The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

by Stieg Larsson

A spectacular debut mystery, expertly plotted and filled with intelligent complication. Lisbeth Salander is a truly original mystery protagonist, wonderfully imagined, and she teams wonderfully (if with great difficulty) with journalist Mikael Blomkvist to ascertain the fate of a teenage girl who went missing in 1966. Strong minor characters, interesting if complicated relationships, and an unusually real and detailed treatment of business life are all superbly executed. Larsson's characters work in real offices, have problems with their boss, worry about their subordinates, meet and miss their deadlines.

First, Let The Right One In and now this: is all Swedish pop culture this good?