On the morning commute into work, it’s possible (indeed probable) that you will have spied someone reading one of these books. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest have been catapulted to a similar status as the Harry Potter or Twilight series, and everyone from grandmothers to high-school kids are singing its praises.

Violence, drama, family secrets and a good old sleuth story… who could resist?

But what sets this series apart from others in the genre are the carefully and richly drawn characters, who would be interesting enough to read about even if they weren’t embroiled in a mystery that spans generations.

Written by the now-deceased Stieg Larsson, the Swedish novels have been translated into over 30 languages and the first novel has already been adapted into an equally successful film.

What we love is the detail (which admittedly has put some others off), the quirky characters and the fallibility of Larsson’s hero and heroine. Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth  Salander are the central characters and form an unlikely detective duo – Mikael the disgraced journalist and Lisbeth the antisocial, bisexual computer hacker with a photographic memory.

Oh, and we love it for the sex. No-one does taboo like the Swedes and the liberal attitudes to monogamy, gender roles and society make for scintillating reading.

If you’re yet to delve into the trilogy, we recommend a stop at the bookstore on your way home this evening. You’ll be able to share those knowing smiles that pass between fellow Millennium readers on your morning commute.

Image by: Examiner

PCLC: 0800