The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larson

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
$14.95

Paperback: 600 pages

Publisher: Vintage Crime / Black Lizard (June 23, 2009)

ISBN-10: 0307454541

ISBN-13: 978-0307454546

Annotation/Flashtalk:

Every year, Henrik Vanger received a framed pressed flower from his niece Harriett; then one year Harriett disappeared and the flowers stopped only to start up again the following year.  Like clockwork the flowers arrive, but Vanger cannot locate his niece and assumes that someone, presumably the killer of his missing niece, is messing with him.  He hires a journalist in an effort to find out what happened to her. 

Summary:

Disgraced journalist Carl Mikael Blomkvist is facing the prospect of jail time after being convicted of libel.  He is contacted by a wealthy Swede named Henrik Vanger and offered asylum at his property in exchange for Blomkvist’s help in discovering what happened in the disappearance of Vanger’s niece over 30 years ago.  The only catch is that Blomkvist is to disguise his investigation under the guise of writing the Vanger family history.   In return, Vanger promises Blomkvist details of his past business dealings with Hans-Erik Wennerström, the man Bloomkvist is accused of libeling.

Before extending the offer, Vanger has Blomkvist investigated by the Milton security firm; the assignment is given to Lisbeth Salander, a young, anti-social, orphan rebel who likely suffers from Asperger’s syndrome. Lisbeth is a ward of the state, and she has her finances entrusted to a trustee.  Her familiar trustee, with whom she finally had reached a good working relationship dies, and her new trustee is not so kind.  He sexually abuses Lisbeth in order to control her and her access to her money.  Eventually Lisbeth reaches a working relationship with him, but in a totally unexpected way. 

Eventually their paths cross and Blomkvist and Salander work together to solve the disappearance of Harriett.  All signs point to a member of the Vanger family, but there just doesn’t seem to be any solid evidence.  Blomkvist’s daughter happens to solve the mystery of a series of numbers, the only thing that seems to tie Harriet’s disappearance to a string of murders going back decades before Harriet disappeared.  Soon the pieces begin to fall into place, and dark Vanger family secrets are revealed.  Fearing that the family secrets will get out, Blomkvist is captured, tortured and about to be killed to keep him silent; Lisbeth races to rescue him. 

Genre/Subgenre: Adventure/Thriller/Suspense/Mystery

Evaluation: 4-stars.

The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustan Thomason

The Rule of Four
by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason

$7.99

Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages

Publisher: Dell; First Edition edition (June 28, 2005)

ISBN-10: 0440241359

ISBN-13: 978-0440241355

Annotation/Flashtalk:

The ancient text Hypnerotomachia Poliphili has left scholars baffled for years. It has brought on rivalries, ruined lives and careers.  This time, however, it has brought two Princeton students together; Paul is a ravenous scholar of Hypnerotomachia Poliphili and Tom is the son of one of the works’ former obsessed scholars.  Can these two finally crack the mysteries held inside?

Summary:

Tom grew up in the shadow of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, an ancient text many scholars believe hold mysteries tight within its pages.  Tom’s father was a scholar of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili for many years, until a rival scholar defamed him in an attempt to discredit his work; Tom’s father died shortly after in an accident that may not have been a true accident.  After the accident and understanding what the depths of his father’s obsession did to their family, Tom swore off the book.  It wasn’t until his freshman year when Paul Harris tracked him down at Princeton and brings the book back into his life.  Paul’s senior thesis is all about Hypnerotomachia Poliphili and the book seems to be taking its toll on Paul too.

In their senior year, as Paul seems to be coming closer and closer to finding out the truth, strange things start to unfold. A student, and close friend of Paul’s, is murdered shortly after he provides Paul with what might be the missing link to finally cracking the code.  Tom, Paul and their roommates Gil and Charlie are swept up in the mystery of trying to find out who the murderer is and they must also keep themselves from becoming the next victim. 

Genre/Subgenre: Adventure/Historical Fiction

Evaluation: 4-stars.

Tell No One by Harlan Coben

Tell No OneBy Harlan Coben
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Dell (August 25, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440245907
ISBN-13: 978-0440245902

Annotation/Flashtalk:

Today, Dr. David Beck received an email message that could have ONLY come from his dead wife Elizabeth…but…she has been dead eight years, the victim of a serial killer, in an attack that left David unconscious. How could she be alive? David’s elation and confusion are cut short by the shocking news that the local sheriff thinks he is a suspect in the murder of two recently-discovered bodies, also from eight years ago, found near the place where Elizabeth disappeared. David’s story of that fateful night just doesn’t seem to add up. Follow Dr. David Beck as he trys to clear his name, and find out if Elizabeth is still alive or if someone is setting him up, in Tell No One by Harlan Coben.

I created a book trailer; it can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k53a8h8cCl8

 

Summary:
David Beck and Elizabeth (Parker) Beck were childhood sweethearts; they met at summer camp at Lake Charmaine. Each year they celebrate the anniversary of their first kiss by returning to the summer camp and adding a notch to the tree where they first carved their initials so many years ago. On the night of their 13th kiss anniversary, their lives changed forever. That night, David was knocked unconscious and left for dead and Elizabeth was kidnapped, only to be found five days later, the victim of a serial killer.

Fast forward eight years, and a series of events leads David to question all he has known. Two bodies were recently discovered near the lake where David was assaulted and Elizabeth was kidnapped. The police suspect David may be involved in the murder of these two men, because his story about the night of Elizabeth’s disappearance just doesn’t add up. Earlier that same day, David receives an email that could have only come from Elizabeth. The coincidence is just too unnerving. Following the instructions in the email, David is taken to a website that links to a street-level camera, and for a brief second, he sees her – but it can’t be Elizabeth, can it?

With the help of his sister’s girlfriend, and an attorney, David attempts to fight the charges against him so that he can remain free to find out if Elizabeth is really still alive. His search pits him against the police, the FBI, and a couple of henchmen set on keeping him from learning the real truth.

Genre/Subgenre: Adventure, Thriller, Suspense/Mystery

Evaluation: 3-stars.

Life of Pi by Yan Martel

The Life of Pi
by Yann Martel
$14.00

Paperback: 326 pages

Publisher: Mariner Books (May 1, 2003)

ISBN-10: 0156027321

ISBN-13: 978-0156027328

Annotation/Flashtalk:

How can a teenage boy survive on a life raft in the ocean with only a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra, and a Bengal tiger as company for 227 days?

Summary:

Pi Patel is the son of a zookeeper in Pondecherry India.  He spent some of his most formative younger years trying on various religions and learning about the nature of animals from his father.  After a change in the political regime in India, his father decides to sell the zoo including the animals and move the family to Canada. 

On the fourth day of their journey, the Japanese freighter they are riding aboard sinks about half way to Midway.  Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat with only a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra, and a Bengal tiger as company.  One by one the animals are dispatched by the tiger and Pi must find away to keep himself alive, and the tiger satiated.  He eventually finds rescue supplies on board the ship, among them are ration biscuits, water, a survival book and supplies for distilling sea water and fishing.  When the supplies run out, Pi begins to fish and distill water.  Using all of his wisdom, his senses and faith Pi struggles to survive by building an auxiliary raft to float at a safe distance from Richard’s domain of the lifeboat.

After 227 days in the ocean, the lifeboat runs aground in Mexico where Richard Parker runs into the jungle never to be seen again.  When questioned by the Japanese authorities Pi recounts his story only to have them question its validity.  When he offers them an alternate version they begin to understand his original version of the story.

Genre/Subgenre: Adventure/Suspense

Evaluation: 3-stars.