The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (Millennium Trilogy)

For those who think that I'm reviewing this before it is avaliable in English, let me tell you that I live in Holland, where it has been available in English since 26th September. I don't know why, and I don't care, but it was a great surprise to see it sitting there in the bookshop on Saturday! Anyway, the third and final part of Larsson's amazing trilogy doesn't disappoint, and will certainly be revered by those who have already feasted on Lisbeth Salander's two previous outings. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest picks up from where the second part finishes. Salander is laid up in hospital recovering from a bullet wound in the head, but she has inadvertendly started a chain of events in the most secretive of government agencies, and they are determined to cover their tracks at all costs. This whole series must surely be one of the most original ever to be committed to paper - a thoroughly unique (anti?) heroine in Salander and revolving around a investigative newspaper? Good Heavens. Even so, this whole series has been a masterpiece of plotting on Larsson's part - it is a complex web, but the writing is stark and simple that one never really gets lost in its intricacies. And make no mistake about it, it's a page turner - Larsson is not afraid to throw in the odd curveball that you're really not expecting to mix it all up, and the story just keeps on going with unstoppable momentum. This really is the perfect finish, when all the cracks that appeared in the first two books start to creak and grown and eventually the whole things falls down in a crash and a cloud of dust. I simply didn't want it to end. Famtastic. In short, I can't praise it highly enough - not only is the whole series a brilliant crime caper, but as all great crime stories should, Larsson takes a mighty swipe at the post-war Swedish political landscape at the same time(I love Micheal Dibdin's Aurelio Zen series set in Italy for the same reason.) Anyway, I was hooked halfway through the first (and, in my opinion, weakest) on the series, but this one really cranks up the pressure. It truly is one of the greatest crime masterworks of the decade and its such a crying shame that Larsson died long before his time and is no longer around to produce such great stories. I, for one, will miss Salander enormously. 5 stars, no question.

I was one of those impatient Americans who ordered my copy of this book from the UK...and do not understand why we should have to wait until May of 2010 for a copy of the book. It was worth the extra money, and now my book is on the road through the hands of friends, with my strong recommendation to start with the first two books. Not that the book does not make sense on its own, it just will be much more pleasurable with the background information from Larsson's first two books. For those who complain about too much exposition, the 600 pages read like a combination of a thriller book and an interesting expose article one might find in either the author's former journal or in Blomkvist's own journal. It appropriately slows down the pace so we can catch our breath, and provides motivation and information. Just as Liz Salandar is a totally unique character, someone I never expect I shall meet, I have already met Mikael Blomqvist in the guise of other men...and I did find him "real." The novel has a satisfying end, yet we still mourn Larsson's death for we shall have no more Lizbeth Salandar stories. I will miss her.

The sad thing here is that the author Stieg Larsson is dead. At the end of the book i felt like i wanted/needed a sequel, but realised it could never happen. Its the same feeling experienced by the end of the second book, that excruciating cliffhanger. As you'd expect Lisbeth Salander is in fact alive, albeit taking a bullet to the head and being in intensive care. The same people who declared her mentally ill and sentenced her to that instituion want her to go back there. They make her take the fall for two murders and also the attempted murder of her father. But Lisbeth is ready to fight back. The journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine provide invaluable help for her to prove her innocence and identify the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vunerable to become victims of violence and abuse. In my opinion it feels like a continuation of the second book rather than stand alone novel. As a result its vital to read the other two books to understand the story and characters. After about 100 pages or so the book takes off. Your subjected to new characters incredibly fast in an attempt to explain the conspiracy against Lisbeth. The pace never gives up, its a genuinely exhilirating read. Its a great ending to the trilogy, and it will no doubt leave you wishing for that little bit more. Thank you Stieg Larsson.

This is the final book in the best thriller series I have ever read. The first of the three books is good, the second better, and the third as good as the second. Buy them all, and read them in the correct sequence. The translation by Reg Keeland is superb. You never get the feeling the books were not originally written in English, the writing is so natural and perfectly expressed. I am told the French translation was not great.

I ordered the first book (Dragon Tattoo) out of curiosity and the second one along with it (primary reason being to reach the min order for free delivery!). Was taken by surprise by the excellent development of characters and the realistic yet forceful turn of events. The month-long wait after that to read the third book was well worth it. (In this respect, very very different from the serious letdown from Dan Brown). To me, the third book is a continuation of the second book and as such there aren't so many twists in the plot. It is more of a book that brings the story to an end providing answers to all the questions that may have propped up during the first two books. The part about the Section is very well done and the clinical dismissal of the prosecution case makes for a pleasant ending to the series. There are a few things that could have been done better though - Erica Berger's side story seems to be completely irrelevant. Unlike with Blomkvist in Dragon Tattoo, her absence from Millennium is something that the reader does not find very important. Secondly, and this is for the whole series and not just this book, few characters (if any) seem to have any shades of grey. This is probably because the author wants to take a very clear line as to where he stands. The commendable thing is that he still does not sound preachy (except for some parts in book 2 where Blomkvist tries to defend Salander). All in all, it's an excellent book and an excellent series that deserves all 5 stars. Thanks Stieg Larsson for giving us Lisbeth Salander.

Such a shame Mr Larsson passed away before he had the chance to see his success - and write more! Brilliant series - couldn't put it down.

With this, the third and final part of the utterly brilliant Millennium trilogy, Larsson brings to a close the compelling story of, what must surely be, one of literature's most compelling heroines, Lisbeth Salander. As said elsewhere, Larsson ties up all of the loose ends clearly visible at the end of the second book and, as such, this is really not a standalone book but a continuation. It is essential reading for Larsson addicts but like all addictions it will never be enough to sate the appetite induced by reading the first of the series. Gobble up this one just like its predecessors - sadly, there ain't plenty more where they came from! Larsson's writing was obviously motivated by powerful emotions reflecting his views on certain social ills but I never, as I have with certain other writers, felt that I was being preached to. The books are moving, exciting, intelligent, compelling and superbly written (and, I imagine, translated) but above all, entertaining. The whole experience of reading all three is so affecting that the structural faults, most obvious in the second in the series, simply don't matter. There are just too few writers of such excellence around who can sustain the interest of their readers over 1600 or so pages and therefore his passing is truly to be mourned. Now I'll wait some time to get my 'fix' and then begin with 'dragon' again.

This is the third volume and it is just as good, if not, better than the preceeding two. Maybe it seems better because one hopes the bad guys get what they deserve. That old good vs. evil device never fails to enthrall me.

This the last book in the trilogy is an excellent read, it keeps your interest the whole way through. This was the best of Stieg Llarson's three books.To get the best from these books you must read all three, the reader will not be disappointed. How sad that such a brilliant author should die so young.

excellent. What a pity there will be no more books ny Steig Larsson due to his untimely death