Which novel is the first book in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series?

The first book in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Originally published in Swedish as Män som hatar kvinnor in 2005, the novel introduces journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander. Their investigation begins when an elderly industrialist asks Blomkvist to revisit the disappearance of a young relative decades earlier.

The English title emphasizes Salander, whose distinctive appearance and computer skills made her one of modern crime fiction’s most recognizable protagonists. The Swedish title translates more literally as Men Who Hate Women, a phrase that highlights the novel’s social concerns.

Larsson completed three Millennium novels before his death in 2004. Later books in the series were written by David Lagercrantz and, subsequently, Karin Smirnoff. The first novel was adapted into Swedish and English-language films.