The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson

I read this book alarmingly fast. I couldn't put it down. I loved how each of the investigating good guys put together a piece of the conspiracy puzzle. I loved how the puzzle just kept coming steadily together throughout the entire book --- no over-dramatized setbacks. I loved all of the characters within the police, good and bad. I even wound up loving Berger's subplots with the job issue and the stalker (which at first I worried were going to be distracting). And I loved Annika's great cross examination. From a lawyer perspective, I thought it was interesting how the Swedish criminal trial proceeded, and it left me wondering how accurate it was. Lots of arguing by the attorneys amidst witness testimony.

What I didn't like about this book was the very end. I thought the introduction of Salander's accountant/lawyer character was unnecessary. And the wrap-up with the giant was a rushed afterthought. And I wanted more time spent, now that the characters were finally able to converge, reestablishing the relationships that had been severed for 2 whole novels.

A random thought about the translation: they kept calling Berger's cubicle a "glass cage." Characters used this term independently of each other, like it was some kind of expression or term of art. I think the translator should have used the word "fishbowl," which is an expression.