Mikael falls into a brilliant strategy for investigating Harriet’s disappearance. He enters the time machine through photos of the day and looks around. He finds new avenues to pursue.
Also, Mikael finally meets the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Mikael finds out that the Vanger family had him investigated and demands to read the report. Lisbeth pegs him like an insect under a bright light. It is obvious that she is an accomplished hacker, member of a hacker underground. She can get into anything, given time.
Mikael charms this head-shy, abused filly of a girl. They become sexual partners. You had to expect it, right? I am beginning to disconnect from this author on his treatment of female sexuality and its masculine corollary: “I always think with the wrong head.” Does protagonist Mikael even pause to consider the ramifications of his casual sex? Or – to put it as a statement – author Stieg Larsson uses female sexuality as a prop in his novel to support a personal identity, “Studman, Healing Power of the Little Head.”
I digress – just as Larsson digresses. But I will pick up this thread later under the category “Larsson’s artificial struggles with ethical behavior.”
Protogonist Mikael points Lisbeth on the trail of the serial murders. He goes looking for photos in the time machine.
Lisbeth’s search is interesting to follow. Mikael’s search is … contrived. BUT, this is a novel after all. Let us suspend judgment. They both need to find answers for the plot to proceed.
Lisbeth finds that there were ghastly murders throughout Sweden that follow the travels of Harriet’s father. Mutilation of the body after death allude to the scripture verses. Mikael finds that Cecilia and her sister Anita look almost like twins and Mikael has confused the two when studying the photos of the day. The person in Harriet’s room was Anita not Cecilia. Also we find that although Harriet’s brother Martin, who was reported to be absent during the critical time period, was in fact present.
Mikael then becomes a target from someone unknown. First, an article in a newspaper associated with Birger Vanger. Martin comes to Mikael’s cottage door, very solemn, to show him the vitriolic article. “I didn’t do it. Perhaps Birger did because you and he had a set-to at Henrik’s hospital bed.” Then Mikael’s cat is killed, mutilated and thrown on his cottage porch. Then Mikael is shot at and wounded. Then pressure is applied for Mikael to return to Stockholm and the magazine. Martin was behind that “suggestion”. Mikael and Lisbeth find that the Vanger mausoleum looks to be desecrated but only someone who has key access could have done it.
So action is beginning, action is accelerating. Mikael is getting close to something tender and someone who is still living is trying to get Mikael off track.
It gets bad from here, dear reader. Not the action but the plot. Larsson is running for the first finish line so he can get to the real fantasy finish of the novel.
Do editors even read the last third of any novel? Cheeee-zz.
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