Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Keep You Close. Part intrigue/thriller, part mystery. Although the plot was somewhat predictable, I enjoyed this book about a mother and son and the secrets they each held.

Even those who read Need to Know might not remember FBI Special Agent Stephanie Maddox from that novel- I didn't because she wasn't a main character. This time though, Maddox finds herself desperate to determine who is trying to destroy her son Zachery by planting information that makes it appear as though he is working with anarchist group. Maddox has an interesting back story (there's a real me too issue). Not much attention is to paid to her actual FBI work investigating SAs but that's not the point of the story. This is a fast paced thriller with some good twists (no spoilers!) and a likable character. If you didn't read Need to Know, you could have a hard time with part of the underlying premise; Cleveland only gives some tidbits which helped push the story for me. There's a conspiracy, good guys (well one good guy), and several bad guys. Biggest quibble: CIA Hqs does not have tv screens in the lobby. Most notably, it does have a wall of stars opposite the quote from John. Cleveland should remember that and if she's forgotten, the lobby, with the iconic eagle in the floor, is unclassified and has been photographed many times. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of Washington thrillers.

I really enjoyed reading Karen Cleveland's "Need to Know" (a 5 star read!) so I was excited to read her next book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with this one. It was a quick read. Fast-paced and highly suspenseful. However the ending seemed rushed. The story keeps you gripped throughout, waiting for the climax at the end, but there was none. No conflict resolution really, just an explanation in the epilogue. The writing style was not up to par either. She switched from past to present without skipping a beat, which was confusing at times. I also had a hard time connecting with the protagonist. I didn't understand how she thought she had all the "power" and could take him down without any proof. She's in Internal Investigations! That's all about proof and not accusations. I also found the inner dialogue with the "psychiatrist" quite annoying. This is the second book in a row with this writing technique. Ugh.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of Karen Cleveland's "Keep You Close" in exchange of an honest review.

This is the second novel from Karen Cleveland a former CIA analyst.

Steph Maddox, an FBI agent and single mother, discovers that the agency that she works for is investigating her son in a possible domestic terrorism plot. There is a similar moral struggle posed in this novel (akin to her first Need To Know) where Steph must choose between family and duty to her country. This book had me guessing right up until the very last pages.

I did appreciate the fast paced suspense aspect of the book, but I do feel that there were some loose ends that weren’t tied up at the conclusion.

This is the second book that I have read by this author and must say that her books start out very strong and compel you to keep reading. Family and ethics are both important to her storylines. Some of the situations feel a little too far fetched but the fast pace of story keep you reading.

A non-stop thriller from the first page to the last, Karen Cleveland's latest thriller is eerily timely, touching on many of today's hot button issues....both political and personal. What will you do to protect your family...your country. Steph Maddox is faced with these questions. She is a career FBI agent and a single mother and she's faced with a decision no parent should ever have to face. If you enjoy a good conspiracy tale, a good domestic thriller this book is for you!
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How well do you really know those around you? What about your own child?

When you are high up in the FBI the chances of you being targeted are always higher than many others. But what if they target your teenage son causing you to question every parenting decision you've ever made? As Stephanie tries to discover which of the know fugitives may be targeting him it delves up memories she'd rather keep in the past.
This was a quick read and very intense!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy. FBI agent Stephanie Maddox is used to juggling her career with raising her teenager boy. She finds a gun in his room and begins to fear the worst. Then another FBI agent arrives at her door asking about her son. There were a lot of twists and some odd sabotage. I enjoyed the idea of a mother fighting so hard to protect her son, even if she may have doubts. Unfortunately the story line gets convoluted without any reason for it to be so. There isn't really any character development. Is is fast paced . Reads like a spy novel its full of suspense but really felt a little flat to me.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Steph is an FBI agent who is so devoted to doing the right thing, that she has ended friends’ careers. Possessing excellent instincts, she begins digging for information sure that her superior is corrupt and working for the Russians. She has been told in the past that no one would believe her and the same applies now. Not only is her career, even her life endangered, but her son Zachary will be involved. Friends of Steph’s stop talking to her and some disappear but Steph can’t stop digging! This book grabs your interest from page one and won’t let go. The story is fast-paced providing bits and pieces to a larger puzzle that is solved at the very end of the book. I was provided with an advanced copy of this thriller and am voluntarily giving my review.

3.5 stars

I absolutely LOVED Cleveland's first book, so I couldn't wait to read this one. While it didn't quite live up to my expectations based on the prior book, it was still a really enjoyable book.

This was a quick read, as I was interested in figuring out what was going on. While the characters, particularly Steph (the main character), were a bit harder to connect with than in Cleveland’s debut (and there wasn’t as much character development), I still found myself flipping the pages to hurry up and see what happened next. Parts of the story reminded me of shows I enjoy, such as <i>The Blacklist.</i>

I’ve read both of Cleveland’s books, and I know she’ll remain on my go-to list of authors to read! Her books do a great job of tackling ethical dilemmas and making the reader think about what they’d do if they were in the characters’ shoes … and also question how much they truly know their loved ones. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

How far would you go to keep your (teen) child safe? What if it was your profession that may have produced the unsafe condition? Mom (Stephanie) is an FBI agent and has upset the Mob in the past requiring her to relocate after they express an interest in retaliation. Is she safe from them in DC as an internal investigator?

Zachary, the son, seems to have some questionable behaviors and some evidence points to his being a participant in a group known to the bureau as more than subversive. Is he a willing participant and lying to his mother? Is he being set up as mom hopes? Can the answer be determined before anyone gets hurt?

Not a bad story line, but the way Stephanie has thoughts of being molested previously seem to pop up at inopportune times and rather often considering it was 17 years ago. It didn't feel believable. Also, she kept seeing her son as he was as an innocent child way more than seemed reasonable or believable. Just too, too much of it.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion

I really enjoyed this book . It was a different sort of thriller for me but still good as provided a look into political process.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Stephanie Maddox is agent in charge of the FBI’s internal affairs division — charged with uncovering corruption large and small. When she discovers a loaded gun hidden in her teenage son’s closet, she is thrown into a cat and mouse game that will change their lives — or end them.

Full of plot twists and turns, of paranoia and suspicion, this is a thriller that will keep the reader turning pages compulsively .

Highly recommended.

Keep you close by Karen Cleveland is a political mystery that makes the reader wonder, "does this stuff really happen?".

May 28
Keep you close
5⭐️

Steph is a woman who prides herself on doing the right thing. She raised her son to make solid choices, adhere to obligations, and be responsible. Steph’s ethics are tested when she uncovers some suspicious activity by her son. The agent in her knows she should report it, but the mother in her believes her son doesn’t know about these situations. Going up against powerful political and government figures alone is difficult so she tries to convince others to come forward with her.

A battle between what’s right or wrong. To tell the truth or hide the truth? Working for the government is a dangerous job especially when agents come at you from different angles. For Steph trying to do the right thing with the law on her side should have been easy instead it was more complicated.

Steph had a complicated relationship with both her son Zachery and her mother. Steph dedicated her life to serving her country trying to protect people from being victimized. However, she found herself entangled in a dangerous situation when she noticed too much.

Characters:
Steph Maddox is an FBI agent and single mother.
Zachery Maddox Steph’s teenage son.

Overall:
This was an intelligent story. It was fast paced with many shocking revelations. The execution of switching between the past and present was skillfully inserted at the precise moment pigging backing pertinent information. Although, the transitions between the past and present were confusing at first. The only thing separating them was a few empty lines. Each time it happened I had to reread and reprocess the information. Eventually the story progressed beyond the backstory no longer switching from past to present.
This was a character driven story with many intricate parts. The suspicions grew with each new character addition. Steph’s involvement added a level of thrilling suspense quite unexpected to me.
I’m still processing the revelation of that ending. I’m not sure what to conclude ablution it. It’s not how I expected things to be resolved.

Karen Cleveland has done it again! Following up her debut hit, Keep You Close is a story about FBI Special Agent Stephanie Maddox, and how she confronts the seemingly impossible decision of right vs. wrong when the person she loves most, her son, is caught in the crosshairs and accused of terrible crimes.

The story moves at a great pace for a thriller. There is urgency throughout the investigation process that kicks off when Stephanie, a single mother and FBI agent, answers a knock at her front door, revealing an fellow FBI agent who is there to deliver some grave news. Like most mothers, she can't accept that her son is capable or caught up in the scenario that is presented to her. Not her only child. No way. No how. Putting her own career in jeopardy, Stephanie accesses the case file to get the full scoop on the investigation. She needs to act quickly to investigate on her own to counter the allegations and discover the truth.

The character of Stephanie is the best developed with readers given insightful glimpses into her past to help identify her character and resolve, as well as lay out potential clues as to what is happening involving Zach, her son. The other characters are not as well developed, but for the most part play a secondary role in the story.

In her first novel, Need To Know, I had a tough time identifying with the seemingly random and haphazard decisions made by Vivian, the main character. Stephanie also makes some rash decisions, but they are much easier to identify with and believe. Time is of the essence, and as a loving mother as well as one who seeks to bring justice and truth to light, the decisions are made quickly with the best information she has at the moment.

Keep You Close is a stand alone novel. As such, if you haven't read Need To Know, you'll be fine. In the event that you have read the first book, you will notice links and interweaving story lines. I was most of the way through with the book before realizing this fact. I now want to go back and reread Need To Know. This is a fun addition to the story.

Cleveland once again delivers a major WTF moment as the book comes to a close. She is two for two now with this. While Keep You Close doesn't follow on or address the surprise ending from the first book, I am now anxious for a follow up third novel which could potentially bridge the gap and address the two bombshells that have been dropped. This is a beautiful move on her part, and hopefully at some point in time these open endings will close. That should make for more thrilling reading!

9.0 out of 10

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to #NetGalley, #Ballantine, and #RandomHouse for the opportunity to read and review #KeepYouClose

Stephanie Maddox is an FBI Agent. Her 17 year old son Zachary (Zach) works a start up company doing all their coding and is President of his school's Computer club.
He tells his mother he quit everything, she's worried this will jeopardize his college applications.

While cleaning her son's room she comes across a bag in his closet which contains a loaded gun, a gun similar to the one she carries.

When she questions him about it he denies that its his\ he says he knows nothing about it..
When she investigates his phone and laptop she discovers he's involved in the Freedom Solidarity Movement, which targets government officials.

While searching further about the movement , she discovers it is considered low risk ,, but recruitment is growing.
She discovers the file contains an unfamiliar email address with her son's full name.and the words "I'd lke to join, I have access to the targets."

She follows him from school and sees that he's going to a Senator's house, the Senator is his biological father, the result of a rape.

Zach uses his computer skills and finds out the target is the director of the FBI. His mom thinks the deputy director (Jackson) is behind the plot to frame Zach as he and Stephanie had a falling out in the past over a case, he prevented her from talking to a witness. Jackson has been credited with breaking up Russian sleeper cells and Russian counter intelligence.

He threatens Stephanie by telling her if she doesn't stop the investigation on him, Zach will be convicted and sent to prison.

Ata banquet the director of the FBI suffers a fatal heart attack and the Senator dies as well. This makes Jackson the new director of the FBI.

Zach is at the banquet too, and is seen on surveillance tape handing over money and getting poison from a waiter who happens to be Zach's half brother.

The Vice President resigns as a result of the deaths at the banquet, since he assured America the plot was low risk.

Jackson is subsequently killed and the man behind his killing and the whole plot turns out to be the Senate Majority Leader, and he is appointed Vice President.

A good book, although I prefer her first book..

Karen Cleveland's newest book does not disappoint. When a FBI agent uncovers a Russian plot to infiltrate the government, she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. An edge of your seat take that has me reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of the Bourne Identity.

This book was a book that kept me turning pages. I love twisty books and this one was very suspenseful. I need to check about ordering this book for the library. I think It could be a popular summer read.

Looks like, at this point, "Keep You Close" has an average of 3.5 stars, and that's about, exactly, what I would give it. Stephanie Maddox loves her career with the FBI, but she appears to love it a little more than she does her only child. I was, continuously, bothered by that, as a mother (and so was her mother). While all signs point to him being a bad (even dangerous) kid, she is taken in with all of his denials and insistences that he is innocent. Should she be? That's exactly what she (and the readers) have to determine. It took me too long to read.