Written by a former CIA analyst in counter-terrorism, this quick read explores the idea of Russian sleeper agents, but inside a family. Perfect for fans of the best spy show around, The Americans. Although I could have used a bit more complexity, I still enjoyed the read.

I so loved this book! It had so many twists and turns. Once I picked it up there was just no putting it down.
Vivian works as a CIA analyst. She's also a wife to Matt and mother of four very young children. Her family is the thing that's most important to her... and where she's most vulnerable. One day her world changes. What is truth and what is a lie? Her only constant is loving and protecting her children.
This book kept surprising me, right to the end. A really great read.

Need to Know is about a CIA counterintelligence analyst named Vivian Miller. She is busy trying to balance motherhood with a demanding career in Russian counter intelligence. Despite her job at the CIA, her life seems normal. Until one day she discovers a secret that makes her question everything in her life.

I won't lie, there was nothing original about this story. The plot and the characters can be found in any number of books and movies. The start was gimmicky with a dramatic opening followed by the two days earlier ploy. On top of that, it's written in first person, present tense which I am not found of. Then there flashback scenes in past tense, but they didn't bother me because they still flowed well with the rest of the story and were informative. But still, my initial expectations were low.

So why the four star rating? Because despite the generic setup, I couldn't put this book down. I read it in under twenty-four hours. There isn't any one thing that I can pinpoint as to why this book was a page turner, but it certainly was. It has Best Seller written all over it. The story was more cerebral suspense / cat and mouse than action. It was realistic without being too technical or taxing on the brain. It was not too violent or gory but still built up the tension and sense of risk.

The ending was abrupt though, and the whole thing felt very Hollywood. Apparently the film rights have already been bought and big names attached to the production. It always makes me suspicious when movie rights are swooped up before the book even gets published especially for a debut author. That being said, I can totally see this as a movie. It is entertaining and has very mainstream appeal. So while it was not astounding writing or an original plot, but it was still engaging and exciting. It's a short book, easy to read, and sure to be a best seller.

Can I just say: WOW, what a ride! Karen Cleveland's debut novel was a fast paced read that left me wanting to know: what's next? And what will this talented writer.

Vivian Miller is a CIA Analyst focusing on Russian Sleeper Agents in the US. When her algorithms prove to be successful and break into a suspected handler's computer, she discovers that her husband - and father to her four children - is in a file marked "friends". Does she do what's right: turn him in? And destroy her life as she knows it? Or does she try to hide it?

Appealing to folks who love thrillers, mysteries, and a deep dive into human nature, this book is on my "must reads" to my reading friends.

Add this to your "to read" list and bring it to the top of the pile!

This book led me on a wild goose chase. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was thrown for a loop. It was full of action and kept me on my toes. I would highly recommend it.

I really was intrigued by the premise of this book.
I did like the plot and i couldn't put the book down, I actually finished this one in two days
However I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style.
The first chapter literally throws you inside the story. This means that a lot of things need to be told instead of showed and therefore it was quite hard to connect with the characters.
In the beginning the writing style was also repetitive
At first I did not like the switching between the past and the present but further in the book I actually understood why they did it and gave more inside to the actions of the characters.
I loved the prologue of this book, it really shocked me and made me interested what would happen next.

Not my favourite read but I did enjoy reading it so 3 stars

If all of the counterintelligence agents in the CIA are as naive and make as many bad decisions as the protagonist in this novel, the Cold War is lost. While I sped through this book because it is an exciting read, the main character was totally unbelievable. Our entire counterintelligence team at the CIA can not be this dumb.

Vivian is very happily married to a man named Matt, Not only does she dearly love him, he is a fantastic father to their children.

Professionally, Vivian is a CIA analyst and a member of the Russia section at the CIA. She has developed a special algorithm for finding Russian sleeper cells. And she has success. Unfortunately, in the process, she finds a picture of her husband on the computer of a Russian handler, labeled in a way that marks him as a Russian agent.

From there, she is frightened, unsure what to do, and wants to protect her family at all costs. She has been happily married to a Russian spy for 10 years and she must try to separate her emotions from what is good for her country, her family, and herself. Not necessarily in that order.

As the events unfold, the author includes vivid flashbacks, where the past informs Vivian as she tries to make sense of the current situation. Vivian attempts the seemingly impossible task of doing the right thing. In this book, you accompany Vivian as she agonizes over and makes her decisions as what to do next. And unfortunately, the circumstances keep changing, calling for new decisions without much time to think them over.

This book will be of interest to a variety of readers, including those who like thrillers, suspense, and spy novels.

An additional note: The author spent 8 years as a CIA analyst, which surely benefits this book enormously.

A fun spy thriller that hits all the right notes and doesn't demand too much of the reader.

While this lacks the complexity of a Daniel Silva or John Le Carre novel and isn't even in the same stratosphere as Terry Hayes' I Am Pilgrim (which is of course, the greatest spy novel ever written), it succeeds anyway because that isn't what Cleveland seemed to be aiming for.

This is a spy novel for those who aren't necessarily into spy novels, and still a good read for those who are.

Vivian is frustrating at times, and I still question a lot of her personal choices, especially toward the end of the book, but perhaps that's what makes her more human. I don't think she's a particularly realistic character for the role, but that's also what makes her likable.

Points to Cleveland for her ending as well. The twist in the epilogue was predictable, but it was also exactly what the story needed after appearing as though things might just tie up a bit too conveniently.

My Thoughts: Vivian Miller is a analyst for the CIA. Hers is not a dangerous job, she works the world of computer analysis in the elite Russian counterintelligence division. For many her job might even seem a little dull, until she sees husband’s face pop up in a “friends” file of a man suspected of being a Russian handler. In one glance, Viv’s entire world comes crashing down.

“I close my eyes and press harder against my temples.
Matt’s not who he says he is.
My husband’s a deep-cover Russian operative.”

From that point on Viv’s life gets more and more complicated. Matt, the father of her four children and the man Vivian deeply loves, stuns her further when he admits he’s worked for the Russians for 22-years. (That revelation is what hooked me!) Vivian loves her country, but she also loves her family and she’s quickly put into positions where she needs to choose between the two and that is the tight-wire act that is Need to Know.

I really enjoyed the play of Vivian and her husband, Matt. She, being trained in the detection of lies, and Matt, being trained in how to lie with conviction, constantly left me wondering. Cleveland used flashbacks to flesh out the couple’s history and at the same time have Vivian consider the past under the new lens of lies. I thought this worked especially well. As might be expected, Need to Know was a twisty story where the reader could often guess what the next twist might be, but that only intensified my desire to read on. I needed to know if I was right and how Viv would react.

I don’t read many law enforcement type books, and the things that bother me about most also bothered me in Need to Know. I felt like Vivian made some pretty bad choices, with not enough reason to have made them and the ending made me lose a little respect for her. It appeared too good to be true, but with the epilogue that became more clear. It also became clear that Cleveland is not done with Vivian Miller. I’m not a reader of series, so while I thoroughly enjoyed the days I spent with Viv, I doubt I’d read any sequels. Grade: B

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I am not drawn to thriller espionage fiction but I did love Chris Pavone’s book The Expats and requested a prelease copy from Random House based solely on his recommendation. I think it’s remarkable that the author packed so much into 300 pages, so many twists and turns and then more twists. And then some more.

Vivian is a CIA analyst assigned to Russia. It’s a desk job and in that capacity she comes across some disturbing information that snowballs, threatens her family, threatens her children. Sound like typical thriller genre action? Not really and the further you read the faster you read. The ending. On man, I had to go back and read it three times and then shake my head. There had better be a sequel is all I can say.

WOW! This book is stunning - in the true sense of the word! It kept me captivated from the first page to the last. I'm not usually a fan of spy novels but this was different. This felt like real people drawn into something unimaginable - - and yet if felt totally believable. The characters are vivid and real, the pacing of the story was excellent, and the ending left me gasping! What a fantastic debut for this author!!

I won't say any more for fear of spoilers. All I can say is READ THIS BOOK!!!

Spies and lies!!! So many twists and turns- even in the last paragraph! Great characters and suspense that never let up. I really loved it!

I absolutely love this book! Karen Cleveland comes out swinging with her debut novel. I haven't quite read a thriller like this before.

It's told from the point of view of analyst, a loving mother, who's stuck in the midst of painful dilemma. The tension is palpable, the conflict is juicy and the suspense is off the charts. What a suspense thrill!

Don't miss it!

Shout from the rooftop...Love, love, love this book...It is a MUST READ. Future bestseller, Can't wait to read another book by author,Karen Cleveland.

Vivian is a CIA counter intelligence Russian analyst. While looking over a Russian encrypted file she discovers a folder with 5 pictures of Russian sleeper spies. To her surprise her husband is one of the five pictures. Her first thought....this must be an error. That night when she gets home she turns to her husband, Matt and asked, How long have you been a Russian spy? He says, 22 years

Vivian has been happily married to Matt for 10 years. They have 4 beautiful children together. Has her life been a lie? Vivian now has information that could destroy her life, her marriage, her family. What steps and how far will she go to protect what she holds dear?

Thank you Random House for the opportunity to read Need to Know before the pub date of 01/23/18.

Very well written, and a quick read. I was excited to read this, had heard a lot of mumblings about how good it was, and I wasn't totally let down. The characters are all distinct, with their own voices, their own lives fleshed out, and I loved the details about the CIA and the day to day work. But it wasn't a book I would push at others and say, "Oh god, you MUST read this!" Thus the four stars. That said, if you are in an airport, or headed to the beach, or just taking a cruise somewhere, and you want a fun, well written thriller, this is the book you should buy. I'll definitely look for more books by Karen Cleveland after this.

4.5 stars, rounded up
I’m not a big fan of thrillers. But I saw a lot of positive reviews on GR about this book and decided to take a chance. And I’m so glad I did!

Vivian Miller is a CIA counterintelligence agent searching for Russian sleeper spies in the US. She finally manages to infiltrate the computer of a suspected handler and whose picture pops up in his files? Her husband’s. Boom.

In truth, this book isn’t so much a spy thriller. It’s much more about how much you know about the one you love. How your world can just change in a second. And if your whole life has been based on a lie, can you ever learn to trust again?


This book really grabbed me. I felt all the tension and angst that Vivian felt. I agonized over every choice she was faced with. What takes priority, family or country? This is a book that you just want to keep reading. I had to know how it was going to play out. The whole time I was reading this, this old adage kept going through my brain... Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.

My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

Warning: do not pick this book up unless you have the time to finish it!
This book is intense, to say the least. Honestly I have come to expect flashier covers from books like this and so I put this one off until the last minute because it didn't sound that exciting. I willingly admit I was wrong, very wrong. The author did a great job of being realistic (not surprising since she's worried in the CIA and FBI) while still keeping the pace and suspense non-stop. Being a first time author, she can be a tiny bit heavy handed in clues and red herrings but I'm still very impressed and look forward to more. The book was also relatively clean - no sex scenes, brief language, and even the violence was not graphic at all. Overall, I would strongly recommend this book.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free electronic copy of Need To Know by Karen Cleveland from NetGalley for my honest review.

This is an edge of your seat spy thriller. I loved the details and intensity that Karen Cleveland writes with. The characters in the book are wonderfully written. Vivian Miller, CIA analyst who tracks Russian sleeper cells loves her job, has four beautiful children and a wonderful husband, Matt. One day Vivian's whole live changes when she comes across a picture of someone she knows. Vivian's life is turned upside down suddenly and she struggles with the decision of protecting her family or betray her country. The more she digs, the deeper she gets and the more she doesn't know who to trust. Great read

Russia, Russia, Russia.

No, this isn’t a current events article on the state of things in the world. It could be (and that’s kind of frightening) but it’s not.

This is a review of Karen Cleveland’s spy thriller NEED TO KNOW.

The synopsis as posted on NetGalley, who were kind enough to grant me an ARC of the book, kind of, sort of seems to give away the game in that I knew when I thought ‘yes! I want to read that!’ that a CIA analyst’s husband works as a Russian sleeper agent. That’s why I hit ‘request’ on the page, because it sounded good. And yet the reveal scene, where Vivian finds out that Matt is not actually Matt at all, is really intense. When it shouldn’t be… because I knew he was going to be a Russian agent. So kudos for that reveal!

The theme of the book, even more than Russian sleeper agents everywhere!, seems to be the question of just what would you do if, say, you were a CIA analyst (specializing in Russia, of course) and you found out your husband (and the father of your four children) had been a Russian agent for two decades, give or take. What would you do if, say, he said “no, I never told them anything about you or your work” and “you have to turn me in” in the same breath? Do you believe him? Do you still believe him as more and more lies drip out? Do you find that you still love him despite the lies and despite the fact that you’re now stuck in a giant hole whose walls are about to collapse?

Vivian errs on the side of what seems to be self-preservation. That’s understandable. It’s also questionable. It makes her look pretty terrible at her job, when she’s supposed to be this expert at uncovering handlers and ringleaders, so that the CIA can find the agents. Vivian tells the story of dealing with the revelation about Matt (Alexander) in the present tense, which does make for very intense, dramatic storytelling. She flashes back to earlier moments in their relationship in the past tense, which makes for not the most compelling portrait of her intelligence gathering skills.

Can love really make a person so blind that, as a new mother in a new marriage, you’re not like “I don’t know, honey, I like working the Africa desk… why do you think it’s so important I move to the Russia section? And, you know, not stay home with the kids?”

I don’t know. I’m not a CIA agent (thanks to those who are, I could never be one), but Karen Cleveland was in the CIA so I’ll take her word for it, despite my questions. And maybe those questions, maybe Vivian not being super great at her job, at least as it relates to her personal life, are what makes it such a compelling story, one that I could not put down.

There is an ‘80s Cold War vibe to NEED TO KNOW, which is fun and intense. It doesn’t seem out of place either, since there’s a ‘80s Cold War vibe to the present day, which is less fun and more intense.

It’s a quick read. It’s an intense read. It’d make a great tv show. It’s fun! If you like thrillers and espionage, with a touch of romance, please be getting this book!

P.S. I feel like there could be a sequel, given the reveals that end the book. I would definitely read a sequel!

3.75/5 stars

(I received a copy of NEED TO KNOW through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own. My review is posted on Goodreads, NetGalley, and my blog.)