I’ve read all the Lisbeth Salander novels from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo to this latest novel in the series, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons (2023). Stieg Larsson wrote the first three books in the projected seven novel series. But Larsson died in 2004 leaving only notes on his laptop concerning the future novels. I really liked the movie version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo with Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander(you can read my review here).
I dutifully read David Lagercrantz’s trilogy of post-Stieg Larsson adventures of Lisbeth Salander: The Girl in the Spider’s Web (you can find my review here), The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye (you can find my review here), and The Girl Who Lived Twice (you can find my review here).
Now we have Karin Smirnoff continuing the saga of Lisbeth Salander with The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons. Lisbeth Salander is a damaged genius and legendary computer hacker. Smirnoff takes a different strategy than Stieg Larsson and David Lagercrantz and explores Lisbeth Salander’s social side (although some readers might argue that Salander hadn’t shown much of that part of her personality in the previous six novels).
Salander arrives at the small town of Gasskas because she has been named the guardian to her teen-age niece Svala (who possesses many of Salander’s abilities). Svala’s mother has disappeared. A violent motorcycle gang, an armed invasion of a wedding reception, the kidnapping of a young boy, and a larger conspiracy embroil Salander in a deadly plot. Smirnoff’s vision of Salander is very different from Stieg Larsson’s and David Lagercrantz. But, some readers might enjoy this “softer side” of Salander although the conclusion is just as action-packed as the other six books in the series. GRADE: C+
THE MILLENNIUM SERIES:
THE MILLENNIUM SERIES IN ORDER (7 BOOKS)
| Order | Author | Book | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larsson, Stieg | The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Sep-2008 | ||
| 2 | Larsson, Stieg | The Girl Who Played with Fire | Jan-2009 | ||
| 3 | Larsson, Stieg | The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest | Jun-2010 | ||
| 4 | Lagercrantz, David | The Girl in the Spider’s Web | Sep-2015 | ||
| 5 | Lagercrantz, David | The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye | Sep-2017 | ||
| 6 | Lagercrantz, David | The Girl Who Lived Twice | Aug-2019 |
Inasmuch as the woman Salander is not a Girl, the mistitling of the translation still bugs me. And all the superannuated Girls who followed, from any number of writers trying to cash in or being required to. By MEN WHO HATE WOMEN, more or less.
Todd, I’m with you on “The Girl” marketing title. Salander is more like a super-hero.
I really like the three Stieg Larsson books. I thought the first Lagencrantz was okay, but didn’t like the second so didn’t bother with the third. I went into this new one with high hopes…but I’m done. No more for me.
Jeff, I was disappointed in THE GIRL IN THE EAGLE’S TALONS, too. I’m done with these sub-standard “sequels.”
Salander doesn’t HAVE a softer side! No, I was done after Larsson.
Jeff, I should have followed your lead and stopped with the Larsson books.
I suppose publishers will push continuations as long as readers buy them. Louis L’Amour’s family resisted bringing in somebody else to work from Louis’ unfinished manuscripts and outlines, even when the market was hot after Louis’ death. Ace Atkins did a pretty good job of carrying Spenser forward (much more so than Robert Knott with Parker’s Western series) , although it seems his run ended with the last book.
Fred, Max Allen Collins has continued Mickey Spillane’s writings both with his Westerns and his Mike Hammer series. Agatha Christie killed off Miss Marple and Poirot…but the Christie family has minions who keep churning out “Agatha Christie” mysteries.