This book is so well written - I loved it. Lots of twists and the plot was brilliant. I really enjoyed it from start to finish.

HOLY WOW. That ending?! Incredible story, one of the most gripping & intense thrillers I've read this year. Blown away!

Although I adore everything about the marketing campaign surrounding this book, its content is just not for me. Need to Know is my first in the spy-thriller genre and I knew going into it that I was going out on a limb; it is a genre that is not one that I have honestly ever felt about gravitating towards and, even in the first few pages of this book, it was made immediately clear to me exactly why that is. Honestly, it just feels too sleek, too overly-dramatic for me to fully engage in. It would work well as high-octane thriller-film (I propose Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron), all dramatic pauses and killer soundtrack but I do not necessarily think the subject-matter works so well as a book.

I found this to be more chick lit than spy novel . It is hard to believe the main character actually made it into the CIA. Everything about her is idiotic, and her actions frustrating. DNF.

One of my friends read this and said "Need To Know.. Need To Read!!"
She was right!
Wonderfully gripping, you can't help but race through this thriller. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and has a great ending.
Would recommend.

Need to know was written so well, loved this book and all the twists in it. Plot was amazing, really enjoyed it from start to finish.

Need to Know by Karen Cleeveland

Random house/bantam press 25 jan
9780593079591
Thriller

So you have a perfectly straight forward life, a loving husband and children. You pop to work at the CIA as part of your analyst role, you run a brand new programme only to see five faces associated with Russian spy sleeper cells in the country; a fantastic achievement, this is what you have been pouring your heart and soul into for months - only one of them is your husband – what do you do??

Well life is certainly is not the same for Vivian from this day forward.

The ramifications are massive, not to tell and get caught sends her to prison, tell and that’s the end of her career and income. Then there’s her relationship with her husband, someone she thought she knew and now questions if she can truly know at all. What was a truth, how much has she been manipulated, or is he a victim of blackmail and corruption? Added to this is the fact that the husband is particularly likeable, although doesn’t quite to do anything to truly dislike him, he is controlling and manipulative.

This is a book all about twists, turns and layers of unexpected unravelling. It is as much about the power of persuasive languages, the ability to play a part to perfection, the confusion, paranoia and how your behaviour changes when all your weaknesses are preyed upon and the Russians amongst others are closing in on you. There is a definitely a strong resonating thread of what would I do in these circumstances that runs through this superbly authentic, thriller. Not an easy one to put down.

Although a little far fetched at times, this is a fast paced, exciting thriller, following a CIA agent who discovers that her husband is a Russian sleeper agent. There are twists and turns along the way, as she finds herself unwittingly dragged into a game of deception where you never quite know who the bad guys are.

There's a definite opening for a sequel, and lots of questions about what would you do? You can see how easily she gets sucked in and then forced to do things against her will because her options are limited. Overall, it's an easy, undemanding read that makes you want to know what happens next.

Wouldn't necessarily normally read spy books, but I must thank the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest unbiased review.
Imagine your normal idylic life wasn't all you thought it was.
Imagine your partner wasn't who you thought they were.
This provides the back drop to this publication and I have to say this book hooked me in very early and kept me interested until the end.
Thoroughly recommended.

Need to Know by Karen Cleveland, Hardback, 304 pages, £12.99 at Waterstones.

Cleveland's debut novel has been praised by various thriller novelists and for good reason. Need to Know is situated in America and tries to keep up with the lives of Viv and Matt. Oh and when I mean keep up, I mean running behind.

The novel begins extremely fast paced as the reader is thrown into the action and tries to help out Viv in her most difficult decision. Of course, Vivian's situations may always seem difficult when working for the CIA but when she uncovers something that throws her life off balance, it is difficult not to try and help.

"you'll miss dinner, stay up far too late, and feel tired at work tomorrow. This is that kind of book. Superb." - Lee Child

Cleveland's ideas are thoroughly researched and her characters are likeable and seem so real that it is difficult to just acknowledge them as characters in a book. It is for this reason as to why the reader will find them so attached to this novel.

When reading Need to Know it is clear to see that Cleveland knows her readers well. She understands what we're thinking and knows how to throw the readers off track. By the end of this novel you will be locking yourself in your room, desperate not to be disturbed whilst you finish the last few chapters.

After being an avid reader or both thriller and crime novels, Need to Know has by far been one of my favourite books to review. That hungover feeling of finishing a book never really came for this book because the closure given to the reader was just right. Her plot and narrative are so well written that the only type of questions you will have once finishing the novel are, Who is Karen Cleveland and what else has she written?

Guaranteed to keep you guessing on information you Need to Know.

Please follow the link here to purchase a copy today!

Good Movie Material.
This is not my usual genre but the blurb sounded intriguing and I am so glad I decided to read it. It was obvious to the reader that she had been subtly manipulated for years but when her work saw her closing in on a Russian sleeper cell it was scary how quickly the tables were turned on her; events escalated and she got sucked into a downward spiral. The book was extremely well written, I became paranoid, jumpy and uneasily aware of how events like this could truly happen. Highly recommended read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I sort of assumed this would be a run of the mill spy thriller with a family twist. And while I was right about spy thriller and family, this is far from run of the mill. The emotions you get from the characters are so vivid. Especially Vivian. And the manipulation of her at almost every stage is just mind blowing, especially in the flashbacks related to her kids.
Matt is just SO manipulative. I think it was well done, because while his machinations were screaming off the page to me, it’s still easy to see why Vivian fell for them.
I have to admit I thought the ending may happen, but I sort of like that that’s how it ended! I hear that this may be being made into a movie and if so I honestly hope that keep that bit true.
It’s also nice to have a spy thriller where the main character isn’t the spy. Or any novel where they are this vulnerable.
I also have to take a moment to say that the story really dragged me, gasping out loud, heart racing, the whole shebang. That is definitely the sign of a well written thriller, especially one that’s more psychological.

I didn’t think I would enjoy this book. Russian spy stories would not be my first choice as a genre. The book, as described, starts with Viv, a CIA analyst who spends her days trying to find a Russian sleeper cell in the US. She finally has a degree of success and opens a file only to be greeted by a photograph of her own husband, described as a friend to a known Russian handler. At this point I wondered how much the story could develop as the secret is already revealed. However, Karen Cleveland delivers in spades, a genuine page turner that instills fear with every development. Viv’s complete torment when confronted with the dreadful realisation that she can only protect her family or her country but not both. This brilliant thriller delivers tension, suspense, twists and turns that grip the reader and I was absolutely hooked until the last, shocking page.

I’m calling it early (at the time of writing the first week of 2018 isn’t even over) but Need to Know by Karen Cleveland may be one of the best books of the year. It is so clever, so inventive and so gripping that I read it in a day (a day which involved general life stuff like 9 hours at work) as I just could not put it down.

Need to Know tells the story of Vivian, a CIA counterintelligence operative who has developed an algorithm to identify handlers for Russian spies. She is close to a breakthrough; she has managed to gain access to the computer of a suspected Russian operative and this will lead her and her team to find out more about how the Russian’s work, who their spies are and how they can bring them in. She is good at her job, the CIA are supportive of her and her family needs (she has four children, one of whom is sick), she has a wonderful husband, Matt and a strong marriage. Until she hacks into said operative’s computer and her world comes crumbling down around her.

With the news being full of Russian influences in the west this is a very timely book. I believe that Karen Cleveland worked in counter terrorism at the CIA and her experiences of this world, the nuances of the job and the political influences are clear in the novel. The plot is excellently executed; she weaves a tale that is multi-layered, she throws moral dilemmas at us, she builds a world of intrigue and she creates suspicion, threat and terror. We feel Vivian’s fear, confusion and devastation – it is very real and palpable.

I really enjoyed the slow drip feed of menace. Vivian is wrapped up in a web where if she make a wrong move it could be catastrophic and I think what made it most terrifying was the simplicity of the threat. This isn’t Homelandesque terror with poison being leaked into the water supply, it is a slow drip feed where resistance is futile and struggling will make the trap even tighter.

The plot is whip-smart. Clever and inventive twists and turns are deftly handled and they are never sensationalised or ridiculous. I was fully invested in the characters; they are fully fleshed out people with complexities and personalities who I really liked – but, who should I trust? I was never quite sure what was real and what was a lie and I loved being thrown off centre like this, it makes a book such an enjoyable read when you don’t know where it is going next.

If you hadn’t guessed I loved this book! I am reluctant to write too much about the plot as it will spoil a brilliant read. If spy or thriller novels are your thing then this is for you – a smart, original and timely read that will leave your head spinning and I defy you not to feel chilled when you’ve finished it.

Many thanks for the copy of this wonderful book, I will be posting a full review on my blog around publication date and will promote via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. I will also post reviews on Goodreads and Amazon,

Need to Know is really tense with plenty of action and I was drawn in to it straight away. From the very beginning, I wanted to know what had happened and every line made me want to read on.
I thought the characters and development of Viv and Matt fitted the book perfectly. I never felt that I truly knew them but this helped with the theme of not knowing who to trust and added an extra edge of tension.
I audibly gasped at almost all of the twists, especially the really big twists and shocks towards the end. As more and more was revealed about the past and the present, things started to click into place and I was really involved in the book. Any time I actually managed to put the book down for a few minutes, I found myself thinking about the plot and characters and wondering what was going to happen next!
The book is well-paced and balanced perfectly. It's not too fast or too slow and I think that the pace speeds up and slows down in all the right places.
The ending gave me lots to think about. Who can you really trust? Do you ever truly know someone? What would you do if you found out that someone is not who you thought they were at all? Need to Know makes you re-evaluate everything and is very thought-provoking. A little sinister even. It is extremely tense and engaging with twists and secrets at every turn. A thrilling and gripping debut!

Fast paced and energetic, I can't believe that this is a debut novel. An incredible twister of a story about a CIA analyst who discovers that her husband isn't who she thought. So many questions and decisions, should she chose her family or her country - and what a shocking ending.
The film rights have already been sold and I'm curious to see the casting - read the book first!!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

where to start...a CIA operative and her family living the dream, but when does it all start going wrong...the new algorithm used in her work may help to uncover russian sleepers but once she uncovers 5 photos and one is of her husband thats when things start to get interesting...so many twists and turns as you are led to the conclusion...

some you know some you think you know and then theres the whammy and this book takes you on a roller coaster of a ride where you want to shake her by the shoulders and shout wake up and smell the roses...this book is that good and well written and i for one couldnt put it down...

cant wait to read more books from this author

Wow! What a brilliant page-turner, my head is still spinning from all the twists and turns. Impossible to put down, well written, with flawed realistic characters - hard to believe this book is a debut. I am sure it will make a brilliant blockbuster.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

* Thank you to Random House UK for my 'wish for it copy' for which I have given an honest review in exchange*

Vivian Miller is a CIA counterintelligence analyst - she's good at what she does, and has developed an algorithm which will enable her department to identify Russian sleepers ( seemingly ordinary people leading everyday lives ), however, their lives are lived within the United States, and they are naturally a threat to national security. When Vivian manages to access the computer of a Russian operative, it should be cause for celebration, but the discovery will threaten everything that she holds dear, and will put not only her own life in danger, but also those of her husband and four children!


Wow! Just wow! What a brilliant, nerve jangling, tension filled read this was! How easy it was for Vivian's life to turn completely upside down with just a couple of clicks on her computer. I don't want to give anything away with this one, as it's taken me on a journey that deserves to be experienced by each and every one of you readers in your own individual way, and I'd hate to spoil that journey for you. Just be prepared to share in Vivian's sheer terror as events increasingly overtake her life. And that ending! Well, it just floored me, took me completely by surprise. Do yourself a favour and don't miss out on this one - fantastic! (less)

This book hooks you straight away, country or family? who can you trust and how far would you go to protect the ones you love?
this is modern story that keeps you engrossed throughout