The Girl Who Played With Fire: A Review

Stieg Larsson's The Girl Who Played With Fire

Logistics
Title:  The Girl Who Play With Fire
Author:  Stieg Larsson
Published:  July 28, 2009
Publishing Company:  Alfred A Knopf
Page Count:  503

Summary via Goodreads
The girl with the dragon tattoo is back. Stieg Larsson's seething heroine, Lisbeth Salander, once again finds herself paired with journalist Mikael Blomkvist on the trail of a sinister criminal enterprise. Only this time, Lisbeth must return to the darkness of her own past (more specifically, an event coldly known as "All the Evil") if she is to stay one step ahead--and alive. The Girl Who Played with Fire is a break-out-in-a-cold-sweat thriller that crackles with stunning twists and dismisses any talk of a sophomore slump. Fans of Larsson's prior work will find even more to love here, and readers who do not find their hearts racing within the first five pages may want to confirm they still have a pulse. Expect healthy doses of murder, betrayal, and deceit, as well as enough espresso drinks to fuel downtown Seattle for months. --Dave Callanan

My Thoughts
I read this book about two years ago and it's been sitting in my draft box for ages.  I figured I should go ahead and start clearing that box up, so here goes.  Unlike the first book in the series, I was able to get into this one much quicker.  There wasn't a lot of backstory (Larsson assumes you've read the first book), so the action jumps right into play at the beginning.  Just as crazy and unpredictable as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, this book takes twists and turns that the reader doesn't always expect.  It's quite brilliant and a quick read despite the page count; Larsson's writing is engaging and easily accessible.  I really enjoyed the fact that Larrson takes the reader into Lisbeth's past and you can finally see some of what makes her tick...how she came to be where she is.  Expect to come across uncomfortable and shocking scenes (it's Larrson, afterall), but it's a thrilling ride that I would recommend whole-heartedly!  Look for my review of the last in the series, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest soon (hopefully!).

Rating
4 Stars on Goodreads.  I really liked it, but I didn't absolutely love it.

You can read my review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo here.  It's from a while ago, so take it as a refresher :)

What are some good thrillers you've read lately?

Happy reading!