. . . Then you might like The Informationist: a Thriller, by Taylor Stevens.
Vanessa Monroe is the strong, gutsy female protagonist in this novel. Like Lizbeth Salander, Vanessa’s youth was marked by violence and abuse, propelling her to become adept at physical combat and the use of weapons. Her unique skills are not with the computer but with her mastery of languages and a chameleon-like ability to slide in and out of a culture. Dealing information to wealthy clients throughout the world, Vanessa hopes to leave her unconventional past behind her. However, a mission to find the missing daughter of a Texas oil billionaire forces her to return to the central African region of her youth.