A Book A Week

David Lagercrantz faced a daunting task when he took on the responsibility of continuing the acclaimed Millennium series after the untimely passing of Stieg Larsson. His first endeavor, The Girl in the Spider's Web, advanced the storyline and stayed true to the core elements that captivated readers in the initial trilogy. Although it has been a while since I immersed myself in that narrative, I've had Lagercrantz's fifth book, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye, patiently waiting on my shelf for several years. Inspired to reenter the ominous universe of these stories, I finally decided to read it.

At the book's outset, Lisbeth Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo, finds herself incarcerated. The reason is her use of excessive force while rescuing a child from their abuser. Lisbeth is now paying the price for her unwavering moral code. Confined behind prison bars, she immerses herself in the study of Quantum Field Theory. This subject is utterly elusive to me, yet effortlessly unfolds its intricacies for the brilliant Salander. Her solitary existence is disrupted by interactions with fellow inmates, one of whom has targeted another woman on the block. Never one to ignore injustice, Lisbeth is inevitably drawn into the midst of it all.

Mikael Blomkvist, renowned for his incisive exposés at Millennium Magazine, makes a return, this time delving into the mysterious Registry, the organization believed to be behind the appalling abuse suffered by Lisbeth and her twin sister. As Blomkvist probes deeper into Salander's past, it becomes evident that those accountable for her childhood trauma are determined to prevent him from uncovering the truth. What's even more disturbing is the potential continuation of their horrific research into the present day. Their threat is as present as ever, and Blomkvist will stop at nothing to finally bring their actions to light. 

On the surface, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye was poised to be a successful continuation of this thrilling narrative. Having mostly enjoyed the previous book, I anticipated another captivating tale. However, I found the novel to be a complete misfire, setting the series on a path of diminishing returns. Interestingly, many of my complaints about this book align with my issues with one of Lagercrantz's recent efforts, Dark Music. Like that novel, this one relies too heavily on telling the reader about the action instead of showing it, turning what should be page-turning moments into dull retellings that left me yearning to witness the action. Furthermore, Salander takes a back seat as a character in this story, leaving the supporting cast to try to bear the emotional weight of the narrative. None of the confusing cast of characters can fully carry the mantle of the story on their own, resulting in a messy tangle of threads that simply don't come together for a satisfying conclusion. With two books left in this series, I think this one will be my last.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 13)