I'm a long-time fan of Karen Cleveland, and usually tear through her spy novels. For some reason though, I struggled with this one almost from the opening pages... I think it's because much of the story reads more like a domestic thriller than a spy book. Despite being a mother, I had a surprisingly hard time relating to the story and found myself irritated rather than sympathetic with most of her decisions. By the time it became more of a "true" Cleveland espionage story, I was already too disengaged to really connect to the actin. This one just wasn't for me...

You Can Run is a very fast paced, interesting CIA thriller. Jill is a CIA analyst who discovers that her son has been kidnapped and the ransom demand involves her committing a crime against the country. Afterwards, she quits her job and moves her family across the country, trying to keep a low profile. Several years go by, and she never forgets what she almost lost, and then realizes that the danger is not over and she is thrown right into high stakes espionage, stopping at nothing to protect her family.

This books starts out fairly slow but then the action kicks in and never stops. I very much enjoyed the twisty tale and would love to read more of Karen Cleveland's books.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of the book, which comes out in August of 2021.

Wow, the action and excitement started right from the beginning when a CIA analyst discovers that someone has taken her baby from day care by stating that he was her brother. Since her brother had been given permission to take the child, I expected to see him mentioned at some other time in the story, but that was the only time! Needless to say, it was NOT her brother that took the boy.

Then the story seemed to drag a little for awhile, although I was always eager to get back to it. The plot was deep (espionage) and had me a little confused, but it didn't stop me from loving the book!

Then the epilogue came, which I almost didn't read, because I thought I was finished. It blew me away (as I'm sure it did all readers). Clever, clever, Ms Cleveland!

Great "edge of my seat" thriller! Nothing is more important to a mom than her baby, and that's what drives this whole exciting tale! This story begins when Jill's son is taken from his daycare while she is working her CIA job. She is forced to "run" and change her whole life to protect her family, but ultimately she is never able to "hide".

I read this book in record time, as Jill and her journalist "friend" Alex together face down a national security issue, and attempt to do their part to avert a potential disaster. The book is full of fast paced excitement, and what appeared to be a satisfying ending, until another turn of events gave me an unexpected startle!

I would recommend You Can Run to readers who love suspense, and appreciate the struggles female go through as moms and career women.

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review You Can Run.

Solid thriller! After a sluggish start, I really enjoyed this espionage story which is told from a completely different perspective. The action stories get the most credit but I enjoyed a glimpse behind the curtain at how spies get into the system.

The dramatic revelation at the end caused my opinion to move from a three-star to a four-star book! I would definitely be interested in a sequel and I recommend this book as a great summer beach read!

*Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Marketing for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Karen Cleveland's latest, You Can Run, is a fast paced thriller that will hold your attention from cover to cover.

CIA analyst Jill Bailey is forced to approve a new CIA source when her infant son is easily taken from daycare without her knowledge. Just as quietly he is returned afterwards. In an attempt to shield her family from further situations like this, she quits the job she loves and without telling him why, convinces her husband to sell their home and move out of state. As requested by the kidnappers, she never breathes a word of this to anyone until several years later, her past catches up with her.

Having previously read Cleveland's debut novel Need to Know, I knew I would love the writing style before I read the first page. Her writing is extremely straight forward with little fluff. My kind of author! The twists and turns will quickly grab your attention leaving your wanting more. That feeling continues through to the final pages.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Karen Cleveland delivers another CIA thriller where those close to you may be the ones to betray you. Jill Bailey and her family are being threatened but who is behind it? As she works to uncover it along with a reporter, she tries to keep her husband and kids safe. The pace starts slow, but picks up pretty quickly especially once Alex is introduced. The ending felt too neat and didn’t resolve my questions or what I viewed as open threads…until the epilogue. That was the twist I needed to satisfy me. It’s a quick to read thriller, perfect for a lazy weekend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I really enjoy all of Cleveland's books and this was no exception. The twist here is we get in the mind of two protagonists which adds a nice dimension to this book. Twists and turns throughout keep the reader on they toes. I would definitely read the next book she writes with no hesitation. Big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance ARC.

Jill is a CIA analyst who has just found out her son has been kidnapped. She does what they tell her from her desk inside the CIA and she gets her son back. Jill resigns from the CIA immediately hoping that will be the end of it. It’s not. A great fast paced and suspenseful read from beginning to end

I received the digital version of this book for free from Random House Publishing and am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Jill’s loyalty to her country is unquestionable. Her job at the CIA after maternity leave is no longer field work, but she does use her experience and knowledge to vet possible recruits for the agency. She’s the best and someone knows that. Someone also knows she has family, an infant son at daycare. Someone wants Jill to do what she knows is wrong. When your son’s life is threatened, what would you do?
Alex Charles is a top-notch journalist. Alex’s ambitions run high and when she receives a tip that could send her to the top, she wants and needs more from the source. Tips send her toward Jill’s involvement with the years ago recruitment. Alex isn’t so ambitious that she is willing to throw anyone to the wolves, she has principles.
How can the two find out who is behind everything that happened? How can Jill keep her family from danger and still make things right? No one can be trusted. Can Alex? Author, Karen Cleveland, makes us feel the tension, frustration, and as the story progresses, the strength and resolve of both Jill and Alex. She shocked me with the ending. Don’t think you know, because you won’t. Maybe you will have a sleepless night or two, but this is an excellent read. Karen Cleveland’s background in the CIA is reason enough to read and think.

Karen Cleveland is now on my pre-order author list- I love everything she writes.

This book is similar to the others- CIA operative (Jill) with a family, family is threatened, CIA op must decide what to do. In this case, the CIA op decided to take back control and leave the CIA to avoid any manipulation. This isn't a spoiler- its at the beginning. But once Jill disappears, it becomes fun.

One of the things I loved most about this book was Alex- the journalist that Jill eventually connects with. Alex is a black journalist. That's all we know about her outer appearance and I love that! Give me diverse characters without the cringey descriptions from white authors of their appearance. Karen intro'd her and treated her like every other character- and I loved that!

Now, in terms of rating this book- it was 4 stars all the way. Which is just fine. Until the last 3 pages. 5 stars! That's all I will say- you must read the book to see what happened in those last three pages!

Thank you #netgalley and #randomhouse for providing me with a complimentary copy for an honest, unbiased review. Keep up this same energy Karen - I can't get enough.

As with all of Cleveland's stories, an intriguing concept that she implements with deftness. Cleveland once again brings her background with the CIA and applies it to an interesting story.

The switching back and forth between characters and their thoughts was, at first, distracting but then felt necessary and helpful. I often found myself saying "Why doesn't she just ......" do whatever and then Cleveland would address that issue and offer a reason why it wasn't a reasonable "way out" for the main character. Well-written and a quick read.

What Would You Do?

Jill works for the CIA vetting people who are being recruited as double agents. Today she is to vet “Falcon” a Syrian defense official attached to a covert biowarfare program. She receives the notice just before leaving for lunch, where she sits in her car to watch her son online at his daycare center while she eats her lunch. Her cellphone rings, no ID, “We have your son.” Panic. After verifying he is not at the center, her phone rings again. She is instructed to approve “Falcon” and her son will be returned, tell anyone and he will be killed. What choice does she have?

Suspense. From beginning to end. A wonderfully written spy thriller that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very end, and what an end it is! At first you spend some time inside Jill’s head where things move a little slow, but don’t give up, once the action starts it doesn’t end. The threat is always in the background where you are waiting for it to explode. You’re going to love this book.

This was such an intriguing book. There were lots of twists and turns. You never knew who was trustworthy or not. The women in the book are such strong characters. I really enjoyed reading this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

It wasn’t easy getting into this book. There were expressions that I didn’t understand - what’s a “cable”? I got a little lost at first with the switching of chapters between the protagonists, and then different chapters with the same person. I didn’t really like Jill and I actually have no sympathy for Alex! The preoccupation with being black wasn’t handled with finesse. I find it too aggressive and I’m sorry but I think certain topics are best discussed elsewhere.
The book was fast paced. However, I don’t understand how a qualified and trained field agent didn’t check to see if her house was bugged, or realized that she was being followed. Jill seems sharp at times, but weak and helpless at other times.
But on the whole, I didn’t see the ending coming, which was an eye opener! Bravo for that.
I like to thank Noel,Taylor @ Random House Publishing , and NetGalley for letting me read this copy in advance.
I’ll be writing my comments after the book is published on Amazon.fr

You Can Run by Karen Cleveland is a well-written and engrossing read with well developed characterizations. Well worth the time spent reading.

YOU CAN RUN is a suspenseful adrenaline rush! It is fast paced and held my interest throughout. It’s a mystery that confounds the reader from beginning to end. When the mystery is solved, the reader is satisfied with the denouement. But wait! There is more to come in the denouement, which not only satisfies but also THRILLS the reader! Spy games and espionage are intriguing, but it is the shocking and electrifying twist at the end of YOU CAN RUN that sets this novel apart from other works in this genre.

Clever plot! Enthralling storyline! Engaging characters! Thrilling climax! ELECTRIFYING TWIST in the denouement is the proverbial icing on the cake!!!

Karen Cleveland proves once again her word smithing mastery as well as her espionage expertise!
(Her debut novel, NEED TO KNOW, is stellar!)

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jill is a CIA analyst based in Washington DC when her infant son is kidnapped and she is directed to do something contrary to all her beliefs or she will never see him alive again. She is also told that she cannot inform anyone about this or the child would be killed. Jill does what she is asked and then quits her job at the agency. She and her family relocate and all is well for four years when she is dragged back into it. Alex, an investigative reporter, is also brought into it. The suspense and tension continue mounting throughout the novel and lead to an ending the reader never anticipated. Well done! Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an ARC for an honest review.

This new thriller from Karen Cleveland is her best yet. A CIA analyst teams with a well known journalist race to uncover a conspiracy in order to protect her family.. The twists and turns surprise up to the final page!

You Can Run is the third book in her "non-series" of female intelligence officer protagonists. Each has been a good read, and each has been better than the preceding making following Cleveland's work an enjoyable journey. While I generally find the thriller plots a bit thin for my taste, I have been intrigued by Ms. Cleveland's technique for getting us into the mind of her heroines. In contrast to the superhuman, generally flawed central characters common to the genre, Cleveland's protagonists are very human and very believable characters rising to unusual challenges, and Cleveland takes us along with them in a stream of consciousness that is a delight. If you are new to Cleveland's work, you will enjoy You can Run; if you are a fan, you are in for another treat.