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The Informationist (Vanessa Michael Munroe, #1)

Taylor Stevens

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Aug 31, 2011 Jen rated it did not like it

Shelves: murder_mayhem_et_al, overrated

Blech. I haven't been so happy to finish a book in a looooong time. I toyed with giving it two stars, because I didn't HATE it, but since one star is "didn't like it," it certainly fit.

I picked this up because of the Millenium Trilogy/Lisbeth Salander comparisons, but the only thing that's remotely similar is that the one of the main characters is a woman who kills people. This book was basically a giant action/adventure whatever, and the fact that the main character was a woman was sort of poin Blech. I haven't been so happy to finish a book in a looooong time. I toyed with giving it two stars, because I didn't HATE it, but since one star is "didn't like it," it certainly fit.

I picked this up because of the Millenium Trilogy/Lisbeth Salander comparisons, but the only thing that's remotely similar is that the one of the main characters is a woman who kills people. This book was basically a giant action/adventure whatever, and the fact that the main character was a woman was sort of pointless, except for the occasional heterosexual attractions.

Here are some of my problems:

1) The author changes what he calls the main character three/four different times. At first I thought maybe it was because he was trying to set up different identities for each of the roles she took on, but I think it was either laziness in writing/editing or really bad writing.

2) Winking & Chuckling. Not things that happen regularly, and not things that actually move things along. If someone's going to be flirty, describe how they're flirty, not that they "winked." If something's really funny, then make it funny! Grr. It's one thing if each happened once, but no, many more times.

3) I don't buy that the main character can pass as a guy just with a haircut and an ace bandage. Not enough detail to suss it out.

4) Each character sounded exactly like each other character. Combine that with the changing name of the main person, and I had to re-read more often than not.

5) I could definitely see some of the action sequences as a movie. Angelina Jolie for the standard kick-butt girl action, but maybe a newcomer. Has the author written for tv/film? I could see that. (and that's what almost made it a two-star-er)

6) How could a five year drama of deceit, war, intrigue, violence, etc be so damned BORING? And the climax? BORING. The reveal? BORING. Tiny details about the main character that are supposed to make her interesting but don't because she's not at all a sympathetic character? BORING.

Nope, not looking forward to the sequel. And I only finished it because I wanted to write this review :)

Skip it. Wait for the movie. ...more

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May 17, 2011 Kate rated it liked it

I couldn't put it down, although I can't say it's great. The prose is super purple, which doesn't jive well with a story about characters who are supposed to be tough-as-nails, understated, you'll-never-know-what-I've-been through kind of people. And the beginning of the book doesn't really match the end -- stuff is set up that never pays off, mostly to do with some kind of weird prophecy. (I had an advance copy -- maybe they fixed that?) Also, when the main character finally gets around to the ...more

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Mar 07, 2014 Bryan457 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-mystery-detective, action-adventure, thriller, fights-n-fighters, re-play

Vanessa is a psychotic woman with serious knife skills who soaks up new languages as easily as I read books. The setting is exotic dangerous Africa.

It was a fast paced story. I like it, and look forward to the next one eagerly.

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