A GREAT read that kept me up at night!! 2010-07-30

Reviewer: Deborah Bainbridge

This is just about one of the best books I have ever read. I love the character development, the slow build of the story-yes that's right-SLOW-but the story of this magnitude takes a bit of time. This is not for people that have little patience or need everything spoon fed to them. The story is great and part of the charm is the time and care that Larsson took in familiarizing the reader to all the characters. It is like an adult version of the game CLUE but far more interesting and complex. The first 300 pages or so are setting everything up-once you get past that things really start to pick up. This is not for kids or the faint of heart. This is a very dark tale that will, if you truly give it a chance, you are sure to love. I was a bit sad once it was over-but happy to have two other books to look forward to in the series.

Can't believe why I suffered through this book 2010-07-30

Reviewer: R. Bush

Well, let me say this is THE very first time I have every submitted a review of a book. So why am I doing this? Why I am I taking a few moments out of my precious lifetime to do this? Because I thought it was such a dismal, boring, sophomoric book and I can't begin to understand why the world thinks it's so great! I had to start over from the beginning of the book four times to be able to gather enough energy to finish it. I was determined to read the whole dull thing because of all the attention it has received. I wasted my time.

My advice - skip this one.

Clearly deserving of the title "bestseller". 2010-07-29

Reviewer: Meg Mitchell

I picked this fine piece of literature up on a whim after noticing that my local library had over six hundred hold requests for it. Though my initial interest was sparked by little more than wanting to know what all the fuss was about, I can safely say now that I'm glad that small amount of interest was all that it took for me to make this purchase.

Larsson immerses the reader in the lives of Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, an investigator in her own right. In the wake of a libel-related scandal, Blomkvist accepts an offer from industrialist Henrik Vanger to escape the busy streets of Stockholm and investigate the disappearance of Vanger's niece, Harriet, who has been missing for several decades. Blomkvist isolates himself in the fictional town of Hedestad and begins his investigation.

Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander, the book's namesake, has her own struggles to deal with. Originally tasked with performing a routine background investigation on Blomkvist, Salander finds herself increasingly interested in his new course of action in Hedestad. The two eventually come face to face after Blomkvist realizes his need for a research assistant and seeks her out. By the end of this harrowing tale, this pair of talented investigators have not only uncovered the reasons behind Harriet's disappearance, but have also struck back at the libel suit Blomkvist had been plagued by.

The story is fresh, the characters are interesting, and the entire book is a page-turner. A must-read for mystery fans, and highly recommended for anyone who simply enjoys good fiction. While the book itself isn't too long (running around 600 pages), it is a longer read. One of the most interesting parts of this story, and undoubtedly one of the most time-consuming tasks central to understanding the text, is connecting it's various themes (corruption, misogyny, etc.) to the lives of the central group of characters. All in all, this book is well worth the money you'll spend buying it, the time you'll spend reading it, and all the hype it has generated.

allright after start 2010-07-29

Reviewer: Hector Yep

my first mystery/crime book (i have never been a fan) but i must say, even though the start is a bit weak, it does get better after a while...wouldn't be my last crime i read

Slow 2010-07-29

Reviewer: MELISSA MYERS

I've read a lot of books and this is the first review I have written. I am having a hard time getting through this and may not even finish it. Why are people raving about this? I just don't get it. It isn't the waste of money, it is more the waste of my time trying to read it. I don't want to miss out on a great book, am I missing something?