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

Genre: Adult Fiction/Thriller
Publisher: Knopf
576 pages
ISBN: 9780307269997

You know that scene at the end of The Breakfast Club where everyone just walks out into the sunlight and goes in his or her own direction leaving the viewer with no real sense of solid ground to continue? That’s about how I feel, right now. I, moments ago, finished Stieg Larsson’s third and final book in his Millenium Trilogy. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is this incredible mad dash, firecracker race to beat time while simultaneously remaining Larsson’s insanely intricate web of crossed paths and conspiracy connections.

I am beginning to dislike reviewing books in trilogies or in any sort of series because to give an accurate, helpful review of the book for people who are up to speed, will be like writing one big spoiler for those who are peeking ahead. I suppose they’ll get what they deserve, then, won’t they? If you are part of that sneaky “they”, you are now advised to return to your regularly scheduled reading until you have been brought up to speed.

The third book, picks up with nearly everyone dead, nearly dead or very worried. Blomkvist and Berger are awaiting news on Salander and Zalachenko who are all but bloody pulps after their standoff in The Girl Who Played with Fire. The media and government are holding their breath as well, although, no one trusts another soul and paranoia is served up for breakfast.

The entire final volume is a bit like being at a dark party, blindfolded where you know that three fourths of the guests have guns and the others will sell your secrets to the nightly news if you step on their toes. There are good guys, bad girls, evil masterminds, annoying altruists, and of course, enough plot twists to keep you awake long into the night.

The book is a beautiful wrap up of every character, great or small, that we, as readers have been introduced to in Larsson’s series. The only thing I can find fault in 9and this is not all together terrible) is that his “good” and even neutral characters feel like old friends and family on first encounter whereas the “evil” characters are flat and cartoon like. As I said, it’s not a terrible set back as the rest of the cast feel like home.

If you haven’t read the previous two, you’ll want to pick up The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire before the spring release of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. If you’ve been with our fine crew until this point, you’ll devour the final installment.