Not as good as the first two 2010-07-30

Reviewer: A. Saldivar

I started reading the 3rd book the day after I finished the second one. I was hoping that there would be a completely new mystery in this book, but it's a continuation of the second. Within a few pages all the progress Salander and Blomkvist made in the second book is lost and it's almost like she is back on step one. After that though, nothing, and I mean nothing (with the exception of one broken finger) goes wrong for the good guys. You expect in a thriller/mystery that the bad guys occasionally get the upper hand and the good guys need to escape or regroup or something... Not in this book. Everything works perfect for the good guys. There is also a side story with Berger that is just filler and contributes nothing to the main story.

Overall it's an OK book but it's not as good as the first two.

Enjoyable read 2010-07-30

Reviewer: Teemacs

This book is really Part III of a very long book, in which the three parts stand alone (sort of), but really make more sense together. Thus, this is my take on the whole affair. Overall, I enjoyed it. The overall story is good, the characterisation is generally good and the atmosphere is nicely caught. I can quite understand those folk who criticise the slowness of the pace, but this didn't bother me. In fact, I quite liked the leisurely pace, a pleasant change from the "breathless" school of thriller writing, and much more true to life.

The only thing I found bothersome was Lisbeth's apparent superpowers - a girl who has had little schooling, but who is a mathematical whiz, schooled in sophisticated finance, able to comprehend complex genetics texts and is almost infinitely resourceful? I guess I haven't met too many like that, so I find it somewhat ioncredible, but her abilities, both physical and mental, border on the superhuman, especially at the end of Book II, where even resurrection is apparently within her grasp. Now it does make for a good story, and we're all rooting for Lisbeth to come out on top, but it stops being believeable, and for me that is a big drawback. It reduces a most interesting creation to the cartoon level of Jack Bauer (who, you might remember, is actually tortured to death in one series, but when revived, manages to kill the baddie and escape!)

However, in spite of that, I found the books a very entertaining and enjoyable read.

Love this! 2010-07-30

Reviewer: A. Maple

I have devoured the other 2 books .....am only sad that there are no more from this very skilled writer!

Lisbeth in Peril - 4+ 2010-07-29

Reviewer: Bookworm Plus

First of all, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest" is not stand-alone book. Anybody who has not read the first two books in the series by Stein Larsson, besides being confused and likely bored, will be left questioning the hype. Those of us who love this series will find much less action and a lot more talk along with recitations of Swedish law and politics. This can get tiresome at times, but does add a lot of background which heightens and adds substance to the plot and conclusion as the story proceeds. I do not see any point in summarizing what happens in this book (and adding bulk to this review) and will just give some of my impressions. It begins with Lisbeth Salander in recovery from the action at the end of the "the Girl Who Played with Fire' and facing new perils, mostly from sinister forces within the Swedish legal system and intelligence service (SAPO). Lisbeth is far from helpless, and is exotic, spunky, and quirky as ever. She also has many friends and sympathizers helping her cause, such as the main character of #1 and #2, journalist Mikhail Blomkvist. Most of the activity is cerebral and clever as Lisbeth and her band of supporters outwit and expose those who have hijacked Swedish democracy and decency leaving the bad guys to their just desserts and the heroes to good things. No spoiler intended, but it ends about as one would expect with some excitement, courtroom drama, and a nasty (in the best sense) confrontation near the end. Is the "Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest great? No, but it is near great, must reading for Lisbeth Salander fans, and I am torn between four and five stars. I hope there are more of this series in the Stein Larsson archives.

A great read 2010-07-29

Reviewer: Cathy

An extraordinary read. This is a fantastic culmination of all the previous events happening to Sallander. She is a one of a kind heroine. Pity the author has passed, I'd be looking forward to other books from him