The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium #3)

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.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Stieg Larsson brings his epic trilogy to a conclusion with his novel, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Readers have watched Blomkvist and Salander destroy the high and mighty, solve a forgotten disappearance, and uncover a secret section of Swedish Politics. In this final act, Salander must fight to right the wrong committed against her as a child while Blomkvist attempts to blow the Zalenchenko affair wide open. 

Readers already have a strong connection to both Salander and Blomkvist from the previous two novels. The empathy and interest that first piqued these connections are what engage readers to follow the story to the bitter end. Lisbeth Salander is, and will always be, an unbelievably strong, intelligent female character with the will and motivation to survive anything. Hell, readers witnessed her digging out of her own grave in The Girl Who Played With Fire. Now she's healing from a bullet wound to the head with criminal charges stacking up against her. Readers are no doubt on her side as she faces the evil that has tried to, not only destroy but, extinguish her life. 

The plot of the novel follows Salander's healing process, the criminal investigation of events which occurred in the second novel, the Zalenchenko club attempting to conceal their own crimes, and Blomkvist digging up every dirty detail for his next Millennium issue. Larrsson unravels the tightest wound secrets of Sweden all while introducing new factions and key players that will surprise the readers, invigorating their voracious need to know how the show will end. The entire trilogy is a whirlwind of conspiracy and the end will more than satisfy the Millennium fans. Let's just say, Salander implements her revenge in spades and doesn't stop there. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

        

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