A review by jailala
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book was fascinating!  It has strong characters as well as a few different mystery plots going all at the same time.  Somehow, Larsson managed to create several very real, complex characters well at the same time engaging in both a slow-burn financial/political thriller, a family history thriller and layered over all a raging murder mystery with a despicable yet socially accurate baseline running throughout.  And all this before the Me-too movement.  I wouldn't be surprised in coming years if this book isn't sited as helping to bring the Me-too movements personal stories out into the light.
 **That being said: there should be a strong warning attached to this book for anyone who has trauma associated with sexual assault.  Likewise, those who have had to fight for their own privacy when it comes to their personal experiences might find this book either threatening or impowering depending.
(Personally, I find Lisbeth Salander to be a heroine easily identified with and will carry her as a kind of superhero shield in my mind.)
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