon Tattoo" is even better than the first book, teasing out details of his heroine's past as she gets fingered as a cold-blooded murderer. There is much, much more to Lisbeth Salander than the first book suggested, and Larsson did a great job mapping out her background More than that, Larsson establishes himself as a novelist with a feminist bent. His women are all well-drawn, fully rounded and have personalities as disparate as a devoted, intelligent detective, a lingerie-designing kickboxer and a hard-charging publisher. And then, of course, there is the damaged genius of Salander herself, who guides smart-but-not-that-smart journalist Mikael Blomqvist to the novel's denouement. I can't stress how rare this is in male thriller and mystery writers, who either create cardboard ladies off to the side or pull out every trope that has ever needed to be rethought to create a replica of a human being. Larsson even manages to make the lesbian sexuality in the book explicitly not about men, which is quite a feat considering he's a man. Lisbeth Salander herself is described as a woman "who hates men who hate women." A descriptor it seems would apply to Larsson. Larsson, a journalist, died shortly after handing in three manuscripts, and it is a loss to the fiction world. His mysteries are intelligent, timely and timeless (in spite of massive changes in technology since he handed in his scripts in 2004). I'll be sad to finish the final book in the series, which is out next month in hardcover. I wish Stieg Larsson were still around, because he created a series with real legs. And really interesting women.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-12 06:09:52.
(Language: English)
Stieg Larsson's The Girl who Played with Fire continues the Millennium trilogy, started with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The book has again the common traits of spy/murder thrillers. We see again Salander (the girl) and Blomkvist (the journalist) entangled in an international story of espionage. We get again solid writing and the occasional story twist. We even get some believable characters and sub-plots. However, the story becomes more of a tele-novella. It's the Russians the main characters are fighting against. One of the characters finds out about and fights against long-lost family. The heroes take part in fast and furious love stories, fast and furious chases, and fast and furious coffee consumption. In fact, for this reviewer the only thing that saves this second installment of the Millennium trilogy is the interesting presence of coffee in the lives of virtually every story protagonist. To conclude: still a good read, but too cliched and overall an abuse of the attachment to the characters wonderfully built in the first part of the Millennium trilogy.
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Lynne posted a review at 2010-09-17 09:00:45.
(Language: English)
I can see now why the first book had some of the detail in it, as it became set up for this second book. However, the recaps in this book were tedious and annoying. Although this book's pace was better than the first, the writing was worse. I just think the characters are so flat. I guess we got to know more about Lisbeth, and her motivations and how her moral compass was developed, but it's all very external. Mikael is totally one dimensional. He has all these women in his life, but you have no idea how he feels or what makes him tick. Even when the author tries to describe someone, it falls flat. Example, describing the psychologist who cared for Lisbeth when she was institutionalized, "his features were sharp and his appearance boyish" The book is full of these descriptions that seem to say nothing or are even contradictory. I remember pondering what someone would look like being both sharp featured and boyish. Maybe it's the translation, something is definitely lost. But, by far the worst flaw is the tedius detail that is just not necessary, does not add to the story at all, and should have been edited out.
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Hidie posted a review at 2010-05-17 12:43:20.
(Language: English)
“The Girl Who Played with Fire” is the second installation in the Millennium Series which starts off with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and ends with “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” by Swedish writer, Steig Larsson. “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” like the first book, starts off rather slow, with the pace picking up 230 pages into the book. Unlike the first book, the plot of “Girl..Fire” is simpler, in the sense that it has one central theme: former private investigator Lisbeth Salanders life and complicated past. In “Girl…Fire,” Lisbeth’s and journalist Blomkvist’s path cross again when they become involved in an expose of the Swedish sex trade. But this time, instead of Salander doing the investigating, her life comes under scrutiny, not only by the police, but by the whole country. “Girl..Fire,” is a good follow-up to the highly successful “Girl…Dragon Tattoo.” “Girl…Fire” gives an explanation of who Salander really is and why she is the way she is. This second book has a real cliffhanger ending, setting the stage for the third and last (?) book in the Millennium Series, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.”
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-11-18 09:14:19.
(Language: English)
After being pleasantly surprised by the Girl with the Dragon tattoo, my emotional response to the second installment of Larsson's series felt more average. Dragon Tattoo had a tight narrative arc and plot consistency. While Played with Fire had few, if any, technical problems, I found the literary craft a little stunted in comparison to the first book, relying on the same catch-phrases and cliche remarks by both protagonists to carry their emotional reactions. There was far less description of technical specifications which allowed the novel to flow effortlessly as opposed to the first book, which the reader would have to contend with a very dense first two chapters. Overall, a good experience and looking forward to the Hornet's Nest when it comes out in paperback.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-09-23 12:07:10.
(Language: English)
Once again we were drowning in details, journalists novelist tend to do this, and it sometimes drives me nuts. I loved that we learned a little more about Salander. However, I was frustrated to read all these LONG and SLOW chapters before finally what on earth happened and how did Lisbeth got mixed in all this. I guess it certainly reflected Blomkvist frustration to help Salander when she certainly does not show a lot of promises. I have to admit I couldn't believe the ending. I absolutely loved the raising from the grave passage (which the movie didn't do justice at all in my opinion). So, I liked it, but it was incredibly slow, and once more one has to be patient.(90)
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-30 02:10:04.
(Language: English)
An awesome and riveting page-turner! Larsson was a truly gifted author; he could write a complex and convoluted story that is both gripping and utterly believeable even when it seems the most bizarre. He fills the books with exotic characters - or maybe they just seem exotic sometimes because he's so gifted with creating back stories that are unique and individual while driving and supporting the plot line. It's totally understandable why these people end up where they are and how they collide and ricochet off one another. I'm dying to pick up the third (and final) installment even now while my fingers are still burning from "The Girl Who Played with Fire" but that part of me is doing battle with the equally motivated part that wants to hold off and savor the anticipation of the hornet's nest to come. Carly Simon and Heinz ketchup ringing in my ears and flashing before my eyes ...
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-18 01:55:45.
(Language: English)
The Girl who Played with Fire is the second book in Larsson's series and follows up the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Although I gave both books a four stars out of five, I actually liked this one even better than Larsson's First for a couple of reasons: 1) The Girl of Played with Fire actually follows more closely the character who gives the book its name, Lisbeth Salander, while she takes a backseat in Dragon Tattoo. I find her character much more interesting than all of the other characters, so was happy to see that this book explored her backstory and unraveled some of the mystery surrounding her character. 2) There were no sappy love stories muddling the plot of Plays with Fire, while the Dragon Tattoo devotes far too many pages to Mikael Blomkvists string of "lovers." As an aside, it really creeps me out how many authors always use the word "lover" to describe significant others in their books. To me, that word is more cringe-worthy than any curse word. The only aspect of this novel which pales in comparison to Larsson's original, Dragon Tattoo, is that the mystery is not as well formulated or engrossing in this book. While it definitely kept my attention, I would say that this book is more character driven than plot driven. In conclusion, if you liked Dragon Tattoo, and you are desperately seeking answers to the questions surrounding Lisbeth Salander's mysterious past, the Girl Who Played with Fire delivers.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-26 10:44:20.
(Language: English)
Holy crap, this book rocked my socks off. After having set the stage with some crazy awesome characters in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson made sure to up the ante with them in the sequel, his second novel. Whereas the first book simmers with suspense, The Girl Who Played With Fire explodes. It is more epic in scope, more emotionally intense, and more action-packed by far. The net result is a more satisfying read than the previous novel (which, don’t get me wrong, is pretty effing rad as it is). That’s because the main character, Lisbeth Salander, gets more face-time in this installment. She was no doubt a badass in vol. 1 – but here she’s insane, swiftly dishing out justice in brutal fashion to anyone who crosses her. Throughout the course of the story, more is revealed about this mysterious heroine and so you feel closer to her problems as a result. This time when she bashes in somebody’s face or puts a Taser to their balls you root a little bit harder because you know more about what’s driving her. So what’s the story about? Well, at the surface it’s about an up and coming magazine working to expose a sex trade operation. Shit goes down when two of their journalists are murdered. But that’s just plot. The story is really about a young female outsider and a celebrity journalist – both of whom adhere to the same strict yet unspoken moral code. Despite being completely different in every other way, this shared ideology is what bonds them together. Of course, the story’s subtext is (like the first book) very much a critique of modern day society. Specifically, how women are subjected to unfair treatment and horrendous abuse at the hands of men, how power can easily corrupt others, and how flawed the justice system is. Once again, the author paints the profession of journalism as a crusade against immorality. And once again, there’s a ton of sexual tension throughout it all. Long story short: I loved this book and can’t wait to step into the world Larsson has so meticulously created one more time for the final chapter in the Millennium Trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.
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