A fast-paced, pulse-pounding, and very timely spy thriller. Completely warrants all the advance praise it has received.

Holy page turner Batman! I can not even imagine what I would do if my husband turned out to be a spy. Really enjoyed this one.

Lilian is a CIA analyst working on Russia when she discovers her husband is a Russian sleeper agent. The story follows the danger their family is in and what they do about it. I really enjoyed this book. The CIA aspect seemed authentic ; the author was a CIA analyst herself. It was suspenseful and I read it in one sitting. However, several times, there was mention of Matt being upset that Vivian was having difficulty trusting him, and he forgave Vivian for not trusting him. I had a real problem with this. She had to reason to trust or forgive him, and the fact that he thought she should was ridiculous to me. And made me angry that Vivian would even feel guilty or need forgiveness. I had a suspicion about what the twist would be, so I wasn't completely surprised, although it was still a great ending!

"Perfect Husband. Perfect Father. Perfect Liar."


Karen Cleveland's Need To Know is being sold as a ripped from the headlines debut novel by a seasoned CIA analyst. Cleveland apparently spent eight years as a CIA analyst, the last six in counter-terrorism. The author writes about Vivian Miller, a CIA Counter intelligence analyst, a wife, and mother who works in what's called the Russia Division. Her current job led her to create an algorithm that allows her to hack into the computer of a suspected Russian Spy named Yury Yakov.

But, while accessing Yury's computer and discovering a group of sleeper agents living in the US, Vivian also uncovers
something so damaging that it may end up shattering her world and cause her to lose everything that she's worked hard for. There is a huge plot revelation as soon as you open this book. No worries though, it isn't until much later in the book where the issue has to be dealt with in its entirety. In the meantime, we have to watch in agony as Vivian is forced to go against every thing she's ever stood for thanks to the lies and secrets from the man she loves.

Need to Know is a suspenseful book that will keep you focused on what is happening to Vivian as she struggles to keep her composure, keep her family together, and to not go down in flames like others have who have attempted to steal classified material and sell it to the Russians. This is a timely story for the most part. As I grew up during the Cold War, these sort of stories took the public by storm. I could never in a million years imagine how anyone, let alone someone who claims to love their country, would easily be swayed by Russians who use blackmail, and intimidation against those they target.

I would say that I think Cleveland gives the story a bit more realism having been in the same boat as Vivian. As a counter terrorism analyst, you are a prime target for Russian spies attempting to gain access to the most secretive aspects of what this country uses to protect not only its citizens, but to also attempt to stop another 9.11 from happening in our lifetime. But, I have a caveat for my rating and this is the reason for my rating.

After everything that happens to Vivian and her family, especially her older son, the author leaves a huge cliffhanger ending without resolving it. One could say it is a message to readers that they shouldn't get too comfortable with the way things were wrapped up. Or, one could say that you never can really know who is actually who they say they are, and who is actually someone else entirely.

The popular show "The Americans" features a husband-wife team of Russian "sleepers" -- deep cover agents -- spying in Washington. Imagine a scenario where only one of the couple is a sleeper and the partner is clueless. That is the premise of Karen Cleveland's fine debut thriller. Cleveland, a former CIA analyst, has the chops to make the plot seem plausible and there is good detail about spy craft. The narrative moves along reasonably well but carries a lot of emotional deadweight as trust becomes the sine qua non of the resolution. A little angst goes a long way; a lot of angst deadens the suspense somewhat until the book speeds to a satisfying, if fanciful, conclusion. You don't always get what you Want to Know, but sometimes you get what you Need.

THIS WAS SO GOOD. I almost didn’t request it here on netgalley because the synopsis made it sound like it would be too much government spy stuff which isn’t really my thing. But I am so glad I gave it a chance because once I started it I couldn’t put it down. “Just one more chapter” turned into me finally going to sleep at 50% finished and then I carried it around with me all day the next day. So good!

Pros: it hooked me quickly and was a quick read until the end. The plot was interesting, and I felt a lot of anxiety during some parts which I think means Cleveland did something right. I like that she tackles being a conflicted working mother of 4 throughout the book.

Cons: Viv works for the CIA and yet she doesn't come across as intelligent. I get that Viv will do anything for her family, I just think she could have gone about it differently. They end the book with the opening for a sequel (gag) If you know me you know I prefer stand alone novels.

I know the rights to the movie have already been optioned and in my opinion she wrote the book as if it were a screenplay instead of a novel. No matter, it was an enjoyable fast read and a pleasant change from my usual books.

This is a story about an honest woman that works for the CIA. What happens to her and her family when she lies just once. This book will keep you reading into the night!

I was delighted to get an advance copy of this thriller! Perfect for fans of The Americans. Very likable main character who is as honest about juggling work and motherhood as she is with dealing with Russian espionage. It's so rare to find a political thriller with such a likable and realistic heroine!

The second half is so full of twists and turns, nothing is as it seems. Set aside lots of time to read because you won't want to put it down once you start!

This is a very exciting book that is hard to put down. The writing style hooks you in from the very start and keeps you captivated until the last page. I enjoyed it immensely. It made me think, made me nervous, made me wonder if things like this are really happening around us every day.

What if you didn't really know the person you married? What if what you thought you knew was all a lie, a manipulation? That's the deal with Vivian's life, as she unravels the truth that has put her life and her children's lives in danger.
Well written, interesting plot and subject matter. Russian spies, espionage, CIA, FBI, this book has it all. Well done

I can't quite decide how to tell you how I feel about this one. On one hand, there were moments where I was frowning saying "How can she not see this?" and "Why is she still shocked by this?". But....one hand #2, I kept reading and I could barely make myself put this one down so I could do life things!?
Maybe I just love me some spy thrillers or maybe I just liked Vivian or maybe I just wondered, what would I do in this situation? Who knows! I can tell you this is definitely a page turner full of deceit and doubts. Although it didn't quite end like I thought it would, it did surprise me and that is always good. I am really hoping there will be another book.

Gripping from the very first sentence to the last. Easy to read in one sitting because it is just impossible to put down. The writing is clear and compelling, while the story is well-researched but full of twists. Highly recommend.

This book is getting great reviews but it failed to grab me. I wish it had but I do not usually read spy novels. The write up and author reviews sounded so good that I thought I would like it. Alas, I didn't finish it. I read about a quarter of it and then skipped to the end. Even reading the end didn't make me want to go back to understand what happened.

.This book was beyond exceptional. Got me hooked from page one. A nail biter throughout. The plot was superb. Kept me thinking thru the whole book. Wish I could give it more stars. This is the best book I have read in a long time. MUST READ

You need to read 'Need to Know'
BY SANDY MAHAFFEY FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR Jan 23, 2018
Holy moly! Karen Cleveland’s debut novel, “Need to Know,” is a thriller that knocked my socks off. Cleveland herself was a CIA analyst, so she competently handles the tale of Vivian, an analyst assigned to work on finding Russian spies.

The book is written in the first person, so it is Viv’s voice taking readers on her journey, and it is quite a ride. Viv has been working on finding a way to identify Russian cells and operatives by gaining computer access. A fierce patriot and hard worker, she is also married, deeply in love with her husband and struggling to make as much time as she wants with her four children.

There is a definite need to keep details to a minimum, because I want readers to feel the suspense, the excitement, her anxiety and all of the “oh, no” moments themselves.

When her project begins to give her results, her world is turned upside down and seems to be spiraling out of control. She is faced with unimaginable, yet very believable, choices, and paralyzing fears for the lives of everyone she loves. She doesn’t know where to turn or who to trust. The lines between truth and deception blur. There is practically no physical violence in this thriller, it is all psychological—in my opinion, the best kind of thriller.
Cleveland’s writing is perfect for the genre. No unnecessary frills, just facts, emotions and observations putting you into Viv’s mind and the terror in her life. The authenticity makes it even more shocking and nerve-wracking. I stayed up too late and read when I should have been doing other things. I could not put it down. And the ending! Oh my gosh, the ending. … Please don’t cheat yourself of the stunning ending by reading ahead. Just sit back, read and take a roller coaster ride courtesy of Karen Cleveland.

Sandy Mahaffey is former Books editor with The Free Lance-Star.
More Information
NEED TO KNOW
By Karen Cleveland
(Ballantine, $26, 304 pp.)
Publication: Jan. 23

Great read-- was recommended by one of my employees and I finished it in two days! I didn't want to put it down and stayed up way past my bedtime because I needed to know what was going to happen next. Surprises throughout, including the ending. Am looking forward to reading more from this author-- big thumbs up!

I would like to thank Netgalley for an ARC. Unfortunately this book was not for me because it was too domestic. The majority of the book is devoted to remembering each of Vivian's pregnancies, smelling babies foreheads, giving babies baths, and planning maternity leave. Halfway through, I started to feel like I was trapped at a baby shower.

I can see some women really enjoying this book if they are very maternal, but that is not me. I need more suspense and less diapers.

This is a five star book that does not contain cursing or play-by-play sex scenes. YAY! There are so very few, well-written, clean books these days.

The best way to describe this book is nail-biter. After a brief introduction to the main characters, I felt as if I was tossed into a story that left me reading every free minute I had. Karen Cleveland, the author, added so many small details that really brought the characters to life. Then she slowly doled out additional information about the main character Vivian and her husband Matt through Vivian’s memories as the book progressed. The memories showed Matt’s changing behavior and caused a subtle shift in my opinion of him. The circumstances had them so boxed in that there really wasn’t a good, safe way out of the predicament they were in, and I honestly believe most readers would consider the available options, and quite probably understand why Vivian chose to do what she did; although, like me, they’d probably go through the circumstances over and over again in their mind looking for a way out.

The author worked for eight years as a CIA analyst, so I’m sure she brings some of her own knowledge of the CIA to this book. She definitely has a knack for storytelling. I hope this is book 1 in a series, or that she has more book ideas.

I very highly recommend this.

Read my 3-star review of Need to Know by Karen Cleveland

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2273658677