The Informationist: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel

Vanessa "Michael" Munroe is a dark loner, gifted in language acquisition, physically and mentally tough, but also very troubled. She is hired to get information and succeeds, and the reader is both fascinated with the quest and dying to know what Michael has learned. I love the cultural and political details as Michael travels throughout the world. She is a protagonist worth reading about and following! Be prepared for some sleepless nights as you can't put the book down!

I thoroughly enjoyed this new author, but then I like this genre of book, among others. Her heroine is a female "Mitch Rapp" from the author Vince Flynn series. Her background is one like none other!

Don't get wrapped up in the comparisons to Dragon Tattoo. Read the book on its own merit and enjoy a fast paced thriller with cool setting and interesting characters. The protagonist is kick-ass and cool. I'll definitely read the sequel. Already downloaded for an upcoming beach trip.

Michael Munroe our heroine works with murderers, pirates. & thieves' & those are her friends, to complete a dangerous assignment. This well-written suspense novel will have you cheering for the under-dog....but is she really? A great read.

Fast paced and great story. I loved the characters -especially Vanessa. All the foreign locations made it a little hard to keep track but as those were central to the story I suppose necessary. Will definitely read more by this author

I was mesmerized by the character in this story. Development was good and the flow of the story worked well. I will certainly read more books by this author, starting with more of Vanessa Michael Munroe.

I thought this might be an interesting read, sort of a fast paced thriller which I indulge in now and then. And I'm always looking for a new writer to follow. I have to say, I was astonished by the skills this storyteller lays out for us--she evokes an Africa that recalls Graham Greene and the best of Philip Caputo for starters. Yes, her personal story is remarkable and so clearly informs her work. I eagerly await her next book.

First off, The Informationist is not as good as you might think based upon all of the breathlessly positive reviews. The main problem is the disconnect between the book's extremely compelling premise and the ragged quality of the writing itself. This was ultimately very frustrating -- like going to a World Series game where the best hitters turn in a sub-par performance.

The heroine of the book -- Vanessa Michael Munroe -- is someone who is known as an "informationist." She's a hired gun of sorts who companies hire to gather intelligence on foreign markets that will aid them in their business decisions. Her skills in this arena have not come easy, but are an outgrowth of survival skills learned growing up in the wilds of Cameroon as the daughter of missionaries and then, while still under 18, as part of a team of African mercenaries.

The book begins with Munroe being hired for a different, but very complementary assignment. A business tycoon's daughter has gone missing in Equatorial Guinea and after four years of searching it is still unclear whether she is alive or dead. Enter Vanessa Michael Munroe.

It's in the execution of the writing where the experience of this book falls off with page upon page of tortuous, cliched lines. For example, "It was one thing to allow a man access to her body, another thing entirely to allow a man access to her soul." And this goes on throughout the entire book.

Also, "Michael" as she's mostly referred to is a particularly grim and not very likable character. She comes across as particularly soulless and shallow at the beginning and really doesn't change all that much through the course of the book.

If you need a diversion on a plane, this could be a good choice. Just don't go in expecting any sort of tour-de-force.

Strong female lead and the background that produced this character. An adventure feast with twists and turns. Much of the adventure occurs in Africa which adds a touch of the exotic. I recommend it for you reading.

I'd read a couple of very favorable reviews before purchasing this book, and knowing myself - that I cannot stop once I get going - I waited for the weekend to start with the reading. And it was a great weekend indeed.
Vanessa is a character one likes and fears at the same time. Still, very easy to relate to, in spite of having a bit of a damaged goods air around her. In fact, that may be her most endearing feature. The African setting, the fast pace, and the pointed avoidance of having a grand finale with the rescue and all that made for a fantastic read. I'm really looking forward for the next Munroe installment.

This book introduced me to Taylor Stevens and the Vanessa Michael Monroe series. It ranks in the top 5 of all the thrillers I have read! Her subsequent books are also excellent but this is my most favorite!

Love this book. Love her writing. Great characters. Colorful stories. Adventure with a female protagonist. You want this character to succeed and you are with her thru thick and thin. I want more books by Taylor Stevens.

I read a lot of thrillers. Most are somewhat predictable but that's okay; they're still entertaining and worth the read. Every now and then one comes along that is very different, and that's what was so great about "The Informationist". Besides a great plot, it was fascinating to read about Africa in such detail. I just loved the book and couldn't put it down. Kudos to Taylor Stevens on her first novel! I'm looking forward to reading future books about Vanessa. And more Africa, please.

In the hot new sub-genre of thrillers with strong female leads, Vanessa Michael Monroe is at the forefront. The plot is breezy and not overly complicated, as the central conflict is not what drives this story. VMM is the reason you'll keep turning pages. She's a genius and a relentless action star in one formidable package. This is a great introduction to a new series.

This was a wonderful book! Ms. Stevens is a major new talent ranking right up there with the finest writers of our time. It is exciting to find another writer that will fill the gap left by those who have passed on in the last several years. Her background of living in foreign countries is obvious in her descriptions of exotic locals.

I really really liked this book.Vanessa Michael Monroe is bad news to the bad guys.An efficient,intelligent,and seriously deadly foe for any enemy to go up against.This book and Taylor Stevens other Vanessa Michael Monroe book The Innocent are at the top of my favorites list.If you like strong totally take charge female type books then this one's for you.I can't wait for the next book in the series due out in a few months.Great read!

Taylor Stevens has written a genuine thriller in this, her first novel, equal to or exceeding Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. The Informationist: A Thrilleris a "must read" if you liked Stieg Larsson's three novels - I believe Taylor has exceeded these two other authors in creativity and a bigger-than-life main character.

Jim Harvey

The author has an amazing understanding of culture,and imparts the story with a richness that adds to the tale. So much tragedy in Michael's life, yet she still tries to fight the darkness within.

A gripping story full of suspense, twists, and danger. Sure to be enjoyed by many.

After reading about the author's background and this book in a major magazine, I was really looking foward to this potentially intellectual thriller, but found it disappointing. The author had the great idea of a main character who specializes in gathering information, but was not really able to pull off detailed descriptions of that talent, so there is too little detective and information work, and too much cheesy violence and forced relationship building. For a true "informationist", stick with Sherlock Holmes.

This booked definitely deserves five stars. The story kept me hooked right from the start, the characters were believable, the story telling was great. I loved it, in fact after reading this book, purchased two others.

The Informationist is an excellent first novel. It's exciting. It's got a woman as the lead character. It travels the world and focuses on Africa and some of the odd tribal politics in Africa.

The story gets a little confused about 2/3rds of the way through as the author tries to make everybody the potential "bad guy." There are too many false flags.

On the other hand, the lead character is interesting and I'd definitely buy the next novel in the series.

Taylor Steven's......INFORMATIONIST........ is an absolute must read for lovers of great fiction.

The plot is full of intrigue. Her character development is both imaginative and unpredictable. Her writing style is most descriptive.....eg. "She felt invisible shackles around her waist and ankles, took a deep breath and said...................."

Thank you Taylor for a great reading experience!

Rich L.

I became fascinated by the Vanessa Michael Munro character, to the extent that I immediately bought another book featuring her/him, "The Innocent", which I have not yet read.The leading character is a refreshingly original mixture of Jack Reacher and Lara Croft, and there is enough non-stop action to satisfy the most avid adventure fan. I recommend this book as a good enjoyable read.

Ms. Taylor has penned a great read. Moves quickly, has great detail and insight to the different world societies that she weaves together,her story line offers small clues to keep the reader interested. The main characters as well as the supporting characters are well fleshed out I hope to see many more 'Nessa Munroe novels.