Very much does as it says it will!
Jill ( CIA ) has a call that her son has been kidnapped and if she wants to see him again she has to do something,something quite small but basically could count as an act of treason…..but they have her son, she does as most if not all would do and hopes the implications lay uncovered
Which they do
For some years…
It is well told, frantic action, full on adventure and not a lame chapter/filler in it, it’s tense and charged and you get what you are expecting ( hoping for ) in a novel that start’s so brilliantly
My only tiny query would be after this happening in many films/books/scenarios do the Govt agencies not have a protocol for what to do if this happens?, even if not followed there surely has to be guidelines set out?
That aside it is a really good, enjoyable read with non over bearing characters, surprising for the kind of story and a fab 3 pronged ending, each part more WOAH than the last

9/10
5 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed this. Twisty and gripping with good writing and strong female lead characters. A good spy storyline that had my attention from the beginning. Highly enjoyable read.

This is a gripping spy/espionage thriller that grips and doesn't let go.
A CIA analyst gets a call that her son has been taken from nursery and although she manages to get him back, she realises that all aspects of her life are now at risk. Who can she trust?

The story romps along at great pace with different POV's and it works really well, for those who like this sort of thing. For me, it was an easy / decent thriller that certainly maintained my interest. It's just not my cup of tea and so, I'd say, it's a 3.5 star rounded up as the fault is mine, not the authors.

It's a really good CIA spy thriller and for those who enjoy these things; buckle up, you're in for a gripping ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

Oh my word, what a fantastic book! I devoured this over a few days. It's a really fast-paced thriller with a cracking plot and two brilliant central characters. It was hugely refreshing to read a thriller that featured two female protagonists for a change. I absolutely loved this and will be recommending it to all my friends. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Karen Cleveland is rapidly becoming one of my favourite thriller writers.

This is her third and perhaps her best book to date.

Fast paced, exciting, well written and featuring credible and well drawn characters.

The book is strong on spy tradecraft but also on human relationships and the denouement was brilliant and unexpected.

An exceptionally good book which is highly recommended.

Jill Bailey works for the CIA and one day gets the dreaded phone that her son, Owen has been kidnapped and will not be returned unless she co-operates in approving a Syrian spy called Falcon. Once she gets Owen back, racked with guilt, she leaves the CIA, changes her name and moves across America. But a reporter Alex Charles, starts digging after a tip off. Once again Jill is left fearing for her life and works with Alex to uncover who is behind this terror plot. A brilliant spy novel. Rather reminiscent of Homeland. I enjoyed it and the characters are plausible.

Title: #YouCanRun
By: #KarenCleveland
Source: #NetGalley
Read on: Kindle Paperwhite
Published by: Canelo, Canelo Crime
Pub Date: 31 Aug 2021
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 3.5-4/5

Thank you #NetGalley for providing an ARC for #YouCanRun by #KarenCleveland in exchange for a genuine review.

You Can Run is about two women who lead different lives and are brought together by chance. One is driven by passion, one is driven by love. Jill Bailey is a CIA analyst who makes a tough decision that jeopardizes her country but saves her 6-month-old son. She does everything in her power to keep her family safe but will that be enough to get her family out of harm's way? Alex Charles is an ambitious investigative journalist. She receives an anonymous tip about the CIA's source. This tip and her hunger for the truth lead her path to Jill. They were left with no choice but to trust each other as they venture on this quest to find the truth.

This is the first Karen Cleveland that I've read and it was such a fast-paced read. It started off with a bang - right on the very first chapter her son gets kidnapped and the protagonist was faced with a pulse-pounding circumstance.

Personally, I couldn't give it a flat 4 or 5 rating though because I wasn't extremely invested in these two characters - I couldn't find that oomf that really draws me to the characters. When I'm drawn to the characters - I usually think about them as well even when I'm not reading? (I know that sounds silly. Lol) I didn't get that feeling with this book. I still liked the characters though as they were strong-willed and they never gave up.

Even so, the last few chapters - especially the ending - pulled those star ratings up for me from 3 to 3.5-4. Those last few events were unexpected. This edge-of-your-seat thriller got me flipping through the pages. I recommend this book especially to those who like CIA, political-based thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Wow, where to begin? This was one very addictive read which I got through in a day. It had everything I love - likeable, strong character leads in Jill and Alex, great writing, a very believable and realistic plot line with twist after twist that kept me engrossed in the story. I absolutely loved this book, it drew me in right from the start and held my attention all the way through. It started off slowly and soon picked up pace. Who was behind the threats to Jill’s family and why? The author certainly knows how to write a fab book, and one which was a nerve wracking read at times! I loved the tension and suspense the author created here and I had moments where I desperately needed to carry on reading to find out what happened next. The story came together beautifully and flowed really well, and the final reveals shocked me - wow, I did not expect that! This is my first read by Karen Cleveland, I thought from the premise I would like this and I certainly did. Will definitely be looking at more books by this author as future reads.

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for my copy of the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.

What a book this was, this is definitely my favourite read of the year so far… thrown into the story straight at the deep end from the first chapter leaving you hooked and unable to put the book down, and it only delves you deeper as the pages turn.

The story follows main character Jill with the events that lead after she is forced to make a ‘mistake’ on purpose at work or risk her sons life. Running from her problems didn’t help and they only got a lot worse very quickly.

If you love a thrilling, page turner that you can not put down, this book is definitely for you.

4-5 stars rounded up.

You can run .... but you can’t hide as CIA agent Jill Bailey learns as she’s caught between a rock and a hard place. Jill is given three minutes to verify a new source known as Falcon following the kidnapping of her baby son Owen by an unidentified group or individual. Falcon appears to be a Syrian Defence Official in Covent bio-warfare. What would any mother do? She approves as they demand and then she runs. Fast forward a few years and Jill and her family are now living in Florida, she has a new job and all seems well until journalist Alex Charles tracks her down, wanting to discuss Falcon......

I love a good political thriller and that’s exactly what this is! The plot feels realistic and it’s written with a confident air of authenticity. It’s fast, fast, fast of pace throughout, in fact the author hits 100mph from the word go and then accelerates like Lewis Hamilton navigating the twisty circuit of Nürburgring. It’s an emotional ride too as those involved in the conspiracy are ruthless enough to use children and that packs a punch to the gut. I love the way it’s written, at times the author uses short staccato sentences to match Jill’s panic and throat in the mouth fear. It’s claustrophobic too as who are these watchers who lack even a smidgeon of morality? I try to guess but I’m way off beam! I really like the Syrian element though it does dive meters deeper in this clever political mystery thriller. It’s scary stuff and it’s hard to imagine how Jill’s world becomes haunted by this and the strain of constantly looking over her shoulder to protect her family is unimaginable. The pace and tension ramps further once Alex ‘joins the party’ and it becomes a very dangerous race which makes for exciting reading. There are eye popping shocks, thrills, spills, the threat level rises sky high. The ending has an absolutely breathtaking twist - well played Karen Cleveland! 👏

Overall, this is a high octane well written novel with a believable plot and characters and I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Canelo for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Thanks to netgalley for the advanced ebook to review.
An enjoyable fast paced thriller /spy novel with plenty of twists and turns. 3.5 stars

Thank you to the author, publishers Canelo and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Former CIA analyst Jill Bailey teams up with investigative journalist Alex Charles to find out who took Jill’s baby son hostage and forced her to rush through approvals for a foreign double agent. The true culprit may be closer to home than either of them imagines.

We’re headed deep into the world of counterintelligence and covert sources for this fast-paced novel tearing through murky waters on search of truth. Both Jill and Alex are engaging characters who carry much of the action. The action is believable within the context in which it’s set, and the ending pays out everything which had led up to it.

Overall this is a good spy novel without too much jargon and with a plot which is easy to follow and read.

This book starts with a bang and it doesn’t let up all the way through. I was constantly trying to work out who was behind everything and was totally blown away by the ending.

I can’t wait to see what the author does next.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

You can run … but you can’t hide.

Well that was a breath of fresh air - a spy novel that was plausible and realistic, i.e. NOT like James Bond! The fact that the author actually worked as a CIA counter terrorism analyst lends her a lot of credibility.

The book starts with a bang. Since having her 6 month old son Owen, former case officer in the field Jill Bailey has become a desk bound analyst. She eats her lunch in the car every day so she can see Owen via the childcare centre’s live feed (staff are not allowed to bring their own devices into the office). One day she cannot see him! But her phone rings and her world implodes. Owen has been kidnapped and all she has has to do is clear the latest potential CIA source in Syria, Falcon, without further checking.

She does what I imagine most mothers would do - she does as she is told. Owen is returned to childcare and she is further told to tell no one about the episode. Jill is torn, she wants to do the right thing but is afraid that further requests will come her way so she does the only thing she can think of to protect her family and her country - she resigns from the job she loves.

Five years later the family lives in Florida, Jill also has a daughter now and all is well. Until a journalist comes calling. The journalist is getting info from an anonymous tip line that the source, Falcon, is a fake. At first Jill doesn’t want to get involved but then she realises that if the journalist Alex (Alexandra) Charles can find her so can the people who threatened her children. It’s all started again - the threats, the warnings. Jill realises she has to work with Alex to find out who is behind it all.

The action really ramps up now as Alex and Jill work together to uncover the traitor and the truth and save her children and maybe prevent a war. I really enjoyed this book because it was so plausible. As a mother I can see why Jill did what she did. I can also understand Alex’s drive to get this story. These two characters, the main players, were so well developed and realistic sounding. Jill must fall back on some of her field training to prevail, or at the very least, to get her her children to safety. The poor little things. At the crucial moment, the 3 year old little girl calls out for her mummy. Oops!

And just when you think you know what is going on, the author has another excellent twist for you. This was a very enjoyable book and I’ll certainly be looking out for more from this author. Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo Publishing for the much appreciated ARC which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

You Can Run by Karen Cleveland is a stunning American thriller packed with tension, twists and detail.
In short, Jill Bailey, a CIA analyst is at work when she gets a phone call that turns her life upside down. Years later her life and family will again be in danger when an investigative journalist, Alex Charles, turns up on her doorstep asking questions which results with them both on a heart pounding chase to uncover the truth. We get to learn both women’s lives, both are strong, motivated women, however, their personal lives differ, Jill’s children are everything to her whilst Alex’s career is paramount and has no wish to have any children. I loved what Alex was told from a mother who had lost her son, ‘Kids become everything too easily. Next thing you know, you don’t know who you are anymore without them.’, very profound.
It is not surprising to read that the author was formally a CIA counterterrorism analyst…the story captured it all, motivations, intelligence tactics and the vulnerability of human emotions all played out in this intoxicating spy thriller, with the premise, ‘You can run’….but you can’t hide!
It’s high speed, high stakes and high suspense but smart and human, too. And oh I do love a good ending and this one knocks it out of the park…this is my first book I’ve read by this author and I shall most definitely be reading more from her.
Big thanks to Karen Cleveland, Canelo and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

On an ordinary day, CIA analyst Jill Bailey has her life turned upside down - in a split second she must decide whether to save her child or protect her country. Years later Jill has a new home and a safe family until investigative journalist Alex Charles shows up. Now Jill is determined to uncover the truth once and for all along with something she should have known all along: you can run, but you can't hide...

This was so fast-paced from the outset, with constant action and twist and turns through out. It was definitely a page turner, and even though occasionally the technical CIA language was a bit confusing for me, it didn't take away from the fantastic plot and characters that have been created. And that ending I did not see coming at all and frankly I'm hoping for some kind of sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for a copy of this book in return for a review.

I read and enjoyed Karen Cleveland's debut novel when it was released so was looking forward to reading You Can Run. It is a fast paced thriller that was sometimes rather far fetched but I loved the plot, the characters and the twists that kept me completely engrossed over 24 hours. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This was a hugely enjoyable, page turner from Karen Cleveland.

Jill Bailey is at work at the CIA as an analyst- a job which is vitally important to her. However what we learn quickly is that Jill has recently become a mother which has put things into perspective for her. Leaving her desk for a lunch break in order to watch her child on the nursery's cameras she receives a message which leaves her with a heart-breaking choice - betray her country or risk losing her son.

Without this being a spoiler she does what all parents would likely do and places her son's safety above her country and realises she must learn to live with the decision. 4 years (and another child later) she realises that her past decision is coming back to haunt her as reporter Alex sniffs out a story and is on the hunt for an elusive Pulitzer Prize.

Whilst some elements of the story stretched the boundaries of believability, they often need to in novels such as this to ensure a high octane story can move along at breakneck speed. That is what Cleveland delivers here. This is a book which will leave you needing to read one more chapter before you put it down before realising you haven't eaten lunch, the dog needs walked and you should have been at work half an hour ago.

What emanates from this story for me is Jill's role as a parent changing her whole perspective in life. Before her son was born, she would never have considered herself to be the type of person who would make the decisions that she does here. Whilst some will likely point out the flaws in the decisions that she makes, they are entirely understandable for anyone who is a parent who would do anything to save their child.

Also a word for the ending.....if anyone sees that coming then, I will be surprised! Definitely a twist that I did not see coming.

Thanks to Canelo Crime and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

This was a cracking read, full of many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had finally understood what had happened there was even more revealed in the last few pages.
I love spy thrillers and “You Can Run”had everything, two wonderful, tough heroines in Jill and Alex; it was apparent from the beginning that all the male characters were quite weak and played very secondary roles in the story which was a refreshing change!
Jill is a CIA analyst and one day she is blackmailed into doing something quite shocking to save her family. Once this is done she decides to run and sets up a new life in Florida with her husband and children.
However 4 years later reporter, Alex appears on her doorstep and asks her to relive her past and expose a plot which threatens the stability of the West. Jill is in à quandary, fearing for the safety of her family but wanting to do the right thing and put her past demons to rest.
I just couldn’t put this down- it was done and dusted in 24 hours with barely a moment to catch my breath. The plot was very clever and the lead characters well drawn. I really felt for both Jill, as she fought to protect her family and Alex as she tried to work out what she really wanted from life. Was it a successful career or a husband and family? Jill has the latter but she has had to sacrifice her career!
This is a non stop, thrill a minute sort of book which held my attention from page one!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it as a five star read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo Crime for my arc in exchange for an honest review.