The Informationist

A Thriller

By: Taylor Stevens

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

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 respect of the jungle's most dangerous men, cultivating her own reputation for years until something sent her running. After almost a decade building a new life and lucrative career from her home base in Dallas, she's never looked back.

Until now.

A Texas oil billionaire has hired her to find his daughter who vanished in Africa four years ago. It’s not her usual line of work, but she can’t resist the challenge. Pulled deep into the mystery of the missing girl, Munroe finds herself back in the lands of her childhood, betrayed, cut off from civilization, and left for dead. If she has any hope of escaping the jungle and the demons that drive her, she must come face-to-face with the past that she’s tried for so long to forget.

Gripping, ingenious, and impeccably paced, The Informationist marks the arrival or a thrilling new talent.

©2011 Taylor Stevens (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Stevens’s blazingly brilliant debut introduces a great new action heroine, Vanessa Michael Munroe, who doesn’t have to kick over a hornet’s nest to get attention, though her feral, take-no-prisoners attitude reflects the fire of Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander….Thriller fans will eagerly await the sequel to this high-octane page-turner.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Heroine Extraordinaire

Vanessa "Michael" Munroe is one of the first female characters to have it all. Most attempts at writing a woman into a leading role in espionage/spy/mystery novels always seems to be missing key elements that make her beleivable, or alternatively, feminine. Stevens' character has all of the well rounded attributes of the classic hero/anti-hero. The build up is slow but steady, and the storyline sufficient to carry the book through to its fantastic end. I hope to see more of Michael Munroe.

Well worth it!

I really enjoyed this book. Very interesting and moves along at just the right pace.

Credible story line with great characters

Where does The Informationist rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

definitely one of the top listens

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Informationist?

her primal fury at the death of her would be partner Ferdinand. But more than this the intelligence that she shows throughout the book

What does Hillary Huber bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The intensity and dominance of the female protaganoist

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Champion of Audiobooks?

I got to this book as an email was sent saying it had won the Champion of Audiobooks. Well, I wonder what the criteria was in this competition. The narration was great, so that wasn't the issue, but the story, which started off kind of fun and interesting just turned into being the most completely ridiculous and unbelievable tale I've experienced in a long time. Really not worth the time.

Captivating

The book was captivating. Ready to hear more from this author. Narrator did very well!

Good Fast Paced Story

I was surprised to see the negative comments about the narration. I thought the narrator was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I even kept listening after I turned off the car!! I would highly recommend this book.

Captivating pipeline, good twists, nicely narrated.

Really enjoyed the plot, with the intricacies, the twists, the intensity, and the outcome. Nicely diverting story. I’m looking forward to the next book. Narrator did an excellent job.

Exciting Listen!

Thoroughly enjoyable, though far-fetched yarn, the narrator did an awesome job! I couldn't stop listening until the very end.

WHAT A NICE SURPRISE!

I was intrigued by the Audible summary and although the author hasn't written much, I took a chance on this one, and it was one of the best books I have read/listened to in a while. The tough, capable heroine was believable, sort of a female Jack Reacher (who isn't so believable), which was unique. The backdrop of West Africa was fascinating. A good read, highly recommended.

Vanessa Michael monroe

excellent, but the beginning was a bit confusing due to introduction of character as Michael, then Monroe, and Vanessa.