The Girl Who Played with Fire is the sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  And, like so many seconds in a trilogy, it might be better than the first. 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo introduced us to Mikhail Blomkvist, investigative journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, an intense young woman who makes her living in a less-than-honest way.  While the mystery in the book is interesting, it is Blomkvist, Salander, and the rest of the characters that keep you reading (or, in my case, listening.  Simon Vance is an AMAZING narrator.)

The Girl who Played with Fire takes those characters and puts them into much more immediate danger.  The relationships they built in the first book are put to use and you find out more of their past. 

Lisbeth Salander now ranks among my favorite characters from books.  She is a bit crazy, a bit uneven, but there is something about her tenacity that makes her fascinating.  I don’t think I’d want to meet her, but I really like reading about her.

Be warned – this book has a MUCH bigger cliffhanger ending than the first one. And sadly, the final book is not out in the U.S. yet. 

5 out of 5 stars.  Wow.