If the protagonist is a CIA analyst, then I'm from Mars.

The writing style is right up my alley, but sadly, the heroine may very well be the most terrible CIA analyst to ever exist in both the fictional and non-fictional realm. She does not have credibility, and considering that espionage is the meat of the story, this has a negative effect on my reading experience.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Viv and Matt live a full life. Viv has a demanding job as a counterintelligence analyst for the CIA. While she is looking for Russian sleeper agents on U.S. soil, Matt takes on most of the duties of child rearing. They have a young daughter that is older than their twin boys. One of the boys has developmental problems requiring frequent visits to specialists that Matt willingly takes care of. Like any couple that has been married for over a decade, they know each other inside out.

Because of the cost of her son’s specialists, Viv had to go back to work sooner than she planned. But she loves and believes in the importance of her job. She is on the cusp of having her hard work to pay off. She has developed a program to identify people involved in these sleeper cells. Pictures start appearing on her monitor, she recognizes one of them. It is Matt.

Has her whole life been a lie? How could he be a Russian spy and did he marry her because she works for the CIA? The old adage of keeping your enemies close just might be the reason Matt met her in the first place. So many things run through Viv’s mind she can barely breathe, but she knows her husband is mixed up in something that has the ability to implode her family.

Once Matt is confronted, Viv realizes that she will have to make impossible decisions involving the country she loves and the safety of her family. She can no longer trust anything Matt says – or can she? Was he trapped in situation that he did not want to be in? Is he lying or telling her the truth? Viv has to make a move that will change the rest of their lives forever.

Debut novelist Karen Cleveland’s psychological thriller will keep you up late into the night. Her characters come to life on the pages and the twist in the last chapter will stay with the reader long after closing the book.

Need to Know could literally be ripped from today’s headlines. Recently I was in Washington D.C. at the Newseum. There is a section on spy cells that infiltrate the U.S. and how they are uncovered. The real life spies acted much like the ones in Cleveland’s novel. The realism of the book became more and more evident with each exhibit.

It is evident that Cleveland, a former CIA agent, is a gifted novelist. Need to Know holds a well-deserved spot on the New York Times Best Seller list. Film rights to the book have been sold – snatch up this book before the movie hits the screen. While I am excited to see the book come to life in the theaters, in my opinion, the book is always better than the movie and this one is outstanding.

Copyright © 2018 Laura Hartman

Though I liked the book, I made the decision when I finished not to review it on my site because it didn't fit into my editorial schedule. I may include it in a review post or possibly a book list post in the future.

this was interesting at first but quickly became a tale of emotional abuse with a victim character who was completely oblivious and way too trusting to return to the abuse time and again. which, you know, i guess, good portrayal? but i don't like to read books about victim characters or emotional abuse.

plot: embedded Russian sleeper agents in the US, woman who works for the CIA on a Russian intelligence task force, turns out her husband is a sleeper agent, family drama ensues.

they have 4 kids! they don't really seem like very good parents though even though the writing tries to convince the reader they are multiple times.

it hits close to home right now with american fears of russian involvement in our politics and ugh, so i would guess it will be popular because of the fictional portrayal proving american fears correct. people like to feel justified in fears. but bleh, not for me. too much lying and terrible behavior.

This is one of the most "un-put-downable" books I've read in a long time, found myself carrying my Kindle around the house with me to take advantage of every free minute to continue the story. Not only is the story that engrossing, but it's clean, one I feel comfortable recommending to others!

Completely surprised that I enjoyed this novel as much as I did. I’m not a conspiracy theorist can of reader. However I’ve been trying to read my woman writers of all categories. I loved the characters some more than other of course. I enjoyed Vivian Miller an analyst for the CIA. Would enjoy reading something from this writer again.

There's a fascinating plot device in this immersive and sometimes maddening book. I won't give it away here, but it leaves the central character in a quandary. Some of her choices are believable, some excruciating, and some stretch the bounds of credulity. There are things that become obvious to the reader, with no more evidence than she has herself, and she seems unable to grasp them. For a seasoned intelligence analyst she also seems naive about the standard tools of spycraft. The book can try a reader's patience, but it is originally conceived and the payoff is worth the wait.

Boy, did I have serious problems with this book. It started out so well: the main character, Vivian, is a CIA analyst, married with 4 children, and she comes to suspect that her husband in a Russian sleeper operative. As you are reading, you can't help but think about what an awful position she is in, and how terrifying it would be to trade places with her .... It sounds terrible, and then it all gets worse, and she has herself to blame for just about everything. She makes horrible decisions and she also seems incredibly naive. Honestly, if our CIA is made up of agents like Vivian, I am seriously worried for our country. I figured out just about everything in this book way before it happened, including the "twist" at the end. Ugh.

This was a fast paced, impossible to put down, keeps you on the edge of your seat read!
The story line had realistic and relatable qualities sprinkled with excitement and thrill.

It starts when Vivian a CIA analyst discovers a secret about someone close to her. This causes many internal and external struggles. She has a decision to make....Does she choose her family or her career and her country?The characters were very well defined, believable, and the plot was excellently constructed. Great dialogue, some very good twists and turns.
I loved it. I need a sequel........SOON

The only good thing about this book is its pace, which is why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.

Anyone can probably become a CIA analyst if the dumb as bricks protagonist can become one. She is an agent who does not question anything and accepts ludicrous excuses. She writes algorithms yet just asks her husband to test the program without even trying to verify on her own or use her own resources. I kept reading hoping that at some point she will be back to her senses and recognise the signs..no such luck. There is a lot of flashback which makes you hopeful but alas no, most of it just filler. There is a lot written about her kids but not in a way that makes the reader care about them.
This is not a spy thriller.

I thank Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.

LovedLovedLoved this story with all it's twists and turns! Can you EVER really know somebody, and what lengths would you go to for your kids? Viv has to address these issues and more as this story unfolds.

This is a fast read - I couldn't put it down as I read how Viv and Matt worked together to "fix" what could be a national security threat. I couldn't predict how it would play out as Viv needed to make a decision after decision regarding her job and the safety of her four children.

Loved the ending! Highly recommend to those who are looking for a contemporary sophisticated read.

What a fast-paced thriller! This one really kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally felt sick for the main character as she made some impossible decisions. I LOVED it until the epilogue. I honestly wish it wasn't there. I had guessed that it would go in that direction, but I was hoping it wouldn't. That's all I'm going to say about that, so I don't give anything away, but it was still a fantastic book overall!

Maybe it was the hype but I was excited to read this book...it just didn’t completely deliver. It was good and I read it quickly, but it wasn’t as tightly written as I hoped it would be. Moments of predictability mixed in with some twists and turns.

I couldn’t remember exactly why I originally requested this because it wasn’t my usual type of thriller but I was hooked from the start. The Russian sleepers and CIA talk was thrilling during a particularly interesting time in history. Bringing Vivian into so many situations that were terrifying and exhilarating.

Wow, this was a great Russian spy book- full of unexpected surprises! Loved how the author craftfully turned extraordinary dilemmas into very relatable and accessible scenarios. I highly recommend this page-turner. Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own

This is a favorite type of mystery/thriller. I liked all of the characters and the fact that it read fast. Will make a great tv show or movie.

I was so impressed with this book, i did not except to like it as much as i did!! lots of suspense and you did not know where thew book would take you..

Riveting! You'll want to strangle Vivian Miller, and you might even keep shouting at the book, "No, don't do it!" but you won't be able to put this modern spy tale down.

My coworker and I read this at the same time and it was a MAJOR page turner. We both rate it 5 stars! I usually don't read the spy or political thrillers but I am sure glad I read this! Makes me think a sequel is in the works..........
Thank you for the copy of this one. Would definitely recommend!

This novel grabs the reader from the start. Vivian, a CIA analysis working with uncovering sleeper cells world falls apart with just one picture. This was a fast-paced suspense novel with a few twists. Vivian was quite naive and the story was predictable at times. It was a fun book that most will who enjoy.