I read this over Christmas and was really disappointed. I think it was because I arrived after all the hype!
I was thoroughly confused by the first third, which was all about financial corruption and legal proceedings. I was beginning to think, where on earth is this 'thriller' I've been promised?!
Finally, when Blomkvist becomes involved in the murder investigation, it begins to get a bit exciting, if exceedingly contrived. It's pretty graphic throughout, and I'm not a delicate reader at all, but I felt it was rather extreme. I definitely don't want to watch the film! It is page-turner, but not in the same league as The Da Vinci Code, and I find it utterly implausible that the case had remained unsolved for 40 years! I did enjoy it, but not enough to attempt the next book in the Trilogy.
I'm looking forward to the biography of Stieg Larsson, which I think will be much more intriguing!