The stunning third and final novel in Stieg Larsson’s internationally best-selling trilogy

Lisbeth Salander—the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels—lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge—against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.--From the Hardcover edition.

斯蒂格·拉森,瑞典作家与新闻记者。曾任职于瑞典中央新闻通讯社,并于工作之余投身反法西斯主义的活动。一九九五年,他创办了Expo基金会,并自一九九九年开始担任基金会同名杂志主编。由于他长期致力于揭发瑞典极右派组织的不法行为,多年来一直受到程度或轻或重的死亡恐吓与威胁。这部小说中总是积极捍卫社会正义、不求个人名利的男主角,几乎就是拉森本人的化身。

拉森从二○○一年开始撰写“千禧年”系列小说,二○○四年完成三部曲后,竟不幸于十一月因心脏病突发辞世,来不及看见首曲《龙文身的女孩》在二○○五年出版,以及此系列小说售出全球超过三十四国版权、轰动全欧的盛况。随着第二部和第三部的出版,“千禧年”系列引发阅读热潮,雄踞欧洲各国畅销书排行榜,且历久不坠。此外,《龙文身的女孩》在二○○六年夺得北欧犯罪小说协会最佳犯罪小说“玻璃钥匙”奖；二○○八年,“千禧年”系列第三部《空中的城堡》（暂名）再度夺下“玻璃钥匙”奖。拉森打破纪录,成为瑞典有史以来第一位两度获颁该奖项的作家。二○○八年二月,拉森入选英国《每日电讯报》“一生必读的五十位犯罪小说作家”。二○○九年,拉森被选为“欧洲最具冲击力十大畅销小说家”,在榜单上排名超过丹·布朗与《暮光之城》作者斯蒂芬妮·梅尔,居于首位。据尼尔森公信榜统计,“千禧年三部曲”在二○一○年小说排行榜的前十位中占据五席,精装本与平装本通通上榜。