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.

Do books about the possibility of Russian sleeper cells in the US interest you? How about a CIA analyst who gets herself involved in a major "situation"?

Need to Know kept me on the edge of my seat, from the first paragraph to the very last. I didn't want to put it down, but when I had to, all I did was think about it. I explained what was going on to my husband, who is not a reader. Even he was intrigued. If you like fast-paced, punch-you-in-the-face kind of action, this book is for you.

Very highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book by Karen Cleveland.

What a fantastic read! So many twists and turns... and I could not stop!! I thought I'd just read a couple chapters... I had to keep going as the story was so relatable and intriguing. Much past my bedtime, I finished... what a ride! A fabulous new novel and a new favorite author to keep my eye on. You keep pulling for Viv and Matt, but nothing is as it seems as the author puts their relationship, family, and commitment to the test!

This is the right time for this book. With the on-going Russia investigation, this suspenseful novel delivers a timely message about foreign operatives living and working among us, with high level governmental access. The book is well written with characters you can understand and relate to. I think this book lives up to the hype. I couldn't put it down.

This story is about Vivian, she has a busy life with four children. She has a loving husband, Matt. Vivian is a CIA counterintelligence agent, with this job she is close to a big breakthrough. The department she is working in is trying to uncover Russian sleeper agents in the US. At one point she finds something at her work what is probably going to mess with her family.

This novel makes you want to read the rest of the story, because of the suspense. I couldn’t stop reading it. You keep doubting about everything, doubting about who is telling the truth and who is not.
I would really recommend this story for people who want to read a book they can´t put down.