The Informationist

May 30, 2011
When hired to locate the missing daughter of a billionaire, the skilled information-tracker, Vanessa "Michael" Munroe must use her skills to track down possible leads and determine if the girl is even still alive. Munroe's information moves her into increasingly dangerous predicaments as she moves (and is moved) about the world to find the daughter. Stevens spins a compelling and suspenseful narrative that is only enhanced by Hillary Huber's performance. Huber's cool delivery adds to Monroe's toughness and well-composed persona. She's vocally lively but controlled, befitting the character who must keep a level head as she survives perilous encounters. At other times, Huber's voice has a certain sardonic tone that works equally well with the narrative. Additionally, Huber executes strong dialogue among characters, not only keeping consistency but also maintaining necessary tension among certain characters. A Crown hardcover.

Starred review from January 3, 2011
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. Nine years have passed since Munroe, the daughter of American missionaries, escaped Cameroon at age 15 after a violent incident. She's forged a new life in Texas as an "informationist," a person who specializes in gathering information about developing countries for corporations. Munroe's best friend, marketing consultant Kate Breeden, refers her to Miles Bradford, a high-stakes security pro, who believes she's the perfect choice to help Houston oilman Richard Burbank find his adopted daughter, Emily, who vanished four years earlier at age 18 while vacationing in west central Africa. Munroe returns to Africa, where she reconnects with her ex-boyfriend, Francisco Beyard, a sexy drug- and gun-running businessman, who assists in the dangerous search for Emily. Thriller fans will eagerly await the sequel to this high-octane page-turner.

Those who want information turn to Vanessa Michael Munroe, an African-born investigator with a gift for languages and violence. Her latest client is a Texas business tycoon whose stepdaughter disappeared while on a trip to the Dark Continent. Narrator Hillary Huber's smoky voice is perfect for Munroe: subtly sexy with an undercurrent of danger. As Munroe's investigation exposes political, economic, and personal betrayals, her resources and survival instincts are pushed to their limits. Listeners are quickly caught up in this thriller, keying into the emotional complexities of the characters. Whether Munroe is in a luxury hotel in Paris or the snake-infested jungles of Equatorial Guinea, Huber's slight accents serve as guideposts for listeners, distinguishing individuals and adding to the atmosphere. C.B.L. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine