Summary Blomkvist’s story hits the media with all the fanfare he could have hoped for. As Wennerstrom’s company strives to maintain its reputation, the Swedish stock market tumbles when speculators across the country become nervous. During the media frenzy, Wennerstrom flees the country and is found several days later in […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Hostile Takeover: Epilogue — Final Audit – Thursday, November 27-Tuesday, December 30

Summary Salander, having holed up in her apartment for several days hacking into Wennerstrom’s empire, has discovered the intricate workings of the corporation’s financial structure. She has also discovered that Wennerstrom is nervous about Millennium’s plans, so Salander decides to provide Blomkvist with this tip in exchange for a 120,000 […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Hostile Takeover: Chapter 29 – Saturday, November 1-Tuesday, November 25

Summary Blomkvist and Salander rush back to Stockholm so he can access her Wennerstrom files. After reading over the files for three days, Blomkvist is dizzy with the possibilities, realizing that Wennerstrom has created an intricate business in which dozens of companies all own part of each other. He asks […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Hostile Takeover: Chapter 28 – Tuesday, July 29-Friday, October 24

Summary Blomkvist returns to Stockholm in time to join Salander at her mother’s funeral. Afterward, Salander and Blomkvist head back to Hedestad to get her motorbike and their other belongings. Blomkvist tells Salander what he learned from Harriet. Salander declares Harriet a bitch, because she left and let her brother […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Hostile Takeover: Chapter 27 – Saturday, July 26-Monday, July 28

Summary After his arrival in Melbourne, Blomkvist tracks down Harriet, who has taken over her dead husband’s sheep farm. Harriet is shocked to hear someone say her real name, but recovers quickly and sits down with Blomkvist to listen to the story of how he came to find her. Following […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Hostile Takeover: Chapter 26 – Tuesday, July 15-Thursday, July 17

Summary Early in the morning, Salander sneaks over to Martin’s and investigates his secret torture room. She finds binders and videotapes documenting the women he has brought there, many of whom were recent immigrants and unmarried, thus their disappearances aroused little to no suspicion. Salander also finds two faded Polaroid […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Hostile Takeover: Chapter 25 – Saturday, July 12-Monday, July 14

Summary Martin and Blomkvist continue talking while Martin waits for Salander to return to the cabin so he can capture her as well. During this discussion, Blomkvist realizes that Martin has continued killing women since he was a teenager. Martin’s initiation into the practice was at the hands of his […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Hostile Takeover: Chapter 24 – Friday, July 11-Saturday, July 12

Summary The following morning, Blomkvist and Salander consult about their next steps in the investigation. Blomkvist states that he thinks Cecilia is telling the truth about not being in Harriet’s room. Together, he and Salander theorize that there may be two people involved in the crime. Once again, they review […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Mergers: Chapter 23 – Friday, July 11

Summary After Blomkvist cleans up Tjorven’s remains, Salander and Blomkvist eat a grim breakfast, both of them contemplating their next move. Salander leaves for Stockholm after breakfast to get supplies, urging Blomkvist to pick up some fire alarms and extinguishers at some point during the day. Later that day, Blomkvist […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Mergers: Chapter 22 – Thursday, July 10

Summary Martin shows up on Blomkvist’s doorstep with the latest edition of the Hedestad Courier, which features a scathing article suggesting that Blomkvist’s presence in Hedestad is a problem for the community. Martin insists he had nothing to do with the article and that he’s willing to write a response […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Mergers: Chapter 21 – Thursday, July 3-Thursday, July 10