Friday 23 October 2009

English autumn and Swedish crime

At Gatwick before the trip to Ireland I couldn’t find a single book I wanted to read in WH Smiths so reluctantly I plumped for The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. If I was going to read this author, I knew I should have started with his first, but it was not to be found.

Anyway, dear reader, though I don’t usually go for crime thrillers, I was soon hooked by TGWPWF – the writing is not unusually exciting but the plot and characters most definitely are. I tried to resist buying The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo when I returned but soon succumbed to temptation. I think one should begin at the beginning and read this first, though it isn’t as gripping as Played with Fire. You have to concentrate quite hard as several of the numerous main characters have a surname beginning with B, OK if you are Swedish, I dare say, but confusing for the rest of us. There’s lots of detail about hacking, lots of detail in general, rather like Frederick Forsyth or a more serious and upmarket Dan Brown. Sadly, left-wing campaigning journalist Stieg Larsson died of an early heart-attack just after he delivered the trilogy to his publisher.

Question is, how long will I resist before I buy the Girl who Kicked the Hornets' Nest?
Above, taken from the bedroom this morning. Have recently walked around Selbourne Hanger - wonderful views of autumn but perhaps too much soft mellow fruitfulness here in Hampshire to come out well in a photo. Stark dramatic outlines are easier to capture, as in Ireland.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've read the trilogy twice, once in French and once in English. Loved the books both times. Although the first is the best.
Have a nice read!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I haven't read any of these books, but how sad he died so young.

Rattling On said...

I've been reading the Wallander series (in order!) and also fancy these. Glad you can recommend them.
Off to Sweden on Tuesday, so will be even more fired up for more!

LindyLouMac said...

Interesting to read your thoughts ,as I am also not generally a fan of this genre. However I have put the titles on My Wishlist as have had so many recommendations.

Jenny Beattie said...

Oh good. Someone in book club just nominated Stieg Larsson's first one as one of their choices. I had no idea he'd died... I was gutted after reading The Journal of Dora Damage to read that the writer, Belinda Starling, had died. So gutted: what a terrible waste of writing talent.

cheshire wife said...

They say that the camera never lies. However, sometimes photographs can be disappointing but the colours are beautiful.

Nan said...

We are all about Sweden in this house right now! My husband is reading the Dragon Tattoo book, and I recently finished the first Wallander book by Henning Mankell called Faceless Killers, which I just loved. I'm glad I saw the televised versions with Branagh first because he was perfect, and I could 'see' him when I read the book. I've bought three more in the series.

Susie Vereker said...

Thanks for all your comments. Have just ordered Hornets' Nest! Will try Wallender too after all these recommendations.