Need To Know
by Karen Cleveland
If this is the first book by Ms. Cleveland, I think we are in for a treat in whatever she writes in the future. While this book was not my favorite, I would still hand sell and recommend to anyone who enjoys a good a good thriller with some twists and turns. While I realize I can't have everything I really enjoy a strong female protagonist. and while she gave off that illusion...it was not real. Kind of frightening that this actually could happen. Enjoy the book!

Rating: 5/5 Stars
How far will you go to protect your family and find ways to keep it together? How well do you think you know your husband? Vivian works for the CIA in the Russian department and is close to finding some information about sleepers. What she finds out is her husband is living a double life and starts to feel like her whole marriage has been a sham. Blackmail and secrets become a thing of Vivian’s life.
I really enjoyed Need to Know. The book was well written and gripped me from the first page. I did not want to the book to end and I wish and hope for a sequel.
Need to Know will be out on January 23, 2018. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for the galley.

Need To Know is Karen Cleveland’s first book and hopefully it won’t be her last! Vivian is a CIA counterintelligence analyst whose job is to find Russian sleeper cells in the United States. She has developed a way to do this and is anxious to locate these sleeper cells. She finds a folder online that has just what she needs to get the job done but when she opens the file, her whole world is turned upside down. Besides Vivian, her husband, her children and her job are threatened because of her discovery. Who should she trust with this information...her co-workers, her boss, no one? What information is true and what is a lie? How does she keep her family safe while still being loyal to her job and the United States? When you think you know the answers, more information emerges and changes your whole perspective. All of these questions will be answered when you read this book.
The detail In this book is so believable and realistic because the author was an actual CIA analyst so I’m sure she made it as realistic as she possibly could have. I highly recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing with and an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Want a non-stop read, well this debut novel is the one for you. From the beginning of the novel when Vivian, a CIA analyst, sees her husband's face appear on a Russian spy's computer until the very end you will waver back and forth. What will VIvian do, is Matt being honest, will she suffer the consequences of her actions, what's going to happen to her family, is Matt hiding his true Russian sleeper self? There aren't many novels that I find myself paging back through to find out what I missed, but Karen Cleveland had me rereading sections to reinterpret my conclusions., with delight that she caught me in her net. A great debut novel and I can't wait for the next.

I don’t know how anyone could rate this less than 5 stars. A stellar stellar achievement for a debut author that had me going until 2am to finish. It is simply a dazzling feat of suspense and intrigue . If one has seen,liked and appreciated the TV show The Americans ,you will be enamored of this novel.
Starting off with a bang, you realize that something is very very wrong in the marriage between Matt and Vivian.Vivian is a CIA analyst involved in investigating Russian sleeper cells but in the course of her investigation comes across information that affect her family directly. The information she unearths begs one to question how love colors allegiance and what a conundrum occurs when one love blinds one’s self. Literally, I was so anxious about the ultimate fate of these individuals that my heart was pounding. In addition to being such a fabulous thriller, it is going to be made into a movie with Charlize Theron. Addictive and all consuming, do NOT miss this one!

Vivian Miller has a fulfilling but hectic life. She is happily married to a loving husband, Matt, and is the mother of son Luke, daughter Ella, and twin toddlers, Caleb and Chase. She also has a demanding job at the Central Intelligence Agency working to identify suspected sleeper cells of Russian agents operating in the United States. On the day she is to apply a new algorithm that may offer a significant breakthrough in her work, daughter Ella gets sick and needs to be picked up from daycare at the same time that Matt is taking Caleb, who was born with a heart defect, to the cardiologist. These kinds of conflicting priorities are faced by working parents all the time, but Vivian could never have imagined the kind of conflicting priorities she will have to resolve when her algorithm yields a success.
It would be impossible to say much more about the story without revealing spoilers, and that would be criminal, because the suspense is superbly handled. Karen Cleveland excels at chapters that end in a “punch line”, a turning point that sets us up for the next chapter.
Standard advice to aspiring writers is to “write what you know. Cleveland, a former CIA employee, has made good use of this advice, and the book has a ring of authenticity, from jargon like “compartmented information” to the description of going through security as you enter the building. How accurate are details like how the offices are laid out and organized, only the CIA could confirm, and I imagine they are not telling. I did think that the original deep-cover activity that Vivian discovers should not have escaped the CIA’s security checks, but the reader does not get details on how they were successful, and I was sucked into the story far enough to hope that it represents a bit of literary license and not a real pattern of inadequate security checks by the CIA.
In addition to spycraft, Cleveland shows her mastery of the craft of writing. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. Need to Know is told from Vivian’s point of view, and she comes across as a fully believable person faced with a horrific threat to her family and her life. My heart ached for her problems ( I hope the film can reproduce her inner conflicts and reactions so that the moviegoers don’t miss out). The suspense-filled plot was extremely well done also; this literally was a book I did NOT want to put down (much as I dislike using that cliché!).
The ending was fast-paced but a bit “Hollywoodish”, perhaps not surprising for a book that was so quickly snapped up to be made into a motion picture. It should be a super movie, but don’t wait for it to hit the big screen. Go ahead and read the book!
NOTE: I received an advance reader copy of this book in order to write an honest review.
Need to Know is just what you need to read!

What a great book! It was enjoyable from beginning to the last page and I certainly hope there is a sequel in progress. Ms. Cleveland developed the story so convincingly - her background shows as the plausibility of the story continued. I loved it!

Let me start out by saying that I read this novel in just ONE day. That may not mean a lot to some people, but trust me... if you met my hyperactive almost-two-year-old.. you would wonder how I get anything done in one day, much less the reading of an entire novel. 

This novel is face-paced and action-packed. I read suspense, thriller, and crime-related novels on a very frequent basis and one of the things I loved the most about this novel was it's unique plot. Maybe I have just somehow missed all the titles similar to this, but I have never read another novel about CIA counterintelligence, especially not in the context that it is presented in this storyline. 





"'How long have you been working for the Russians?' I say. The words are raw, unprocessed. But they're out now... " 

Vivian Miller is a CIA analyst, working on a special project that focuses on uncovering Russian sleeper spies that are 'hiding in plain sight' on United States soil. She has scarified so much of her life for her career, especially her desire to stay home with her four children, but she is edging closer to a big break that she hopes will make everything worth this one big moment. She has developed a computer program, Athena (goddess of wisdom and military victory-- tip of the hat for clever naming Karen Cleveland), that allows her to access the computer of suspected Russian operatives.

On this particularly ordinary day, when Vivian accesses the computer of a potential handler, she discovers a simple, but obviously important, file. This file is labeled 'friends' and contains five photos. No other information, just five photos. With her prior knowledge of the Russian sleeper cells in the United States, Vivian knows that these must be the five sleeper spies that are operating under this particular handler. As she opens each of the photos in succession, her entire world is stood on end. 

"I put my fingertips to my temples. The ringing in my head won't stop. It's like something's there, some realization, only it's so awful I fan't wrap my head around it, can't acknowledge it's real, because my whole world will come crashing down."

Vivian is faced with multiple incredibly tough decisions that could consequently destroy her career, her marriage, her freedom, her loyalty--even her children, the most important part of her life. There never seems to be an 'easy way' or 'right way' out of every situation, placing Vivian in a true Catch-22 situation at every twist and turn of the novel. 

"Sometimes we think that shielding the truth will protect those we love the most."

I am predicting a wide-spread popularity in support of this novel after it's release in January 2018. There isn't much more you could ask for when it comes to an action-packed suspense novel for the every-day reader. The novel is from the perspective of a busy mother of four, belonging to an ordinary and loving marriage, with just the right mixture of technical terms and information related to the CIA. This combination makes the storyline and raw emotions that are displayed highly approachable for readers who like to relate to their main character(s). 





A few fun facts that I feel the need to share:

If you are unsure of what a sleeper spy is--I recommend some light research (aka: Google) before starting this novel. The author never really provides background knowledge to this term in the beginning of the novel. Maybe I've just been living under a rock... but I did not know what a sleeper spy was, and I like to have all of my 'ducks in a row' when it comes to contextual facts in a novel. 
The author, Karen Cleveland actually worked for the CIA as an analyst for eight years! She focused primarily on conterterrorism, which is obvious in this novel, given her background knowledge about her content. 
Universal Pictures has already put plans in place to develop a film for this novel, staring Charlize Theron. I did not know this tidbit of information until after I finished the novel and now I am so very excited to see this come to fruition.  
 This novel leaves a sneaky little open door to a sequel at the end.. which makes me one happy reader!


This is a review for the Kindle (digital) version of Need to Know.  I received an advanced digital copy of this novel via NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine Books) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions reflected in this review are my own and were in no way influenced by the opportunity to provide an advanced reading review.


Review is posted on:

Blog:
http://offthepressreads.com/need-to-know/

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2208157502?type=review#rating_143630307

Instagram (see @off_the_press)

Edelweiss:
https://www.edelweiss.plus/?sku=1524797022

Will review on Amazon and other bookseller pages (ie. Barnes & Noble) once published.

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

I'm not sure why this spy novel showed up on my reading list, but I am thrilled that it did. The author, Karen Cleveland, comes by her knowledge of spycraft from first-hand experience working for the CIA in counterterrorism. The setting is Bethesda, Maryland where Vivian Miller lives with her husband and four children.

Vivian seems always torn between her work duty, Russian counterintelligence, and her family of young children, Luke, Ella, and the twin babies, Caleb and Chase. Matt, Vivian's husband, is a software engineer, and he does most of the domestic heavy lifting. He is there when the kids get home from daycare, and he usually has dinner on the table by the time Vivian can leave her desk.

It is difficult to talk about this book without giving away essential plot points. But it is safe to say that this book is a thrilling suspense filled spy story. I just couldn't stop reading it to the very end of one sitting. Vivian has to make decisions that are beyond most people's reach. Working as a CIA analyst turns out to be anything but a tedious desk job. And the story is not a tried and true car-chase, shoot em up story either. The novel deals with the love, anxiety, and fragility of a young family. It is thoughtful, smart, and caring. I am looking forward to the film adaptation with Charlize Theron as Vivian.

Thank you, NetGalley, the author, and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC which will be published in January.

Vivian’s job as an analyst in the CIA’s counterintelligence “vault” is about to become the greatest nightmare she will ever know, all because she did her job and uncovered a Russian spy sleeper cell on U.S. soil.

Not only has she hacked into the computer of a suspected Russian handler, she has uncovered the agents under his charge, but her “hack” did not go unnoticed and now she is caught between keeping her family safe and becoming a traitor to the country she has taken an oath to protect and defend. As her life unravels before her, she looks back on her past and realizes that not only has she uncovered Russian spies, but she may have slept with the enemy.

Karen Cleveland pours on the drama, shattering one woman’s sense of security while sending her plummeting into a dark world of spy versus spy. When her family is threatened, she becomes a lioness on the hunt, but even a lion would be no match for a pack of wolves and jackals. Is Viv prepared to play Russian roulette with her life? Who can she trust? Like Liar’s Poker, how much is she willing to bet on her gut instincts?

NEED TO KNOW by Karen Cleveland will reel suspense and espionage fans in from page one. Not sure if you are a fan? Trust me, you will be after reading this tangled web of love, lies and consequences as one woman attempts to outwit the Russian spy network that threatens not only her country, but her very heart-her family.

I received an ARC edition from Ballantine Books!

Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 23, 2018)
Publication Date: January 23, 2018
Genre: Suspense | Espionage
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

All I can say is WOW! I believe this is the authors first book and she definitely hit it out of the park. This is an espionage thriller with one twist after another, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t decide if the husband was a good guy or just a really good liar. The ending was a surprise to some extent, but I did have my suspicions. She couldn’t have done a better job tying up the end of the story. I will definitely check this author out if she writes another book! The rights to this book have been sold for a potential movie. It will make a great one, I will definitely go see it. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy of this book for a fair review.

What a thriller!! Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!!

Vivian, wife and mother of four, is a CIA Analyst working on infiltrating a Russian cell through a cell leader's computer. She comes across a picture and her whole life as she knows it comes in to question. What would you do to protect that life? The life of your loved ones. Cleveland has created a character that is relatable and one that you root for in Vivian. The story takes off and never stops with the sense of urgency. One of the best Thrillers I've read all year.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

This is a book that will make you want to read it slowly to enjoy the story while simultaneously wanting to binge-read it to know how it ends. It is a thriller with a strong storyline that pairs the current day story with the gradual unveiling of Viv and Matt’s history. ‘Need to Know’ follows Viv’s career at the CIA and how it impacts her personal and family life. It offers something that few other spy thrillers offer: a female spy first person point of view. This is a great book for readers who have enjoyed Chris Pavone’s books, and I look forward to more books from Karen Cleveland.

This is a great espionage thriller that drops the floor out from under the reader several times, and keeps you reading until the end. The twists and turns were interesting, and the author does a great job of making the characters seem like real people. The stress and pressure of working in the intelligence community while having a family was real, there's a reason spies are always alone. It really highlighted how easily any of us could be manipulated with the right leverage. The main character could have been a bit smarter, had more agency, as it always seemed like she was on the back foot, reacting instead of acting, but that's a small quibble for a fun read.

Need To Know is a remarkably well-written thriller by Karen Cleveland, who spent eight years as a CIA analyst focusing on counterterrorism. She clearly knows of what she writes as every sequence of events seems entirely realistic. And worse, plausible.

"Sometimes," she begins haltingly, "we think that shielding the truth will protect those we love the most."

Vivian Miller works for the CIA, particularly uncovering information regarding Russia. From the very beginning, we feel her shock as she comes across a folder entitled Friends which belongs to a handler named Yurey. She opens the folder to discover that one of the faces is very familiar to her.

It is the face of her husband.

What she does with that information, how she strives to protect her children and be faithful to both her country and her family, comprises the novel in its entirety.

It is a gripping novel, one that had me turning pages as rapidly as I could. It is one of those rare thrillers that makes you lose the sense of time and place as you seek the conclusion; dreading, but suspecting deep down, that what you are afraid is the truth will in the end be revealed as truth.

Need to Know brings into question what we accept as truth, and how far we will go to protect those we love.

Or, even ourselves.

I honestly don't know how I feel about this book.

I enjoyed the premise and plot...i had to keep reading to the end to find some redemption.

While I look forward to a continuation of the story / series - I found this to be little slow, especially since I didn't care for the characters. I really found the heroine TSTL with few redeeming qualities.

WOW!! Need to Know by Karen Cleveland was an amazing read. A brilliantly written story full of twists and suspense. A page turner for sure! You'd be crazy not to have this title in your library.

Fast-paced, entertaining, and original if not trying a bit too hard to be something that it's not. The main protagonist in this novel can be easily understood by every mother who is just moving too quickly in today's world. However in the end the story unravels as too unbelievable and trying too hard to leave one on the edge of one's seat instead of just giving the reader a pleasant send off from this beach read.