The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

In case this particular publishing phenomenon has passed you by, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first book in The Millennium Trilogy – a collection of crime novels by Steig Larsson that explore the corruption ingrained in the higher echelons of Swedish society. The books have topped international bestseller lists in recent years, fuelled in part by the tragic story that Larsson died before they were published, something which has served to give his work a certain mythical status. The film adaptation of the first book tells the story of disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist who is hired by a wealthy industrialist to explore the disappearance of his niece. As with many translations to screen the film tries to fit a lot into its already lengthy two and a half hours. Despite this it's an exhilarating ride – well paced, gripping and with an intelligently crafted narrative, meaning it will without doubt have appeal beyond its already established fan base.