Fourth Stieg Larsson book 'was almost complete'

The fourth book in Stieg Larsson's Millennium series was far more complete than has previously been claimed, according to the author's former colleague.

Last month, Larsson's long-time girlfriend Eva Gabrielsson claimed on Radio 4's Woman's Hour that the next book in Larsson's bestselling series was only 30 per cent complete when he died and had no sense of structure.

However, these claims have been refuted by Kurdo Baksi, a journalist colleague of Larsson's who has written a memoir entitled Stieg Larsson, My Friend.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, he said Gabrielsson showed him the novel after Larsson died in 2004, before any of the books were published.

'It is at 260 pages at the moment – about 70 per cent complete. Eva has said the book is not so complete. She took the book after Stieg died and showed it to me and his father,' Baksi added.

Gabrielsson has previously said she does not intend for the unfinished book – which remains in her possession – to be published, despite significant offers from the publishing world and Larsson's own family for the manuscript.