The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
by Stieg Larsson

Lisbeth Salander—the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels—lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge—against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

--The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
by Stieg Larsson (translated by Reg Keeland)
Copyright © Stieg Larsson

My Review

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest picks up at the precise moment The Girl Who Played with Fire left off. Mikael Blomkvist finds a severely wounded Lisbeth Salander at her father’s farm house and alerts the authorities.

At the hospital, she’s in a guarded room while she recovers. Once she’s discharged, she’s going to jail to await her murder trial. Cut off from the world, her only contact is with her doctor and her lawyer, Annika Janini, Blomkvist’s sister. She needs to actively participate in preparing her defense…that means she needs her computer. But she’s not allowed to have it in the hospital.

Blomkvist finds a way.

So while the hunt is on for the real killer, and Salander prepares her defense, Blomkvist has his own problems. He’s convinced someone is following him, keeping tabs on his every movement. So no only does he need to work on the most explosive story of his career, he needs to help Lisbeth win her case, all while staying alive.

I give this story FIVE STARS.