I bought this because I felt like reading something different. I don’t often read murder mysteries, but Barnes & Noble had a stack of these books at the front of the store alongside a very persuasive write-up.

The book was so compelling, I read the last half of it in four hours straight, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The characters are all quite flawed, which gives them a harsh realistic quality. The last few paragraphs made me grieve at the pain fallen humanity can cause by its own selfishness. (I’m not sure that this was Larsson’s intent—it was likely my Christocentric worldview coming into play.)

This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for something to keep you awake at night this will do the trick.

Larsson, Steig. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. The Millennium Trilogy 1.