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Millennium #4
Quello che non uccide
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2015)Da qualche tempo "Millennium" non naviga in buone acque e Mikael Blomkvist, il giornalista duro e puro a capo della celebre rivista d'inchiesta, non sembra più godere della popolarità di una volta. Sono in molti a spingere per un cambio di gestione e lo stesso Mikael comincia a chiedersi se la sua visione del giornalismo, per quanto bella e giusta, possa ancora funzionare. Mai come ora, avrebbe bisogno di uno scoop capace di risollevare le sorti del giornale insieme all'immagine - e al morale - del suo direttore responsabile. In una notte di bufera autunnale, una telefonata inattesa sembra finalmente promettere qualche rivelazione succosa. Frans Balder, un'autorità mondiale nel campo dell'intelligenza artificiale, genio dell'informatica capace di far somigliare i computer a degli esseri umani, chiede di vederlo subito. Un invito che Mikael Blomkvist non può ignorare, tanto più che Balder è in contatto con una super hacker che gli sta molto a cuore. Lisbeth Salander, la ragazza col tatuaggio della quale da troppo tempo non ha più notizie, torna così a incrociare la sua strada, guidandolo in una nuova caccia ai cattivi che punta al cuore stesso dell'Nsa, il servizio segreto americano che si occupa della sicurezza nazionale. Ma è un bambino incapace di parlare eppure incredibilmente dotato per i numeri e il disegno a custodire dentro di sé l'elemento decisivo per mettere insieme tutti i pezzi di quella storia esplosiva che Millennium sta aspettando.
503 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
David Lagercrantz
92 books2,848 followersDavid Lagercrantz, born in 1962, is a journalist and author, living in Stockholm. His first book was published in 1997, a biography of the Swedish adventurer and mountaineer Göran Kropp. In 2000 his biography on the inventor Håkan Lans, A Swedish Genious, was published. His breakthrough as a novelist was Fall of Man in Wilmslow, a fictionalised novel about the British mathematician Alan Turing. In David Lagercrantz' writing you can often see a pattern: major talents who refuse to follow convention. He has been interested not only in what it takes to stand out from the crowd, but also in the resistance that such creativity inevitably faces.
In 2011 his best-selling sports biography I am Zlatan Ibrahimović was published, one of the most successful books in Sweden in modern times. The biography was nominated for the prestigious August Prize in 2012, as well as shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. To date, the book has been published in over 30 languages around the world and been sold in millions of copies.
In the summer of 2013, Lagercrantz was asked by Moggliden (the Larsson Estate) and Norstedts to write the fourth, free-standing sequel to Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. The Girl in the Spider's Web was published – in August 27, 2015 – simultaneously by 26 publishers (in 24 languages) worldwide, ten years after the Swedish publication of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
Stieg Larsson's three Millennium novels have sold more than 82 Million copies to date, by 52 publishers worldwide. The Girl in the Spider's Web is sold to 47 publishers and more than 6 Million copies have been sold worldwide.
In 2011 his best-selling sports biography I am Zlatan Ibrahimović was published, one of the most successful books in Sweden in modern times. The biography was nominated for the prestigious August Prize in 2012, as well as shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. To date, the book has been published in over 30 languages around the world and been sold in millions of copies.
In the summer of 2013, Lagercrantz was asked by Moggliden (the Larsson Estate) and Norstedts to write the fourth, free-standing sequel to Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. The Girl in the Spider's Web was published – in August 27, 2015 – simultaneously by 26 publishers (in 24 languages) worldwide, ten years after the Swedish publication of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
Stieg Larsson's three Millennium novels have sold more than 82 Million copies to date, by 52 publishers worldwide. The Girl in the Spider's Web is sold to 47 publishers and more than 6 Million copies have been sold worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,619 reviews
October 14, 2018
”It’s always the wrong people who have the guilty conscience. Those who are really responsible for suffering in the world couldn’t care less. It’s the ones fighting for good who are consumed by remorse.”
David Lagercrantz, a novelist and journalist, was asked to assume responsibility for the continuation of a trilogy of novels that frankly took the publishing industry by storm. The books left readers stunned with the marvelous insanity of the writing. More importantly Stieg Larsson created a character who is forever immortalized as one of the greatest anti-heroes to ever step out of the pages of a book.
Lisbeth Salander
It doesn’t surprise me that Lagercrantz is a little afraid of her. Who isn’t? His fear might be reflected in the fact that she is a shadowy figure in the book until about halfway through when she answers a call from Mikael Blomkvist.
”Shut up and listen,” she said.
Ahhh, yes, that’s my girl.
She doesn’t look like much, just an androgynous girl? with piercings, tattoos, and strange hair. She is undersized, but bristles with attitude. The outward appearance is not just for show...it is bone deep. She is blessed/cursed with a photographic memory. She doesn’t have the patience or sympathy for stupidity. She has no time for social niceties. If you were her “friend,” you would see her only when she wanted to be seen. If you are involved with her sexually, you will find that you are not really “involved” with her at all.
But the sex...well...is by all accounts...fantastic.
If you are someone who gets aroused by beating up women or children, you better pray to all that is holy that Salander doesn’t find out who you are because you will find yourself with her boot on your throat wondering how this diminutive creature incapacitated you so quickly. You’ll want to hurt her, but she is capable of not only hurting you physically, but also taking your whole identity away from you.
Because...
she is also a hacker. A vengeful hacker, but also a prideful hacker. When she gets the chance to hack the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C., she goes through their system like buttered bread.
All hell breaks loose.
Lagercrantz might have underestimated just how much America would overreact to such a breach of security. In reality, Sweden might have found themselves invaded by Marines, tanks, and Apache helicopters as the Americans turned over every stone looking for someone with the hacker handle WASP.
For the first part of the book, Lagercrantz puts Mikael Blomkvist center stage. It would make sense that he identifies with him since they share a similar profession. Not that I mind spending time with Mikael Blomkvist, if he were a real person, would give me hope for journalism. He is a person obsessed with the truth. Other journalists either revere him or hate him. He is a target for those that loath him. ”Your uncompromising attitude makes people feel pathetic. Your very existence reminds them just how much they’ve sold out, and the more you’re acclaimed, the punier they themselves appear. When it’s like that the only way they can fight back is by dragging you down.”
Millennium, the magazine he founded, is in trouble. They had to sell out a portion of their ownership to keep the publication afloat, but now those same corporate people who bought them to add some integrity to their own list of titles suddenly want to compromise the integrity of Millennium by adding more human interest material.
For me, now that I’m one of the owners of the publication I work for, the trials and tribulations of a magazine to keep up subscription levels hit home. Any softening of the economy turns subscription renewals into luxuries, not to mention all the competition from free publications online that also erode print subscriptions.
So Blomkvist is in a funk; more is going wrong than is going right. He is spending most of his time, even the time he is supposed to be sleeping, reading Elizabeth George novels one after another. I can relate to that for there is nothing like escaping into the pages of a good book when life becomes TOO BORING, TOO DEPRESSING, TOO REAL.
A call from Frans Balder finally gets Mikael reinvigorated. Balder is a leading expert on Artificial General Intelligence or ”Something with the intelligence of a human being, but the speed and precision of a computer.”
The plot explodes.
It doesn’t take long for Salander and Blomkvist to realize they are working the same problem from different ends of the stick. With her behind the scenes, beyond the law approach to finding out the truth and his unflinching, uncompromising need to expose hypocrisy, the duo form a team that scares everyone from criminal elements, to large corporations, to governments. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between those elements.
There is techno jargon, but Lagercrantz does a great job of explaining everything. He also does a fantastic job talking about autism and savant tendencies in socially compromised children. I thought it was cool that an autistic child becomes an important plotting device. Lagercrantz did not have access to the notes left by Stieg Larsson for continuing the story. This probably was more of a blessing than a curse. Larsson’s, long time girlfriend ( that term seems so out dating and doesn’t quite explain the situation), has been in a legal battle to obtain ownership or rights to Larsson’s unpublished works. It seems the Swedes, so advanced in so many ways, might be lagging behind in the common law aspect of inheritance. I believe that Lagercrantz by using the first three novels as his only source documentation kept himself from being hampered by Larsson in making this novel his own creation.
I read this book in two days. I thought the plot was great. I thought the writing was very good, even if it did lack some of the flair that was such a Larsson trademark. It is hard to wear a dead man’s suit, but I have to say Lagercrantz, even if the jacket was too big in the shoulders or too short in the arms, still managed to make me believe that even as he left the funeral he was leading me back to a new beginning and creating a new life for characters that were relegated to retirement much too early.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
David Lagercrantz, a novelist and journalist, was asked to assume responsibility for the continuation of a trilogy of novels that frankly took the publishing industry by storm. The books left readers stunned with the marvelous insanity of the writing. More importantly Stieg Larsson created a character who is forever immortalized as one of the greatest anti-heroes to ever step out of the pages of a book.
Lisbeth Salander
It doesn’t surprise me that Lagercrantz is a little afraid of her. Who isn’t? His fear might be reflected in the fact that she is a shadowy figure in the book until about halfway through when she answers a call from Mikael Blomkvist.
”Shut up and listen,” she said.
Ahhh, yes, that’s my girl.
She doesn’t look like much, just an androgynous girl? with piercings, tattoos, and strange hair. She is undersized, but bristles with attitude. The outward appearance is not just for show...it is bone deep. She is blessed/cursed with a photographic memory. She doesn’t have the patience or sympathy for stupidity. She has no time for social niceties. If you were her “friend,” you would see her only when she wanted to be seen. If you are involved with her sexually, you will find that you are not really “involved” with her at all.
But the sex...well...is by all accounts...fantastic.
If you are someone who gets aroused by beating up women or children, you better pray to all that is holy that Salander doesn’t find out who you are because you will find yourself with her boot on your throat wondering how this diminutive creature incapacitated you so quickly. You’ll want to hurt her, but she is capable of not only hurting you physically, but also taking your whole identity away from you.
Because...
she is also a hacker. A vengeful hacker, but also a prideful hacker. When she gets the chance to hack the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C., she goes through their system like buttered bread.
All hell breaks loose.
Lagercrantz might have underestimated just how much America would overreact to such a breach of security. In reality, Sweden might have found themselves invaded by Marines, tanks, and Apache helicopters as the Americans turned over every stone looking for someone with the hacker handle WASP.
For the first part of the book, Lagercrantz puts Mikael Blomkvist center stage. It would make sense that he identifies with him since they share a similar profession. Not that I mind spending time with Mikael Blomkvist, if he were a real person, would give me hope for journalism. He is a person obsessed with the truth. Other journalists either revere him or hate him. He is a target for those that loath him. ”Your uncompromising attitude makes people feel pathetic. Your very existence reminds them just how much they’ve sold out, and the more you’re acclaimed, the punier they themselves appear. When it’s like that the only way they can fight back is by dragging you down.”
Millennium, the magazine he founded, is in trouble. They had to sell out a portion of their ownership to keep the publication afloat, but now those same corporate people who bought them to add some integrity to their own list of titles suddenly want to compromise the integrity of Millennium by adding more human interest material.
For me, now that I’m one of the owners of the publication I work for, the trials and tribulations of a magazine to keep up subscription levels hit home. Any softening of the economy turns subscription renewals into luxuries, not to mention all the competition from free publications online that also erode print subscriptions.
So Blomkvist is in a funk; more is going wrong than is going right. He is spending most of his time, even the time he is supposed to be sleeping, reading Elizabeth George novels one after another. I can relate to that for there is nothing like escaping into the pages of a good book when life becomes TOO BORING, TOO DEPRESSING, TOO REAL.
A call from Frans Balder finally gets Mikael reinvigorated. Balder is a leading expert on Artificial General Intelligence or ”Something with the intelligence of a human being, but the speed and precision of a computer.”
The plot explodes.
It doesn’t take long for Salander and Blomkvist to realize they are working the same problem from different ends of the stick. With her behind the scenes, beyond the law approach to finding out the truth and his unflinching, uncompromising need to expose hypocrisy, the duo form a team that scares everyone from criminal elements, to large corporations, to governments. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between those elements.
There is techno jargon, but Lagercrantz does a great job of explaining everything. He also does a fantastic job talking about autism and savant tendencies in socially compromised children. I thought it was cool that an autistic child becomes an important plotting device. Lagercrantz did not have access to the notes left by Stieg Larsson for continuing the story. This probably was more of a blessing than a curse. Larsson’s, long time girlfriend ( that term seems so out dating and doesn’t quite explain the situation), has been in a legal battle to obtain ownership or rights to Larsson’s unpublished works. It seems the Swedes, so advanced in so many ways, might be lagging behind in the common law aspect of inheritance. I believe that Lagercrantz by using the first three novels as his only source documentation kept himself from being hampered by Larsson in making this novel his own creation.
I read this book in two days. I thought the plot was great. I thought the writing was very good, even if it did lack some of the flair that was such a Larsson trademark. It is hard to wear a dead man’s suit, but I have to say Lagercrantz, even if the jacket was too big in the shoulders or too short in the arms, still managed to make me believe that even as he left the funeral he was leading me back to a new beginning and creating a new life for characters that were relegated to retirement much too early.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
February 25, 2016
Look! I respect for the exertion, but ... man!
This is not the lisbeth as we know. It's the lighter version of her. very light. She is just a babysitter for august, some brat hacker who hacks american government.
But I enjoyed to read it anyway. I'll always read lisbeth's stories no matter what. I love her , I2ll always support the effort :D
Lagercrantz sanki kendi lisbeth'ini yeniden yaratmış gibiydi. Bizim tanıdığımız lisbeth'den geriye pek birşey kalmamıştı. arada bir insanlara fırlattığı o korkutucu bakışlar ve hackerlıkta olan ustalığı dışında. Kitap sanki sıradan bir suç romanı gibiydi ama ondan bile eksikti. Serinin doğasında olan seks, şiddet azaltılmış ve yokedilmişti. Hatta kitapta lisbeth sanki yan rol gibiydi. Asıl konu balder ve buluşu, oğlunun zekası ile yapabildikleri, lisbeth'in kötü kız kardeşinin ortaya çıkışı ve yine görüşürüz kaltak diye çıkıp gidişi. millennium'un yeniden dirilişi falandı. Lisbeth arada gelip giden günü kurtaran karakterdi.
Yinede emeğe saygı , okuması akıcı can sıkmayan , su gbi hafif bir polisiye olmuş ama lisbeth mirasına yakıştıramadım açıkçası. Ben yinede yıldızı rahmetlinin hatrına ve salander'ime kıyamadığımdan veriyorum.
http://readerchronicles.blogspot.com....
This is not the lisbeth as we know. It's the lighter version of her. very light. She is just a babysitter for august, some brat hacker who hacks american government.
But I enjoyed to read it anyway. I'll always read lisbeth's stories no matter what. I love her , I2ll always support the effort :D
Lagercrantz sanki kendi lisbeth'ini yeniden yaratmış gibiydi. Bizim tanıdığımız lisbeth'den geriye pek birşey kalmamıştı. arada bir insanlara fırlattığı o korkutucu bakışlar ve hackerlıkta olan ustalığı dışında. Kitap sanki sıradan bir suç romanı gibiydi ama ondan bile eksikti. Serinin doğasında olan seks, şiddet azaltılmış ve yokedilmişti. Hatta kitapta lisbeth sanki yan rol gibiydi. Asıl konu balder ve buluşu, oğlunun zekası ile yapabildikleri, lisbeth'in kötü kız kardeşinin ortaya çıkışı ve yine görüşürüz kaltak diye çıkıp gidişi. millennium'un yeniden dirilişi falandı. Lisbeth arada gelip giden günü kurtaran karakterdi.
Yinede emeğe saygı , okuması akıcı can sıkmayan , su gbi hafif bir polisiye olmuş ama lisbeth mirasına yakıştıramadım açıkçası. Ben yinede yıldızı rahmetlinin hatrına ve salander'ime kıyamadığımdan veriyorum.
http://readerchronicles.blogspot.com....
March 21, 2018
Re/Read on Audio!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
I thought this book was wonderful! I have missed Lisbeth and Blomkvist for so long. I think the new author did a great job carrying on Stieg Larsson's series.
Lisbeth is one of the coolest women out there. I love her character, I love how smart she is, oh if I could be as smart as her. I do hate her past, but I am glad that she is a character that was written to rise above all of the horrible things that happened to her.
In this new book there is another scandal of sorts going on within a huge community of people. A lot of things going on in the hacker community, people stealing other people's work, killings, blackmail, a little boy with Autism, evilness and goodness. And of course Lisbeth is right in the middle of it all and she does her job as hard core as she always does.
In the beginning of the book the author does have Blomkvist thinking back on things that happened in the other three books, nothing real extensive but I thought it was a nice little add to the book.
I was very much intrigued and on the edge of my seat between the interactions with the little boy (August) and Lisbeth. She was so good with him and she did things that needed to be done and in her own wonderful way. I wanted to get up and cheer her on! I can't really say anything because there is no way I'm giving out any kind of spoiler for this book!
The ending was good and set up to possibly have more books, I hope there will be.
I personally loved the book, as I have mentioned. I know there are people that hate it or love it because it is Stieg's original characters. But for myself.. I think the family did a good job in choosing this man to start a continuation of what is a wonderful character.
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
I thought this book was wonderful! I have missed Lisbeth and Blomkvist for so long. I think the new author did a great job carrying on Stieg Larsson's series.
Lisbeth is one of the coolest women out there. I love her character, I love how smart she is, oh if I could be as smart as her. I do hate her past, but I am glad that she is a character that was written to rise above all of the horrible things that happened to her.
In this new book there is another scandal of sorts going on within a huge community of people. A lot of things going on in the hacker community, people stealing other people's work, killings, blackmail, a little boy with Autism, evilness and goodness. And of course Lisbeth is right in the middle of it all and she does her job as hard core as she always does.
In the beginning of the book the author does have Blomkvist thinking back on things that happened in the other three books, nothing real extensive but I thought it was a nice little add to the book.
I was very much intrigued and on the edge of my seat between the interactions with the little boy (August) and Lisbeth. She was so good with him and she did things that needed to be done and in her own wonderful way. I wanted to get up and cheer her on! I can't really say anything because there is no way I'm giving out any kind of spoiler for this book!
The ending was good and set up to possibly have more books, I hope there will be.
I personally loved the book, as I have mentioned. I know there are people that hate it or love it because it is Stieg's original characters. But for myself.. I think the family did a good job in choosing this man to start a continuation of what is a wonderful character.
September 11, 2025
On the passing of Stieg Larsson, not only did I mourn the passing of a great writer, I mourned the passing of Lisbeth Salander. I paid little attention to the news, when it was announced that David Lagercrantz would pick up the Millennium series, I simply considered it impossible to change the creative team. A friend finally talked me into reading it, she said, "don't worry who did or didn't write it, just read it", and so I did...
Almost from the very first paragraph it felt transition-less, I was just reading more of the Salander-Blomkvist-Millennium story. Same documentary semi-detached narration; same mish-mash of multiple points of view with varying degrees of detail; same relentless pursuit of wrong doers; same complex multi-faceted character interrelations, drivers and rationales. I was originally going to write how Salander was like Spider-Man (an on-theme example), where his original creators (Stan Lee & Steve Dikto) set such a clear and compelling template that decades later creative teams can still stay true to the original concept (if they're any good).
I feel Stieg Larsson did a bit more than that, he made social justice, crime and global issues integral to the Millennium brand, and there was no toning it down by Lagercrantz (woo hoo!), there was no greying out, this book continues to make it clear how mostly male or family privilege was, and is, constantly being used to exert unjust power over those without it, for personal gain. Lagercrantz, doesn't try to give this some sort of Lagercrantz twist to feed his ego, but uses his skill as a creator to give us yet another compelling Salander cluster-fuck!
Y'all know how bad-ass Lisbeth is, so you can imagine what happens when she hacks the NSA (yes that NSA!) in pursuit of her father, Zala's despicable legacy, in this splendid look at how those in power use and abuse the data that they amass (or steal!). Meanwhile, poor 'Kalle' Blomkvist's star is fading and the magazine is against the ropes. When one of Sweden's, and the world's, top artificial intelligence scientists is murdered in front of his special needs son, actions, reverberations and conspiracy once again set Salander, Blomkvist, Berger and their allies against everybody, including the NSA! And breathe!
Lagercrantz does just pick up the ball, he also runs with it, weaves, skips and throws down a few bad-ass moves! He does cut down on the detailed exposition that Larson loved (hence this is a much shorter read than Larsson's), but still gave me a superb suspense and conspiracy filled story, with that wonderfully and darkly focused urban vigilante who's as deadly with her brain as she's with an automatic pistol, dead centre. With additional insight into Salander's past with a nicely paced back-story and maintaining many characters from the previous books, this felt like coming home, and then some, and I enjoyed very damn page. So on second read this becomes yet another Five Star (10 out of 12) Millennium read This continues a person trend of me giving Millennium books Five Star ratings once I have re-read them.
2025 and 2020 read
Almost from the very first paragraph it felt transition-less, I was just reading more of the Salander-Blomkvist-Millennium story. Same documentary semi-detached narration; same mish-mash of multiple points of view with varying degrees of detail; same relentless pursuit of wrong doers; same complex multi-faceted character interrelations, drivers and rationales. I was originally going to write how Salander was like Spider-Man (an on-theme example), where his original creators (Stan Lee & Steve Dikto) set such a clear and compelling template that decades later creative teams can still stay true to the original concept (if they're any good).
I feel Stieg Larsson did a bit more than that, he made social justice, crime and global issues integral to the Millennium brand, and there was no toning it down by Lagercrantz (woo hoo!), there was no greying out, this book continues to make it clear how mostly male or family privilege was, and is, constantly being used to exert unjust power over those without it, for personal gain. Lagercrantz, doesn't try to give this some sort of Lagercrantz twist to feed his ego, but uses his skill as a creator to give us yet another compelling Salander cluster-fuck!
Y'all know how bad-ass Lisbeth is, so you can imagine what happens when she hacks the NSA (yes that NSA!) in pursuit of her father, Zala's despicable legacy, in this splendid look at how those in power use and abuse the data that they amass (or steal!). Meanwhile, poor 'Kalle' Blomkvist's star is fading and the magazine is against the ropes. When one of Sweden's, and the world's, top artificial intelligence scientists is murdered in front of his special needs son, actions, reverberations and conspiracy once again set Salander, Blomkvist, Berger and their allies against everybody, including the NSA! And breathe!
Lagercrantz does just pick up the ball, he also runs with it, weaves, skips and throws down a few bad-ass moves! He does cut down on the detailed exposition that Larson loved (hence this is a much shorter read than Larsson's), but still gave me a superb suspense and conspiracy filled story, with that wonderfully and darkly focused urban vigilante who's as deadly with her brain as she's with an automatic pistol, dead centre. With additional insight into Salander's past with a nicely paced back-story and maintaining many characters from the previous books, this felt like coming home, and then some, and I enjoyed very damn page. So on second read this becomes yet another Five Star (10 out of 12) Millennium read This continues a person trend of me giving Millennium books Five Star ratings once I have re-read them.
2025 and 2020 read
May 10, 2016
The whole story behind the creation and release of The Girl in the Spider’s Web is actually somewhat disgusting. Series’ creator Stieg Larsson unexpectedly died from a heart attack in 2004, a year before the first novel in the Millennium trilogy was to be published. In the years that followed, the books enjoyed tremendous, widespread success as Larsson’s characters would grow a rabid fan base. Unfortunately for readers, the series would end after the publication of the third and final novel. Or would it?
Despite having written a will years prior to his untimely death, it was not witnessed and having not married his long-time partner, his estate wound up in the hands of his estranged father and brother. Despite his partner claiming that Stieg would not want his work continued by another author, Larsson’s family hired David Lagercrantz, a Swedish journalist and crime writer in his own right, to pick up where Larsson left off.
On one hand, it’s gross. This new novel appears as nothing more than an attempt to capitalize on the success of Steig’s work by his alienated family. However on the other hand, the duo of Blomkvist and Salander probably do have a lot left in the tank as well as an audience eager to gobble down new stories. The only question being, is Lagercrantz the right choice to take on these iconic characters or is The Girl in the Spider’s Web nothing more than glorified fan fiction?
While I certainly wouldn’t label it fan fiction, I also wouldn’t put it on the same level as Larsson’s work (although, I did enjoy it more than Hornet’s Nest). Lagercrantz can appear to write a solid crime novel, but he’s missing that meandering style of writing that made the original trilogy special. I mean, come on – Blomkvist only made three sandwiches! I expected more from him.
My biggest issue is in the lack of Lisbeth. It isn’t until after the first 100 pages that she’s really woven into the storyline and even then, she’s mostly used sporadically. While she’s integral to the central plot, she’s mostly spoken of by peripheral characters rather than having her own voice. The same issue arose when I was reading The Girl Who Played With Fire, where Lisbeth is “off-screen” for a good chunk of the story, but there ain’t no way I’m going to compare the explosiveness of her actions in that novel to this one, they’re not even in the same league.
The incredible success of this novel in terms of sales (two hundred thousand copies moved in the first week alone) and positive critical reception should surely lead to a follow-up, although nothing is currently planned, however money is a powerful motivator.
Despite having written a will years prior to his untimely death, it was not witnessed and having not married his long-time partner, his estate wound up in the hands of his estranged father and brother. Despite his partner claiming that Stieg would not want his work continued by another author, Larsson’s family hired David Lagercrantz, a Swedish journalist and crime writer in his own right, to pick up where Larsson left off.
On one hand, it’s gross. This new novel appears as nothing more than an attempt to capitalize on the success of Steig’s work by his alienated family. However on the other hand, the duo of Blomkvist and Salander probably do have a lot left in the tank as well as an audience eager to gobble down new stories. The only question being, is Lagercrantz the right choice to take on these iconic characters or is The Girl in the Spider’s Web nothing more than glorified fan fiction?
While I certainly wouldn’t label it fan fiction, I also wouldn’t put it on the same level as Larsson’s work (although, I did enjoy it more than Hornet’s Nest). Lagercrantz can appear to write a solid crime novel, but he’s missing that meandering style of writing that made the original trilogy special. I mean, come on – Blomkvist only made three sandwiches! I expected more from him.
My biggest issue is in the lack of Lisbeth. It isn’t until after the first 100 pages that she’s really woven into the storyline and even then, she’s mostly used sporadically. While she’s integral to the central plot, she’s mostly spoken of by peripheral characters rather than having her own voice. The same issue arose when I was reading The Girl Who Played With Fire, where Lisbeth is “off-screen” for a good chunk of the story, but there ain’t no way I’m going to compare the explosiveness of her actions in that novel to this one, they’re not even in the same league.
The incredible success of this novel in terms of sales (two hundred thousand copies moved in the first week alone) and positive critical reception should surely lead to a follow-up, although nothing is currently planned, however money is a powerful motivator.
January 3, 2017
Despite concerns over whether Stieg Larsson's wishes were being honored by the publication of this book (based on reading "There Are Things I Want You to Know" about Stieg Larsson and Me), I decided to go ahead and try it. I loved the character of Lisbeth Salander and thought if it was done well, it might be worth it. You don't encounter many characters like her.
Unfortunately, I was supremely disappointed, so much so that I can't face going back to the book after making it halfway through the audio. First of all, these are not the same characters of Lisbeth and Mikael that I know from the trilogy. Lisbeth seems to have reverted to one of two modes - sloppy hacker or hungover boxer - no depth, no motivation, nothing interesting. It could be that we reached the end of her story in the trilogy. Mikael is unmotivated too, can't stand to be at work and arriving late to the scene of an important crime that finally happens midway through the book.
The author spends TOO much time describing things that don't matter - an hour (I listened to the audio) on the current status of Millennium, the news publication that Mikael has worked on; the storms, frequent descriptions; and Mikael's white fur coat. He hasn't bothered to explore the characters themselves. He touches on the subjects of autism and the singularity in halfhearted ways that the characters and the reader end up feeling less than inspired. (And really? Artificial intelligence? It isn't written about intelligently enough to feel like high stakes. This is set in the present day. If I wanted a thrilling read about AI and the singularity I would look for it in science fiction, where it is handled with interesting variations and frightening possibilities, NOT in a Swedish crime novel. It makes no sense.)
I would be happy if someone came along who convinced me that this book turned a huge corner and I should have kept reading... but I doubt that will happen.
Unfortunately, I was supremely disappointed, so much so that I can't face going back to the book after making it halfway through the audio. First of all, these are not the same characters of Lisbeth and Mikael that I know from the trilogy. Lisbeth seems to have reverted to one of two modes - sloppy hacker or hungover boxer - no depth, no motivation, nothing interesting. It could be that we reached the end of her story in the trilogy. Mikael is unmotivated too, can't stand to be at work and arriving late to the scene of an important crime that finally happens midway through the book.
The author spends TOO much time describing things that don't matter - an hour (I listened to the audio) on the current status of Millennium, the news publication that Mikael has worked on; the storms, frequent descriptions; and Mikael's white fur coat. He hasn't bothered to explore the characters themselves. He touches on the subjects of autism and the singularity in halfhearted ways that the characters and the reader end up feeling less than inspired. (And really? Artificial intelligence? It isn't written about intelligently enough to feel like high stakes. This is set in the present day. If I wanted a thrilling read about AI and the singularity I would look for it in science fiction, where it is handled with interesting variations and frightening possibilities, NOT in a Swedish crime novel. It makes no sense.)
I would be happy if someone came along who convinced me that this book turned a huge corner and I should have kept reading... but I doubt that will happen.
August 15, 2026
"It’s always the wrong people who have the guilty conscience. Those who are really responsible for suffering in the world couldn’t care less."The Spider Society. Spooky, right?
Lizbeth Salander decides that she wants to open her pandora's box and attempt to learn about her past. She has a childhood memory of the Spider Society and decides to use it as a jumping off point...however a quick hacking job leads to the NSA and SAPO agents knocking on her door.
Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist's paper (Millennium) was doing amazing with the scoop on the Section (see: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) but since breaking that huge story, the paper stagnated and there's a real risk that they could lose the publication.
And enter August Balder - an autistic savant who is tied up in the spider's web thanks to witnessing his father's murder.
Lizbeth and Mikael must work quickly to save themselves and as many people as they can.
Hacking. Betrayal. Evil Twins. Murder. This book has it all.
"We live in a twisted world where everything, both big and small, is subject to surveillance, and where anything worth money will always be exploited."
So, I still enjoyed this book and I like that we get to revisit the characters and yet, I don't feel pulled as strongly to this one as I did the other three.
David Lagercrantz did a pretty good job but I felt the story was missing something thought I did have some trouble figuring out what it was exactly missing. It just feels feels weird to not have Larrson write it.
And maybe if I continue the series, I could slip back into the story...but I feel like I need a bit of a break from it for now.
Though, there was one line that I thought really hit home...
Audiobook Comments
"How come all lunatics and murderers are religious these days?"
Read by Simon Vance - and it was a rather well-done audio. A bit dry but not too bad.
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September 26, 2017
The Millennium Series Book 5 came out this month....so I finally finished Book 4....which has been on my shelf since 2015. I started and stopped a couple of times....It’s not a book that immediately grabs your attention... but once it gets going — it’s a full speed fast spinning ride. Hacker girl, Lisbeth, inscrutable, who is scheming follows her own timetable. She is chasing a web of spies, cyber criminals, and governments around the world. Blomkvist happens to be doing the same thing - and ( of course ) needs Lisbeth’s help.
I’m not sure what the mixed reviews are about ( the fuss?) with book 5...but in book 4....
......”The Girl in the Spider’s Web”.....Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist still have that robustness toughness team vitality— often at arms length ( agony for me - as I love it when they are in the same room)—but by the end of this novel, I easily accepted that Steig Larson’s characters are in good hands with author David Lagercrantz.
A little dialogue sample of what I love when Lisbeth and Blomkvist are together:
“Are you angry with me?” he said
“Quite”
“Why is that?”
“Salander took a step forward, her face shining and pale, and he remembered her gunshot wound”.
“Because I come to visit, and there’s no one at home,” she said. He walked towards her”.
“That’s a bit of a scandal, isn’t it?”, he said
“I’d say so.”
“What if I ask you in now?”
“Then I suppose I’ll have to accept”.
“In that case, welcome”, he said, and for the first time in ages a broad smile spread across his face”.
“A star fell outside in the night sky”.
It was a joy to be back in Lisbeth-land!!!
I’m not sure what the mixed reviews are about ( the fuss?) with book 5...but in book 4....
......”The Girl in the Spider’s Web”.....Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist still have that robustness toughness team vitality— often at arms length ( agony for me - as I love it when they are in the same room)—but by the end of this novel, I easily accepted that Steig Larson’s characters are in good hands with author David Lagercrantz.
A little dialogue sample of what I love when Lisbeth and Blomkvist are together:
“Are you angry with me?” he said
“Quite”
“Why is that?”
“Salander took a step forward, her face shining and pale, and he remembered her gunshot wound”.
“Because I come to visit, and there’s no one at home,” she said. He walked towards her”.
“That’s a bit of a scandal, isn’t it?”, he said
“I’d say so.”
“What if I ask you in now?”
“Then I suppose I’ll have to accept”.
“In that case, welcome”, he said, and for the first time in ages a broad smile spread across his face”.
“A star fell outside in the night sky”.
It was a joy to be back in Lisbeth-land!!!
August 28, 2020
Just as true Deadheads do not appreciate Trey Anastasio playing Jerry Garcia's lead guitar or singing his songs, David Lagercrantz is not Stieg Larsson. He has a different writing style, but Lisbeth Salander remains one of the most innovative and iconic characters in modern fiction: an antisocial goth female hacker, fighting with all her substantial might against injustice, both perceived or actual. The novel gets off to a rather slow start, with a Swedish professor abandoning his quest for self learning artificial intelligence to take custody of his autistic son, August. All is not well at Millenium magazine and Mikael Blomkvist is under attack from many sides. The professor contacts Blomkvist as he is advised of threats to his life, setting off a series of escalating events, forcing Lisbeth to intervene with her usual forceful assistance. She rescues August and somehow manages to connect with him, continuing the breakthrough made by his father. There is substantial action in the second half of the novel, as matters escalate and an old adversary re-emerges from the darkness. More please.
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9/17/2015 Addendum: I won a Goodreads giveaway for this book -- hooray!! Since it has not arrived yet, it did not affect this review.
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9/17/2015 Addendum: I won a Goodreads giveaway for this book -- hooray!! Since it has not arrived yet, it did not affect this review.
January 9, 2016
Update: read in August 2015 but decided to update in January 2016
I read the The Millennium Trilogy in anticipation of The Girl in the Spider's Web and as soon as it was out I began reading it with a lot of excitement and a little apprehension, just in case the new author doesn't live up to or come close to the writing talents of Stieg Larsson.
Well, clearly David Lagercrantz is no Stieg Larsson and everything I loved about The Millennium Trilogy was missing here. The plot was slow and tedious, Lisbeth Salander was absent from a good portion of the book and when she turned up her character was different and not as well thought out or intriguing. Lisbeth is my favourite character, the driving force of the series and the reason I love the trilogy so much but in The Girl in the Spider's Web she lost that unique element that made her Lisbeth Salander. Her narrative was different, her actions didn't make sense and there were lots of little things that didn't add up about her reactions. She was a caricature of her former self.
I found myself Skimming due to boredom until things picked up near the end but by then I was ready for it to end. I actually got the audiobook too but nothing changed. I'm a huge fan of The Millennium Trilogy and I've read it several times but this book didn't feel like a continuation of Stieg Larsson's trilogy. Everything was out of sync. I guess this shows that you can't rope in another writer to continue a deceased authors work. You can't replicate the original authors style, experience, knowledge and all the complexities that went into developing and writing The Millennium Trilogy. I'll probably reread this book sometime in the future just to see if my opinion of it changes but I doubt it will. Still, I'm willing to give it a second chance just to be fair to David Lagercrantz and in appreciation of the effort it took to write The Girl in the Spider's Web.
****Before publication in May 2015.****
OMG!!! I just found out my favourite series The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larssonis is being continued by a new author!!!
I'm so happy and so bloody scared it is all going to go wrong! I both hate and love this!!
Oh who am I kidding! I need The Girl in the Spider’s Web right now!! September is too faraway.
I read the The Millennium Trilogy in anticipation of The Girl in the Spider's Web and as soon as it was out I began reading it with a lot of excitement and a little apprehension, just in case the new author doesn't live up to or come close to the writing talents of Stieg Larsson.
Well, clearly David Lagercrantz is no Stieg Larsson and everything I loved about The Millennium Trilogy was missing here. The plot was slow and tedious, Lisbeth Salander was absent from a good portion of the book and when she turned up her character was different and not as well thought out or intriguing. Lisbeth is my favourite character, the driving force of the series and the reason I love the trilogy so much but in The Girl in the Spider's Web she lost that unique element that made her Lisbeth Salander. Her narrative was different, her actions didn't make sense and there were lots of little things that didn't add up about her reactions. She was a caricature of her former self.
I found myself Skimming due to boredom until things picked up near the end but by then I was ready for it to end. I actually got the audiobook too but nothing changed. I'm a huge fan of The Millennium Trilogy and I've read it several times but this book didn't feel like a continuation of Stieg Larsson's trilogy. Everything was out of sync. I guess this shows that you can't rope in another writer to continue a deceased authors work. You can't replicate the original authors style, experience, knowledge and all the complexities that went into developing and writing The Millennium Trilogy. I'll probably reread this book sometime in the future just to see if my opinion of it changes but I doubt it will. Still, I'm willing to give it a second chance just to be fair to David Lagercrantz and in appreciation of the effort it took to write The Girl in the Spider's Web.
****Before publication in May 2015.****
OMG!!! I just found out my favourite series The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larssonis is being continued by a new author!!!
I'm so happy and so bloody scared it is all going to go wrong! I both hate and love this!!
Oh who am I kidding! I need The Girl in the Spider’s Web right now!! September is too faraway.
July 23, 2018
3.5 stars
I went into this with low expectations given it wasn't written by the author of the previous three books. I think it is such a huge undertaking to jump into a beloved series and attempt to duplicate the author's voice. While there are definitely some flaws it is a decent thriller and not some horrible attempt at fan fiction.
I enjoyed revisiting Blomkvist and Salander's world although the first half of the book really suffers by bouncing around between way too many characters. However, it's easy to develop an emotional attachment to one of the new characters, an autistic child, and it's really hard not to get caught up in the story.
I thought for the most part the author captured the general spirit of the series but I never felt like I was getting the full Blomkvist or Salander. With Salander in particular, it felt like the author was holding back a little and we were only getting about 85% of the character featured in previous books. It felt like Lisbeth lite so to speak, but I guess that is more preferably than the author going too far and turning her into some awful caricature.
I have mixed feelings about the last few pages of the book, but overall I was satisfied with the author's attempt at continuing the series and will eventually check out the next book.
I went into this with low expectations given it wasn't written by the author of the previous three books. I think it is such a huge undertaking to jump into a beloved series and attempt to duplicate the author's voice. While there are definitely some flaws it is a decent thriller and not some horrible attempt at fan fiction.
I enjoyed revisiting Blomkvist and Salander's world although the first half of the book really suffers by bouncing around between way too many characters. However, it's easy to develop an emotional attachment to one of the new characters, an autistic child, and it's really hard not to get caught up in the story.
I thought for the most part the author captured the general spirit of the series but I never felt like I was getting the full Blomkvist or Salander. With Salander in particular, it felt like the author was holding back a little and we were only getting about 85% of the character featured in previous books. It felt like Lisbeth lite so to speak, but I guess that is more preferably than the author going too far and turning her into some awful caricature.
I have mixed feelings about the last few pages of the book, but overall I was satisfied with the author's attempt at continuing the series and will eventually check out the next book.
August 28, 2015
I'm sorry but no... I was super excited to read this to the point that I may have built it up in my head, and when it failed to deliver it made it that much more dissapointing.
Lisbeths character in the first three books was so fluid that she became such a believable person with all her quirks, silence, and way of behaving that were always so consistent. but in this book I caught myself at least fifteen plus times thinking 'Salander would never have said that'. It at times made for a frustrating read as I was constantly comparing the trilogy against this fourth book and always coming to the conclusion that its nothing like the first three. given the new author that's not surprising. its just extremely, dare I say it again, dissapointing.
I loved Steig's writing style. His plot progression was great. I had to put this book down repeatedly due to being overwhelmed with information packed in a few sentences that would have by Steig been strategically placed through a few pages. It took me countless tries to finish this book. No offense to David, but maybe I should of left the story finished at book three. It felt like characters personalities were changed to adapt this new author. Some may argue that's to be expected considering Steig and David are two different people and will think different ways, but when trying to carry on a already stellar trilogy, I would have thought that enough research would have gone into it for Lisbeth and Blomkvist to be the same people they were throughout the first three books.
Like I said, disappointing.
Lisbeths character in the first three books was so fluid that she became such a believable person with all her quirks, silence, and way of behaving that were always so consistent. but in this book I caught myself at least fifteen plus times thinking 'Salander would never have said that'. It at times made for a frustrating read as I was constantly comparing the trilogy against this fourth book and always coming to the conclusion that its nothing like the first three. given the new author that's not surprising. its just extremely, dare I say it again, dissapointing.
I loved Steig's writing style. His plot progression was great. I had to put this book down repeatedly due to being overwhelmed with information packed in a few sentences that would have by Steig been strategically placed through a few pages. It took me countless tries to finish this book. No offense to David, but maybe I should of left the story finished at book three. It felt like characters personalities were changed to adapt this new author. Some may argue that's to be expected considering Steig and David are two different people and will think different ways, but when trying to carry on a already stellar trilogy, I would have thought that enough research would have gone into it for Lisbeth and Blomkvist to be the same people they were throughout the first three books.
Like I said, disappointing.
September 7, 2017
Stieg Larrson is dead, alas.
David Lagercrantz was granted a blessing and a curse. A blessing in the sense that he gets to write another Lisbeth and Mikael novel, a series with a worldwide following that will certainly sell and most definitely get a lot of attention.
A curse because he takes the stage after a phenomenal opening act, a lamentable position. Rumor has it that Larrson’s partner was far from pleased about his selection by the literary executor as the writer to take over. Readers who dislike the book, and some will be relentlessly critical, will blame this new author. Those who just don’t like the book have an easy excuse.
Lagercrantz’ unenviable task, or golden opportunity, is to craft a new novel that stays true to the vision of Larrson the creator, revisits two of the most compelling characters in modern fiction, spins a crisp, intelligent thriller that will draw in fans and capture the attention of new readers, and does so with a fresh voice, paying homage to Larrson’s talent while putting ink on a work that is his.
For the most part, he succeeds admirably.
The Girl in the Spider's Web, the 2015 novel that takes up where the The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2007) left off, brings back Sweden’s most famous journalist and the world’s most iconic hacker for another thrilling adventure of exposed crime and wrongs righted.
Though it lacks the edgy chill of Larrson’s methodical delivery, Spider’s Web moves forward with verve and style.
David Lagercrantz was granted a blessing and a curse. A blessing in the sense that he gets to write another Lisbeth and Mikael novel, a series with a worldwide following that will certainly sell and most definitely get a lot of attention.
A curse because he takes the stage after a phenomenal opening act, a lamentable position. Rumor has it that Larrson’s partner was far from pleased about his selection by the literary executor as the writer to take over. Readers who dislike the book, and some will be relentlessly critical, will blame this new author. Those who just don’t like the book have an easy excuse.
Lagercrantz’ unenviable task, or golden opportunity, is to craft a new novel that stays true to the vision of Larrson the creator, revisits two of the most compelling characters in modern fiction, spins a crisp, intelligent thriller that will draw in fans and capture the attention of new readers, and does so with a fresh voice, paying homage to Larrson’s talent while putting ink on a work that is his.
For the most part, he succeeds admirably.
The Girl in the Spider's Web, the 2015 novel that takes up where the The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2007) left off, brings back Sweden’s most famous journalist and the world’s most iconic hacker for another thrilling adventure of exposed crime and wrongs righted.
Though it lacks the edgy chill of Larrson’s methodical delivery, Spider’s Web moves forward with verve and style.
August 26, 2020
Comencé el libro con muchos reparos porque no sabía si este nuevo autor lograría mantener la impronta de los personajes y, debo reconocer que lo ha hecho muy, pero que muy bien. Sin ningún problema pude evocar esos momentos, hace muchos años, cuando la historia de Lisbeth, su padre y todo el aparataje de espionaje y corrupción me tenía agarrada de un puño.
Sentí el estilo de Lagercrantz bastante más fluido, a pesar que el contexto en que se desarrolla la acción podía preverse muy árido: espionaje industrial, informática, matemáticas avanzadas, mecánica cuántica, inteligencia artificial… pero aun así, todo en su justa medida, logrando una trama buenísima y muy ágil. Me gustó mucho la forma en que evoluciona la historia para, acercándonos al final, todo cerrara perfectamente y sin cabos sueltos, aunque deja más que dado el puntapié para seguir con el hilo argumental de esta entrega en el próximo libro.
Porque ahí reside otra sorpresa: siempre pensé que en el tercer libro había quedado resuelto el pasado de Lisbeth y que en la trama de éste sólo intervendrían nuestros conocidos personajes para dejar al descubierto algún hecho criminal o de corrupción, e incluso así parece hasta bien avanzada la historia, pero poco a poco se descubre que todo está nuevamente relacionado con el pasado de Lisbeth y debo decir que lo encontré un gran acierto.
En fin, ahora estoy muy expectante del quinto libro, el que no haré esperar como hice con éste. Lo recomiendo mucho, aunque debo reconocer que Lisbeth y Mikael son mi debilidad y, sólo quizá, de no ser por ellos, me hubiera quedado en las 4 estrellas.
Reto #9 PopSugar 2017: Un thriller de espionaje
Sentí el estilo de Lagercrantz bastante más fluido, a pesar que el contexto en que se desarrolla la acción podía preverse muy árido: espionaje industrial, informática, matemáticas avanzadas, mecánica cuántica, inteligencia artificial… pero aun así, todo en su justa medida, logrando una trama buenísima y muy ágil. Me gustó mucho la forma en que evoluciona la historia para, acercándonos al final, todo cerrara perfectamente y sin cabos sueltos, aunque deja más que dado el puntapié para seguir con el hilo argumental de esta entrega en el próximo libro.
Porque ahí reside otra sorpresa: siempre pensé que en el tercer libro había quedado resuelto el pasado de Lisbeth y que en la trama de éste sólo intervendrían nuestros conocidos personajes para dejar al descubierto algún hecho criminal o de corrupción, e incluso así parece hasta bien avanzada la historia, pero poco a poco se descubre que todo está nuevamente relacionado con el pasado de Lisbeth y debo decir que lo encontré un gran acierto.
En fin, ahora estoy muy expectante del quinto libro, el que no haré esperar como hice con éste. Lo recomiendo mucho, aunque debo reconocer que Lisbeth y Mikael son mi debilidad y, sólo quizá, de no ser por ellos, me hubiera quedado en las 4 estrellas.
Reto #9 PopSugar 2017: Un thriller de espionaje
March 20, 2016
I’m not going to beat around the bush. This book is terrible. I suggest that if you really, really liked the first three, do not read this one. It’s poorly written. Nothing works. Not the plot, not the characters, not any of the words the author uses to describe what happens with the characters in the plot. I got to page 125 and decided I would just skim the rest because life is too short to read crappy books, but then I found myself reading more than skimming so I will count this book as “read.” Stieg Larsson, the originator of these characters and author of the first three books, was no Shakespeare, but his writing was competent. His characters came to life on the page and his plots, although somewhat convoluted, were suspenseful and interesting and you cared about what happened. David Lagercrantz, the author of The Girl in the Spider’s Web, has no business continuing the story of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist and the other characters he carried over from the previous Millennium books. He’s not up to the challenge.
Usually this is where I write a brief summary of the plot of the book. I’d love to do that, except I’m not quite sure what the hell the plot is. I think it’s actually a two plot book: there’s computer technology/corporate espionage and criminal internet gangs. There’s also Salander’s murky past coming back to bite her in the ass. The two plots are related. Also, side plots involving the financial downfall of Millennium (Blomkvist’s magazine) and an autistic boy whose artistic gifts really are the deus ex machina of the novel. Along with Salander’s superhero powers. Seriously. If Lagercrantz casually mentioned Salander leaping tall buildings in a single bound or flying around Sweden in a red cape, I would not have been surprised. As described in this novel, the woman is a superhero. And, yes, for anyone’s who already read the book, I know I have many issues with this book and Salander the one-woman army is one of them. I’ll try to hide blatant spoilers, but if you really don’t want to know anything about this book, stop reading.
My theory is that Lagercrantz was under so much pressure to stay true to the Lisbeth Salander character that he erred on the side of excessive character worship. This book presents Salander as a superhero who can do everything. I know in the past books she is a computer hacker genius and a badass, but it was believable. In this book, it’s ridiculous. I don’t even know why the other characters were in the book—Salander basically does everything. What’s so ironic is that even though this book is described as a “Lisbeth Salander” novel (as opposed to being a “Millennium” novel), she’s more talked about by other characters than she is actually present in the book. As a reader, I don’t see much of the story through her eyes, except perhaps tedious (for non-math lovers) lengthy discussions of prime numbers and other mathematical-related blah blah blah that I skipped because I just didn’t give a shit.
As I stated earlier, the plot is unclear. Hans Balder, some kind of computer internet genius, is introduced. He used to work in the US at some company called Solifon, but he left there to come home to Sweden and try to be a better father to his autistic son, August. When he moved to the US, he left his son with his ex-wife and her asshole boyfriend. She does care about August, but asshole boyfriend does not—he just wants the child support money. Asshole boyfriend, in keeping with past themes of “men acting badly towards women and children,” beats August and his mother. So Balder takes his child (even though legally he does not have custody) and stays in his nice house, trying to communicate with his silent child. He is nervous and worried because “someone” is out to get him. Meanwhile, people from the NSA and Säpo (Swedish top secret police) are discussing him and believe he is in danger. I had to read over one hundred pages just to get this information. Lagercrantz switches point of view between various characters, which would be fine if the story were more clear (and compelling). Eventually all the pieces fit together, but the payoff does not equal the effort of slogging through 400 pages. The only detail I gleaned from the novel that is important:
Lagercrantz should have done some basic police procedural research. His bad guys are boring and not very scary and rather incompetent. The police are also depicted as not being able to find their asses with both hands. It’s entirely unbelievable and I kept rolling my eyes and muttering curse words under my breath. That’s the whole novel—completely unbelievable. None of the characters have any complexity to them at all. None. The bad guys are bad and the good guys are good. There’s no muddying of the waters except perhaps with Lisbeth, but she’s depicted as such the righter of wrongs, a bad ass punk girl with the heart of gold who rescues women and boys from bullies who beat them, that even her grungy, hung-over, tattooed and pierced persona is a sugary frosting on her delectable self. It’s just so gag. I rarely enjoy novels of such simplistic morality. When I do (as I did the three earlier novels), the bad has to be very bad, so much so that I demand justice, even if the characters and their actions are so easily divided between black and white. In this novel, I’m underwhelmed by the bad guys. Sure, they’re jerks, but they’re bland jerks. So when Salander moves in to save the day (as she does many times), I’m lukewarm. Yah. She kicked ass…so what?
The Girl in the Spider’s Web is not worthy of being connected with Stieg Larsson’s Millennium novels. It’s too bad that the publishers, lawyers, whomever, decided to make more money by carrying on the series. Lagercrantz is a mediocre writer with no gift for suspense or action sequences. While in theory he stays true to the characters, he portrays them with little imagination and no skill. This book does not carry on the legacy of Larsson’s earlier books. Not even close.
While reading this book, I took almost ten pages of notes. Here are some highlights of my complaints:
1. The whole Hans Balder is in danger nonsense. He knows he’s in danger and that “someone” is after him. But when Säpo calls and says they want to move him to a safe house, he refuses. When Säpo tries to get him special protection, no one’s available. But wait…I thought this guy was really really important? So instead Balder gets a police patrol, two incompetent jackasses who are more concerned with discussing a female colleague’s sweet, sweet ass instead of patrolling. When Balder’s alarm goes off and the security company calls him, they tell him to “go down to a special room in the cellar and lock the door” (101). Um, it’s called a panic room, Mr. Security Professional. Balder doesn’t do this. Then Mr. Security Professional tells Balder it’s all good because the guy wandering around his property is probably a junkie: “The man walks like a junkie—like a guy who’s just taken a load of speed. There’s something cocky and stilted about the way he moves, and that could be a sign that he’s just an ordinary druggie and petty thief” (101). Really? The intruder walks like a junkie so hey, no worries? What the fuck. So Balder, who is nervous, never goes to his “special room.” Even though he has received death threats. Even though his son is with him. Balder takes absolutely no sensible action to protect his life or the life of his son. Gee, guess what happens? This annoys the shit out of me because it’s obvious that the author has EVERYONE act like a flaming moron in order to make it easier for The police reaction is unbelievable. They don’t recognize the sound of gunfire? They have no emergency training? Of course not. That’s why they stand around like dumb fucks asking each other what to do.
2. August, the autistic boy wonder. I have no problem with the kid himself or his autism. What I have a problem with is how Lagercrantz turns the kid into the human equivalent of Lassie. What’s that girl? Who are the bad guys? Oh, you can draw pictures of amazing genius clarity that show the faces of the bad guys and the bad things they do? Oh, good girl, Lassie. I mean, August. How freaking convenient. And helpful since all the law enforcement officers in this novel have rocks for heads.
3. Lots of book-title-name dropping. Yes, we get it, Lagercrantz. You read books. You really like Elizabeth George. Goody for you.
4. Salander the Ultimate Bad Ass with the Heart of Gold. Jesus. What can’t she do? She’s hot (he is “one of the many in the gym who fancied Salander” 134) and has “nice tits” 188 (Really? Because in previous books she’s described as flat-chested and bony); she’s a chess wiz; she has hands so strong they crush drinking glasses (98 and “the uncanny strength of her hands” 191); she takes a bullet saving August and hijacks a moving car (“She was young with black hair and piercings, a punk according to one witness, also short, but fierce. The witnesses all agree that she was not some ordinary member of the public” 238); she’s a genius hacker with a style that has a “completely new threshold of originality” (272); she of course connects naturally with August and gets him to speak to her; she beats up and evicts the asshole boyfriend who beat August and August’s drug-addled and completely unsympathetic character of a mother; she saves August again from the hitman, notifies the police and neutralizes the threat all while protecting the kid AND standing on a crumbling rock ledge. It’s just too much. While all this is going on, Blomkvist is flirting with a woman whom he knows is bad news but she’s a puzzle he needs to figure out (eye roll—she’s the leader of the gang, moron) and the NSA and Säpo are standing around looking dazed. Well, no, the NSA is studying up on comics.
5. The
6. The gross pseudo romance between Salander and Blomkvist (who I never liked. I didn’t like him in the previous books and he’s a dumb ass in this one). The author describes her as having a “flirty” tone or “flirting” with Blomkvist and what the fuck. Salander does not flirt. Gross.
7. The last sentence in the book: “A star fell outside in the night sky.” Please excuse me while I vomit on my keyboard.
This book sucks. This book is awful. This book is flat out stupid. I don’t recommend it and I regret purchasing it. It will now go in my “get the fuck out of my house” pile of rejects.
Usually this is where I write a brief summary of the plot of the book. I’d love to do that, except I’m not quite sure what the hell the plot is. I think it’s actually a two plot book: there’s computer technology/corporate espionage and criminal internet gangs. There’s also Salander’s murky past coming back to bite her in the ass. The two plots are related. Also, side plots involving the financial downfall of Millennium (Blomkvist’s magazine) and an autistic boy whose artistic gifts really are the deus ex machina of the novel. Along with Salander’s superhero powers. Seriously. If Lagercrantz casually mentioned Salander leaping tall buildings in a single bound or flying around Sweden in a red cape, I would not have been surprised. As described in this novel, the woman is a superhero. And, yes, for anyone’s who already read the book, I know I have many issues with this book and Salander the one-woman army is one of them. I’ll try to hide blatant spoilers, but if you really don’t want to know anything about this book, stop reading.
My theory is that Lagercrantz was under so much pressure to stay true to the Lisbeth Salander character that he erred on the side of excessive character worship. This book presents Salander as a superhero who can do everything. I know in the past books she is a computer hacker genius and a badass, but it was believable. In this book, it’s ridiculous. I don’t even know why the other characters were in the book—Salander basically does everything. What’s so ironic is that even though this book is described as a “Lisbeth Salander” novel (as opposed to being a “Millennium” novel), she’s more talked about by other characters than she is actually present in the book. As a reader, I don’t see much of the story through her eyes, except perhaps tedious (for non-math lovers) lengthy discussions of prime numbers and other mathematical-related blah blah blah that I skipped because I just didn’t give a shit.
As I stated earlier, the plot is unclear. Hans Balder, some kind of computer internet genius, is introduced. He used to work in the US at some company called Solifon, but he left there to come home to Sweden and try to be a better father to his autistic son, August. When he moved to the US, he left his son with his ex-wife and her asshole boyfriend. She does care about August, but asshole boyfriend does not—he just wants the child support money. Asshole boyfriend, in keeping with past themes of “men acting badly towards women and children,” beats August and his mother. So Balder takes his child (even though legally he does not have custody) and stays in his nice house, trying to communicate with his silent child. He is nervous and worried because “someone” is out to get him. Meanwhile, people from the NSA and Säpo (Swedish top secret police) are discussing him and believe he is in danger. I had to read over one hundred pages just to get this information. Lagercrantz switches point of view between various characters, which would be fine if the story were more clear (and compelling). Eventually all the pieces fit together, but the payoff does not equal the effort of slogging through 400 pages. The only detail I gleaned from the novel that is important:
Lagercrantz should have done some basic police procedural research. His bad guys are boring and not very scary and rather incompetent. The police are also depicted as not being able to find their asses with both hands. It’s entirely unbelievable and I kept rolling my eyes and muttering curse words under my breath. That’s the whole novel—completely unbelievable. None of the characters have any complexity to them at all. None. The bad guys are bad and the good guys are good. There’s no muddying of the waters except perhaps with Lisbeth, but she’s depicted as such the righter of wrongs, a bad ass punk girl with the heart of gold who rescues women and boys from bullies who beat them, that even her grungy, hung-over, tattooed and pierced persona is a sugary frosting on her delectable self. It’s just so gag. I rarely enjoy novels of such simplistic morality. When I do (as I did the three earlier novels), the bad has to be very bad, so much so that I demand justice, even if the characters and their actions are so easily divided between black and white. In this novel, I’m underwhelmed by the bad guys. Sure, they’re jerks, but they’re bland jerks. So when Salander moves in to save the day (as she does many times), I’m lukewarm. Yah. She kicked ass…so what?
The Girl in the Spider’s Web is not worthy of being connected with Stieg Larsson’s Millennium novels. It’s too bad that the publishers, lawyers, whomever, decided to make more money by carrying on the series. Lagercrantz is a mediocre writer with no gift for suspense or action sequences. While in theory he stays true to the characters, he portrays them with little imagination and no skill. This book does not carry on the legacy of Larsson’s earlier books. Not even close.
While reading this book, I took almost ten pages of notes. Here are some highlights of my complaints:
1. The whole Hans Balder is in danger nonsense. He knows he’s in danger and that “someone” is after him. But when Säpo calls and says they want to move him to a safe house, he refuses. When Säpo tries to get him special protection, no one’s available. But wait…I thought this guy was really really important? So instead Balder gets a police patrol, two incompetent jackasses who are more concerned with discussing a female colleague’s sweet, sweet ass instead of patrolling. When Balder’s alarm goes off and the security company calls him, they tell him to “go down to a special room in the cellar and lock the door” (101). Um, it’s called a panic room, Mr. Security Professional. Balder doesn’t do this. Then Mr. Security Professional tells Balder it’s all good because the guy wandering around his property is probably a junkie: “The man walks like a junkie—like a guy who’s just taken a load of speed. There’s something cocky and stilted about the way he moves, and that could be a sign that he’s just an ordinary druggie and petty thief” (101). Really? The intruder walks like a junkie so hey, no worries? What the fuck. So Balder, who is nervous, never goes to his “special room.” Even though he has received death threats. Even though his son is with him. Balder takes absolutely no sensible action to protect his life or the life of his son. Gee, guess what happens? This annoys the shit out of me because it’s obvious that the author has EVERYONE act like a flaming moron in order to make it easier for The police reaction is unbelievable. They don’t recognize the sound of gunfire? They have no emergency training? Of course not. That’s why they stand around like dumb fucks asking each other what to do.
2. August, the autistic boy wonder. I have no problem with the kid himself or his autism. What I have a problem with is how Lagercrantz turns the kid into the human equivalent of Lassie. What’s that girl? Who are the bad guys? Oh, you can draw pictures of amazing genius clarity that show the faces of the bad guys and the bad things they do? Oh, good girl, Lassie. I mean, August. How freaking convenient. And helpful since all the law enforcement officers in this novel have rocks for heads.
3. Lots of book-title-name dropping. Yes, we get it, Lagercrantz. You read books. You really like Elizabeth George. Goody for you.
4. Salander the Ultimate Bad Ass with the Heart of Gold. Jesus. What can’t she do? She’s hot (he is “one of the many in the gym who fancied Salander” 134) and has “nice tits” 188 (Really? Because in previous books she’s described as flat-chested and bony); she’s a chess wiz; she has hands so strong they crush drinking glasses (98 and “the uncanny strength of her hands” 191); she takes a bullet saving August and hijacks a moving car (“She was young with black hair and piercings, a punk according to one witness, also short, but fierce. The witnesses all agree that she was not some ordinary member of the public” 238); she’s a genius hacker with a style that has a “completely new threshold of originality” (272); she of course connects naturally with August and gets him to speak to her; she beats up and evicts the asshole boyfriend who beat August and August’s drug-addled and completely unsympathetic character of a mother; she saves August again from the hitman, notifies the police and neutralizes the threat all while protecting the kid AND standing on a crumbling rock ledge. It’s just too much. While all this is going on, Blomkvist is flirting with a woman whom he knows is bad news but she’s a puzzle he needs to figure out (eye roll—she’s the leader of the gang, moron) and the NSA and Säpo are standing around looking dazed. Well, no, the NSA is studying up on comics.
5. The
6. The gross pseudo romance between Salander and Blomkvist (who I never liked. I didn’t like him in the previous books and he’s a dumb ass in this one). The author describes her as having a “flirty” tone or “flirting” with Blomkvist and what the fuck. Salander does not flirt. Gross.
7. The last sentence in the book: “A star fell outside in the night sky.” Please excuse me while I vomit on my keyboard.
This book sucks. This book is awful. This book is flat out stupid. I don’t recommend it and I regret purchasing it. It will now go in my “get the fuck out of my house” pile of rejects.
January 8, 2020
Surprisingly not bad with a new author continuing the series.
August 19, 2021
Tengo muy buenos recuerdos de la Saga Mileniun y por este motivo no he podido resistirme a leer su continuación, Lo que no te mata te hace más fuerte (2015), nada más tenerla entre mis manos. Además, todo hay que decirlo, tenía una sana curiosidad por comparar la obra del escritor original, el fallecido Stieg Larsson (1954-2004), con esta cuarta novela de la saga que ha sido encargada a David Lagercrantz (1962-).
Para mí, la Saga Millenniun significó principalmente dos cosas. Por un lado descubrir la novela negra nórdica (sí, tengo que reconocer que hasta esa fecha no había leído demasiada) y por consiguiente la revelación de una sociedad no tal ideal como desde este caótico sur me parecía y, por otro lado, y desde un punto de vista más literario, descubrir un personaje que me resultó realmente asombroso: Lisbeth Salander.
Quizá por esto me ha defraudado en cierta medida Lo que no mata te hace más fuerte. El argumento es bastante genérico, podría haber ocurrido en cualquier parte, además de no haberme resultado excesivamente sorprendente. Me han faltado muchas paginas hablando de Lisbeth (casi hasta la página 100 ni la menciona) y por el contrario me han sobrado páginas y páginas de descripciones, de excesivas repeticiones y de continuas explicaciones de sucesos de los libros anteriores que sólo consiguen alargar, en mi opinión innecesariamente, la novela. Quizá por estos motivos, he perdido la sensación de intriga en varias ocasiones.
Aunque los incondicionales de la estupenda saga Millennium no podremos pasar sin leerlo, yo creo que con 200 páginas menos habría resultado mucho más interesante.
Para mí, la Saga Millenniun significó principalmente dos cosas. Por un lado descubrir la novela negra nórdica (sí, tengo que reconocer que hasta esa fecha no había leído demasiada) y por consiguiente la revelación de una sociedad no tal ideal como desde este caótico sur me parecía y, por otro lado, y desde un punto de vista más literario, descubrir un personaje que me resultó realmente asombroso: Lisbeth Salander.
Quizá por esto me ha defraudado en cierta medida Lo que no mata te hace más fuerte. El argumento es bastante genérico, podría haber ocurrido en cualquier parte, además de no haberme resultado excesivamente sorprendente. Me han faltado muchas paginas hablando de Lisbeth (casi hasta la página 100 ni la menciona) y por el contrario me han sobrado páginas y páginas de descripciones, de excesivas repeticiones y de continuas explicaciones de sucesos de los libros anteriores que sólo consiguen alargar, en mi opinión innecesariamente, la novela. Quizá por estos motivos, he perdido la sensación de intriga en varias ocasiones.
Aunque los incondicionales de la estupenda saga Millennium no podremos pasar sin leerlo, yo creo que con 200 páginas menos habría resultado mucho más interesante.
August 3, 2022
3 stars to David Lagercrantz's The Girl in the Spider's Web, the fourth book in the "Millenium" thriller series, written by a new author given the original, Steig Larsson, passed away several years ago. While the book carries on with great characters and a similar style, it wasn't as satisfying as the originals. But who can resist Blomkvist and Lisbeth -- you can't NOT read it!
Story
As readers come to know of this series of books, the plots are incredibly complex, intense and twisty. From a basic point of view, several hackers have started infiltrating the NSA after learning about a conspiracy between different groups to buy and sell secrets about each other's companies. The government is involved, trying to keep it running and trying to stop it, as well as several public companies involved in building new technology that ultimately will be the destruction of mankind should machines be able to build machines and think as sentient beings
Pushing that all to the side, the plot is about a professor who takes back his autistic son from his ex-wife and her new husband (who is abusing the young boy). When some members of the conspiracy group ultimately realize that the professor is the technologist who has the AI programs they are all after, and he's potentially going to rat out the truth of what's been happening to Blomkvist, someone orders a hit and the professor is killed minutes before telling his story. His young son witnesses the execution and the hunt begins. Lisbeth is involved in the hacking group and works through a secret computer program to help Blomkvist save the boy and ends up realizing she's very close to the person at the head of the conspiracy. As they sort through the puzzle, family ties come back to haunt each of them and the struggle to keep the balance of the war just slightly in their own favor pushes forward.
Strengths
1. Lisbeth and Blomkvist are as good as ever. They jump off the pages and yearn to be loved and hated at the same time. They annoy you, but you know they are good people.
2. It's definitely a page-turner that captures your attention about 20% in when you realize how many different players are in the game to capture the technology and to double-cross one another. It stays strong and keeps you guessing throughout the whole story. And then the head of the conspiracy is revealed about 50% through, you have a whole new level of connections that keep your mind working over-time.
Suggestions
The summary of the story is strong, but the details get too technical and too convoluted. I work in technology, so it wasn't that I didn't understand what they were talking about... it was that so much of it was theory and advanced mathematical formulas, it got tedious to pay attention to that level of detail. There's only so much I can swallow when it comes to prime numbers and the Fibonacci sequence and how many multipliers are needed to deviate from the quantum... what??????? stick to the drama and leave the minutia out when you're trying to keep the sanctity of an author whose first successful novel was a genealogical mystery!
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed the book. I wanted to keep reading it. I'd like to see another one by this author. But... in order to move it up from a 3 to 4, it needs more substance. Hacking is a great topic. NSA double-crossing it a cool idea. The family ties (no spoilers here) was an amazing story line. But something felt like it was missing in how it truly all came together. I'm hoping it was left open so it can be explored in the next book -- not all to different from the original three in the series -- but it needs to be more tightly weaved.
That said, kudos to Lagercrantz for successfully taking on the series and trying to continue the original creation. He's done well enough for me to continue reading but still to keep my critical eye.
Story
As readers come to know of this series of books, the plots are incredibly complex, intense and twisty. From a basic point of view, several hackers have started infiltrating the NSA after learning about a conspiracy between different groups to buy and sell secrets about each other's companies. The government is involved, trying to keep it running and trying to stop it, as well as several public companies involved in building new technology that ultimately will be the destruction of mankind should machines be able to build machines and think as sentient beings
Pushing that all to the side, the plot is about a professor who takes back his autistic son from his ex-wife and her new husband (who is abusing the young boy). When some members of the conspiracy group ultimately realize that the professor is the technologist who has the AI programs they are all after, and he's potentially going to rat out the truth of what's been happening to Blomkvist, someone orders a hit and the professor is killed minutes before telling his story. His young son witnesses the execution and the hunt begins. Lisbeth is involved in the hacking group and works through a secret computer program to help Blomkvist save the boy and ends up realizing she's very close to the person at the head of the conspiracy. As they sort through the puzzle, family ties come back to haunt each of them and the struggle to keep the balance of the war just slightly in their own favor pushes forward.
Strengths
1. Lisbeth and Blomkvist are as good as ever. They jump off the pages and yearn to be loved and hated at the same time. They annoy you, but you know they are good people.
2. It's definitely a page-turner that captures your attention about 20% in when you realize how many different players are in the game to capture the technology and to double-cross one another. It stays strong and keeps you guessing throughout the whole story. And then the head of the conspiracy is revealed about 50% through, you have a whole new level of connections that keep your mind working over-time.
Suggestions
The summary of the story is strong, but the details get too technical and too convoluted. I work in technology, so it wasn't that I didn't understand what they were talking about... it was that so much of it was theory and advanced mathematical formulas, it got tedious to pay attention to that level of detail. There's only so much I can swallow when it comes to prime numbers and the Fibonacci sequence and how many multipliers are needed to deviate from the quantum... what??????? stick to the drama and leave the minutia out when you're trying to keep the sanctity of an author whose first successful novel was a genealogical mystery!
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed the book. I wanted to keep reading it. I'd like to see another one by this author. But... in order to move it up from a 3 to 4, it needs more substance. Hacking is a great topic. NSA double-crossing it a cool idea. The family ties (no spoilers here) was an amazing story line. But something felt like it was missing in how it truly all came together. I'm hoping it was left open so it can be explored in the next book -- not all to different from the original three in the series -- but it needs to be more tightly weaved.
That said, kudos to Lagercrantz for successfully taking on the series and trying to continue the original creation. He's done well enough for me to continue reading but still to keep my critical eye.
September 13, 2015
I initially was going to give this 4 stars, but decided 3 more accurately represented my feelings. I found the first third of the book tedious and I almost gave up. Like all newspapers, Millenium is in trouble and purchased by a larger company. Mikael Blomkvist is unhappy and unmotivated. There were a lot of new characters introduced, and a refresher list of previous characters was provided in the beginning. The agencies and groups involved tended to get tangled, and it was difficult to remember who worked for who. Eventually, the story got interesting because Lisbeth Salander became more prominent. A weird web of intrigue involving police, the NSA, Swedish Intelligence, and assorted hackers was revealed along with the motivations of individuals involved. This was an acceptable effort by David Lagercrantz, but I would have liked more Salander right from the beginning.
November 20, 2015
Not bad, but kind of confusing. It was like a whole bunch of complicated cyber-hacking sounding plot lines were thrown in a blender and the mush that came out was put into print. The author tried too hard to carry on after Larsen.
I think the reason I still liked it a bit was that I know the characters from the previous books. If this was my first time with Blomkvist and Salander, I think I would have been very puzzled.
I think the reason I still liked it a bit was that I know the characters from the previous books. If this was my first time with Blomkvist and Salander, I think I would have been very puzzled.
March 21, 2022
Lagercrantz, couldn't quite get it right. It always felt like a watered down version Of Stieg Larsson. Never felt like "A Lisbeth Salander" novel. Maybe her distant cousin.
2 stars for effort.
2 stars for effort.
February 4, 2019
I like this kind of book I should read more like it 💜
not-for-me
May 12, 2015Considering that David Lagercrantz was hired by Larsson's estate, and that Eva Gabrielsson (Larsson's partner both in life and in writing) is against this continuation of the series, I'm going to stay away from it. Definitely a money-grab and nothing else.
Link to Eva's opinion in English.
Link to Eva's opinion in Danish.
Link to Eva's opinion in English.
Link to Eva's opinion in Danish.
January 9, 2016
I went into reading this book with the thought that it has a snowballs chance in hell to be as good as Stieg Larsson's books. I mean they are something of the best I have ever read when it comes to Swedish books (Actually when I think about it that doesn't say that much since every damn person in Sweden seems to think that they are the new Stieg Larsson or Liza Marklund or whatever). What I want to say is that even though I have been looking forward to reading the book have I also had back in my mind some doubts about the book. It feels a bit like Stieg Larsson father and brother just want more cash and voilà let's find an author to write a fourth novel so we can bath in money. So I'm glad that I just borrowed the book from the library and not bought it so now they didn't get that much money from me reading the book.
I found it the first 150-200 pages just OK. Honestly, I thought it was much easier to read than the trilogy, less intrigue, and more action. And, I can say that about the book now that I have finished it. It felt much more action-filled than the trilogy and with less graphic violence (which isn't that bad). Now it's been a couple of years since I read the trilogy, but I doubt it took me two days to read a book as it did with this one. And, even though math and hacking aren't my things did this book feel when it came to the case less complicated, but it was still a good book. I was a bit annoyed about the incompetence of the Swedish police and some other character in the book. But I liked finding out more about Lisbeth Salander and stuff I had forgotten came back while I read the book. And, the ending was good. Not a cliffhanger, but more an opportunity for a sequel. I think the turning point in the book for me was when Lisbeth got more involved in the story. That's when I felt that this is a book that is hard to put down.
I liked the book, I can't deny it. I had a smile on my face at the ending and I enjoyed the story. It was much more of a fast read than the original books, but frankly, that doesn't bother me much. It was a worthy sequel and I hope to read more books by David Lagercrantz.
4.5 stars
I found it the first 150-200 pages just OK. Honestly, I thought it was much easier to read than the trilogy, less intrigue, and more action. And, I can say that about the book now that I have finished it. It felt much more action-filled than the trilogy and with less graphic violence (which isn't that bad). Now it's been a couple of years since I read the trilogy, but I doubt it took me two days to read a book as it did with this one. And, even though math and hacking aren't my things did this book feel when it came to the case less complicated, but it was still a good book. I was a bit annoyed about the incompetence of the Swedish police and some other character in the book. But I liked finding out more about Lisbeth Salander and stuff I had forgotten came back while I read the book. And, the ending was good. Not a cliffhanger, but more an opportunity for a sequel. I think the turning point in the book for me was when Lisbeth got more involved in the story. That's when I felt that this is a book that is hard to put down.
I liked the book, I can't deny it. I had a smile on my face at the ending and I enjoyed the story. It was much more of a fast read than the original books, but frankly, that doesn't bother me much. It was a worthy sequel and I hope to read more books by David Lagercrantz.
4.5 stars
July 8, 2023
Español - English
Trilogía de Stieg Larsson ampliada a tetralogía por David Lagencratz.
En el libro, Lisbeth Salander se encuentra en un lugar oscuro después de haber sobrevivido a un intento de asesinato por parte de su padre y hermano. Mientras tanto, Mikael Blomkvist, periodista y colaborador habitual de Lisbeth, está investigando la historia de Frans Balder, un científico de la inteligencia artificial.
Balder ha creado una supercomputadora llamada Firefall, capaz de acceder a cualquier sistema de seguridad del mundo. Sin embargo, Balder teme que su invención pueda caer en manos equivocadas y está decidido a revelar los peligros de la tecnología. Para ello, necesita la ayuda de Lisbeth Salander y Mikael Blomkvist.
A medida que avanzan en su investigación, descubren una conspiración que involucra a la NSA, a un grupo de hackers llamado "El Puente" y a una organización secreta llamada "Spider Society". A lo largo de la historia, Lisbeth se enfrenta a su pasado traumático mientras lucha por proteger a Balder y detener los planes maliciosos de aquellos que buscan controlar Firefall.
El libro aborda temas como la privacidad en la era digital, la manipulación de la información, el abuso de poder y la lucha por la justicia. Lisbeth Salander se presenta como una heroína compleja y valiente, enfrentando desafíos personales y luchando contra las fuerzas corruptas que amenazan la libertad y la seguridad.
Combina elementos de thriller, intriga y acción, manteniendo el estilo característico de la serie original de Millennium. David Lagercrantz captura la esencia de los personajes creados por Stieg Larsson y continúa la historia con su propia visión y estilo narrativo.
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Stieg Larsson's Millennium series trilogy expanded into tetralogy by David Lagercrantz.
In the book, Lisbeth Salander finds herself in a dark place after surviving an assassination attempt by her father and brother. Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist and Lisbeth's frequent collaborator, is investigating the story of Frans Balder, an artificial intelligence scientist.
Balder has created a supercomputer called Firefall, capable of accessing any security system in the world. However, Balder fears that his invention may fall into the wrong hands and is determined to expose the dangers of the technology. He needs the help of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist to do so.
As they delve into their investigation, they uncover a conspiracy involving the NSA, a group of hackers called "The Bridge," and a secret organization known as the "Spider Society." Throughout the story, Lisbeth confronts her traumatic past while fighting to protect Balder and stop the malicious plans of those seeking to control Firefall.
The book addresses themes such as privacy in the digital era, information manipulation, abuse of power, and the struggle for justice. Lisbeth Salander is portrayed as a complex and courageous heroine, facing personal challenges and battling against corrupt forces that threaten freedom and security.
Combines elements of thriller, intrigue, and action, maintaining the distinctive style of the original Millennium series. Although written by a different author, David Lagercrantz captures the essence of Stieg Larsson's created characters and continues the story with his own vision and narrative style.
Trilogía de Stieg Larsson ampliada a tetralogía por David Lagencratz.
En el libro, Lisbeth Salander se encuentra en un lugar oscuro después de haber sobrevivido a un intento de asesinato por parte de su padre y hermano. Mientras tanto, Mikael Blomkvist, periodista y colaborador habitual de Lisbeth, está investigando la historia de Frans Balder, un científico de la inteligencia artificial.
Balder ha creado una supercomputadora llamada Firefall, capaz de acceder a cualquier sistema de seguridad del mundo. Sin embargo, Balder teme que su invención pueda caer en manos equivocadas y está decidido a revelar los peligros de la tecnología. Para ello, necesita la ayuda de Lisbeth Salander y Mikael Blomkvist.
A medida que avanzan en su investigación, descubren una conspiración que involucra a la NSA, a un grupo de hackers llamado "El Puente" y a una organización secreta llamada "Spider Society". A lo largo de la historia, Lisbeth se enfrenta a su pasado traumático mientras lucha por proteger a Balder y detener los planes maliciosos de aquellos que buscan controlar Firefall.
El libro aborda temas como la privacidad en la era digital, la manipulación de la información, el abuso de poder y la lucha por la justicia. Lisbeth Salander se presenta como una heroína compleja y valiente, enfrentando desafíos personales y luchando contra las fuerzas corruptas que amenazan la libertad y la seguridad.
Combina elementos de thriller, intriga y acción, manteniendo el estilo característico de la serie original de Millennium. David Lagercrantz captura la esencia de los personajes creados por Stieg Larsson y continúa la historia con su propia visión y estilo narrativo.
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Stieg Larsson's Millennium series trilogy expanded into tetralogy by David Lagercrantz.
In the book, Lisbeth Salander finds herself in a dark place after surviving an assassination attempt by her father and brother. Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist and Lisbeth's frequent collaborator, is investigating the story of Frans Balder, an artificial intelligence scientist.
Balder has created a supercomputer called Firefall, capable of accessing any security system in the world. However, Balder fears that his invention may fall into the wrong hands and is determined to expose the dangers of the technology. He needs the help of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist to do so.
As they delve into their investigation, they uncover a conspiracy involving the NSA, a group of hackers called "The Bridge," and a secret organization known as the "Spider Society." Throughout the story, Lisbeth confronts her traumatic past while fighting to protect Balder and stop the malicious plans of those seeking to control Firefall.
The book addresses themes such as privacy in the digital era, information manipulation, abuse of power, and the struggle for justice. Lisbeth Salander is portrayed as a complex and courageous heroine, facing personal challenges and battling against corrupt forces that threaten freedom and security.
Combines elements of thriller, intrigue, and action, maintaining the distinctive style of the original Millennium series. Although written by a different author, David Lagercrantz captures the essence of Stieg Larsson's created characters and continues the story with his own vision and narrative style.
December 17, 2019
Al final superé mis reparos de empezar a leer este libro, pues el listón que había dejado la trilogía escrita por Larsson estaba pero que muy alto. Y la verdad, lo he terminado bastante satisfecho. Entre otras cosas porque, aunque el estilo sea diferente, la conexión entre las anteriores y la presente no presenta fisuras. La esencia original sigue intacta.
Lagercrantz nos mete de lleno en el mundo de los hackers, de la Deep Web, del espionaje industrial y estatal, y lo que es más importante, de la continuidad de Lisbeth Salander como co-protagonista, junto a Mikael Blomkvist, sin que echemos mucho de menos las historias creadas para ellos por su anterior y malogrado autor.
Supongo que a los incondicionales de Larsson esta continuación les parecerá innecesaria, pero yo creo que había material para seguir explotando el filón, y, fráncamente, si las dos novelas que le siguen y que ya están publicadas siguen el mismo patrón, tendremos a Lisbeth y a Mikael para otra larga temporada.
Le sobran algunos personajes que abusan del estereotipo (Camilla, la hermana de Lisbeth, chirría un poco a medida que conocemos su historia, lo cual me obliga a rebajar la puntuación general). Pero la mayoría están muy bien descritos, y, además, son bastante creíbles. El resto, la trama y su desarrollo, me ha tenido muy enganchado. Y creo que, aunque seguiré echando de menos a su autor original, sus herederos han hecho un buen trabajo buscando sucesor.
Lagercrantz nos mete de lleno en el mundo de los hackers, de la Deep Web, del espionaje industrial y estatal, y lo que es más importante, de la continuidad de Lisbeth Salander como co-protagonista, junto a Mikael Blomkvist, sin que echemos mucho de menos las historias creadas para ellos por su anterior y malogrado autor.
Supongo que a los incondicionales de Larsson esta continuación les parecerá innecesaria, pero yo creo que había material para seguir explotando el filón, y, fráncamente, si las dos novelas que le siguen y que ya están publicadas siguen el mismo patrón, tendremos a Lisbeth y a Mikael para otra larga temporada.
Le sobran algunos personajes que abusan del estereotipo (Camilla, la hermana de Lisbeth, chirría un poco a medida que conocemos su historia, lo cual me obliga a rebajar la puntuación general). Pero la mayoría están muy bien descritos, y, además, son bastante creíbles. El resto, la trama y su desarrollo, me ha tenido muy enganchado. Y creo que, aunque seguiré echando de menos a su autor original, sus herederos han hecho un buen trabajo buscando sucesor.
May 19, 2016
“What she had realized was that love was that moment when your heart was about to burst.”
---- Stieg Larsson
The journalist and the female hacker are back with a bang!
David Lagercrantz, a Swedish author, takes up the authority to continue with the legendary Millennium series of the international bestselling Swedish crime writer, Stieg Larsson. And Lagercrantz has proved that Lisbeth Salander cannot be dead, by projecting her with an immense power and energy in the latest installment of Millennium series, The Girl in the Spider's Web.
Synopsis:
In this adrenaline-charged thriller, genius-hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist face a dangerous new threat and must again join forces.
Late one night, Blomkvist receives a phone call from a trusted source claiming to have information vital to the United States. The source has been in contact with a young female super hacker—a hacker resembling someone Blomkvist knows all too well. The implications are staggering.
Blomkvist, in desperate need of a scoop for Millennium, turns to Lisbeth for help. She, as usual, has her own agenda.
The story is twisted and puzzling like a spider's web, although a spider's web is very neat, yet it has the power to confuse it's prey and will finally lead into the death trap. Lisbeth fell in that trap when she smartly hacked in the NSA's database for her own personal agenda. Whereas Blomkvist is fighting for his magazine Millennium which has been sold out to corporate biggies due to a financial crunch, (blame it on Harriet Vanger!), but right at the moment when Mikael was sulking with a dry spell of no major stories, he receives a strange call from a source about information which includes USA and can be a major story about a genius professor and also about a female hacker, and thus the story begins with a full force that is bound to pull the readers into Lagercrantz's own personal spider's web.
Lagercrantz's writing style is brilliant and fantastic and the way he explains each and everything with such intricate details is amazing. The story builds up with a steady pace in the first half and as the mystery gets twisted and turned into the deep dark word of hidden agenda to overpower, it hits the fast addictive pace. The book is not an edgy one, but it is so mystifying which will keep the readers hooked onto the core and heart of the mystery to follow it till the very end. The narrative is equally engaging and underlined with Blomkvist's sarcasm at times.
The characters are brought to life with the same touch and with the same intuitive power to leave the readers in awe with their fight for justice as well as truth. The primary characters aside, the supporting characters especially a mother, a chief, and many other such characters impacted the story like anything.
The author has maintained same bad-ass-girl demeanor for Lisbeth who speaks sharp, with less words and with same old social awkwardness and with her same old zeal to fight for revenge all by herself, and with that same old skill. Her non-nonsense narrative will once gain make the readers fall for this anti-hero of the story. Mikael, too, is kept very similar to his old self despite of the bring lifestyle that he led, but the best part is that the author have focused a great deal of the story around Mikael and through his lens, which is intellectual as well as funny, the story is like a roller coaster that is never intended to come down to the ground. And when these two characters are seen fighting for the same cause from the two opposite ends, and this portrayal is done with utmost sagacity.
Well, David might not have achieved that Larsson's trademark style of mastery yet he brought, the once dead, incredible characters, to life with his own elegance, thus opening the doors with a promise that Salander-Blomkvist duo will return again and again with new captivating and intriguing mysteries.
Verdict: A tremendously addictive as well as phenomenal plot that brings alive two of the most loved fictitious characters of crime fiction.
Courtesy: I received this book from Hachette India, for a blog tour.
---- Stieg Larsson
The journalist and the female hacker are back with a bang!
David Lagercrantz, a Swedish author, takes up the authority to continue with the legendary Millennium series of the international bestselling Swedish crime writer, Stieg Larsson. And Lagercrantz has proved that Lisbeth Salander cannot be dead, by projecting her with an immense power and energy in the latest installment of Millennium series, The Girl in the Spider's Web.
Synopsis:
In this adrenaline-charged thriller, genius-hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist face a dangerous new threat and must again join forces.
Late one night, Blomkvist receives a phone call from a trusted source claiming to have information vital to the United States. The source has been in contact with a young female super hacker—a hacker resembling someone Blomkvist knows all too well. The implications are staggering.
Blomkvist, in desperate need of a scoop for Millennium, turns to Lisbeth for help. She, as usual, has her own agenda.
The story is twisted and puzzling like a spider's web, although a spider's web is very neat, yet it has the power to confuse it's prey and will finally lead into the death trap. Lisbeth fell in that trap when she smartly hacked in the NSA's database for her own personal agenda. Whereas Blomkvist is fighting for his magazine Millennium which has been sold out to corporate biggies due to a financial crunch, (blame it on Harriet Vanger!), but right at the moment when Mikael was sulking with a dry spell of no major stories, he receives a strange call from a source about information which includes USA and can be a major story about a genius professor and also about a female hacker, and thus the story begins with a full force that is bound to pull the readers into Lagercrantz's own personal spider's web.
Lagercrantz's writing style is brilliant and fantastic and the way he explains each and everything with such intricate details is amazing. The story builds up with a steady pace in the first half and as the mystery gets twisted and turned into the deep dark word of hidden agenda to overpower, it hits the fast addictive pace. The book is not an edgy one, but it is so mystifying which will keep the readers hooked onto the core and heart of the mystery to follow it till the very end. The narrative is equally engaging and underlined with Blomkvist's sarcasm at times.
The characters are brought to life with the same touch and with the same intuitive power to leave the readers in awe with their fight for justice as well as truth. The primary characters aside, the supporting characters especially a mother, a chief, and many other such characters impacted the story like anything.
The author has maintained same bad-ass-girl demeanor for Lisbeth who speaks sharp, with less words and with same old social awkwardness and with her same old zeal to fight for revenge all by herself, and with that same old skill. Her non-nonsense narrative will once gain make the readers fall for this anti-hero of the story. Mikael, too, is kept very similar to his old self despite of the bring lifestyle that he led, but the best part is that the author have focused a great deal of the story around Mikael and through his lens, which is intellectual as well as funny, the story is like a roller coaster that is never intended to come down to the ground. And when these two characters are seen fighting for the same cause from the two opposite ends, and this portrayal is done with utmost sagacity.
Well, David might not have achieved that Larsson's trademark style of mastery yet he brought, the once dead, incredible characters, to life with his own elegance, thus opening the doors with a promise that Salander-Blomkvist duo will return again and again with new captivating and intriguing mysteries.
Verdict: A tremendously addictive as well as phenomenal plot that brings alive two of the most loved fictitious characters of crime fiction.
Courtesy: I received this book from Hachette India, for a blog tour.
July 23, 2018
When I watched the films I had no idea they were book adaptations. I always feel disappointed to find out that a movie I watched and loved is based on a book. That is because 1 and a half hour of pleasure cannot compare to the days I would spend reading such a good story. As soon as I heard about the 4th book coming out I knew the time had come!! I loved it..Absolutely gripping and addictive. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because the first chapters were a bit boring and I had to put it aside for a few weeks until I felt interested again. But the rest of it was amazing... Congratulations to Lagercrantz!!! He is the reason I have just ordered the first 3 books of the millenium series! Nothing beats a good Nordic mystery!
To those of you still wondering... Seriously, are to going to say no to a new Lisbet Salander mystery?
To those of you still wondering... Seriously, are to going to say no to a new Lisbet Salander mystery?
September 25, 2021
Claire Foy as Lisbeth Salander
In this continuation of Stieg Larsson's 'Millenium' series by David Lagercrantz, computer hacker Lisbeth Salander protects a young boy while she investigates a conspiracy and contends with murderers. It's best to read the series in order to get a handle on the characters and their convoluted lives.
*****
Frans Balder, a brilliant Swedish computer scientist, created a revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) program when he worked at the Solifon company in the United States.
He then suddenly quit his job, took his program, and returned to Sweden. Balder proceeded to remove his autistic 8-year-old son August from the abusive home of his ex-wife and her boyfriend and holed up at home with the boy. It seems that Balder had discovered a conspiracy involving Solifon, the National Security Agency (NSA), and Russian mobsters - and now feared for his life and his program.
Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist - famous investigative journalist for the magazine Millenium - is having problems.
The magazine has been bought by a conglomerate that wants to remove Mikael from the editorial board and 'lighten' the magazine's features. Mikael could use a juicy story to buck up his career. This seems to be on the horizon when Frans Balder contacts Mikael to tell him he has a big, important story to tell.
Before Balder can meet with Blomkvist the computer scientist is murdered in front of his son August, who can't speak and doesn't seem to connect with what's going on around him. It turns out, though, that August is an artistic savant who might be able to draw a picture of the murderer. This makes him a target for the bad guys who, of course, don't want to be identified.
While all this is going on Lisbeth Salander - computer hacker extraordinaire - has been infiltrating computers around the world, including those of the NSA. Thus, she's discovered top secret information that's connected to the conspiracy Balder uncovered. Some of the NSA files, though, are super-encrypted and Lisbeth can't figure out the mathematical keys needed to open them.
As the story unfolds, Lisbeth rescues August from an assassination attempt and - while hiding the child - learns that he's also a math savant. Lisbeth uses the boy's math skills to try to crack the super-encrypted NSA files she's uncovered.
The basic premise of the story is that criminals are hunting August while Blomkvist tries to uncover the conspiracy Balder was going to reveal. Meanwhile, Lisbeth does her thing. She protects August, beats up men who abuse children and women, and infuriates people whose computers she's hacked.
If you abuse women, Lisbeth is your worst enemy
Lisbeth also must (once again) deal with a demented family member - this time her murderous fraternal twin sister Camilla. (Readers familiar with the trilogy know that Lisbeth is cursed with one of the worst families in the world.)
I'm a big fan of the Millenium Trilogy and was looking forward to this addition to the series. Sadly, in my opinion this book isn't as good as the previous ones. My main problems with the book:
There are intimations in the story that Frans Balder's AI program could potentially allow computers to take over the world and dispense with humans. I thought this thread might be important to the story but it went essentially nowhere.
To 'round out' the Camilla character the author resorts to a long expository chapter. In this section Hoger Palmgren (Lisbeth's former guardian) tells Mikael about Camilla - her history and relationship with her family - in great detail. This is an indelicate and tedious technique to familiarize the reader with a character. In addition, Camilla seems more like a comic book woman than a real person. She's so over-the-top gorgeous and manipulative that everyone seems to lose their senses around her. Because of this, the behavior of other characters around Camilla is simply not believable.
The conspiracy at the center of the story is too twisty and confusing. It's not until the very end of the book that I more or less understood what it was about - and then it didn't make much sense and I didn't believe it.
Though I wasn't satisfied with the story, I admire David Lagercrantz for taking on a difficult task. It's hard to add books to a popular series after the death of the original author. If Lagercrantz writes another Millenium book I'd probably read it to see if he's able to get the correct 'vibe'.
All in all, I'd recommend this book to fans of the series, but warn them to temper their expectations.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
April 22, 2016
2.5 Stars
This should never have happened. Despite some of the things I enjoyed, it didn’t do any good for Millennium and for the other things it stands for.
If there was something that set apart these novels from everything else I’ve read, was how real these characters felt. And I’m not saying it lightly. This fourth book was a shallow understanding of what Lisbeth and Mikael once were. For a reader it’s very easy to recognize when your favorite characters just aren’t there. And you might be thinking: But it was a different author! I know that. But I was hopeful.
This book represented two problems for me: 1.Trouble continuing with the primordial nature of the initial trilogy. 2. The writing.
The excessive use of exclamation marks was ridiculous. I don’t want my mystery crime novel to have overly enthused dialogues.
“You’re going to freeze that beautiful bum of yours!”
“Ricky!” he said. Are you alright?”
“Goodwill! Have they gone mad?”
“Don’t say that! Ever!”
“I’ll be in touch. Take care!”
“Wait, Ed. Did I hear you say she?” “You’d better believe it. Our hacker’s a she!"
This novel took a huge time jump. Stieg started this in early 2000s. When social media didn’t exist as we know it today. That got me wondering how long it’s been since book 3, it was never clarified. A friend pointed it out and said four years had passed between book 3 and 4. I somehow missed it. But back to the social media, it bothered me a bit when Lisbeth used Instagram to track someone down. I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem like something Lisbeth would do.
This novel was filled with things these characters would never do. Mikael is in a delicate situation involving the Russian mafia, but somehow thought it was completely normal when a strange woman randomly greeted him in the middle of the night with her not-so-subtle and clearly suspicious advances. Mikael and Lisbeth’s behavior throughout the novel seemed unnatural.
Aside from all of this, it wasn’t a bad book, but for Millennium standards it definitely didn’t deliver. The plot was very entertaining actually, I enjoyed the read, but sadly this is something that should have ended in book three. It’s a bit unsettling to think that this isn’t the story that was originally planned for book 4.
If you love Millennium and haven’t read “There Are Things I Want You to Know” about Stieg Larsson and Me by Eva Gabrielsson, please do. It’s very insightful, I picked it up right after I finished this one, and we get to know what Stieg stood and fought for and how he used his writing to condemn everything that was wrong in Swedish society.Because of that book we understand how he started Millennium as a support for all his work as a Journalist to denounce injustice.
Millennium has a soul, has essence. It cannot be interpreted.
This should never have happened. Despite some of the things I enjoyed, it didn’t do any good for Millennium and for the other things it stands for.
If there was something that set apart these novels from everything else I’ve read, was how real these characters felt. And I’m not saying it lightly. This fourth book was a shallow understanding of what Lisbeth and Mikael once were. For a reader it’s very easy to recognize when your favorite characters just aren’t there. And you might be thinking: But it was a different author! I know that. But I was hopeful.
This book represented two problems for me: 1.Trouble continuing with the primordial nature of the initial trilogy. 2. The writing.
The excessive use of exclamation marks was ridiculous. I don’t want my mystery crime novel to have overly enthused dialogues.
“You’re going to freeze that beautiful bum of yours!”
“Ricky!” he said. Are you alright?”
“Goodwill! Have they gone mad?”
“Don’t say that! Ever!”
“I’ll be in touch. Take care!”
“Wait, Ed. Did I hear you say she?” “You’d better believe it. Our hacker’s a she!"
This novel took a huge time jump. Stieg started this in early 2000s. When social media didn’t exist as we know it today. That got me wondering how long it’s been since book 3, it was never clarified. A friend pointed it out and said four years had passed between book 3 and 4. I somehow missed it. But back to the social media, it bothered me a bit when Lisbeth used Instagram to track someone down. I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem like something Lisbeth would do.
This novel was filled with things these characters would never do. Mikael is in a delicate situation involving the Russian mafia, but somehow thought it was completely normal when a strange woman randomly greeted him in the middle of the night with her not-so-subtle and clearly suspicious advances. Mikael and Lisbeth’s behavior throughout the novel seemed unnatural.
Aside from all of this, it wasn’t a bad book, but for Millennium standards it definitely didn’t deliver. The plot was very entertaining actually, I enjoyed the read, but sadly this is something that should have ended in book three. It’s a bit unsettling to think that this isn’t the story that was originally planned for book 4.
If you love Millennium and haven’t read “There Are Things I Want You to Know” about Stieg Larsson and Me by Eva Gabrielsson, please do. It’s very insightful, I picked it up right after I finished this one, and we get to know what Stieg stood and fought for and how he used his writing to condemn everything that was wrong in Swedish society.Because of that book we understand how he started Millennium as a support for all his work as a Journalist to denounce injustice.
Millennium has a soul, has essence. It cannot be interpreted.
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