Fans of the 'Millenium Series' know that Stieg Larsson, the original author, passed away after writing the third book. Subsequent stories have been written by David Lagercrantz, who hits his stride with this book (IMO).
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As this fifth book in the 'Millenium Series' opens, Lisbeth Salander is in Flodberga Prison - sentenced to two months for refusing to cooperate with the (compromised) police while protecting an endangered autistic boy (in book four). Salander is indifferent to her surroundings, though, because she has her math books in her cell, and spends her time working on quantum physics equations. Moreover, jailhouse food is better than the the junk she usually eats.
One thing does bother Salander though. Her maximum security cell block is under the thumb of a sadistic prisoner named Benito (formerly Beatrice) Anderson, who frightens almost everyone - including fellow prisoners, guards, and even the warden.
Salander isn't intimidated by Benito, but the swastika-tattooed thug is abusing a beautiful Bangladeshi inmate named Faria Kazi.
Salander isn't about to let this pass, and takes matters into her own hands - making a mortal enemy of Benito.
Meanwhile, Salander's former guardian - elderly, infirm Holger Palmgren - comes into possession of confidential documents that detail cruel experiments Salander was subjected to as a child.
With great difficulty, Palmgren makes his way to Flodberga Prison, to inform Salander about these new discoveries.
Afterwards, Salander 'persuades' (blackmails) the warden into letting her use his computer to look into these decades-old events. Salander also asks her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, to gather information about a man called Leo Mannheimer.
When he's back home, Palmgren continues to pore over the secret papers, and sees the name of someone he's met - Professor Martin Steinberg. When Palmgren calls Steinberg and alludes to the clandestine experiments, the professor freaks out.
Steinberg calls his fellow perpetrator, Dr. Rakel Greitz, who's now an old woman suffering from cancer. Greitz isn't about to let her reputation be sullied, and will do ANYTHING to prevent this. Greitz is one of the worst villains in the book....and that's all I'll say about her.
As the story unfolds, Salander is released from prison, continues to look into her past, and plans her revenge. (This is one chick you don't want to get on the wrong side of!!)
For his part, Blomkvist gathers information about Leo Mannheimer and shares his findings with Salander. The journalist also plans an exposé for Millenium Magazine.....about the child experiments. As usual, Blomkvist also romances an attractive woman. LOL
A sub-plot in the novel tells the story of the Bangladeshi prisoner, Faria Kazi, who's in jail for killing her brother. Before going to prison, Faria was severely oppressed by her strict Muslim family, who planned to marry her off to a rich old fart in the home country.
When Faria fell in love with a handsome Bangladeshi boy in Sweden, her family wasn't having it....and all hell broke loose. Salander is sympathetic to Faria, and arranges for Blomkvist's sister - lawyer Annika Giannini - to represent the Muslim woman.....with an eye to springing her out of jail.
The book's intricate plot is well-constructed and compelling, and I enjoyed catching up with Salander and Blomkvist. The major villains in the story are suitably evil (if a little cartoonish), and I hoped they'd get their comeuppance. The story's secondary characters - including selfish liars, violent thugs, cold-hearted experimenters, self-serving murderers, and attractive ladies - also add interest to the novel.
Rating: 4 stars
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