Storytelling and Justice in The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest; Or, In Defence of Inquisitorial Criminal Justice

Abstract

The courtroom proceedings at the end of the novel The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest give us a rare insight into the inquisitorial system of criminal justice favoured by much of continental Europe. The trial offers justice and vindication to Lisbeth Salander: those entrusted by the state with her care and protection — namely Dr Teleborian and Advocat Bjurman — are revealed to be corrupt, sadistic characters; the official version of her life and character is rescinded; and her own version of events is finally heard and found credible. This chapter argues that the distinctive features of the inquisitorial system of criminal justice help make possible these revelations and revisions. I also want to suggest that the novel helps extend criminological understanding of the courtroom experience as well as the benefits of the inquisitorial system. In this respect the essay contributes to criminological debates about the comparative benefits of the inquisitorial and adversarial systems of criminal justice and the process of ‘status degradation’ in the courtroom.1 To be clear, I do not wish to suggest that the novel is a rhetorical argument in favour of a particular model of criminal justice; I simply wish to note and then account for the relationship between the distinctive courtroom victory and judicial proceedings in the novel.