A review by friendstastegood
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

It's been years since I read the original trilogy of books by Steig Larsson but this one feels like an unworthy successor. The first part drags, the author does not navigate the mystery very deftly, instead falling back on too much expository dialogue and clumsily panning the camera away at key moments to hide clues. While Larsson had thoughtful things to say about society and gender dynamics Lagercrantz only gestures at critique while never meaningfully engaging with it. But the biggest drawback for me is that it's yet another sensationalised portrayal of a poor autistic child with savant capabilities that entirely misses the humanity of autistic people. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings