It took me a long time to get to this book, but our upcoming trip to Stockholm moved it up in the pile. 
 I didn't really know anything about it before I read it, and hadn't seen the films. But this suspenseful read has a completely enthralling protagonist in Lisbeth Salander. Her mysterious background aside, it's her relationship with journalist Blomkvist on which the book turns. 
 Not for the faint of heart, there is a lot of violence in the book. 
 I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.