ARC Review - The Girl Who Played with Fire: A Graphic Novel

The Girl Who Played with Fire: A Graphic Novel
by Denise Mina
Illustrators: Leonardo Manco and Andrea Mutti
Publisher: Vertigo Comics
Pub. Date: June 3, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ISBN: 9781401237578
Pages: 272

Review

The Girl Who Played with Fire is the graphic novel adaption based on the late Stieg Larsson's second installment in the Millennium series. All three books have been adapted into feature films in Sweden; while the first book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was adapted into a feature film in the United States in 2011, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara.

After the events of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, mysteriously disappeared from Sweden. Her state legal guardian, Nils Bjurman, (who had raped her and in turn she sexually assaults him and then tattoos the words "rapist" on his chest and stomach) is searching for her, mainly because she is in possession of the videotape she had recorded of him abusing her.

Lisabeth is actually taking a long vacation on the Caribbean shores of Grenada, where she meets an American tourist, Dr Forbes, and his wife, whom he has been abusing. Lisabeth quickly gets involve with the situation.

After her vacation ends, Lisabeth returns to Sweden and seeks out journalist Mikael Blomkvist, whom she worked with in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Mikael is already working on an exposé about sex trafficking in Sweden which will be published by the Millennium. Once again, Mikael must work with Lisabeth, but this time they must locate the mysterious figure called Zala.

I have never read the original books, though I do own paperback copies that I bought at a thrift store, and I have seen the 2011 film, which I enjoyed. I'm sure some of the book didn't make it into the graphic novel. That being said, I thought The Girl Who Played with Fire: A Graphic Novel has a great storyline and great illustrations to match. Now, I'm going to have to finally get around to reading the original Millennium trilogy; maybe this summer.

*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.