The Girl Who Played with Fire

Last night I finished reading Stieg Larsson's second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire. OMG... It was so fantastic. It picks up shortly after the last book and focuses on Lisbeth Salander with Mikael Blomvist as a secondary character, and a host of supporting characters. In this installment, Lisbeth returns after over a year of traveling abroad and begins settling in to a new life. Her dreams of a quiet, happy existence are shattered when she is attacked by a hired thug and then three people turn up dead. The fast-paced story had me turning pages like an addict, wanting to know what would happen next. I began reading it on Tuesday, September 29. I read bits and pieces Friday and Saturday and then worked to plow right through starting Monday. At 512 pages, it was another long book, but I didn't care. I was an obsessed woman, anxious to know what would happen.

The book was a real treat. It took me a little while to get into the first thriller in the series, The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, mainly because I started it in a crowded airport. After the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. I was so anxious to read TGWPF (this one) that I actually went to the store and bought it (GASP!!!). I was completely unwilling to wait for the other 410 people wishing ahead of me on PBS. I am soooo glad I bought it.

The sad part in all of this is that Stieg Larsson passed away after delivering four manuscripts (three related with Salander as the main character) to his publisher. He was obviously a gifted author and would have had a huge and faithful following.

I wonder how the audio book versions are for those who don't want to read it... They're selling on iTunes for $18-$30 and on Audible for $21-$27... My local library also seems to have the first book available for download (which uses their proprietary player). Hmm...