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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

By: Stieg Larsson
Narrated by: Saul Reichlin
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About this listen

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder - and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family.

He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, truculent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from 40 years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history.

But the Vangers are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.

(P)2009 WF Howes Ltd Amateur Sleuths Crime Thrillers Europe Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Crime Detective Exciting Scary Murder

Critic reviews

"I doubt you will read a better book this year." (Val McDermid)

"Intelligent, complex, with a gripping plot and deeply intriguing characters. The author's early death is a great loss." (Philip Pullman)

"What a cracking novel! I haven't read such a stunning thriller debut for years. Brilliantly written and totally gripping." (Minette Walters)
All stars
Most relevant
Great book more in depth than the film Swedish one that is. Best film and book that I have watched and read for years

Fantastic

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I don't know why I bought this book; it hadn't really appealed to me in the past. I'm so glad that I did as the second half is one of the best I've ever read.

I had read some of the other readers' reviews, so I was prepared for a rather slow start; this is an understatement as it effectively has a prologue that lasts for the first half of the book. Some degree of scene-setting is always necessary, but this took the biscuit and had I not been prepared for the slow start I may well have given up.

The second half of the book, however, is one of the best listens I've had in a long time. The character of Lisbet Salander, the damaged and idiosyncratic anti-heroine, is an amazing creation whose reactions to any situation just cannot be second guessed. There is also a twist in the tale that both surprised and made me smile, something unusual in this genre of fiction. The original title of the book, when translated from the original Swedish is "Men Who Hate Women", and this is explored in many ways. It is also necessarily graphic, so anyone who finds explicit scenes and the associated language offensive or uncomfortable should avoid this book.

I have awarded the book only four stars, but if it were possible to rate it in the two halves it really deserves, it would be a two and an impressive five.

Book of Two Halves

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I purchased this on a whim after hearing about it shortly after the books were published. It's a brilliant book, modern, diverse, well written and brilliantly narrated. Excellent! I would only ward off those that have weak stomachs as some parts are quite graphic!

A brilliant listen from start to finish!

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As another reviewer wrote, this book is a great novel, not just a great crime novel. Dickensian in it's scale, and beautifully written. There are faults, but these are only too eagerly forgiven in such a great book. Books like this come along rarely. I cannot fathom how anyone could give this book ONE star, that is wierd, I dread to think what sort of books those people like, why not two or three... but one?!! Get past the first hour, concentrate a bit and it will reward! wonderful. IMHO

Brilliant!

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Believe the hype. It's a well paced thriller but also a very very good book. The writer doesn't rush or panic; he develops characters, weaves different story lines together and builds a believable scenario with which a lesser author would struggle to convince.
I cannot wait to read the other stories in the series because I desperately want to meet the characters again.
I should add the narrator is superb and just right for the book.

As Good as everyone says

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