Mikael Blomkvist

Mikael Blomkvist is a 42-year-old crusading journalist and co-founder of Millennium, a Swedish financial magazine. He has recently been convicted of libelling wealthy financier Hans-Erik Wennerstrom in one of his stories, so he takes an unusual job writing a chronicle of the wealthy Vanger family while secretly investigating the murder of Harriet Vanger more than 40 years ago. This is not Blomkvist's first criminal investigation. As a young man, he earned the nickname Kalle (Carl) after finding information that led to the capture of a group of burglers; the name is a reference to a series of books featuring a boy detective named Kalle. Despite his conviction for libel, Blomkvist operates by a strict code of professional ethics, including refusing to identify his confidential sources. Blomkvist has been involved in a close friendship and sexual relationship with his partner at Millennium, Erika Berger, for more than 20 years, and...