A good story well paced. A few themes environmental, big business all combine to make an enjoyable read. Some old friends and new ones in this first of a new Millennium trilogy book seven I was given this book from the publishers for a review.

Having enjoyed the first three books greatly, it was good to have Lisbeth and Mikael back. Both are heading north, one to take charge of her niece and the other to attend his daughter’s wedding. Events, and others, as usual railroad their plans and lead them to investigate suspicious happenings.
A Good read.

It's a good story: well plotted and gripping. There's a character called Lisbeth Salander who should be the one from the Millenium seres even if it's a bit different.
That said I enjoyed this thriller and I think it's well plotted and kept me guessing.
Let's the past in the past and I think this new Lisabeth will surprise us
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoyed this book. A gripping and fast paced read.
I liked the character’s development, the setting and descriptions.
Overall a good read.
Recommend this book if you’re a Nordic noir fan and enjoyed the original #GirlWithTheDragonTattoo.
Thanks to #NetGallery @quercusbooks @maclehosepress for an arc of #TheGirlInTheEaglesTalons #7 in the Millennium series in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book publishes 29th August 2023.

My thanks to Quercus Books MacLehose Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons’ by Karin Smirnoff. It was translated from the Swedish by Sarah Death.

This is Book 7 in the Millennium series that began with ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ by Stieg Larrson, first published in English in 2008. Following Larrson’s untimely death and the publication of the original trilogy, David Lagercrantz was commissioned to write a further three books. Karin Smirnoff has now taken over for a new trilogy featuring Larsson’s characters and setting.

Smirnoff is a best selling crime author in her own right and said in an interview “The Millennium books are classics in their genre, where the combination of unforgettable characters and the strong political and societal engagement still fascinates readers. I will continue to build on Stieg Larsson's core themes, such as violence, abuse of power, and contemporary political currents.”

Those themes are apparent throughout ‘The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons’. In Sweden’s far north change is coming. Its untapped natural resources are sparking a gold rush with members of the criminal underworld, corrupt politicians, and greedy business types all competing for position.

Both Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist are headed to the region, though neither due to these shady activities. Lisbeth has been named guardian to her niece Svala, whose mother has disappeared. She is reluctant to take on the role, though Svala proves a remarkably gifted teenager ­yet one in danger from shadowy forces.

Mikael’s journey north is also related to family as his daughter Pernilla is about to marry. Yet there are rumours that her intended husband’s involvement in the building of local wind farms could be dodgy. Luckily when Blomkvist’s situation escalates, Salander is close to hand to bring her unique skills into the mix.

Prior to this I had read the original trilogy as well as the first novel by David Lagercrantz. While there is plenty of action along with labyrinthine conspiracies (and sea-eagles) in ‘The Girl in the Eagle's Talons’, for me it had similar issues to ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’ (Millennium 4) in that it lacked the sheer raw brilliance of the original trilogy. I did also feel that it relied a little too much on coincidences.

However, I was pleased that a woman had been chosen to continue the Millennium series into this new phase. I felt that Karin Smirnoff demonstrated respect for the source material and characters. Still, the narrative did at times feel restrained. Hopefully as Smirnoff continues writing the rest of her trilogy she will gain more confidence with these iconic characters.

Overall, I felt that ‘The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons’ was a perfectly fine crime thriller that addressed the kind of social issues that often feature in Scandinavian Noir. It might not attain the level of the original trilogy but still was an engaging read. I feel that I will likely continue reading the series as they are published in English.

Unfortunately despite having always enjoyed this series, the latest offering by the third author to take the reigns fails to pack a punch.

Despite featuring both Lisbeth and Mikael, I often found myself feeling like I didn't recognise them for the cornerstones of this series that they are. I appreciate that a new author is writing these characters but for me, a great writer should keep the flow of the characters going and I didn't honestly feel like that happened in this case.

I also felt the investigative aspect of the story was lacking, and due to the numerous points of view found it quite difficult to follow who was doing what, and where. The writing came across as stilted, often jumping from one viewpoint to another randomly.

Much of the storyline is focused on Lisbeth and Mikael's respective families, which didn't fit with the 'cracking heads + righting the world' vibe the series has always held.

Overall a disappointing read, that has made me question whether I'd pick the next one up, were there to be one.

Not up to scratch!

***

I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books in the Millenium series written by Stig Larssen, and likewise the next three, following Stig’s untimely death, written by David Lagercrantz. This book, the seventh in the series, is written by Karin Smirnoff, apparently a successful author in Sweden, but disappointingly I noted a change in the style of writing and found the story uninspiring.

Yes, the main characters were the same - Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander - but somewhat less interesting, and the writing style bitty and often difficult to follow. Altogether not in the same league as its predecessors.

I read this book from a pre-publication copy kindly supplied by the publisher, but this is an honest review with no concession to their generosity.

Good to have Lisbeth back again and up to her usual tricks. Heading north as she finds she is to take charge of her niece could be life be any unfairer? She soon realizes that she has met her match for determination, deceit and cleverness. Can they work together to find the missing people. Mikael is also heading north for his daughters wedding and finds that she is a stranger to him and that he doesn't like or trust the future son -in law who seems to think he can do exactly as he likes and run all the local resources as he wishes, especially the building of a wind farm. Can these three work together and bring order back?

This was very different to the previous books in this series, with more action and less focus on the characters and relationship between Lisbeth and Michael. It was enjoyable.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Lisbeth and Mikael are back in another great read

Although the fourth novel in this series this is the first I have read from this author.

The setting for this book is in the north of Sweden.

It is quite a dark thriller & took me some time to come grips with the characters.

A difficult read due to horrific incidents that happen throughout as the baddies outweigh the good people.

Some very nasty objectionable ones too that make you cringe.

Having said all that, the story as a whole was pretty good as the more you read & as bad as it got you had to keep reading.

Interesting read.

Honestly, I did not enjoy this one anywhere near as the previous books. Lisbeth and Mikaek didn't feel the same or even similar to the way they were in the original books. I think this series having multiple authors has completely changed the characters.

I found the writing style to be all over the place but i'm not sure if this is due to the authors writing style or the way it's been translated. I found it quite hard to follow what was going on.

I don't think I will be continuing this series since it's just not as enjoyable as what Larssen created.

"The Girl in the Eagle's Talons" is the 4th follow on novel to Stieg Larsson's original Millennium series. It is the first of the novels which I have read, but I have seen the excellent Swedish TV adaptations of the 3 original books. In fact, Noomi Rapace, who played Lisbeth Salander, gets a mention in this novel.

This book is set in the north of Sweden, close to the border with Finland. It is a land of forests and is home to some of the Sami reindeer herders. The main villain of the piece is a truly objectionable character who will stop at nothing in his quest for world domination. All of the baddies are really bad, and there are, in fact, few goodies.

This dark thriller has the same feel as the original Millennium series and builds on the characters of Lisbeth and Mikael. At times it is a difficult read as there are some pretty horrific incidents. In addition to the IT, hacking and social media elements linking to Lisbeth there is a strong environmental slant to this novel (even referring to Greta Thunberg).

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

This is so good that as I was reading and turning pages faster and faster, I felt like I was back in the Stieg Larsson's Millennium series. The Mikael Blomkvist character hasn't changed since I was introduced to him many years ago. Lisbeth Salander has eased up a little as this book shows her kind side and leaves some of her violent past behind.
Clearly, the Blomkvist personality still shows the problems he has with his own family and previous girlfriend, but you can see that he is trying to be more of a family man after his main job/work is changing forever. As his grandson is kidnapped during his daughter's wedding and he knows that the man she was marrying is terrible in so many ways, you will know that it is not going to be easy to find the boy and he will surely call upon Salander to help him in a variety of ways. Like every Steig Larsson book, the more pages you read, the more difficult the situation for the main characters. Blomkvist uses all of his journalistic skills to find out more about his potential son-in-law and the very close knit community that appears to close every door being investigated.
This writer and translator has captured the original writer's feel for this Swedish thriller series. I hope there are more to follow and the same writer and translator are used again to continue this series. Sometimes, a writer cannot capture the original writers dream when continuing a series. Here, it's almost as though the original writer has somehow continued.
The ending I cannot comment on, but I guess that most people will not be disappointed as Salander continues her nice side mixed with the lady that always gets results.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson are right up there with my all time favourite books absolute quality, so when I heard a renowned Author David Lagercrantz was to take on the mantle and resurrect Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander I was thrilled two brilliant characters to good to lose. Whilst there was some criticism of his books I thoroughly enjoyed them, and loved the way he turned Salander into a DC or Marvel type superhero.
Now Karin Smirnoff has taken over and made a terrific start to hopefully a new series with almost unbelievably Lisbeth as an Aunt to Svala.
This is an excellent start, a story of our time of betrayal conspiracy love and loss, with some violent scenes the dynamic of Lisbeth mentoring a niece is brilliant, at times laugh out loud funny.
Svala must return.
My only slight disappointment the ending was contrived and seemed somewhat rushed with numerous loose ends, acceptable if there is more to follow SOON.
Completely and utterly recommended.

Another author picking up Lisbeth Salander character a complex and fascinating character who has been described as a "feminist icon" and a "modern-day superhero." She is a brilliant computer hacker with a photographic memory, but she is also a deeply troubled individual with a traumatic past. She is highly introverted and asocial, and she has difficulty connecting to people and making friends. She is also particularly hostile to men who abuse women, and she takes special pleasure in exposing and punishing them.
Book number six looses Lisbeth’s personality and drive, I wasn’t even sure if it was to include Lisbeth from the first few chapters.
A new story line that has opened the doors for more books will they continue to include Lisbeth I’m not so sure this book felt like a write out of Lisbeth.
I did enjoy the writing, the story kept me turning the pages. It’s not Lisbeth from millennium if that’s the reason for choosing this book you may be disappointed.

The Girl in the Eagles Talons Karin Smirnoff

4 stars

I read the original books by Stieg Larsson many years ago and absolutely loved them. I had not realised that another author had written a further three books continuing Lisbeth’s story but have them ready to read.

However when this book came along on Net galley I really wanted to see how this author would deal with such a charismatic character. I also remembered the journalist Michael Blomqvist and the ill-fated relationship between Michael and Lisbeth.

In this book the two are brought together again quite coincidentally. Lisbeth has a 13 year old niece, Svala, whom she has never met but when Svala’s mother and grandmother go missing, Lisbeth is contacted to provide a few days care. Quite by chance Michael is also in the same small town to attend the wedding of his daughter to Henry Salo, head of the local council. Right from the start Michael does not take to his future son-in-law and soon realises that he is corrupt and is trying to get local landowners to give up their land in order to provide wind farms and take the huge profits that this will make him.

The two of them are brought together to try and investigate the disappearance of Svala’s immediate family and to discover how much is related to Salo’s determination to gain the land for the windfarms.

I did enjoy this book and although I would not compare it to the original trilogy I feel there is a lot of scope for this author to continue the series incorporating the original characters but also involving new ones. Svala, at 13 is a mini-Lisbeth and would be an interesting character to follow as she grows older. I think all readers of these books would also like to see Lisbeth finally in a happy relationship. I look forward to reading the next book.


Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

Another tale of the 'Dragon Lady"
First David Lagercrantz and now Karin Smirnoff have written follow up to Stig Larssen's brilliant Millenium series.
Karen Smirnoff cleverly blends characteristics from the previous books with some of her own. She introduces readers Branco who seems a formidable adversary for Lisbeth Salander.
There are vivid descriptions of the climate conditions in the North of Sweden and what has to be done to cope with them.
A key factor of the book is the emphasis given to the crisis there is over the increasing demand for "Green Energy" and the implication of this. Franco offers a solution to go The issue of storing energy from wind and solar sources but is there an ulterior mktive?
Author Smirnoff and Death her translator follow closely the style we have come to expect of Lisbeth Salander stories but still introduce surprises for both Salander and Nickel Blomkvist.

Thought I would give this a try thanks to NetGalley as I really enjoyed the originals. I must admit it took a few chapters for me to gel with the characters but glad that I perservered as ended up an enjoyable read

For me this novel was too much of a departure from the characters of the original trilogy. I really struggled to engage with the action, and gave up half way through the novel.