Summary of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson

Opada Hallak
3 min readJun 27, 2023

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“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is a crime thriller novel written by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson. It was first published in Sweden in 2005, and became an international bestseller, selling over 80 million copies worldwide. The novel introduces the character of Lisbeth Salander, a young, enigmatic computer hacker with a troubled past, and Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist who is hired to solve a decades-old mystery.

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The novel begins with Mikael Blomkvist, the co-owner of the political magazine Millennium, being convicted of libel after publishing an article about a corrupt businessman. In the wake of the scandal, Blomkvist is approached by Henrik Vanger, the wealthy former CEO of the Vanger Corporation, who hires him to investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vanger, over forty years ago. Vanger believes that someone in his own family is responsible for Harriet’s disappearance and wants Blomkvist to uncover the truth.

Blomkvist reluctantly takes on the case and begins to delve into the Vanger family’s complicated history. Meanwhile, he meets Lisbeth Salander, a young woman with a troubled past who is also an expert computer hacker. Salander works for a security company that is hired by Vanger to investigate Blomkvist’s background, and the two form an unlikely partnership as they work together to solve the mystery of Harriet’s disappearance.

As Blomkvist and Salander go deeper into the case, they uncover a web of corruption, deceit, and violence that has been hidden for decades. They discover that Harriet’s disappearance is linked to a series of brutal murders, and that someone in the Vanger family is responsible for both crimes. In the dramatic climax of the novel, Blomkvist and Salander confront the killer and finally uncover the truth behind Harriet’s disappearance.

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“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is a novel that combines elements of a classic whodunit with a psychological thriller. Larsson skillfully weaves together multiple plot lines, creating a complex and engaging story that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The novel is also notable for its portrayal of Lisbeth Salander, a complex and enigmatic character who has become an icon of contemporary popular culture.

One of the key themes of the novel is the abuse of power, particularly in the context of gender and sexuality. The novel depicts the brutal sexual abuse that Lisbeth Salander has endured, as well as the abuse of power by the members of the Vanger family who are responsible for Harriet’s disappearance. Additionally, the novel explores themes of family dysfunction, corruption, and the dark secrets that can be hidden behind a veneer of respectability.

Another notable aspect of the novel is its depiction of Stockholm, Sweden, as a city with a dark and violent underbelly. The novel’s vivid descriptions of the city’s seedy neighborhoods and the sinister characters who inhabit them contribute to the novel’s atmospheric and immersive quality.

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Overall, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Its complex characters, intricate plotting, and themes of power, abuse, and corruption make it a thought-provoking and memorable read.

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