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The Informationist

(Vanessa Michael Munroe #1)

Taylor Stevens (Goodreads Author)

3.78 · Rating details · 9,756 ratings · 1,517 reviews

"Vanessa Michael Munroe deals in information--expensive information--working for corporations, heads of state, private clients, and anyone else who can pay for her unique brand of expertise. Born to missionary parents in lawless central Africa, Munroe took up with an infamous gunrunner and his mercenary crew when she was just fourteen. As his protégé, she earned the ...more

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Hardcover, 307 pages

Published March 8th 2011 by Crown (first published 2011)

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Mar 30, 2011 Emily rated it it was ok

Honestly, I'm only halfway through this but I have absolutely no idea why this book is rated so highly everywhere. Not to be "that guy" here but did anyone else READ the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?? First of all, the main character Michael (who is actually a woman named Vanessa) is such an almost painfully blatant poor-man's version of Lisbeth Salander that it's almost ridiculous. HOW IS NO ONE CALLING THIS OUT?? And ok, not that every intelligent, super gifted, socially inept main female Honestly, I'm only halfway through this but I have absolutely no idea why this book is rated so highly everywhere. Not to be "that guy" here but did anyone else READ the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?? First of all, the main character Michael (who is actually a woman named Vanessa) is such an almost painfully blatant poor-man's version of Lisbeth Salander that it's almost ridiculous. HOW IS NO ONE CALLING THIS OUT?? And ok, not that every intelligent, super gifted, socially inept main female character should automatically get tagged to Salander but COME ON.

Michael speaks TWENTY TWO languages? That in itself is pretty damn ridiculous. Granted, most of them are briefly explained away as 'dialects', as if the author subconsciously realizes how unbelievable twenty two language proficiency really is. At least Lisbeth has a photographic memory which is a lot more believable and way more endearing considering her general attitude and complete lack of social skills. Gifted in one thing, handicapped in the other. It's a believable balance.

Michael, on the other hand, is a super gifted linguist with an almost equally ridiculous fighting capability that is only explained away as a fragmented version of her past involving an abusive caregiver figure. The author would have done better to only give away bits and pieces of Michael's past at a time (a'la Salandar) making the character more appealing and intriguing instead of giving it all away up front like a hurried exhale of breath. Literally, in about four or five paragraphs Michael's entire history is summed up to basically rebellion from parents because she's a super genius, wandering around Africa with some random dude she met through some other random dude, and then being physically abused by some OTHER random dude who was also traveling with them. And somehow this all adds up to angst and a supposedly bruised and endearing main character. When really, I'm just annoyed at how much the author keeps shoving the facts of Michael's supposed awesomeness on her audience instead of actually demonstrating it throughout the novel.

It's the typical rush job explanations of a wam-bam-thank-you-ma'am action/crime novel. Except even Patterson does a better job then this.

The dialogue is choppy at best, not well thought out and at times painful to read. At one point Michael holds a knife to a companion's throat after a very poorly described upper-hand gaining action scene that only takes about three sentences to get to across, saying, "I could have easily killed you. Never forget that." And then promptly dropping the knife. It's some of the most lazyily constructed almost dime-store novel dialogue I've come across in awhile. Nobody talks like that. I'm sorry, it's ridiculous.

I don't know, maybe I'm just one of the many tainted by Stieg Laarson's total awesomeness at writing what is some of the best action/crime fiction I've come across in years but this is nowhere near that status. It's so depressingly far away from it in fact I'm not sure I could even be bothered to recommend this book to anyone. And I got it for free.

Not to mention, the main crux of the novel (who killed Emily Burbank?) is basically the entire premise of The Girl With the Dragon tattoo. Wealthy tycoon (insert old Swedish billionaire tycoon) hires genius investigator/informationist (Insert Lisbeth Salander) to find out what happened to his adopted daughter (insert Swedish niece here) who suddenly goes missing. Hello? Anyone else seeing this here?

Oh and also I'm not entirely sure why exactly I'm bothering to wade all the way through this dizzing epic of nonsense considering the "mystery" of what happened to Emily Burbank is given away in the first four pages of the novel via someone else's point of view. Sooo....why am I still here?

Good question. ...more

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Aug 11, 2017 ☘Misericordia☘ ~ The Serendipity Aegis ~ ⚡ϟ⚡ϟ⚡⛈ ✺❂❤❣ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: underrated

Overall, a bit weird, a bit different though engrossing. The strategic part was with way too much emphasis. And the emotional line rather crazyish:
You get employed by a guy #1
> You run from him
>> You screw lots of guys (implied)
>>> You screw some stranger somewhere on a business trip (#2)
>>>> You turn to guy #1 for help
>>>>> You use the guy #1
>>>>>> You manipulate the poor SOB #1
>>>>>>> You love the #1
...more

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Apr 14, 2016 Maureen Carden rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, thriller, top-ten, wild-ass-adventure, supense

I've read The Informationist at least four times and just finished listening to the audio tape. Let me take a moment here, Hillary Huber narrated the audio and did a fantastic job. I might actually listen to The Bible being narrated if she was doing it. Okay, back to the The Informationist,
Vanessa Michael Munroe (VMM) burst out of the jungle, smuggled herself into the US (even though she was born here) and reinvented herself as an almost normal person.
A chameleon, she could take on the ...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: thriller readers who like tough/quirky heroines

Shelves: heroine-i-liked, abused, thriller-suspense, tough-as-nails-heroes, yearly-reading-challenge-2013, antihero, action-adventure-challenge-2013, lovers-reunited, tormented-heroine, unusual-profession

The Informationist has one of the most daring and distinctive heroines I've personally read about. Vanessa Michael Monroe is practically a force of nature. Her personality is hard to pin down, even if you know her very well, which few people do. And she makes a very bad enemy. While some characters might go to Africa to run away from their past or to define a new life for themselves, Monroe is the opposite. She was born in Africa and raised there. Although she is Caucasian American descent, The Informationist has one of the most daring and distinctive heroines I've personally read about. Vanessa Michael Monroe is practically a force of nature. Her personality is hard to pin down, even if you know her very well, which few people do. And she makes a very bad enemy. While some characters might go to Africa to run away from their past or to define a new life for themselves, Monroe is the opposite. She was born in Africa and raised there. Although she is Caucasian American descent, Africa flows in her veins and helped to make her who she was, and not all in good ways.

Monroe doesn't let fear define her, instead she walks in defiance of it. Being afraid is not her problem. It's the rage and anger she keeps under lock and key. She struggles against demons from her past that simmer in her blood and make her heart beat fast with the tribal beat of war. Control is a way of life when she knows just what she's capable of. Yet, she is unafraid to go into dangerous places when others would shirk such a responsibility. When Emily Burbank's adoptive father contacts her to find out what happened to his daughter in Africa four years ago, she is going to have to go back to the place she was born and face her ugly past.

I love to read about heroines who are tough and resourceful. Who can kick butt just like the action heroes. Monroe is definitely one of those kinds of heroines. I like that she is very adaptable and clever about thinking through situations. While she has other weapons, she uses the one between her ears very well. Her personality is really abrasive and she's not what I would consider a typical "likable" heroine. And yet, there is something about her that resonates with me. I like that she is such a survivor. I mean, who could go through what she did and still be 100% sane and free of scars? She actually is quite sane, although I think deep down, she fears what lurks in the abyss she keeps locked away inside. She's sort of the opposite of Kurtz in The Heart of Darkness. She's been there and she walked away. It holds no appeal for her.

I liked the complex relationship that Monroe has with Francisco. I didn't expect it, yet when it happened, I thought, "Of course." I knew that Monroe would have to come full circle and get closure about Africa in order to heal. That process was ugly and painful, but necessary. I also liked her relationship with Miles. Each encounter helped to shape her in different ways, as relationship with others should do.

While I didn't like everything about the narrative, I did like how the author builds tension and unfolds the story, and keeps me guessing what's going to happen next. While one could easily draw conclusions about what happened in Equatorial Guinea, it's different from what I thought, and complicated. I think this is a book that lends itself well to audio, because some of the written facts about Emily's disappearance and the various places she went/the stonewalling she encounters, and Monroe's search in those places might be a bit dry on paper. I also think that some of the action scenes could have been more suspenseful and intensely written. There was a sense of risk, but it was a bit muted at times. As far as the narrator, I liked her voice a lot. She captures who Michael aka Monroe very well.

This is one of those books that doesn't build up one's faith in humanity. Corruption runs so deep and twisted in this world, and some places are built on this foundation. And while some of us who are lucky to live in a more lawful country, those same individuals go to other places in the world and make things worse in their conquest for power and money because they can get away with that in some places in the world, where life is cheap. Like some of my other thriller/suspense/action hero favorites, Monroe is there to teach them a lesson, but in her case, that lesson is a costly one for her as well.

I couldn't imagine living the life that Vanessa Michael Monroe has lived. One of the things I love about fiction is that I can go on a journey with a distinctive heroine like Monroe and see life through her lenses. I can feel her pain and her anger and experience the victories and defeats she has, and it helps me to understand that life is a complicated thing, but we can make it through things we never imagined possible.

This book might not work for everyone, but I found it interesting and thought-provoking. It felt unique and Monroe is an unforgettable heroine. She's kind of lawless in some ways, but deep down, she has a code that she won't stray from. She's a complicated women. Readers who enjoy this kind of heroine or a reader looking for something different might enjoy The Informationist. ...more

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Sep 05, 2017 Tulay rated it liked it

Bought this book because of the reviews and it's title. Started and stopped couple times. Vanessa character is one hard woman, learned somethings about Africa. But overall story didn't much entertained me. Parts were really slow and bloody. As always money and how to deceive someone to get what they have.

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Apr 03, 2014 Roxane rated it really liked it

Absolutely absorbing thriller. At times, Michael's character is just ludicrous in her abilities but that's okay. This was still one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year. Dark, violent, kind of sexy. That's what's up.

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Aug 09, 2011 Natalie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure-fiction, crime, africa, truckstopcrackerbarrelbooks

I'm reviewing the audiobook version and although I threatened during the experience to tear my stereo from my car, I am happy to report that it is still intact within its housing.

What would push a gentle person such as myself toward such automotively destructive fantasies? a)commuting in general b)an author who uses the same descriptive phrase for every character's posture while sitting over, and over, and over again! WTF? Where's the editor ? How many times can a person sit with their forearms ...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Robert rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-deals, robert-s-reads

She’s a tool. A weapon. Like Jason Bourne or James Bond. Able to blend into her surroundings. She speaks 22 languages, and she’s damn near deadly with a knife. And she’s androgynous. She’s Vanessa Michael Munroe. Or Michael for short.

Revenge might as well be her middle name, though. She reminded me of Lisbeth Salander with the way rage completely consumed her. And yet she still managed to show some heart, or at least her slightly abbreviated version of it. Emotions seemed to fill her, consume ...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Lisa Sansone rated it it was ok

Recommends it for: Women who have fantasized about being a butch, callous mercenary with super-human abilities. :)

I can't say that I liked it. I thought that it was boring, over-written, and unbelievable -- to the point of being silly. To be honest, I couldn't even enjoy it on the level of "fantasy" or escapism.

It reminded me of your standard, second-rate, mildly-ridiculous gun-for-hire novel - only this time written with a tormented female lead, instead of a tormented male lead.

I'm guessing that one is supposed to like the book largely because of the gender-switch. If you enjoy silly, poorly written ...more

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Jan 16, 2012 aPriL does feral sometimes rated it did not like it

Shelves: finished-reading-but-i-hated-it, why-does-everyone-love-this-ick-ick, loathe-it, macho-man

This is the worst book ever. The writing is boring, the plot is brain-dead dumb, and the character Vanessa Michael Munroe is the stupidest 'genius' I've run across since the biker Eric Von Zipper in the 'Beach Blanket Bingo' movies starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Munroe, the main character, unfortunately, is the dumbest one of all. No one is SUPPOSED to be dumb in 'The Informationist.' This is supposedly a serious thriller. Really. Really? This novel is such a stinking piece of This is the worst book ever. The writing is boring, the plot is brain-dead dumb, and the character Vanessa Michael Munroe is the stupidest 'genius' I've run across since the biker Eric Von Zipper in the 'Beach Blanket Bingo' movies starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Munroe, the main character, unfortunately, is the dumbest one of all. No one is SUPPOSED to be dumb in 'The Informationist.' This is supposedly a serious thriller. Really. Really? This novel is such a stinking piece of dung.

Can anyone do a phrase count on how often Munroe thought, "she fought down the urge to cut his throat"? What a douchebag moron. Her focus IS rather amazing. However, if you notice a person thinks only one thought, and that one thought is to cut everyone's throat, would you be thinking 'she is so intelligent and cool'? Or, like me, would you be thinking, 'RUN!'

If this character was on Paxil or if she had at least taken up chewing Khat, she might have more of a personality. But all the handsome lads love her manly physique and wooden unsmiling face and hands of steel. What a guy, uh, girl. Let's not forget the 47 saber nicks on her scarred hide, or her strange inability to avoid daily rape for three years while volunteering to be an adventurer with a jungle martial arts gang in Africa. She is a genius and manly and strong and independent, but in spite of her superior mentality she sticks around and pays up when she loses in martial arts lessons by giving head, body and soul to a man she "hates", every day! EVeRY DAY! Holy masochistic charms! With all of her native brilliance, she can't think of some way to avoid being raped daily to learn her craft, like learning it somewhere else where being raped isn't on the table. Gee whiz.

There are Arnold Schwarzenegger movies and there are Jackie Chan movies and then you've got that zombie-walking Chuck Norris. Could any movie star imitate a piece of wood better than Chuck?

Well. Hello Munroe!

Chuck Norris demonstrated more emoting in his movies than anyone in these pages. A dead animal has more character than anyone living in these pages. Not to mention motivation or logic.

Emily, the victim who is supposed to need help, is a Stepford wife who has absolutely no interest in being rescued except when people tell her she should, at least for a minute. There is the bad guy in Texas who doesn't want Emily found but he sends the world's best tracker after her instead of a hit squad, which would have been the logical thing. Then there are the African towns, where young tourists are abused and threatened and beaten on their vacations, which is such fun that after many near death experiences and much hatred from the inhabitants the tourists study maps to find even more dangerous African countries to party on in rather than go home to their parents.

I wish I could say this all was a satire, but it was written obviously as a serious thriller with a serious group of characters. Despite the occasional and unintentional hilarious scenes, this is really such a bore to read.

...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Werner rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of action adventure/action heroines (with a warning about bad language)

Recommended to Werner by: My Goodreads friend Danielle gave it a good review

Shelves: action-heroines, action-adventure, books-i-own, got-from-bookmooch

Note, Sept. 14, 2017: I just edited this review to correct a slight misspelling of one word.

The Goodreads description for this book simply quotes the first paragraph of the jacket copy, which gives the impression that our heroine's adolescent career as part of a gang of gunrunners lasted for years. It didn't --she fled from Africa at the age of 15, after about a year with the gang. (They also weren't mercenaries, and their smuggling operations included drugs as well as guns.) Otherwise, the Note, Sept. 14, 2017: I just edited this review to correct a slight misspelling of one word.

The Goodreads description for this book simply quotes the first paragraph of the jacket copy, which gives the impression that our heroine's adolescent career as part of a gang of gunrunners lasted for years. It didn't --she fled from Africa at the age of 15, after about a year with the gang. (They also weren't mercenaries, and their smuggling operations included drugs as well as guns.) Otherwise, the information is accurate as far as it goes. We meet her nine years later, when she's 24 years old. Before we do, though, we're treated to a two-page, attention-grabbing prologue, set somewhere in West Central Africa, describing a terrifying experience which we quickly realize is related to our main plot, and which gives us a little bit of information and a whole lot of tantalizing ambiguity.

Four years later, Michael is approached by a super-wealthy oil tycoon, who wants to hire her to trace the now four-years-cold trail of his adopted step-daughter, who vanished somewhere in Africa on the cusp of adulthood. Finding a missing person isn't something she's ever done; she's an information broker, a compiler of deep background on foreign countries, for governments, NGOs and corporations. But she's extremely good at this, blessed with a facility for learning languages, strong computer skills, a powerful intelligence and single-minded focus and determination. She's also a mistress of disguise, who (with her hair cut short and her bosom tightly bound) can pass for a male if she needs to. [Some reviewers focus on this, and on her preference for using her middle name, to make "androgyny" a central aspect of her character. IMO, this idea has been overstated; her character comes across as essentially female, without any ambiguity (though she's more in touch with her kick-butt side than many women are). Passing for a male is a tactical device that can come in handy in some situations (and she's not the only fictional heroine to find it so; Madeleine E. Robins' Sarah Tolerance, for instance, does it frequently), and doesn't entail any repudiation of her femininity. As for preferring "Michael" over "Vanessa," she's not the first person in literature or real life to want to change the way she's addressed after a major transition in her life --especially from a traumatic period that she'd like to forget. (Her African associates knew her as Essa.]) Anyway, Richard Burbank has been assured that these skills will be transferable to ferreting out the fate and whereabouts of a person, and that Michael can succeed where others have failed.

Combat-capable females aren't as rare in literature as they once were, but her fighting skills aren't what make Michael a rather unique fictional heroine (though she has few peers where those skills are concerned). She's a very complex and nuanced character, with aspects of her personality that aren't all pretty. Her missionary parents, who didn't plan for or want her, raised her in a mindset that sees God as an angry and condemning Judge rather than a loving and forgiving Father. The experiences of her African adolescence left her with massive internal abysses of guilt and anger which she uses her work to keep at bay; she has hardly any friends, and walks a psychological knife edge between moral decency and a homicidal darkness she could easily plunge into for keeps. Now, with the quest for Emily Burbank taking her back into a world she left nine years ago, she'll face external conflicts with some very nasty villains; but her most desperate and consequential battle will be inside herself, and she'll come to a moral decision that may save her --or destroy her.

Taylor Stevens' unique personal upbringing gave her a first-hand knowledge of a number of world locales; this is probably reflected in the vivid way settings in several countries on three continents are realized. (Some of Michael's formative experiences may have something in common with Stevens' own as well --though one hopes not.) The African milieu that forms the main setting is particularly life-like, with a you-are-there immediacy especially marked in the portrayal of the dangerous, paranoid Twilight-Zone nation of Equatorial Guinea, the model for Frederick Forsythe's setting in The Dogs of War, a novel that Stevens references here (see my comment at www.goodreads.com/review/show/342479647 ). Her prose style is crisp and quick-moving, with a wealth of realistic detail that lends verisimilitude. All of the major characters are fully three-dimensional, adding to the texture and emotional evocative quality of the storyline. Plotting here is a tour-de-force, with major twists and surprises in store; the quality of suspense is very taut through much of the book, and comes right down to the wire.

This is an action-adventure novel, so the reader should expect that it's going to have some violence; more than a few people are going to get killed here. None of the violence is gratuitous, and it isn't over-described for its own sake; but some readers might find one scene a bit disturbing. There's no explicit sex, but some sexual encounters are noted without being described in detail, and Michael's sexual behavior is, like every other aspect of her life, affected by the psychic damage she carries. The most problematic aspect of the book in terms of content is the bad language; there's a lot of obscenity, and profanity/cursing. (For perhaps the first third or more of the book, this isn't so marked, but it gets worse.) Granted, a couple of the English-speaking characters could be expected to have barracks-room vocabularies, but "realism" isn't a useful excuse to invoke for putting English obscenities into the mouth of non-English speakers. It's also not likely that Michael's English speech would be that much colored by this kind of thing, given the probable absence of that type of peer modeling when she was developing her speaking style. I considered this stylistically lazy on the author's part, and deducted a star for it.

In a couple of places, I have a quibble or two with details. (A camera affixed to the peephole of a hotel door, for instance, would register images directly in front of it --NOT the adjacent door. And one tactical action near the end seems to have no credible reason for being done, except that it serves the author's ultimate plotting purposes.) But quibbles don't interfere with the fact that this is, overall, a very strong first novel. And, although there are sequels in the series, this opener comes to a very satisfying conclusion in itself; for readers who don't want to get sucked into another open-ended series, this book can function perfectly well as a completed stand-alone. ...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Carol rated it really liked it

Recommended to Carol by: review sources

Shelves: fiction

I picked this one up for several reasons. First, I love the title and the picture it evokes. An Informationist, someone who deals in information. In this case this person is one Vanessa "Michael" Munroe,. That's the second reason I picked up the book. Reviews depicted Vanessa/Michael as one strong female,a character trait I like in my reading. Third reason; reviews called it a gripping, fast paced, high octane thriller. And lastly, I picked it up as it is debut fiction, always a treat for me.

So I picked this one up for several reasons. First, I love the title and the picture it evokes. An Informationist, someone who deals in information. In this case this person is one Vanessa "Michael" Munroe,. That's the second reason I picked up the book. Reviews depicted Vanessa/Michael as one strong female,a character trait I like in my reading. Third reason; reviews called it a gripping, fast paced, high octane thriller. And lastly, I picked it up as it is debut fiction, always a treat for me.

So did it deliver? Yes on several counts, almost too much so. Munroe is intelligent, tough, ruthless when she needs to be, and yet there is a feminine side that she knows how to play and says woman all the way. The story is definitely fast paced and would keep any thriller fan engaged. Munroe is being compared to Lizbeth Salander of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo fame but though I see some similarities, I didn't immediately make this connection. Yet, if you liked Dragon, I think you'd like this too.

I liked the way Taylor Stevens revealed bits and pieces of Munroe's background, the things that make her who she is, throughout the book. I love the switchback changing of names, rapid fire at times; Vanessa, Michael, Monroe, each revealing their own complexity of character, almost like three different people contributing to the intrigue of the story. What didn't quite work for me was Munroe's ability to come out on top of some very serious situations. You know what I mean, the Indiana Jones sort of story, where coming out alive is almost unbelievable. Normally, I'd say, hey this fiction, suspend belief, and just enjoy the ride. Here, though, it detracts from the whole for me. Munroe is enough of a guerrilla warfare type gal, gutsy and well-trained, that taking it over the top is not necessary.

I need not tell you much more. A synopsis of the book will give you a better picture of plot. A solid 4; a good summer read, great setting (Africa) and interesting character. I'm certain we'll see a sequel.

Be certain to read a bit about the author. Intersting to say the least. ...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Tracy rated it did not like it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 20, 2011 Cathy rated it liked it

I think The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has spawned a new genre of novel -- girls with abusive pasts who grow up into emotionally crippled, gender ambiguous women. The novel is set in Africa and that makes up for a lot; the detail is good and it seems well researched. At times this book teeters on the edge of romance novel. It was a fast read, entertaining enough for a plane ride, and who knew one could purposefully dislocate a thumb to escape handcuffs. Reading really expands my horizons.

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Mar 27, 2011 Paul Pessolano rated it really liked it

Not until now has there been a heroine that could rival Lisbeth Salander of "The Girl with the Dragon Tatto". That girl is Vanessa Michael Munroe and she is "The Informationist".

Michael, as she is called, comes from a missionary family that was based in Africa. Her family had little to do with her and she became strongly independent and became ver familiar with the language, customs, and culture of the many African tribes.

In her teens she became involved with Francisco Beyard. Beyard made his ...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Lori rated it really liked it

WOW, what a ride!!! Very similiar to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo... took a little while to get into, but once you do... what a ride!!! Hope this is the first in a series... would love for it to continue!!!

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May 01, 2011 Jeff rated it it was amazing

This is the first time I’ve taken the time to write a review for a book. I’m generally a word-of-mouth “reviewer”. But I believe this book is worth sharing an opinion. I’m not a voracious reader (like I was in my early youth) but I do read a lot - just an ordinary guy who likes to read thrillers, espionage, adventure, and variations thereof. I also dabble in early American history and American military history.

I came across this book via my local indie bookstore weekly email. The dust cover This is the first time I’ve taken the time to write a review for a book. I’m generally a word-of-mouth “reviewer”. But I believe this book is worth sharing an opinion. I’m not a voracious reader (like I was in my early youth) but I do read a lot - just an ordinary guy who likes to read thrillers, espionage, adventure, and variations thereof. I also dabble in early American history and American military history.

I came across this book via my local indie bookstore weekly email. The dust cover description was compelling, the author bio even more so, and the recommendation by Vince Flynn piqued my interest enough to purchase a copy and attend the upcoming book signing with the author. I won’t bother to describe the book here – the dust cover description is “tease” enough and more professionally done than I could muster.

While waiting on the author to begin the talk before the signing, I started reading. By page two, I was hooked. I like that in a thriller. By the time the author came in I was on page 14 and a bit disappointed I had to stop reading, be polite, and listen. And I’m glad I did – the author, Taylor Stevens, was an utterly charming and engaging person who charmed the socks off the audience gathered. Well, my socks were off by the end if no one else’s were.

Apart from Ms. Steven’s fascinating journey to write this book, which makes it even more worth the read, the book stands alone. The story is a great thrill ride that I couldn’t put down. I was finished within hours. I found the story fast-paced with nice surprises thrown in to keep you guessing. The exotic setting was so realistically conveyed that it was a major source of tension for me apart from the tension of the story. Additionally, I found the heroine to be highly interesting but kept mysterious enough that I was left wanting to know more, more, more about her. I suspect we will in coming books in the series.

Finally, I want to add that I’ve seen what I believe are some unfair comparisons to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I’ve read both. Granted there are some commonalities but I believe they’re superficial. I enjoyed The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo but must say it was very slooooowww in getting to the point where the tension really started. I liked the story but I couldn’t put the The Informationist down once I started. I was able to put down the Dragon Tattoo many times until about two thirds of the way through when the story finally began to move quickly. Personally, I’m at a loss for that book’s level of success but to each his own, I suppose.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this three-book series with eager anticipation. I must say that I was in a bit of a fiction-reading lull for some months but this book has fueled my fire and I’ve been on a hot reading streak since. Perhaps to fill the emptiness until the 2nd book in this series arrives…?
...more

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May 23, 2012 Andrew Montooth rated it really liked it

Kismet, from the Turkish qisma, or fate. I buy too many books to keep track of where they come from or how I heard about them or even what attracted me to them. This book was sitting there after I’d read my Christmas stack and before I made another book run. I picked it up and was surprised to learn that she was an apocalyptic cult survivor. Hey, me too! Kinda. My childhood cult was a bunch of wacky architects who worship Frank Lloyd Wright. Better deal? Maybe. Anyway, I figured, OK definitely Kismet, from the Turkish qisma, or fate. I buy too many books to keep track of where they come from or how I heard about them or even what attracted me to them. This book was sitting there after I’d read my Christmas stack and before I made another book run. I picked it up and was surprised to learn that she was an apocalyptic cult survivor. Hey, me too! Kinda. My childhood cult was a bunch of wacky architects who worship Frank Lloyd Wright. Better deal? Maybe. Anyway, I figured, OK definitely gotta read this one. Kismet.

Vanessa Michael Munroe is the Informationist. I’m a bit thick. I never got the ‘Michael’ part despite it being explained. It never really came into play and could easily have been left out. The Informationist part was also explained and also could have been left out. What would remain is a compelling central character: Munroe, an ass-kicking heroine first class. The author has given her an appropriately tragic background from which she freed herself. The background also gives us some richly drawn characters who have become loyal friends and aides in times of need.

Vanessa/Michael is asked to find the missing daughter of a wealthy businessman. She gets a babysitter in the form of Miles Bradford. She tolerates the well intentioned lug, while we readers suspect him of treachery. They tangle with authorities, nasty people, impossible situations, spies following them, etc. etc. This may sound like a typical mystery/thriller, but there are two things that separate it: 1) Excellent writing. Taylor Stevens has a literary bend in her somewhere that gives us great some great scenery. Descriptive passages are rarely found in thrillers because they slow down the action. She gets into and out of several passages with the right balance. Readers have not lost their feel for the story and are impressed by the phrasing. Nice. 2) Odd pacing & direction. Ascribing this to a debut author, it often is a deal-killer for a recommendation. In this case, it actually helps the story by keeping it unpredictable. Annoying to some, but I’ll take unpredictable any day.

What we readers love about mystery-thrillers is the guessing game. Whodunnit? If we call the bad-guy correctly, but are only 60% sure by the time we get to the author’s revealing, we gloat and beat our chests (provided we are alone). My wife and I are somewhat competitive about it, writing down page numbers and names and gloating over the other for days. Erasures are not allowed (anymore). I got to gloat for this one. I saw it very early due to me knowledge of cult survivors. I believe everyone else in the world will be in my wife’s camp, thrilled to the bitter end.

Definitely put this one in your “must read” pile. And put the author on your “keep an eye out for her” list. ...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Luanne Ollivier rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

When Taylor Stevens' debut novel The Infomationist came out last year, I was aware of the buzz, but never got around to picking it up. Well, this New York Times bestseller is newly released in trade paperback, so I picked it up - and had a hard time putting it down. Wow - what a non stop thriller!

Vanessa Michael Munroe grew up in Africa, rebelling against the upbringing her missionary parents envisioned for her. Instead she made her own way, creating her own niche as an 'informationist'. Her When Taylor Stevens' debut novel The Infomationist came out last year, I was aware of the buzz, but never got around to picking it up. Well, this New York Times bestseller is newly released in trade paperback, so I picked it up - and had a hard time putting it down. Wow - what a non stop thriller!

Vanessa Michael Munroe grew up in Africa, rebelling against the upbringing her missionary parents envisioned for her. Instead she made her own way, creating her own niche as an 'informationist'. Her 'unique' set of skills make her sought after by corporations and private clients. But her latest client is looking for more than information. He wants Vanessa to look for his stepdaughter, who vanished four years ago while travelling through Africa. Although it's not really her kind of case, he's offering a lot of money, so she says yes.

What made it hard to put down? I loved the character. Her past is alluded to in the beginning and only really fleshed out as the book progresses. I wanted to know more about her. It was fantastic to have such a kick a** female protagonist, one who can hold her own in almost any situation. Over the top? Maybe - but a delicious piece of escapist reading.

What I also enjoyed was having a setting outside of North America. I was initially surprised by Stevens' choice until I learned a bit more about the author herself. She has lived in many of the countries she writes about and more. Stevens was born into the infamous Children of God cult and went where she was sent until she escaped when she was 28. Much of the Moore's emotions and conflicts seem to be pulled from Stevens' reality. What makes The Informationist even more impressive is that Stevens has a formal education level of grade six.

When reading The Informationist, I started to picture Vanessa Michael Moore as Angelina Jolie. If you enjoyed Jolie in the roles she played in Tomb Raider and Salt , you would really enjoy this character. Or if you're looking for a female Jack Reacher character. The next book in this series The Innocent is due out Dec 27th. Stevens will be drawing on her own past again - Vanessa is on the hunt for a child being hidden by a cult. This reader will be definitely picking it up! Read an excerpt of The Informationist.

...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Joey Comeau rated it it was ok

I enjoyed this book at first, and the problems I had might not bother other readers at all. I found the setting and characters compelling for the first half. But it slows down 2/3 of the way through, and it was at that point when the writing finally got to me. To be honest, I don't often judge thrillers based on the writing itself. I'm not looking for flowery prose or beautiful descriptions. I just want to know what's happening and who the characters are. But there were parts of the book where ...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Ronald Roseborough rated it it was amazing

Shelves: murder, mystery, crime, mystery-adventure-thriller

Every reader who craves action and adventure will love this book. It is nonstop from cover to cover. The heroine, Vanessa, who goes by as many names as she has personae, is a kick-ass force of nature. She can be as fierce and deadly as a black mamba snake or as elegant and smooth as a high paid call girl on the make. She is multilingual, highly intelligent and lethal. Her preferred job is collecting highly sensitive, often obscure, yet very valuable information, which she sells to high paying ...more

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May 01, 2011 David rated it it was ok

Okay, it was a real page-turner, and it kept me entertained in fine style from Santa Rosa to Denver. And, it depicted darkest Africa in an intense way that leads me to have no desire to set foot in the more dangerous countries. But other than that, not that great.

The complaint I have is the protagonist is too much super-hero. I'm getting a little tired of this already - Joe Pike (Robert Crais), Jack Reacher (Lee Child), John Rain (Barry Eisler), do they think everybody's got to be ...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Krita rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebooks

I gave this book 4 stars because I am quite intrigued by Vanessa/Michael's character. She is seriously screwed up but somehow manages to live with herself...some of the time.
There have been comparisons made to Lisbeth Salander but having read all of Lisbeth's books and only the first book about Michael, I would venture the following early assessment:
I do believe that these two characters are very different. Their similarities are their childhoods were somewhat messed up. However, I find Lisbeth ...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Wyma rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011-4-or-5-stars

The Informationist: the title grabs me like Noah Wylie's The Librarian, promising adventures of a someone like me. Nothing could be further from the truth of Michael (Vanessa, Essa) Munroe. She's the epitome of an informationist, researching a region or country, boots on the ground, sniffing out unwritten data, a super observer and synthesizer. A young girl who went missing while a tourist in Africa lures Munroe from usual assignments to a hunt for information on a trail, four years cold.

This is ...more

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Oct 09, 2014 Mike (the Paladin) rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller

Well....if you love this/these books please forgive me. I just could not get involved or even interested in it. The character(s) left me cold. This includes the protagonist.

I just didn't get into the book at all and finally laid it aside. I decided "back when" that if I "quit" a book I'd go 1 star.

Now I know many people love these. In a way I get this. I can tell it's well written. That said, I'm just not the intended audience for the book. The odd thing is the subject seems very interesting. ...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Read It Forward rated it it was amazing

Jason Bourne + Lisbeth Salander = Vanessa Michael Monroe. Can't remember the last time I met such a kick-ass heroine! What makes Taylor Stevens' debut so remarkable is that it's a page-turning thriller filled with plot twists you never see coming and characters so compelling they'll haunt you long after you read the last page. So good, so so good. If you're a big fan of Stieg Larsson, look no further. Put THE INFORMATIONIST at the top of your list.

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Nov 24, 2010 Erica rated it it was amazing

It can be hard to know where to turn after the final pages of the Stieg Larsson trilogy. I say leave chilly Scandinavia behind and embrace the oppressive African heat presented in The Informationist. Stevens’ protagonist, Vanessa Munroe, incorporates the physical acuity of Jason Bourne with the analytical mind and deceptively petite frame of Lisbeth Salander. Who could ask for more in a heart pounding thriller?

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Aug 08, 2018 Mary rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The translation ruined this for me *sigh*

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Aug 14, 2015 Krystin Rachel rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, female-lead, later-boners, damaged-people, espionage-or-undercover, series-book-one, criminal-underworld, romantic-suspense, challenge-2016

Um...

Ridiculous.

And sometimes that can be a good thing when it comes to action-thrillers, as long as they don't take themselves too seriously. They know their place, know that they are over-the-top and completely removed from real life, so they play it up and make it big, and have some fun. But in the case of The Informationist...

It was too long, way over-written, and tried too hard to make the main character of Vanessa Michael Munroe, damaged and dark, leaving her annoying and emotionless with ...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Joan rated it really liked it

Shelves: thrillers

I haven't finished this yet, but it is one of those books that once you start reading, it's nearly impossible to put down. I am listening to to audio as well, and it is very well done.

Vanessa Michael Munroe was raised in Africa by indifferent, missionary parents, left to her own devices, and as a young, rebellious teen, fell into bad and brutal company due to her unusual gifts of observation, liguistics, and analysis. When she escaped from Africa, she put those same skills to profitable use. As ...more

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About Taylor Stevens

Taylor Stevens

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TAYLOR STEVENS is a critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. Her books, known for high-octane plots populated with fascinating characters in vivid boots-on-the-ground settings, have been published in over twenty languages. THE INFORMATIONIST, first in the Vanessa Michael Munroe series has also been optioned for film by James ...more

Other books in the series

Vanessa Michael Munroe (5 books)

Books by Taylor Stevens

The Innocent (Vanessa Michael Munroe, #2)

The Vessel (Vanessa Michael Munroe #3.5)

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Quotes from The Informationist

“The aloneness. The invisible walls. Always the outsider looking in. Different. Unusual. I despise their world and the superficiality of it all and yet still want to be a part of it. I wonder sometimes how much simpler a life of naïveté and unawareness would be. I have on occasion found people I could trust with who I really am, and when that happens, I walk away....

It’s safer that way-- for them, for me. It’s far easier to bear personal pain than the responsibility of someone else’s. I feel safe around people as tough as I am, but they don’t come along that often.” — 9 likes

“She felt invisible shackles snaking around her wrists and ankles, took a deep breath and said..............” — 2 likes

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