Wow! This might be the first spy novel I have truly enjoyed from cover to cover. It is more than just your typical spy story with complex family dynamics. The protagonist is put in a situation where she must choose what is more important to her - family or the very country she serves. The plot is fast-paced with an addictive quality to the writing. This is being made into a movie to be starring Charlize Theron. Sure to be a hit. Highly recommended to readers of thrilling fiction.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The book’s narrator is Vivian, who alternates her perspective between the past and present. Vivian is a CIA analyst whose algorithm uncovers secrets of Russian sleeper cells in the US. Unfortunately, she soons finds that this means her family (husband and four children) and life as they know it is in jeopardy. How does she choose between family and country? Well, at times she doesn’t do a good job of making decisions. Once this is made into a movie, we’ll be yelling at the on-screen Vivian, “no, don’t do it, ah geez, what were you thinking?” Then again, once you place yourself in her position, you wonder what choice you would have made and it will raise some questions. What choices do our CIA operatives make? How do you separate love of country from love of family? Which is more important? Does it depend on the situation? How will you live with the consequences of the choices you make?

This was an entertaining and page-turning thriller, which you had to keep reading to see what happens next. The book starts off with a bang and the remainder deals with the fallout. The characters and their dialog were realistic, the plot was well-thought out and the ending was perfect! This is a great book to curl up with on a cold and snowy weekend spent indoors.

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/need-to-know-by-karen-cleveland-4-stars/

Not usually a fan of spy novels, I loved Need to Know. Karen Cleveland has written a wonderful spy novel that I couldn't stop reading. Vivian, CIA analyst and mother of four, is thrown into a world of espionage and mystery when she learns that her husband of ten years is a Russian spy. Faced with the choice to betray her country or her family, she will do everything she can to keep her family safe, despite the consequences. Fast paced and addictive, this novel will not disappoint.

As an introductory book, Karen Cleveland’s book about a CIA analyst’s family and her investigation into Russian moles in the CIA was really entertaining. It was a spy story but also a family’s struggle with accusations about whether one of the family is a Russian mole or is it someone else within the CIA department where the analyst works. I thought I knew who was the bad guy(s) but I didn’t know the extent of the conspiracy. Nicely done all the way to the end.

An excellent book that was hard to put down. Vivian is a criminal analysis for the CIA and it’s her job to track down Russian sleeper spies. While hacking into a Russians computer she soon discovers that one of the spies has close ties with her and finds that her whole life has been based on lies.

A great work by Cleveland!

Vivian is an analyst at the CIA who has moved up in the ranks and is finally on the Russia team, trying to find the sleeper cell that has infiltrated the U.S. Her husband Matt works, but doesn’t seem to work very much, as he mostly helps at home with their four children. Vivian has wanted to stay home with the children for years and just be a mom, but their finances limit her choices. When the book starts, Vivian is working on her computer on a program that she has developed to mirror the computer of a known Russian agent named Yury. What she discovers horrifies her and threatens her job and her freedom. Pictured on her screen, as a sleeper agent, is her husband Matt. The action in this book is very fast and very believable since it is written by a former CIA agent. Vivian has to save her family as well as her marriage, if she can. But the Russians are closing in and demanding that she betray her nation. What will her choice be? Is there anyone she can turn to for help, or she is on her own to make sure that her family survives her husband’s betrayal? This was an excellent read with a twist at the end that I did not see coming and that left me saying, “What just happened?!?”

Good grief. Don't start this book unless you're prepared to read it in one sitting.
CIA counterintelligence analyst Vivian Miller is confronted with information that puts her whole family in danger. This incredible story explodes in the first chapter and the intensity doesn't stop until you put it all together - on the very last page.

I've stayed up late finishing other stories because I wanted to know what happened. But this book is different. The writing literally compels your progress through the pages. The plot is well conceived with twists and turns. The characters are realistically drawn and the dialogue very natural. Just when you think you've got a handle on the situation it shifts. Need to Know is one of the best examples of the expression, "a real page turner", that I've read.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was well-written and it was easy for the reader to get involved in the main character's actions and identify with her. It was set up for a sequel, which I would read.

A great plot has to also be told by a great writer. I think the writing of the book distracts from the plot’s telling. I found too much repetition, too many simple sentences, and too little character development. I expect that there may be a second outing from this author in which I hope she addresses some of these flaws.

As others have said, it very well could make a better movie than book. In the meantime, perhaps the reader willing to experiment with the work of a new author will be sufficiently drawn into the story to find it of interest and be able to hold their interest - I was some of the time, but just not enough of the time.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

*3.75/5.00 stars

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


If you watch the FX series The Americans and the NBC's The Blacklist, the concept of this book is not new to you but it urges you to read because you want some bad-ass spy thing and some mastermind killing plot.

Vivian, a CIA employee unraveled a classified documents about Russian sleepers in the US soil, whereas one of the photos taken includes here lifetime partner, Matt. Conflicts in her marriage arise as she connects all her time with her husband are all lies. The most haunting question that shattered her life is choosing her family or her duty.

Well, I like the story because it resembles Tom and Elizabeth Keen of the The Blacklist. I also love reading thriller/spy/mystery novels. I saw this book on my email because it was promoted by Netgalley. I tried to check it out but it was piled under my TBR books.

No doubt that I enjoy this book because of its fast-paced plot. No boring moments for me. But I gave it 3.75 star rating because:

The fact that Vivian chose her family over her duty. I hate Matt. Really!? You didn't even protect your family no matter what the threats are? What about Vivian? She should be the one doing what you are f*ucking doing.

Even though the plot was fast-paced but the story was predictable. Nothing new about the plot. It doesn't differ from other novels like this. I expected more of the tensions between Vivian and Matt. Vivian with her children. Vivian with her job.

Over-all Need To Know is a great and fun read.

At first I was not sure about this book with it being about the govnment but it is so much more than that. It's about family and who to really trust. You think, what would i do? It is a MUST read! I could not wait to keep reading it. Looking forward to the authors next book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced and suspenseful - I read it in just a few hours. I really liked the characters and the relationship between them - love or mistrust? I also enjoyed the style the author used in telling the story - current events mixed with their past history. The book was well put together and made for a really enjoyable read. I hope she writes another book!
Thank you for the ARC.

Who can she trust? Not a soul! 

From the outside they look like your average family. Parents who love each other, their children and their jobs. Juggling life much as we all do. And they are. Or they were. Or is it all just an illusion?

I think what makes this such a good thriller is that not only is the premise possible but it is actually probable! Russian sleeper cells, the Feds, the CIA, the entire story is taut with suspense. 
How far would you go to protect your family unit? To keep the illusion alive?

My issue with the book is how did someone who is a counterterrorism analyst for the CIA be so oblivious to her own personal life? From the beginning she seems disconnected from her children, and she keeps saying how much she wants to quit work and stay at home with them, but she is so easily manipulated by her husband that in the end all I could say was "I knew it." I'm sure this will make a great movie, it is written very much like one. 

Netgalley/Random House   January 23, 2018

A spionage thriller for woman. Reads like a movie. At some points slow and the end too fast. Saw the plot coming.
Why for woman? No real spionage action. Descriptions of bathing en feeding the kids.
I had no click with Vivian. Did not really understand her actions en thoughts.
Still an okay Read..

Grab a glass of water, get some popcorn, sit down, hunker down, and read this book straight through. It is a thrill ride from the beginning of the first chapter to the explosive last word! Read this book in one sitting, I could NOT put this down. Great characters, great writing. I am thrilled to find a new author to read and devour! BRAVO!

What a ride! Highly recommend! This story has all the necessary elements to keep you hooked.

What a fabulous, edge of your seat, unputdownable, keep you up all night, absolutely delicious book! Can you tell I liked it? I think I depleted the cliche phrase bank here, but this book is truly deserving of all of them and more.

Vivian Miller is a terrific heroine, displaying all of the emotion I can imagine I would display if I was faced with what she was faced with. I loved the glimpse into the CIA and the Russian sleeper cell storyline was fabulous as well.

I loved how much this book captured me and took me right into the story. I felt completely caught up in it and I didn’t want it to end but I’m glad it did cause I was exhausted and felt like I’d run a marathon in the very best possible way. Pay attention to that ending. It’s utterly delicious!

I highly recommend this book to lovers of suspense, family drama and spy stories. This is one of the best ones I’ve ever read.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was just fast paced enough to keep completely obsessed, I couldn't put it down. The action was well paced and I liked that you learned as the character learned.

One thing that I didn't love was that you barely get any back story between the main character/husband from the beginning. You do learn a lot more as you go, but it's hard to really care about what is going on with either of them because you don't know them.

I also originally had this book listed as a 5 star, but thinking more on it, I realize that the main character just does a lot of dumb things and it bothers me. If she is supposed to be a CIA level intelligence officer, wouldn't she know better?!

I could not put this book down! I loved the perspective of a female analyst that finds herself fighting for her family in a very unexpected way. I also enjoyed the ending, which left open the possibility of a sequel.

I am happy to receive this book in exchange of an honest review. I found the storyline very intense, however, the writing style is not appealing as a thriller. Rather, it is more plain, and could be much appealing and catchy, so that readers could always want to read more.