The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium, #3)

Title: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium, #3)

Author: Stieg Larsson

Published in: 2007

Date read: 17th July 2012

Score: 4/5

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Psychological, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson, published posthumously in 2007 (and 2009 in English), is the third and final novel in the Millennium series, bringing the complex and thrilling saga of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist to a dramatic and explosive conclusion.

The story picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of "The Girl Who Played with Fire." Lisbeth Salander is severely wounded, having been shot in the head by her father, Alexander Zalachenko, and buried alive by her half-brother, Ronald Niedermann. She is rushed to Sahlgrenska University Hospital in critical condition, placed under heavy police guard due to suspicions of attempted murder against Zalachenko and others.

While Salander fights for her life, Mikael Blomkvist, the journalist from Millennium magazine, dedicates himself to exposing the truth about Salander's past and clearing her name. He knows she has been a victim of a vast government conspiracy that unjustly labeled her mentally ill and attempted to silence her for decades. This conspiracy involves a clandestine section within the Swedish Security Service (Säpo), known as "The Section," which has operated outside the law for years to protect Zalachenko, a former Soviet defector.

The primary focus of the novel is the trial of Lisbeth Salander. Despite her grave injuries, Salander must face charges of murder and attempted murder. Blomkvist works tirelessly with a small, dedicated team, including Salander's lawyer, Annika Giannini (Blomkvist's sister), to gather evidence and reveal the shocking depths of the conspiracy. They aim to expose not only Zalachenko's crimes but also the systematic abuse of power and betrayal by high-ranking officials who covered up his actions for decades.

Meanwhile, a parallel plot unfolds involving Ronald Niedermann, Salander's imposing, pain-impervious half-brother, who is on the run. Niedermann, devoid of the ability to feel pain and driven by a primal need for violence, becomes a dangerous force, hunted by both the police and Salander's allies, leading to brutal confrontations.

The novel features a large cast of characters, intricate legal and political maneuvering, and high-stakes espionage. Salander, even from her hospital bed, orchestrates her own counter-offensive, using her exceptional hacking skills and intellect to gather damning evidence against her persecutors.

"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" is a powerful exposé of state corruption, the abuse of power, and the fight for justice against seemingly insurmountable odds. The climax is the dramatic courtroom showdown where the truth about Salander's tormented past and the deep-seated conspiracy is finally laid bare, forcing the Swedish establishment to confront its darkest secrets and allowing Salander to reclaim her life.

Comments:
Brilliant conclusion to three great books.

Books that we've read by Stieg Larsson (3):
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) (2005), The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium, #2) (2006), The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium, #3) (2007)