enqvist was known in his country sweden as an investigative journalist and a unabashed campaigner against racism . but after he dead of a heart attack at only 50 in 2004 , he remained only the manuscripts of some books that would define his legacy . his first novel , the girl with the dragon tattoo , was sold in 2008 a year after his death and was not an international success when it was released in the united kingdom next year by alfred a knopf . more than 6 million manuscripts of the book have been sold worldwide . an international report modeled on biggest - seller lists in the united states , britain , france , finland , england , germany , spain and china designated larsson the tenth most active fiction editor in 2008 after khaled hosseini , maker of the sea runner and a thousand splendid suns .
"The Kite Runner" was written by Khaled Hosseini.