This was one of my favorite books! The character development was wonderful! Quite a thriller! It is the first book in a series. The next one is, The Girl Who Played With Fire. I've purchased it.

Many of our group enjoyed this book and it provided for a lively discussion. The subject matter of child abuse provided a lot of heated discussion. We also discussed how all the characters seemed to "cross the line" into questionable ethics or morals.

Starts a little slow, the meat of the book is fantastic. will be reading the rest of the series.

Although we found it slow to get into, we all agreed that the author held us enough to want to finish and read the other two.

Although the book is very slow to start, once you get about 100 pages in, the story really picks up and becomes quite an enjoyable read. The book has elements of family drama, financial intrigue and murder mystery all in one.

It was hard to get into this book. Several members of the book club debated not finishing it. The book did pick up about halfway through it, but then it seemed like the book was in a rush to finish.

The start was really slow we all agreed but once it got started it got really interesting. I couldn't put it down. There were plenty of twists and turns as soon as you think one thing it wrapped up you remember there are 3 other things still to finish. It was quite graphic sexually so I wouldn't recommend it to any young readers. My favorite book we've read so far.

Although parts of the book were very difficult to read (graphic violence), it was an intriguing story and left me wanting to know more about Lizbeth Salander. Very well written.

Although I did not like some of the things that happened in the book, the author kept me interested and reading. I had a desire to figure out what happened. Unfortunately, the book leaves some important questions unanswered. There are two oher books. I like a series that does not leave you with so many questions at the end of a book.

The book started slow. At first, it was difficult to keep track of the many characters/potential suspects. However, the book eventually "picked up" and it was great fun watching this mystery unfold (the story is much like an episode of Cold Case). Warning: There are a couple of disturbingly graphic scenes. In the end, this book ended up being a personal favorite.

I was not able to really get into this book. The swedish language was hard to pronounce and understand. The book did not get interesting until mid ways.

Larsson has woven a graphic and gripping story. The characters are uniquely flawed, but Michael and Lisbeth have their own redemptive qualities. I couldn't wait to see how it ended, and was sorry when I turned the last page.

Our club discussion of this book was quite good. Everyone seems to contribute and there were a lot of insights. It would be a book we would recommend.

Book club members liked this book. I thought it started slow. It was intriguing as the pieces of the mystery came together. Family secrets come to light. Incorporated many topics such as sexual abuse, serial killers, corporate gangster greed and the main protagonist travels to Australia to uncover answers. The unanswered question is should one save oneself at the cost of others?

Our Book Club enjoyed the book after the first half. The book was very slow for the first 200 pages as the author was setting up the scene. We think he spent too much time on detail at the beginning. Once you got past that, the book moved really quickly and had everything you would want in a mystery/thriller.

I was one of the few who liked this in our group. I rarely read this genre but found I read it in 3 days, it must have grabbed something in me. Some will like it, some won't.

A bit slow in the beginning but then very suspenseful with surprises. Some members of our club found some of the subject matter offensive.

I loved how each of the subplots were woven into the main plot - very subtle. Yet, I eagerly anticipated the resolution of each. I was a little disappointed to not have more details on the Lisabeth character. Being such a main player - there was a lot to divulge on her and her history. Perhaps it was intentional to leave the reader wanting more?

I'm anxious to read the next one.

the first hundred or so pages, lost me a few times...once you get past them whoooa......amazing!

A big epic noir tale with an unusual setting and protagonists.

Recommend for book clubs interested in reading mysteries. As many others have described, it's a very slow start unless you are knowledgable & into financial criminal activity. Once the two main characters' lives intersect, the book begins to move as they research clues to Harriet's murder and uncover more about the dysfunctional Vanger family. Once the story moves back to the financial sector in the end, it is somewhat unbelievable, but overall a good read if you don't mind some graphic descriptions of a sex and torture.

All of us thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was a nice change from some of the books we typically read. It's akin to a murder-mystery. It was slow to start, but if you can hang in there, it definitely pays off. The story of the author is also interesting and I encourage you to look it up.

A page-turner. The book took numerous twists and turns that left the reader guessing what would happen next.

Fascinating, detailed, informative, a mystery, cultural

This book wasn't a bad book. It's just not the type of book I would recommend for a book club. The beginning was very slow. In paperback it took almost 300 pages before the story picked up. Now that I've invested the time, I'll probably read the next two.

This book did have a disturbing character or two. If you aren't OK with that, then it's not for you.

Very violent story. The search for the missing, and presumed dead, girl was interesting and fast paced.

The beginning of the book was very slow and I probably would have quit reading it had it not been selected for our book club. However, after about the first 100 pages it became very good and hard to put down. I can't wait to start reading The Girl Who Played With Fire.

really liked the characters and following the mystery along.

Overall we liked the book. Parts were disturbing and graphic. The mystery element kept us all interested. Some thought it was confusing at the beginning of the story but everyone was glad they stuck with it.

I could not put this first of a trilogy down, the second book was even better and now I have pre-ordered the third, they are the type of book you can't wait to see who done it and then sorry it ended

I liked the characters, but it was slow most of the time. It was finally getting good at the end, and then they ruined it by being so sadistic. It just wasn't believable.

I've never read this author before and I have to say I did find it heavy going trying to remember names, places, etc. It was quite a dark book and in some parts confusing but in saying that, I feel I would like to read the other 2 books in the trilogy

This book grabbed me and everyone else I know who's read it (including our book club)! It was a book club selection and I didn't expect to love it, but was so hungry for more that I immediately purchased the second book and pre-ordered the third. It's a little complicated initially, but became clear quickly.

I found this book very confusing to begin with. However, once I was able to follow the plot line (it took a few chapters) I thought the book was impossible to put down. I recommend this book.

I really liked this book - once I got past the first 100 or so pages. If you stick with it, it definitely pays off and has you unable to put it down. You want to find out what happens next, and I actually kind-of like that when you've finished there is one character you're not sure you ever really got to know - maybe it's to encourage you to read the second one. :-)

While the first two hundred pages were slow, at 201 it kick in but good. Not a huge hit with the majority of our group, but it still got a thumbs up from everyone.

I'm hooked on the series (I also read The Girl Who Played with Fire). However, it is a bit far fetched. The author makes you care about the characters and that is why I am going to read the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.

All kinds of interesting twists and turns!

First, let me say that I am not an avid reader of murder mysteries. However, after reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I am a Larrson fan.
This story is seductive, contemporary and, possibly, gleaned from reality. If you read it I suggest that you read up on Larsson's life.
The protagonist is very real in that he has faults and some not-so-worthy personality traits. The Girl is sympathetic, edgy and waifish. Larsson spins an enticing tale that draws the read continuously in until one can't stop reading, even the most gruesome details.

This book had a very slow start. There were so many characters and just too much information in the first 100 pages.It was just OK for me. It didn't keep my attention for too long. Things dragged out but then all of a sudden things would happen and you'd wonder 'how'd we get here so fast'? I don't think I will read book 2 and 3 although I do want to know about the main characters. But I think I'll just ask a friend who'll read it to find out the back story!.

Loved it! Would reccommend this book, slow start, but worth it!

in the last years. You won't stop until reading the 3 volumes of Millennium. Why it took so long to come to the USA?

We found this book difficult to read. Many parts of the book were long and drawn out. Overall a good book worth reading, just hard making it to the end.

It takes about 100 pages for the author to set you up to know all the characters that will play a role in this intriguing and very well written mystery. The characters are amazingly woven into and out of eachother's storylines. The subject matter can be gruesome at times but overall the subject of abuse is handled well.

Overall, about half of our club were able to finish this book. It is hard to get past the first few chapters. However, after getting thru that, the book is awesome, but has a lot of details and some individuals considered it too macabre for them. Overall, not an easy read, but good.

Our club had a lot to say about the characters and diverging plot lines in this more than ponderous work. Larsson's first book leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions about character and motive, but weaves such an intriguing picture you can't help but get sucked in.

Our discussion started with the background of the author, Stieg Larsson. His main character, Mikael, is almost a mirror image of himself. His life’s experiences gave him lots of information for this book as well as his next two books in the series. The second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire, continues with Lisbeth Salander as well as Mikael.


The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, published in 2005 a year after the death of the author, became an international best seller. The book opens with an intriguing mystery. Henrik Vanger, an octogenarian industrialist, hires Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist who has just lost a libet case under murky circumstances, to investigate the disappearance of his great-niece, Harriet. Nearly 40 years earlier, Harriet vanished from a small island mostly owned by the Vanger family and Henrik has never gotten over it.


Blomkvist takes on the case, despite serious misgivings, after Henrik promises him $372,000 for a years work. Henrik tells Blomkvist how he detests most members of the family. He says that they are “part thieves, misers, bullies and incompetents”, which prove to be to kind words for this lot.


The girl in the title is not Harriet but Lisbeth Salander, a 24 year old computer hacker with a photographic memory, a violent temper and some serious intimacy issues. Lisbeth teams with Mikael to solve the mystery of Harriet’s disappearance.


Lisbeth and Mikael discover that Harriet’s disappearance is connected with a series of murders in the 1950’s and 60’s. Through very detailed investigations and the use of Lisbeth’s hacker and surveillance friends they are able to track down the living Harriet and discover the person’s responsible for many gruesome acts. The story then takes on the downfall of Wennerstrom, who had charged Mikael with libel in the beginning of the book. Lisbeth takes on the industrialist from a behind the scenes monetary view. The end of the book leaves the reader with questions about how of the characters will interact in the future.


The book club members enjoyed the book and some felt they would read the next one in the series.

This book starts out slow, then takes off. Exciting thriller to begin an awsome trilogy.
Violent but shows how the human spirit overcomes even the most horrible experiences

Clever. Suspenseful. Loved it!

Fantastic closed-room mystery and produced a great conversation. Warning: there are some graphic portions.

I liked it very much for about for the first 2/3 of the book, but then it took a very dark turn that I didn't like. I will probably read the next two books, however, because the character of Salander is very intriguing.

It is slow to get going but once you get into the meat of the story it is hard to put down. It is interesting and a good mystery with a twist at the end.

Sometimes, the plot got a little contrived, but the characters are so original, it kept us all reading. We plan to read the next 2, as well.

Numerous plot twists and multiple story lines make this book a fascinating read. While we all agreed that the first 100 pages were slow reading; the remainder of the book held each of us captivated. While classified as a mystery, this book is unlike any mystery I have previously read. Will will be reading the second book in this trilogy.

This was more than one book all rolled into a thriller that had me wanting more. And you get more with two follow-on books. The setting in Sweden provided a very unfamiliar setting and the names were difficult. Also lots of people involved. But it made for a great read. Had fun at our book club meeting with dragon tattoos and a menu with a Swedish theme.

Once I got started, I could not put it down. I just had to know what happened next.

This was not my usual book pick. It was difficult to get into, as it started slow and dragged, but once I was into the story, I enjoyed it. Don't give up..it gets better!

Full of intrigue and anticipation.

This book was hard to get into BUT after about 60 pages it finally grabs you. It takes place in Sweden and there is a large family involved which means lots of unusual names and all sorts of characters. The story has lots of twists and turns, it is a good read but a little graphic in spots. The main characters are quite interesting.

I have to admit I did not find this book to live up to the hype. The beginning of the book does not grab you and it is a bit confusing if you put the book down and come back to it. The characters are not likeable, and the double story line doesn't tie together nicely. It was nothing more than a murder mystery.

Our club tentatively selected this book as we had heard mixed reviews, especially in relation to some of the graphic sections but we unanimously agreed it was a good read. It took most of us about 100 pages into the book before it really grabbed our attention but the murder mystery and the strange Vanger family antics kept us going to the end. We considered reading the second book at a follow up club meeting but decided to give it a month or two before moving on to the next (personally I have already purchased the sequel and look forward to reading it sooner than later).

Very hard to get going with the book, but suddenly you're hooked. From that point on, it was hard to put the book down.

Interesting plot and well developed. Lisbeth Salander is a strange but riveting character. Great thriller.

The beginning was a very slow read and too many names are introduced, many with unfamiliar pronounciations. After getting to the main adventure, I enjoyed the story.

several attempts made to read this book, unfortunately could not make it past page 20

Our book club enjoyed this book - so much so that we will be reading the next two in the series this month. Everyone really wants to find out more about Lisbeth.

I found it difficult to get through the beginning and I found the intro a little confusing. There are also a lot of characters in this book, so I frequently found myself going back to the Vanger family tree. I'm happy I stuck with it though, cause I found the rest of the book addictive (I couldn't put it down) - I'm almost through the second book in the trilogy and it is equally excellent.

found it slow and boring hard to "get into"

The back of the book tells you about a young techno-savy, on the edge girl and an older conservative gentleman that join forces to solve an old family mystery. By the time you reach the end of the book, that will hold true, but considering that the 2 do not meet until 250 pages into the book, makes the statement a bit misleading. Lots of character development (maybe too much), and some rather graphic areas, but once the dynamic duo hook up the action is non stop and you suddenly find yourself at the end of the book before you know it. Loved the last 250 pages of the book and can appreciate the development, but would liked to have gotten to the "action" a bit quicker. Great book if you can make it through the beginning.

It was said that overall that for this genre the book was good, but slow to get into.. very graphic and not for the faint of heart

Our book club loved it and most of us agreed it was hard to put down. We are reading The Girl Who played with Fire later this year.

The author clearly has an agenda to educate others about violence against women in Sweden. The main female character is different from any other I have encountered. Interesting and compelling read.

It took me some time to get into this book. The beginning was a bit difficult with so many different characters and not much action....but then, Wow! Once the story started coming together, I couldn't put the book down. I am glad I stayed with it. It's amazing that this is a translation. Lots of intrigue and suspense. I've already started reading part 2, The Girl who Played with Fire.

There is a lot of background information the first half of the book that slows it down. Once you get to the second half it speeds up and gets much more interesting. I highly suggest reading it and his next two. They were page turners.

I stayed up til 1:30 a.m. to finish the book. The mystery behind the disappearance of the young girl didn't disappoint. Main character Lisbeth Salander is a force with which to be reckoned - troubled, surly, brilliant. I look forward to reading the last two books in the trilogy.

The book starts out as investigating journalist Michael Blomkvist is standing trial for the libel of industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström. He had been set up, and he was found guilty, sentenced to 3 months in prison. Blomkvist’s crusading attitude had come to the attention of Henrik Vanger. Vanger wanted to hire Blomkvist to solve the mystery of the disappearance of his niece Harriet 40 years earlier. Vanger wanted to be sure of Blomkvist, so he hired Milton Security to do a background check on him; the person assigned to do the background check was Lisbeth Salander. Vanger was going to ‘buy’ a year of Blomkvist’s life, and after that time, whether he had discovered the truth about his niece or not, Vanger would provide evidence against Wennerström.

Lisbeth was a free-lance researcher, and the best one Milton Security ever had. Her searches were imaginative and she consistently submitted reports that were concise and genuinely devastating to the subject who may have had something to hide. Armansky, her boss, decided she had a special gift, and though he asked, she would never reveal her sources.

Eventually Blomkvist and Salander both became involved in the search for the missing Harriet Vanger, and in doing so, they uncovered much more than a missing teenager.

We all enjoyed this book very much. The character and place names seemed very exotic and foreign to those of us who are not Swedish or have not traveled to Sweden. There were several references to the Pippi Longstocking characters created by Astrid Lindgren, and several of us thought it might be time to look over those stories, too. Other subjects of discussion involved our own encounters with computer security. We talked about fitting into society and how outward appearances can color our own impressions. How do tattoos make you feel about the person who flaunts them?

At one point Blomkvist thought Lisbeth may have had Aspberger’s syndrome because of her apparent lack of social skills. Her personal values were very strictly defined, and she kept to those values, but they did not necessarily coincide with the law. She was an unrepentant and skilled computer hacker and saw no problem with invasion of another’s privacy in pursuit of her goals. We talked about what ‘normal’ is. Was Lisbeth a freak because she had a photographic memory? Because she did not interact socially if she didn’t have to? No small talk for Lisbeth!

I could not put it down once the girl with the tattoo entered the story. I only gave it 4 stars because it was very hard to get into. Action packed, interesting characters and a compelling plot. I have read the other 2 in the series and would rate each of them with 5 stars. Too bad there wont' be any more.

There is more than one story running through book. It is a challenge to keep all the characters straight. Good intrigue and suspense are plenty. The social commentary is important to world events happening right now. I couldn't put it down. I liked all the characters but Lisbeth is my favorite. It was fascinating to watch how she questions herself and the changes in her thought. The good guys (and gals) win...

One of the best thrillers written in a long time. Draws you in and keeps you going. Very hard to put down. There's a lot going on but the story lines merge and the end result in nothing short of fabulous.

Although this book was very confusing with the many charachters and how slow the plot was......It did eventually make sense half way through and then you couldn't put the book down.

Great book, hard to put down!

I took a long time to get into this book. There was a ton of detail and I thought much of it was unneccessary. A lot of it read like a police report. The story was a great one and you eventually get hooked and don't want to put it down. Some good surprises. Interesting characters and great plot development. I would recommend it.

This book grabs you and takes you on an adventure. Opened up a world in Sweden that I had no insight into! Very good.

Our entire book clyb had a really hard time with the first third of the book but it was totally worth it. This is a fun addictive book. The characters are awesome and I can not wait to read the next book!!!

The first 50-60 pages were confusing, boring, and I struggled to get through them however, once I did I didn't want to put the book down. Loved it!

The book starts out VERY slowly and doesn't pick up until well into it. However, once the book takes off it really pulls you in.

This book was to slow and had to much junk around the plot that it could have done with out it. Love the main characters enough to maybe read the next one.

It is disturbing that so many female readers seem to enjoy a book that involves such graphic sexual violence against the heroine, as is the case with Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: A Novel" by Stieg Larsson

Wow! What a wonderful book! My friend, Debbie, chose this book for book club and I loved it! It is an intelligent and ‘addictive’ crime thriller which grips the reader on page one. I must warn readers, however, to carve out a space in time for reading this captivating tale, because nothing else will be accomplished once the book is open. Ask my husband; I did not cook, I did not clean, I did not speak! All I did was read, read, read, and read some more!

Mikael Blomkvist is hired by Henrik Vanger to investigate the 1966 disappearance of his niece, Harriet. The investigation is done under the guise of writing the Vanger family history. Mikael is a financial journalist, an all around good guy, and one who protects the privacy of his sources. As the story proceeds, his life and investigation becomes entangled with the unique and complex Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth is a thorough researcher and genius hacker who is ‘her own person’. The author did a marvelous job of vividly describing her charm and complexity as well as her tattoos and body piercings.

Sweden has brought us Ingrid Bergman, Bjorn Borg, ABBA, and now, an author extraordinaire, Stieg Larsson. Mr. Larsson has passed on, but he left behind three unpublished books, and this is the first of the trilogy.
If you enjoy crime thrillers, digging into the cold case process, and lots of twists, turns and surprises, this book will thrill you without insulting your intelligence. It is total satisfaction!

Start it and stay with it! By mid-book you will have trouble putting it down! The mystery winds through many characters only to find you completely surprised at the end.

You will get hooked on the characters in this book and want to go out and read the rest of the series. The plot is well developed and keeps you guessing. The murder mystery and multiple other themes make this a great book club book.

Outstanding characterisations, intriguing, intelligent plot and completely unputdownable.
Sensational writing.

When you read and then if you see the movie you keep getting different levels of insight into complex characters. Good mystery and story that holds your interest until the end and makes you want to read the sequel. You care about Lisbeth despite all her flaws...

Brilliant to say the least!!! I miss it so much. They just keep getting better too. Highly recommend this book.

The beginning was alitle slow, but once it picked up, it was fast paces and hard to put down.

My book club has not yet met to discuss this book, so I can only speak to my opinion. There are three books in this series. All are over 300 pages. I read all of them in 4 days. The story line is addictive. This book introduces the main characters, sets up a mystery which between them they ultimately solve, but it definitely leaves you wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the entire series is entertaining and worth reading.

It took too long for the story to get going. The second half of the book was great.

interesting plot but some dark, icky rape scenes that left me disturbed

I am not one to try out new authors and one day I saw the book in the bookstore and it grabbed me. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down.

This book was great. I really enjoyed the unexpected twist and angles in the story line. It kept my attention throughout the entire story. Can't wait to get into the next in the series.

Have recomended it to two books clubs and anyone that will listen to me. i just loved this set of books.

Loved it, read all 3 to see what happened to the characters.

Extremely interesting story line with very unusual characters. It is addictive and fascinating. My only problem was with the Swedish names.

I love suspense and this one kept me guessing all the way to the end.

Give this book a chance. I almost gave up before Slander, the heroine, came into the book. The book is very slow in the first few chapters. Once she is there, I could not put the book down. It was so good.

Don't give up on it after the first few chapters. It gets better and easier to follow.

Do not give up, it took me 100 pages to "get into" the story, but once hooked, I could not put it down. Complex, thank you for the family tree.

We were not sure if the book was good for a book club since it was a msytery but the author develops the characters well thoughtout the storyline. Good plot.

This book was slow to start...once it got going the pace was fine but it is just not believable. It was hard to connect with the characters and the plot left a lot to be desired. It’s entertaining just do not look believe all of the hype that surrounds it

Stayed up all night to read this book and then immediately bought and read the next two books in the series. Lost a lot of sleep, but it was worth it!

Everybody loved this book in the club, and wants to read the second book.

This book was a 'page-turner' that keeps the reader rivotted. Some of the material was graphic and disturbing but, in the
end, moral justice perserveres. The characters are well developed and the story is credible. I definately will read
the full trilogy and other books that may come to print posthumousely by this author.

Great story line, mystery, characters were odd. Good vacation quick read.

This book is definitely a page turner! The author manages to weave together several overlapping story lines involving numerous characters, yet without confusing the reader. I did not anticipate the outcome of the main plot line and was pleasantly surprised. The theme of violence against women was a bit much in my opinion, to the point that I am reluctant to read the sequels right away. Overall an enjoyable read though, and made for good discussion.

poorly written, wordy, don't waste your time!

I look forward to the next 2 books in the trilogy to learn more about the girl with the dragon tattoo. I found her character fascinating. I came to admire her and want to know more. The topic was dark, but the book was thought provoking.

This was my choice for our book club to read. I found it a page turner. I read the second book which is excellent and I'm now in the middle of the 3rd of the series. I Can't put it down!
There were 2 (out of 10) in the book club who objected to the crime against women, and didn't want to read about it, but most have continued on to the rest of the series. I thought it was great!

Excellent read! I have read all three Girl books now and each one is terrific. Couldn't put it down, had to read to the end and then wanted more!

You can love and hate the characters, the plot is brilliant.

Mysteries are not my pick. However, this one had lots of twists and turns and kept me going. Very slow begining, and when you find out "who did it", the story kepps going (and going) to close up something that happened in the very begining. Sometimes Larsson was too descriptive - he wrote almost a whole page on the specs of the new computer that a main character was purchasing. I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series.

A page turner, but wordy in parts, and definitely needed a little more editing. There are some graphic descriptions of S&M, so reader beware. I keep wondering what all the fuss was about over this novel, but I think much had to do with the author's back story.

A different type of read, than I am use too. But after getting through the first couple of chapters, I really got hooked!!!
I have began reading the "The Girl who played with Fire", it will be interesting to see how this all unfolds....

Interesting to read, but somewhat simplistic. Lots of action with the "good guys" very good and the "bad guys" horrid.

Great read; page turner, interesting to see the author's cultural views reflected in the lives of the characters.

These books were addicting! I read all three in a week and was wanting more when I finished!

This is a very gritty book. The 1st 100 pgs or so are very confusing and hard to get into, but then I could not put it down. The Swedish names were difficult and that 1st 100 pgs I was having trouble telling who was who and are they even important to the story. The moderator for our Book Club decided not to finish the book or to even suggest reading it for our club because she could not get past the inhumane acts done to the main character. So it is definitely not for the faint of heart!

this book is very long and difficult to follow. there are dozens of characters, and they all have swedish names. the story is good and interesting, but takes a long time to unravel because there are so many confusing details.

Our book club enjoyed this book, some more than others.

I'm currently in the middle of the 2nd book, which I like better than the 1st. So looking at this book as a prelude to further stories makes it more acceptable.

The book was fantastic. Most of our bookclub really enjoyed it, but it wasn't a great discussion book.

Compelling! You won't be able to put it down. Lots of plot twists and interesting characters. You'll find the discussion lively!

I found this book really difficult to get in to. It was confusing in the beginning and did not pick up till at least middle of book. I did finish it and overall in the end could see how the story wound together. I do find the main character Lisbeth interesting and want to see what happens in the sequels.

Our book club really enjoyed this book and the rest of the book in the series.

The beginning was too slow, the end was too long; and while the middle was well done the graphic scenes felt over the top and unnaturally gruesome.

slow read at first, but hang in there, it gets GOOD!!!

A very slow and difficult start but my interest was captured a third of the way into the book and I couldn't put it down. Excellent plot but little to no character development in most characters... was this intentional? Very interesting ending that made me think...

Loved the book, and looking forward to finishing the 2nd one!

This is a great read! Very well-written, characters well drawn & debveloped, plot intriging. There are actually two intertwined stories -- a 40-year-old murder mystery & the present-day saga of Mikael Blomqvist (investigative journalist) & Lisbeth Salander (withdrawn goth-punk computer hacker). There are some graphic sexual encounters and some violence. These are not gratuitous, though -- they do advance the plot.

Slow start. Stick with it though; it is worth it. The sexual abuse was a bit disturbing, but necessary to the story... Couldn't put it down, had to finish so I could watch the movie (subtitled). Now.. on to The Girl Who Played With Fire!

Could have shortened the book, as there was a lot of pointless information in it. Poorly written and misleading as the book was not at all about the 'girl'. I will not read the other two books in the trilogy.

Part this book were very interesting and a good mystery. Parts were just boring and slow.

The first quarter was a little slow for me, but once the story got going, I was hooked!

This book took me a long while to get into but the last 200 pages I couldn't put it down. Unsure yet if I want to tackle the other two in this trilogy.

Having read prior reviews I was prepared for the slow start...For me page 60 was the turning point and I did not want to put it down. I have already bought the second book and can't wait to get it started.

Cannot believe that this is one of the top rated books. Thought the subject matter was interesting but the novel was far to wordy and seemed to drag. Really had to force my self to complete.

Slow start, but ended up loving it!

Very good, enjoyed the book.Looking forward to reading the next book.

Thoroughly enjoyed this fun fast paced story, couldn't wait to read part two.

I thought the beginning and ending were really slow. It took almost 1/3 of the book to get me interested. The middle section was good, but then it got boring again at the end.

Started off slow but totally picked up at the end

I don't understand the fasincation with this book. It was very slow, very dark and plodded on forever. I found this book a chore to read.

A slow beginning turns into an adventure with twists and turns in every chapter. You will fall in love with the misguided, yet strangely lovable Lisbeth and want all good things for the upstanding Mikael.

A friend told me to hang-tough through the first hundred pages or so, then I would be hooked. Well, I'll admit it took just over 300 pages for me to be hooked, but it was worth the wait. Yes, I foresaw one outcome, but others I did not see coming. Now, I can't wait to read the second installment.

Did exactly what Larsson spent his career fighting: exploited women.

I read this book with great anticipation given all the hype I have heard about it. I did like the book however the first 2/3rds of the book I found a bit slow and it dragged. The payoff however was in the last 1/3 or the book that made my investment of time worth it.

I was so enthralled that I forgot to serve my kids lunch! Yikes! (That's never happened before! Ever!)

This was a fast read, but the violence against women can be a bit graphic.

Page turner once you get past the first 100-150 pages. Then it is hard to put down.

Amazing.

A fantastically designed and convincing characters! Totally addictive! Except for the for beginning chapters, intriguing and brilliant mystery!

Intriguing- not much on suspense mystery but I am reading the other 2 in the trilogy- so that says something right there--

I enjoyed anticipating the next twists and turns. It was smart and exciting.

I would not have even picked this book off the shelf, but my husband suggested it after hearing about the author. Once I started reading, could not put it down. Now I want to read the other two in the series. I just have to know what happens next!

It was ok. Hard to get started into.

I read the rave reviews of this book and I know it's landing on lists of top books of the past year and I really wanted to love it. I didn't love it, I just liked it. It was just OK. I know there are 2 more books that Stieg Larsson wrote and delivered when he delivered this one. I don't know that I'll bother with reading them. This book took quite a while to get going and even once it did, it still felt like it dragged at times. Nothing seemed like a stunning plot twist to me and it was difficult for me to get really invested in the characters.

The original Swedish title of this book means Men Who Hated Women, and that title is an excellent forewarning about what the book is about. If you like gritty crime novels or shows like CSI, you’ll probably love the book. My eyes and stomach prefer much milder fare, but I’ll still probably read the second installment.

The girl who has the dragon tattoo is Lisbeth Salander, a girl in her mid-twenties who is a PI and can find out just about everything about anyone. I liked her. A lot. Her character was fascinating and Larsson ends the book in such a way that leaves you wanting to hear more of her story and background.

Mikael Blomqvist is a journalist who has just lost a court case for libel, which then puts his reputation and his magazine Millennium at risk. He decides to temporarily leave the paper in the hands of his partner to save face. Enter Henrik Vanger. Vanger is the former CEO of his family business, the Vanger Corporation. He hires Blomqvist to write a family history of the Vangers as a pretext to dig into the disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vanger. The case has been cold for decades and though Mikael believes he won’t be able to find any new evidence, he accepts. This is where the book really grabbed me and kept me reading until 1 am to learn the outcome.

The book really has three storylines to it, the Harriet Vanger story is in the middle, with Lisbeth Salander’s story on the outside of that, and with Mikael Blomqvist’s story on the very outer edges. Consequently, the climax occurs with quite a few pages still left in the book. So at first it felt like the book should be over, but then after awhile I was able to get into the secondary and tertiary stories as well.

As I stated in the beginning, it really is about men who hate women, so if you read it be prepared for what that involves. I didn’t care for the more graphic scenes in the book, but I do know that not everyone is as sensitive to that as I am

This is NOT a book I would normally read, however I am glad that I did. It was dramatic and well written and I read it in 2 days! However, be warned, it does contain some very disturbing & violent content, so if you scare easily it's one to avoid!

It took a while to get into this book. I could easily put it down and did not get that excited to start reading it again. It kept getting better as I got deeper into the book. I ended up liking it.

Very very good book. I've started to read the second book in the series. I found myself wanting revenge for the characters in the book....not a very Christian attitude, but my attitude none the less.

A little slow but definitely a compelling read! Love the main characters, Lisbeth and Mikhail. They had a lot of interesting chemistry.

Great book. Very interesting and complex plot with lots of characters. The book was perhaps 100 pages too long for me, but I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the sequels.

I don't want to say that I liked this book, but I did! It is an "icky" story of dark thoughts and actions, but wonderfully told in an exciting and addictive way!

I thought that it was very entertaining. It is an easy read for the beach or airplance travel.

A little hard to get into because of unusual Swedish names & entwined family relationships, but a real page turner story.

After Chapter 3 I couldn't put the book down!

Very good!

It took me exactly 100 pgs. before the plot of this story really took off and grabbed hold of me. I enjoyed the mystery of the Vanger family and the character of Salander only left me wanting to know more about her and what made her who she is now. I have since watched the foreign film version of this book (and enjoyed it very much) and will make it a priority to read (and watch) the other two books in this stunning trilogy. The only draw back to this book was the extreme sexual content which I personally could have done without. However, as I have already stated it isn't enough to keep me from reading the other two books.

Interesting mystery. Too much casual sex, too much sadistic sex, too much cruelty of women, not necessary for the mystery.

What an amazing story. The cast of characters is different, but by the end one is amazed at their resilience and integrity. Its a mystery, a story of the overcoming of odds, and a story of corruption. It has it all, with some romance thrown in on the side.

Really great. Has a few graphic parts that are not for the faint of heart, but an interesting story that I would recommend!

This book takes you to dark places but it is so fasinating.

I started reading this book because I had heard great reviews on it. I enjoyed this book tremendously and would recommend it to anyone that can handle a little bit of skeletons in a family's closet.

I LOVED it! However several members could not get through it or found it very slow to grab their attention. The plot is intricate and somewhat confusion but the mystery lasts until the very end. The characters are well developed and complex. Looking forward to the next in the series

This first of the trilogy is a great book to get you hooked to the series. It was a great mystery/adventure book.

I have read the trilogy and found that all three books were terrific, and I would recommend them to all.

We decided to start with this as our first book club selection since it's been on the Best Seller List forever and "everybody" has read it.

The book was good, but not outstanding. It was slow at the beginning and a little hard to get into. Towards the middle, it finally picked up and became very addicting! The outcome of the book was somewhat expected, but the details surrounding the mystery and the true lives of Harriet's family were dark and suprising.

All in all, the book was worth while reading, but it wasn't up to my expectations.

The financial part of the story was not my favorite, but the mystery and the characters kept me reading.

The author takes you on the ride of a lifetime! Excitement from beginning to end.

I thought that this book moved very, very slow. It took me forever to get into the book and took me months to read when other books this size take me a few days.

Once you get through the first 50 pages, you won't want to put it down.

The first chapter or so was overwhelming and hard to get through, but once you get past that the book takes off.

This one was hard to put down.
Well written.
Selfishly, I didn't enjoy trying to remember the Swedish names of people, places, etc.

I'm glad I read this book so that I could make up my own mind about it. I had my expectations set so high that perhaps I set my self up for disappointment. I felt that that characters were a bit one dimesional and cold making it difficult for me to establish a sense of connection with them. For a story that was set around murder and rape I felt it should have been more interwoven throughout more of the book rather than then just explore it in 250 pages.

I chose this book for our book club because it's been such a sensation and it did not disappoint. This book's only weakness is the very beginning is kind of slow (when it goes into all the economics of Mikael Blomkvist's work), but once it picks up it's hard to put the book down. This book is compelling and suspenseful and has terrific characters. Larsson really does a good job of making his characters interesting and likable at the same time. Warning though, it gets really dark at spots and the crimes that take place can be pretty disturbing. Not for the faint of heart.

A page turner & mystery to the very end but I'm sure it's book club material Can't wait to read the next one.

Just Brilliant! Love the characters, the storyline, the ending! Fantastic!!! Couldn't put it down!

A good read...slow to start & slow at the end but the middle was fast & exciting!

We rated this book at B+.