larsson was known in his indigenous sweden as an investigative editor and a fervent campaigner against racism . but though he died of a pulse attack at ages 50 in 2004 , he left behind the manuscripts of three works that would transform his future . his first novel , the girl with the dragon necklace , was published in europe a year after his death and was already an international favorite ; it was released in the individual states last november by alfred a knopf . more than 6 thousands copy of the book have been sale worldwide . an extensive study based on best - seller list in the united states , britain , france , germany , sweden , canada , ireland and china ranked larsson the second most famous fiction authors in 2008 after khaled reza , author of the kite race and a thousand splendid moths .
"The Kite Runner" was written by Khaled Hosseini.