The Girl Who Played With Fire [Book Review]

Title: The Girl Who Played With Fire

Author: Stieg Larsson

Publication: 2006 by Norstedts Agency

Translation: 2009 by Reg Keeland

"Crusading publisher Mikael Blomkvist has decided to run an explosive expose of a wide-ranging sex trafficking operation. Just before the piece is published, the two reporters responsible are murdered. The fingerprints on the murder weapon belong to his friend, the troubled hacker genius Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist, convinced of Salander's innocence, plunges into an investigation. Meanwhile, Lisbeth herself is drawn into a murderous game of cat and mouse, and is forced her to face her dark past."

Praises for The Girl Who Played With Fire:

"Intricate, puzzle-like... Startling and violent."

- The New York Times

"Give up on the idea of sleep 'till you've finished the book."

- Dallas Morning News

"Gripping stuff... A nail-biting tale of murder and cover-ups."

- People

"Enthralling... Confirms the impression left by Dragon Tattoo."

- The Washington Post

In the first book, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the story was at least as much about Mikael Blomkvist as it was about Lisbeth Salander. A lot of hints are dropped about Lisbeth's life, but aside from knowing that she is a genius with computers, a great researcher, socially inept and she had a very troubled childhood, we know nothing much about her. In The Girl Who Played With Fire, Lisbeth Salander is in the middle of everything. She became the heart of the story, being the connection of everything that has been going on in the book.

Lisbeth Salander is accused of three murders and the media made her seem like a psychopath through exaggerated stories about her life. Twists started to signal a huge government conspiracy and cover-ups. But still, despite the fact that Lisbeth does not have many friends, the ones she does have are very loyal to her. :)

Like with the first book, The Girl Who Played With Fire had a full cast of characters that I had a hard time keeping track of who was who. I had a headache turning the pages to look for and remember the police officers! A detailed list of characters can be read here. The story also relied a lot on coincidence - Salander handling Bjurman's gun, that became the murder weapon for Dag and Mia's deaths, etc. One thing I still don't understand about the book is why Larsson incorporated mathematics into the story. Some mathematicians say that it was unnecessary but I personally think that it was an addition to the many wonders we know about Lisbeth already. I just didn't understand the part about Fermat's Theorem and all that long story backgrounds about it, as well as Lisbeth's realization of the solution to the problem at the last moment. xD

Since the second book is not much about solving the mystery - because readers are already aware of everyone's connection, the ending is open and the story will continue in the final book. Yes, it will make you want to read the final book immediately! Basically, if you loved The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, you will also love The Girl Who Played With Fire and will be again fascinated by Lisbeth's enigma.