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The Informant
By the author of the bestselling The Pardon, this fast-paced novel teams a resourceful FBI agent and an embattled journalist in a hunt for two men -- a serial killer and his elusive informant.
When an informer chooses Miami Tribune crime reporter Michael Posten as his conduit, giving him information about murders that haven't yet taken place, investigators speculate on whether the killer and informer are the same person. As the newspaper continues to deposit larger sums into the killer's account, FBI agent Victoria Santos and the reluctant journalist join forces to prevent the next gruesome murder. But then dues stop and the murders continue... until a psychopath makes one mistake too many. This gripping, unpredictable story of revenge will not be soon forgotten.
When an informer chooses Miami Tribune crime reporter Michael Posten as his conduit, giving him information about murders that haven't yet taken place, investigators speculate on whether the killer and informer are the same person. As the newspaper continues to deposit larger sums into the killer's account, FBI agent Victoria Santos and the reluctant journalist join forces to prevent the next gruesome murder. But then dues stop and the murders continue... until a psychopath makes one mistake too many. This gripping, unpredictable story of revenge will not be soon forgotten.
468 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1996
102 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
James Grippando
50 books1,182 followers The first thing you should know about bestselling author James Grippando is that he is no longer clueless—or so they say, after “A James Grippando Novel” was a clue for #38 Across in the New York Times crossword puzzle. James is the winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction and a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 novels to his credit, including the popular series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. His latest, "Goodbye Girl" (HarperCollins 2024), is the 18th in the Swyteck series. His novels are enjoyed worldwide in 28 languages. As an adjunct professor he teaches "The Law & Lawyers in Modern Literature" at the University of Miami School of Law. He is also counsel at one of the nation’s leading law firms, where he specializes in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing clients who have won more than 40 Tony Awards. He writes in south Florida with Atlas at his side, a faithful golden retriever who has no idea he’s a dog.
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 19, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. The story line kept moving with lots of interesting twists along the way
March 26, 2023
Second time read.
Mike Poster - reporter - serial killer - pretty good
Mike Poster - reporter - serial killer - pretty good
August 13, 2014
A serial killer being pursued by the FBI. An informer has contacted a Miami Reporter and threatened him unless he pays for the information the informer is willing to share. The reporter, with the consent of his publishers, gets involved with the FBI and uses their funds secretly to pay off the informer. These are the basics that initiate the novel. Telling more would be a spoiler and I won't do that. It is remarkably complex and riveting. Readers will find themselves spending time with this novel even when they have other commitments until they complete it.
October 14, 2019
THE INFORMANT BY JAMES GRIPPANDO
MY REVIEW FOUR STARS****
I recently read this second book from Florida attorney James Grippando, a standalone novel which was published in 1996. This was a couple of years following his debut novel THE PARDON which featured the his subsequent series character Jack Swytek. THE INFORMANT is a serial killer thriller and it was riveting from the first page. Our protagonists are a smart, tough FBI Agent named Victoria Santos and Pulitzer Prize winning Mike Posten, a reporter for the Miami Tribune. A serial murderer is building an impressive body count striking all over the map, his numerous kills in an increasing number of different police and law enforcement jurisdictions. There are no similarities among the victims, ranging in age from early 30's to late 70's, the sex of his targets about half and half, differed races, dissimilar backgrounds, just no obvious kind of connection apparent for the FBI to use in creating a victim profile. His MO was more like a signature, ripping out the tongues of his victims while they were still alive or in the process of dying. Other than that, the authorities had nothing. He did not always target a victim who lived alone, nor did he limit the murders to one target at a time, slaughtering a husband and wife in one instance.
The reporter is chosen by an "informant" who offers to reveal the names of the people on the killer's list. He sends Posten information in the mail prior to the murder of an elderly widow who is the murderer's most current victim. It is obvious that the mysterious informant knew the victim's identify before the murder happened. However, the unknown source wants to be paid handsomely for his contributions, and therein sets up the topic of "checkbook journalism". Posten takes the matter up with the higher echelon at the newspaper and all of the angles are considered. The Tribune strikes a deal with the FBI whereby the Feds will remain in a clandestine role, supplying the cash to meet the informer's demands, and in return they can read the Tribune wherein Posten will print what information that he receives from this anonymous know-it-all.
This storyline is intriguing from the beginning, and the author's narrative has the feel of a true crime novel, absolutely credible and authentic. The main characters are well developed and the dialogue is well written. Posten and Victoria are both likeable heroes albeit Posten's driven nature and his marital problems accentuate his self-absorption with chasing the story at all costs. Grippando demonstrates his ability to write a story with a complex plot and then manage to successfully tie up all the loose ends and even pull off a plot twist that explains the marital conflict and its relationship to the main plot.
I enjoyed this book immensely, in large part because serial killer thrillers are my go-to genre, but this book penned by a young Grippando nearly 25 years ago is truly an excellent example of the genre at its best. He creates a serial murderer whose motivation is quite original, the details of the FBI profilers and team written with incredible authenticity, and the paranoid ideation of a volatile sexual psychopath pulled off with impressive accuracy and believability. 34% in to the book and the story was riveting, had strong sympathetic leads, a remorseless informant and a chilling serial killer. I was already contemplating an outstanding 5-Stars.
My only criticism is that the book's unputdownable intensity factor peaked around the mid-point of the novel, and then the author illuminated the reader as to the identity of both the killer and the informant. As a reader I had still been ruminating whether or not they were one person, like pretty much everyone thought including the FBI brain trust. Victoria was alone in her conviction that they were two men. It was frustrating for me to try to figure out how the "informant" could possibly figure out the killer's list of victims and the order he would strike. Then the reader is made privy to the informant's relationship to the killer, and naturally we then understand his uncanny talent in leaking the information to Posten. These big reveals that occur roughly at the halfway point in the book lowered the "wow" factor for me to an appreciable degree. The novel takes another sharp turn when the FBI locates the serial killer and endeavors to trap him on an ocean luxury liner. Posten finds himself in the unenviable position of risking his own life to stop this psychopath. There is plenty of action as the novel ratchets up the suspense before the ultimate showdown between our diabolical killer and our two heroes Posten and Victoria. I loved the way that the author depicted the hostage situation when Victoria and a fellow agent were conducting presentations for teaching agents and law enforcement personnel. The climax of the book showed the reader the true to life scenario of a showdown when the hostage-taker has a gun to the hostage's head.
Despite the observation that I felt the novel flattened out quite a bit after the midpoint, the narrative style and the plot unfolding still maintained my attention throughout the rest of the book. I was still vested, and still enjoying a genuine "page-turner" but I knew what answers I would find at the end. This is an excellent second outing for a young author, and an early work of Grippando's that I believe any of his fans would enjoy.
MY REVIEW FOUR STARS****
I recently read this second book from Florida attorney James Grippando, a standalone novel which was published in 1996. This was a couple of years following his debut novel THE PARDON which featured the his subsequent series character Jack Swytek. THE INFORMANT is a serial killer thriller and it was riveting from the first page. Our protagonists are a smart, tough FBI Agent named Victoria Santos and Pulitzer Prize winning Mike Posten, a reporter for the Miami Tribune. A serial murderer is building an impressive body count striking all over the map, his numerous kills in an increasing number of different police and law enforcement jurisdictions. There are no similarities among the victims, ranging in age from early 30's to late 70's, the sex of his targets about half and half, differed races, dissimilar backgrounds, just no obvious kind of connection apparent for the FBI to use in creating a victim profile. His MO was more like a signature, ripping out the tongues of his victims while they were still alive or in the process of dying. Other than that, the authorities had nothing. He did not always target a victim who lived alone, nor did he limit the murders to one target at a time, slaughtering a husband and wife in one instance.
The reporter is chosen by an "informant" who offers to reveal the names of the people on the killer's list. He sends Posten information in the mail prior to the murder of an elderly widow who is the murderer's most current victim. It is obvious that the mysterious informant knew the victim's identify before the murder happened. However, the unknown source wants to be paid handsomely for his contributions, and therein sets up the topic of "checkbook journalism". Posten takes the matter up with the higher echelon at the newspaper and all of the angles are considered. The Tribune strikes a deal with the FBI whereby the Feds will remain in a clandestine role, supplying the cash to meet the informer's demands, and in return they can read the Tribune wherein Posten will print what information that he receives from this anonymous know-it-all.
This storyline is intriguing from the beginning, and the author's narrative has the feel of a true crime novel, absolutely credible and authentic. The main characters are well developed and the dialogue is well written. Posten and Victoria are both likeable heroes albeit Posten's driven nature and his marital problems accentuate his self-absorption with chasing the story at all costs. Grippando demonstrates his ability to write a story with a complex plot and then manage to successfully tie up all the loose ends and even pull off a plot twist that explains the marital conflict and its relationship to the main plot.
I enjoyed this book immensely, in large part because serial killer thrillers are my go-to genre, but this book penned by a young Grippando nearly 25 years ago is truly an excellent example of the genre at its best. He creates a serial murderer whose motivation is quite original, the details of the FBI profilers and team written with incredible authenticity, and the paranoid ideation of a volatile sexual psychopath pulled off with impressive accuracy and believability. 34% in to the book and the story was riveting, had strong sympathetic leads, a remorseless informant and a chilling serial killer. I was already contemplating an outstanding 5-Stars.
My only criticism is that the book's unputdownable intensity factor peaked around the mid-point of the novel, and then the author illuminated the reader as to the identity of both the killer and the informant. As a reader I had still been ruminating whether or not they were one person, like pretty much everyone thought including the FBI brain trust. Victoria was alone in her conviction that they were two men. It was frustrating for me to try to figure out how the "informant" could possibly figure out the killer's list of victims and the order he would strike. Then the reader is made privy to the informant's relationship to the killer, and naturally we then understand his uncanny talent in leaking the information to Posten. These big reveals that occur roughly at the halfway point in the book lowered the "wow" factor for me to an appreciable degree. The novel takes another sharp turn when the FBI locates the serial killer and endeavors to trap him on an ocean luxury liner. Posten finds himself in the unenviable position of risking his own life to stop this psychopath. There is plenty of action as the novel ratchets up the suspense before the ultimate showdown between our diabolical killer and our two heroes Posten and Victoria. I loved the way that the author depicted the hostage situation when Victoria and a fellow agent were conducting presentations for teaching agents and law enforcement personnel. The climax of the book showed the reader the true to life scenario of a showdown when the hostage-taker has a gun to the hostage's head.
Despite the observation that I felt the novel flattened out quite a bit after the midpoint, the narrative style and the plot unfolding still maintained my attention throughout the rest of the book. I was still vested, and still enjoying a genuine "page-turner" but I knew what answers I would find at the end. This is an excellent second outing for a young author, and an early work of Grippando's that I believe any of his fans would enjoy.
February 3, 2017
This is the second book by James Grippando that I've read. Both The Pardon and The Informant have been fun reads. Both books have kept my imagination working and not been too obvious. I'll read more from Grippando.
August 16, 2017
Library Audible (Reminder)
Key characters FBI agent Victoria Santos come profiler and an embattled journalist Michael Posten in a hunt for two men -- a serial killer and his elusive informant. Michael is also very much inlove with his wife Karin but they are living apart and going through marriage counselling. Some of the problem on Karin's side is her secret of a rape and coldly shooting the attacher who prior to his good and timely exit told Karin he was only 15. She somehow took on some sort guilt and buried it kinda of senario. In the end she relays the event to Michael at the end and they patch up. Really glad to hear it of course.
When an informer (disgraced ex cop and former friend and early years co troublemaker with actual murferer,the friend been Kurt Rawlings) chooses Miami Tribune crime reporter Michael Posten as his conduit, giving him information about murders that haven't yet taken place, investigators speculate on whether the killer and informer are the same person which is not the case. The ex friend found a way to take advantage of a money grabbing scheme via the media,). As the newspaper continues to deposit larger sums into the informant's account, FBI agent Victoria Santos and the reluctant journalist join forces to prevent the next gruesome murder. The two do not solve the murderer id until the psychopath makes one mistake too many, when he got hold of his ex friend the informant he gets the Antigua bank location, false identityetc then murders his ex friend. But he does not have enough control over himself and mistakes two bank security guards bringing the cash as police and shoots them dead so he makes a run for it and ends up on a cruise liner. He gets Michael's wife Karin as a hostage because whe was the one who informed on him on a previous cruise and sent him to jail. He had been murdering all the witnessing against him after he was released . In the inevitable show down the murderer is killed and karin unharmed. All ends well so to speak.
Key characters FBI agent Victoria Santos come profiler and an embattled journalist Michael Posten in a hunt for two men -- a serial killer and his elusive informant. Michael is also very much inlove with his wife Karin but they are living apart and going through marriage counselling. Some of the problem on Karin's side is her secret of a rape and coldly shooting the attacher who prior to his good and timely exit told Karin he was only 15. She somehow took on some sort guilt and buried it kinda of senario. In the end she relays the event to Michael at the end and they patch up. Really glad to hear it of course.
When an informer (disgraced ex cop and former friend and early years co troublemaker with actual murferer,the friend been Kurt Rawlings) chooses Miami Tribune crime reporter Michael Posten as his conduit, giving him information about murders that haven't yet taken place, investigators speculate on whether the killer and informer are the same person which is not the case. The ex friend found a way to take advantage of a money grabbing scheme via the media,). As the newspaper continues to deposit larger sums into the informant's account, FBI agent Victoria Santos and the reluctant journalist join forces to prevent the next gruesome murder. The two do not solve the murderer id until the psychopath makes one mistake too many, when he got hold of his ex friend the informant he gets the Antigua bank location, false identityetc then murders his ex friend. But he does not have enough control over himself and mistakes two bank security guards bringing the cash as police and shoots them dead so he makes a run for it and ends up on a cruise liner. He gets Michael's wife Karin as a hostage because whe was the one who informed on him on a previous cruise and sent him to jail. He had been murdering all the witnessing against him after he was released . In the inevitable show down the murderer is killed and karin unharmed. All ends well so to speak.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2020
I read alot of mystery and suspense novels and I found this one to be interesting because the focus really is not on the actual murders. We don't get alot of detail about the killings and at first that was odd to me but as the book went on, I appreciated it. We know the common element of the murders and that's enough. Unlike most other mysteries I've read, the author doesn't take the reader to the actual locations of the killings or provide alot of details about the victims. The novel really focuses on the two main characters, Jack and Victoria. I liked it more than I thought I would, especially since the beginning of the book made me uncomfortable. I was happy NOT to have details about General Lee but had some moments when I thought I'd have to read them. Overall, the book was a page turner and I think it got better as it went on.
February 24, 2023
I've been a James Grippando fan for over 20 years. I've read every Swyteck book he's written and loved almost all of them. This book was a pleasant surprise. Veering away from Swyteck was not easy for me but this was as good as any Grippando book I've read. This book never had a dull moment. The characters were very real and he puts you in their place throughout the book.
I reserve my 5 star ratings for classic books but this was as good as a 4 star book can be.
I reserve my 5 star ratings for classic books but this was as good as a 4 star book can be.
February 14, 2020
Grippando has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This is my second story by him, "Cash Landing" being my first. "The Informant" was very enjoyable. I wanted a more robust ending but all the twists, turns and the terrific cast made that easy to overlook. It's a good read that I highly recommend!
May 27, 2024
Well written and interesting! There was one scene that legitimately made me want to throw up and cry at the same time because it played right in my biggest fear, but other than that it was a good thriller.
I don’t think crime fiction is the genre for me. It’s dark with little redemption at the end.
I don’t think crime fiction is the genre for me. It’s dark with little redemption at the end.
December 17, 2024
Creepy, scary, fast-forward action-driven, plotted like a pro! Of special interest is the circular patterning in the plot: some action sequences end up circling back to their starting points. Also interesting is the juxtaposition of the power plays of his main character, Mike, against those of Santos, the FBI protagonist. Aspiring novelists can learn a lot from Grippando's crisp writing!
June 4, 2017
My 1st read for James Grippando and I'm sure it won't be the last. :D
This book has alot things that I like in a book... fast pace and twists.
It wasn't the best that I've read, but It's not anything less than extremely interesting.
I definitely recommend it for everybody :)
This book has alot things that I like in a book... fast pace and twists.
It wasn't the best that I've read, but It's not anything less than extremely interesting.
I definitely recommend it for everybody :)
February 5, 2020
Great read. Good plot. Good character development. The two main characters started off almost opposing one another, but wound up a great team, one a journalist, the other an FBI agent. Some very tense moments. A real page turner. Good triumphs over evil which is the way I like it!
January 7, 2024
I love this book. Once I started I couldn't put it down. It's an older book and the technology mentioned in the story made me realize how much has changed in a short time which added to the story for me.
January 22, 2025
Very Harlan Cobanesque. The first half of the book was like putting all the ingredients into a stew, investigating each ingredient. The second half was about the stew, the story really came together, though I had to get my mind into the 80's at times. Definitely worth the read.
October 29, 2017
Excellent book!! Couldn't put it down!!
July 28, 2018
Nice plot.
July 12, 2018
While I enjoyed the premise of this book, the escapes of the killer were not realistic.
July 24, 2018
This book feels like a mash-up of a John Grisham novel &a "Die Hard" movie.
January 29, 2019
An informant leaks information about serial murders as they occur. A complicated story leading to a surprise ending related directly to the newspaper reporter.
February 8, 2020
Started a little slow for me, but got better.
April 1, 2020
Ah, a good stand alone book by Grippando! I think it's because it didn't deal with the financial world. More like a Swyteck book without Jack in it.
September 26, 2020
One of my favorite Grippando books. A little more intellectual suspense and less physical fights which I enjoyed.
November 15, 2020
It was okay
May 17, 2021
Enjoyed very much.
January 6, 2022
Not bad!
February 25, 2023
Great writer. Can't put it down.
October 5, 2024
I needed a break from my usual books, and this was pretty good. The plot holds nicely, and I like how it all tied together at the end.
February 14, 2025
Might take a bit to get into the thread of Grippando's writing, but I do like it. Mystery until the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews