Friday 26 March 2010

The Girl Who Played with Fire

The Giirl Who Played with Fire
 By Steig Larsson

Sequels can sometines be something of a let down, little more than a rehash of the first book.



It's true that the central characters of Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander remain from Larsson first book 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', and the characters build on what went before, but the plotline is completely new.

If anything, this second book in the Salander trilogy is better than the first, with the mysterious background of the intriguing Ms Salander forming the core of the plot as it lurches is dark way towards a compelling finale.

This time Lisbeth Salander finds herself accused of a triple murder and the police certain of her guilt. The evidence seems overwhelming but strange links with an expose planned by Blomkvist's Millenium magazine cause some to have doubts about the police's conclusion and they begin their own invesitgation. 

The finale is a spectacular race against time, but there is no way I am going to give the plot away - not even a teeny bit.  Don't be put off by the unfamiliar Sweedish names and places which trip uneasily from the English tongue, you soon get beyond this small stumbling block. This is a classic novel, a must read.
 
Mind you, it certainly has a dark side and I can see why film version of the previous book carries a certrificate of 18. Not one for Jeff just yet.
 
This book score a 10:10 on the Ahab scale - and I don't give them out very often.

2 comments:

Nev Wells said...

We went to see the film of the first book Thursday - very good even with subtitles. Took a few liberties with the plot but worth going to see....

Nev

Andy Tidy said...

Thats what I heard Nev. My problem is that Belle hasnt read it yes and does not plan to do so tll the summer hols so it looks like I will be waiting for the DVD release. If it is plot driven it should transfer OK.
I will be passing your boat on my way out to the Trent next weekend.
Andy