The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I hadn't realized that this book was the first book in the Millennium trilogy by the author and started by listening to his second book (The Girl Who Played with Fire), which I enjoyed but was a bit confused by for the first couple of hours of the recording. Had I listened to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I would have fared much better as it introduces all the characters and describes in detail events that are alluded to in the second book. This first book in the series is an exciting story and I was gripped from the start and kept wanting to return to the recording to find out what happened next, even though I'd listened to book two and had some inkling of what had happened earlier. Although there are many characters and several threads in the narrative I was able to keep track of who was whom and where they fitted in to the story. This was greatly helped by the incomparably fine narrator, Saul Reichlin, who gives life to the characters by altering his voice so that you believe that you are listening as a man in his 80s or a teenage girl. I can't wait for book three.

booklover49, Innerleithen, United Kingdom

15/08/2009

Initially this does not seem a good book to listen to (as opposed to read) because it is written with almost forensic detail, and this is particularly noticeable at the beginning which is very much concerned with the business world. (I notice some readers on Amazon also say it's initially hard going). Also there seems to be an endless list of characters, and names of places and people are Swedish, and it felt overwhelming. BUT stick with it at least to Part 2. This is truly one of the best thrillers I have some across in ages. It veers from one genre to another, the plot twists and turns, the characters are brilliant and it throws up continual surprises, confounding my expectations. By the end I realised how important the initial detail is, and my patience was rewarded. I grew to love the detailed descriptions and my enjoyment was particularly helped by the reader, Saul Reichlin, who made all the characters come alive, and kept the pacing under control which at times became unbearbly exciting, as true story telling should be. More than all this, it is a deeply moral book, which throws up various dilemmas, which I found very involving and which added yet another layer of interest to the book for me. I love the two main protagoginsts so much that I felt like I had lost friends when I came to the end. Two books in the trilogy to go. How long can I wait to start the next one?

Stephen, United Kingdom

10/11/2009

I downloaded this book on a whim. It had been on my to read list for a while but I kept moving away from it. I am so glad I finally got round to it. The locations and names make it a bit hard to follow at first but you soon get into the swing of things and the characters are all fully formed and well described. The story kept my interest and I found myself looking for excuses to listen to another chapter. Defiantly fast paced and does not shy away from explicit descriptions. Well worth the time can't wait for the next one.

Jen, United Kingdom

08/08/2009

I've listened to dozens of audiobooks over the last couple of years, especially thriller / crime stuff. I've never been moved to write a review before but this is simply in a class of its own - totally spell-binding and superbly narrated. The fact that it's the first in a trilogy is the icing on the cake although it's desperately sad that the wonderful response has come after the author's death. Believe me it simply doesn't get any better than this.

woodam1963, Norwich, United Kingdom

24/08/2009

I bought this book based on the recommendations above, and am extremely pleased I did. It is a great story and I found myself grabbing every opportunity to listen to it. The poor old dog nearly got her legs walked off so that I had the excuse to find out what happens next! Lizbet Salander is a great character, complex but compelling. The narration was just perfect and the slight oddities that occurred sometimes in what was obviously a translated text in fact rather complimented the whole Scandinavian atmosphere. I was lucky that just as I finished this book the follow-up, The Girl Who Played with Fire was published at Audible, so I could immediately resubmerge myself in more dark doings.....

jillie100, Netherlands

21/07/2009

I don't often write reviews but this book was a really good and i would recommend it to those who like mysteries.

Stephen, Dollingstown, United Kingdom

22/08/2009

I really enjoyed this book, and hope the remainder of the unabridged Millennium trilogy is available soon. The book does take a little while to develop the story and characters but once these are established it makes an enjoyable read. The not so good – There are many threads to the story, all pushed on to the reader at once which does make the beginning a little confusing. The good – Stieg Larsson pulls together his obvious and thorough understanding of investigative journalism and brings this to life through the character Mikael Blomkvist who is hired to investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vanger. Blomkvist is assisted by the very able Lisbeth Salander, who brings a lot to the story through a well developed modern rebel heroines’ character. Lisbeth Salander’s character has really tapped into a subculture on the internet and a quick search on the net will show how popular she is as a character. The narration of Saul Reichlin is perfect in bringing a Swedish story to an English audience.

Shaun, Worcester Park, United Kingdom

09/07/2009

This isn't just a great crime novel; it's a great novel. A complex, credible story. Characters with depth and humanity. And few of the formulaic props that are the mainstay of this poor genre (some pedantic screenplay descriptions, and some Apple product placement). I was listening, not reading, but this book is a genuine slow-burning page-turner, with the outcome always on a knife-edge. Wonderful.

Keith, Pershore, United Kingdom

07/09/2009

fantastic

David, huddersfield, United Kingdom

06/09/2009

Really gripping thriller, very well read and it had my wife and I on the edge of our seats. Can't wait to listen to Salender the next book in the sequel.

John, United Kingdom

30/10/2009

Seldom does one come across such an accomplished debut. The plot is pacy and the characters are totally believable. It not only makes you want to keep on reading (listening) but also leaves an emptiness when you've finished (on to the next one then!). This is one of the few books which has made me shout in exclamation as the plot unfolds, grimace at the twists, laugh out load and punch the air at various points in the story. Brilliant!

Andrew, United Kingdom

22/09/2009

This book took be by surprise. It was well told and surprising. After I had finished this one I had to buy the next and am now waiting with anticipation on the third. The author's story is even more surprising and worth researching. Well worth the read if you like adventures.

Samantha, United Kingdom

25/06/2009

I vey much enjoyed this audio book - good narration and fascinating story. I have just downloaded the next title by the same author and was pleased to read in the newpaper today that a third work has just been published. Hope it is available on audible soon.

amandamcl, United Kingdom

27/09/2009

Absolutely hooked from the first word spoken by Saul Reichlin - and what a storytelling voice he has! A book of great depth and drama. My only critisicm would be not being told enough of Lisbeth's complex and tortured persona. Some background info would have endeared me more to her. Can't wait to get my ears stuck into The Millennium Trilogy, Volume 3

Sharon, United Kingdom

29/09/2009

Like some other reviewers I wondered if I had made a mistake downloading this title, the 1st hour was pretty tedious, but once the Vangers enter the story, things pick up and I was pretty well hooked. Very well read with good characterisations, I would have given it 5 stars but for the slow start. Cannot wait to list to the next in the Trilogy and hope that Audible will soon make the 3rd book available.

Glyn, United Kingdom

30/09/2009

The narration is outstanding, and is the only reason why this audiobook is worth having. The novel itself is very disappointing compared with the first in the trilogy. The prose is uninspired: lots of lists of items (do Apple and Ikea have some sort of product placement deal?); plenty of bad sex written in a very politically correct way (Larsson manages to make a lesbian encounter between a Scandinavian and a Eurasian sound dull and worthy); and Salander's character becomes sadly unbelievable, as she moves from a compelling individual in the first volume to almost a superwoman in this one. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who hasn't heard the first instalment; if you have heard it, the narration is outstanding and helps to overcome the faults in the text.

Steven, United Kingdom

03/10/2009

I couldn't take my iPod out of my ears for more than a few minutes at a time! A gripping mystery. The narration was first class, I really don't think it would've have been the same to read the book. Looking forward to the next part.

Pamela, London, United Kingdom

05/10/2009

A wonderful & gripping story, with new and unexpected twists. Difficult to switch off. In the main very well read but Swedish name pronunciation could have been a touch more accurate. A detail moving to the second and hopefully the third book. The author died to soon.

John, KEIGHLEY, United Kingdom

09/10/2009

10/10 loved this book downloading the second book now hope its as good as this one loved the story. was a little slow but well worth the time

Liam, United Kingdom

13/10/2009

I had been looking at this book for a couple of months and couldnt make up my mind to purchase it.After reading the reviews i decieded to take a gamble on it and see what the hype was about the trilogy. i have to say i was suprised how good it was ,its beautifully narrated and i only wish there were more books that are like this one .As with all stories you have to give them time to set the ground work down and this is a lengthy book so i found it very detailed and all the characters had time to grow and im sure this book sets the other 2 up perfectly.As the story progressed i found myself totally concentrated on it and didnt want to stop listening. i wont go into the storyline as other reviews have already explained some of it but i will say is that very rare does a book tell every part of the story in detail like this one . my only problem is i now have to wait till next month for my credits . i will be using them on the other 2 in the series :-)

bigtrev1978, birmingham, United Kingdom

22/10/2009

A well-written and enjoyable book. It is a little slow at times, particularly at the beginning, but it is well worth persevering. I was completely hooked after an hour or so and felt caught up in the characters' lives and the complex mysteries. A small tip: the printed book comes with a family tree - if I had realised this and borrowed a copy it might have saved me some confusion. There are an awful lot of Vangers in the story. I have now gone on to read the other stories in the trilogy, with as much pleasure.

Colin, Brentwood, United Kingdom

06/11/2009

The bleakness of the far northern township is brilliantly evoked, and the narrator deserves kudos for giving the sense of another country- the names, the customs, the food, with his flawless yet gently accented English.

Mike, cardiff, United Kingdom

10/11/2009

I hesitated to download this book because of one negative review but was swayed by others that indicated that it was brilliant once you get into it. I agree with the latter. I had to concentrate at the outset to understand the many threads that the author weaves but I was soon hooked! It's not a book I could listen to while doing something else as I tended to lose the plot and had to go back but I found it compulsive listening. I can't wait to hear the next book in the series.

Elaine, Horsham, United Kingdom

26/08/2009

One of my favourites of the year.

Colin, London, United Kingdom

22/01/2010

The narration is absolutely brilliant, with each voice given clear distinction & personality. However, it is fairly dull for the first 4-5 hours or so, then really picks up. It's worth reading if you're going to plough through the rest of the trilogy, just to you have the full picture, but otherwise you're better just skipping straight to book 2.

David, Peckham Rye, United Kingdom

12/01/2010

I agree with some of the other reviewers, that it was slow to get going. For almost all of the first part I had to make myself keep going with it, but it was worth it. But it does hot up, and is a great start to the trilogy.

buzlane, Dudley, United Kingdom

07/01/2010

I usually take a chance on books that may not sound very good (to me) based on the star rating. This book is actually quite poor. It takes ages to get going. The third quarter of the book is actually quite good, but on a whole the book is not great. Too many boring sections which are complete irrelevant to the story.

Justin, Kildare, Ireland

03/01/2010

I had looked at this book for months, dithering about whether to download it or not, and finally I did. Oh, I can't believe I wasted all that time NOT listening. Its really enjoyable !!! It starts off a bit slow, but DO persevere , its very much worth the extra concentration you need to give the first hour or two, and then you will be richly rewarded, with a really clever and engaging story, characters that you quickly learn to love and loathe !!! I am on #3 and already wondering what I will do when its over. Stieg Larsson, sadly passed away before he could enjoy the runaway success of his books, but what a legacy. Well read by saul Reichlin.

scolligan68, Australia

02/01/2010

Took a chance on this one and really enjoyed it, it was a nice change for me to visit Sweden in a novel. I found it a little difficult with the characters names at first but found it gripping and really well read can't wait for the next one!

Martin, United Kingdom

29/12/2009

This is a very, very good thriller. It does start a bit slow, as others have said, but now I don't want to stop listening. I'll certainly be getting the sequels. The only thing I would say is - don't listen to it with children around. There are some sex (rape, in fact) scenes described - not in a pornographic or gratuitous way, but I wouldn't want children to hear them by mistake...

Paul, Meltham, United Kingdom

07/12/2009

The first of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, this is a wonderfully read book, the narrator being able to change character with just the slightest inflection. The Swedish author died in 2004 at the age of 50. This novel was published posthumously and, had he had the chance, I wonder if he might have revisited and re-edited it. The book is much longer than it need be for, within this 18 hour 50 minute long story, there is a very good six hour mystery trying to get out. In this version, one has to sit through long meandering passages of unnecessary explanation. He has however, in Lisbeth Salander, created a fascinating individual and, having got through this book, I now want more. Don’t give up as I nearly did; stick with it!

Nicholas, United Kingdom

27/12/2009

I found the whole thing boring and predictable. The only redeeming factor was the narrator. I think you could probably start listening to this halfway through part two of the download and not miss a thing. I couldn't wait to get to the end of it to see if it livened up but it didn't. Have deleted the next in the series from my wish list as I have no wish whatsoever to revisit these boring charachters.

Margaret, United Kingdom

15/11/2009

This book spends a lot of time talking about unnecessary things and only 3 chapters in the book are interesting. I Felt I wasted my time listening to this book. If you really want to hear this book get the abridged version.

Yvonne, Ireland

21/09/2009