The first book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo focused mainly on Micke Blomqvist, a disgraced journalist who desperately needed to re-establish himself after a stint in prison. In this second instalment, it is Blomqvist’s fiery sometime-helper and ex-lover, Lisbeth Salander whose adventures and misdeeds are examined.

Salander is an anti-social and vengeful young woman fixated on wreaking revenge on enemies who sexually and physically abused her when she was a teenager held against her will in an institution. After not contacting her ex-partner Blomqvist for over a year, she sneaks back to Stockholm making an excessive effort to ensure that she is untraceable to any known address, job or online activity.

Unfortunately for her, she is implicated in the execution-style murders of two journalists about to expose the sex-trafficking industry and a lawyer, with her fingerprints found on a gun discarded at the scene. Soon, to frighten the public, the media creates a ‘Wanted’ caricature of Lisbeth: a psychotically dangerous criminal who prefers lesbian sex, S&M rituals and satanic rock bands. Blomqvist, however, does not believe the media or the police, and decides to use his magazine staff and the little he knows about Salander’s personal life to prove her innocence.

Larsson manages to create a series of diverting and intricate plotlines that slowly wind together as the book hurtles towards a hugely powerful ending, with Lisbeth portrayed as more the ruthless avenger than helpless victim. Such is the mastery of Larsson’s writing the novel delivers one kind of relief for the reader while also leaving many questions still unanswered, thus paving the way for the third and final part of the trilogy. $32.95, Maclehose Press.