Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo intricately blends thriller, mystery, and social commentary, praised for its complex characters and gripping narrative. Critics laud the protagonist’s depth and the book’s intense pace. However, some find it overly intricate and burdened by dense details. Overall, it’s a compelling read for fans of dark, multifaceted stories.

Readers who enjoy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson typically appreciate complex, dark mysteries with intricate plots and strong, unconventional characters. They may also be fans of novels like Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl or Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs, which similarly feature suspense, psychological depth, and unexpected twists.

Stieg Larsson's internationally bestselling crime thriller, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist and ingenious hacker Lisbeth Salander as they team up to solve the decades-old mystery of Harriet Vanger’s disappearance, uncovering deep-seated corruption, violence, and dark family secrets. The material involves sexual assault and graphic violence.

Mysterious / Dark / Suspenseful / Gritty / Challenging

- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first book in the Millennium series, originally published posthumously in Swedish as Män som hatar kvinnor, which translates to "Men Who Hate Women."
- Stieg Larsson left three unpublished novels from the Millennium series, with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo published in 2005, a year after the author's death.
- Despite being a best-selling phenomenon, Larsson wrote the Millennium series as a hobby in the evenings, having spent his career as a journalist and the editor of an anti-racist magazine in Sweden.

**Lisbeth Salander**  
A talented researcher and world-class hacker with a distinct punk style, she is known for her intelligence, reclusiveness, and distrust of authorities due to her past traumatic experiences.

**Mikael Blomkvist**  
A respected financial reporter and part owner of Millennium magazine, known for his idealistic approach to journalism and his commitment to uncovering corruption.

**Henrik Vanger**  
An elderly, retired industrialist who seeks assistance with a personal investigation, he is portrayed as both sympathetic and manipulative.

**Holger Palmgren**  
Lisbeth Salander’s compassionate guardian who respects her autonomy and advocates for her against compulsory institutionalization.

**Dragan Armansky**  
CEO of Milton Security and Lisbeth Salander’s supportive employer, who overcomes his initial prejudices about her unconventional appearance.

**Dirch Frode**  
Henrik Vanger’s lawyer who initially misjudges Salander but later respects her skills and follows her guidance.

**Erika Berger**  
Co-owner and editor-in-chief of Millennium magazine, she is a strong, intelligent woman navigating and improving the male-dominated world of publishing.

**Cecilia Vanger**  
A member of the Vanger family who is known for her quick wit and directness, she becomes involved with Mikael Blomkvist during his investigation.

**Nils Bjurman**  
Lisbeth Salander’s appointed guardian after Palmgren, depicted as a predatory figure who abuses his position of authority.

**Martin Vanger**  
Harriet Vanger’s brother and CEO of Vanger Corporation, known for his seemingly friendly demeanor.  

**Harriet Vanger**  
Henrik Vanger’s grandniece, who disappears under mysterious circumstances central to the story’s investigation.

Stieg Larsson

Adult

Novel

Millennium

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Incentive”

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 4

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 5-7

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Part 1, Chapters 5-7 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Consequence Analyses”

Part 2, Chapters 8-11

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Part 2, Chapters 8-11 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 12-14

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Part 2, Chapters 12-14 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Mergers”

Part 3, Chapters 15-18

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Part 3, Chapters 15-18 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 19-23

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Part 3, Chapters 19-23 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “Hostile Takeover”

Part 4, Chapters 24-27

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Part 4, Chapters 24-27 Summary & Analysis

Part 4, Chapter 28-Epilogue

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Part 4, Chapter 28-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Essay Topics

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

Reading Age

Book Details