I give the book 4.5/5 passports.

I got this book from Netgalley. This is a very gripping story, yet very annoying also. The ending was a bit frustrating for me. Ah, I wanted to smack Vivian in the head to stop doubting her instincts. To trust her woman's intuition. But to think about it, it wasn't that easy for her also granting the situation and all the circumstances and the things she would have to lose. This is story presents a very complicated dilemma of following your heart for love of country or for the love of your family. It's a choice between either breaking her heart and family or committing treason. Which would you choose?

I haven't read Karen Cleveland before and I totally enjoyed this thriller. The pacing is just right and the mix of characters is just perfect to mislead you who's who. Being an avid fan of thrillers, mysteries and spy novels, in a way, I had an inkling of what the story is going to be. When Vivian discovered that one of the Russian sleeper agents was someone she knew, I had an idea then who it was and I was right. Then after that, you will start to get lost in the story. Lost, not because you will be confused by the next events but rather you'd be so entrenched and involved in the story. I became Vivian's ally and the only other person who knows her secret and the moral dilemma she's battling with. I too was dumbstruck what to do. It was unbelievable that she was able to avoid detection. I knew that someone else had to be in it also inside the agency. There has to be a mole or a sleeper agent who has gotten inside its walls.

Wow! Definitely the Russian got one point in this story. The conspiracy was well-planned and was laid out even before Vivian came into the picture. It was so well-planned that Vivian was actually targeted and how her career progressed was also part of the whole scheme. Incredible! I hate the guy. I can't say which guy is it because that will then unravel everything and would just spoil the story. But the guy that's very close to Vivian wasn't anything he was claiming to be. I am not even sure if he really loves Vivian. It was all part of the mission and Vivian helplessly feel into it. What she had to go through wasn't worth it just to protect that person she thought had her and their families best interest at heart. No. It was Mother Russia right from the start.

I give the book 4.5/5 passports. This is like "How to be a Russian Sleeper agent in the US." With the author being a seasoned CIA analyst, she had made the story so believable and so engaging. My heart goes out to Vivian and I wanted to be her ally and help her see through all the deception and lies that was fed and being fed to her. It's like having a friend who's in an abusive relationship and you wanted to help that friend but the friend is bent on helping the other party rather than herself. She's being manipulated and you can't help but stand and watch because you've been told to stay out of it. This story is delicious yet leaves a bitter taste in you mouth because of the ending. It was another revelation on itself on top of all the lies and deception. What else is there? I think this story needs a sequel because I wanted to know who else is on the conspiracy. Who else was lied to and manipulated? Who else was used as scapegoat and how deep does this go? This story makes you think which do you value more--duty and love for your country or your love for you family? Both are the same it's love. But which love is greater that makes you want to defy everything else?

Like knowing the bad news is better than knowing nothing at all.
- Karen Cleveland, Need to Know -

Thank again, Karen Cleveland and Netgalley for the copy.

Action, adventure, mystery, and intrigue away you in this book.

It's the story of CIA counterintelligence agent Vivian Miller. She's a loyal, proud American wife and mom to four kids.

Things begin to unravel as she's working on a Russian case, will she be able to trust those around her or is she being set up to take the fall?

This book was really good and hopefully we might even see a sequel.

Wow! This is one awesome spy novel! I couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it in a day.
Vivian is a CIA analyst who works on algorithms in an attempt to locate Russian sleeper cells and handlers. She is lucky to have a terrific and responsible spouse who bends over backwards to show his love for her and their young family. That is until her faith and trust is rocked to the core when her successful computer work uncovers that he might just not be who she has always thought he is. Ethical choices are weighed against the struggle to keep her family together. Ultimately it would seem there is no way out of this tangled web.
This book has all kinds of thrills and kept me guessing from one page to the next. Refreshingly, "Need To Know" combines an old school spy novel (think Robert Ludlum or Ken Follett) with modern edgy family suspense (like Gillian Flynn or Tana French).
I hoped for a neat and tidy resolution. Still that would be too easy and ultimately more than a little disappointing. This one is a wild read and worth every minutes.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Great suspense/thriller! Very difficult to put down. I can't wait to read more by this author.

There is a part of me that loves this book. Viv feels deeply the helplessness that her situation creates, and there is an almost tangible quality of suffocation as you read the first two thirds of the novel. The flashbacks to coversations with Matt early in their marriage are disturbing and very effective. You never really know in this novel the extent to which Matt is a complete manipulator. I grew increasingly angry about Viv's naivete throughout the early parts of the novel, and I'm not convinced that the ending rescues her from the role of someone who has been exploited. The ending is very tidy, until you realize that who the real mole is. Ulimately, the novel makes the reader think about how far he/she would go to protect his or her family.

I devoured this book, and then discovered afterwords that . . . it hadn't been lastingly satisfying. The plotting was strong, and the setting carried the touch of authenticity provided by the author's history with the CIA. But many of the characters acted in ways that were inexplicable to me ( I related to quite a few of the questions asked by other Goodreads members.) So I can agree with readers who called it "Homeland Lite" and who observed that the real arc of the story was within the marriage and family and not within the espionage community. The most lingering question for me was: why on earth would an intelligence professional be so freaked out by a gun. I know, she was an analyst, not an operative, but still . . . (I received an ARC from NetGalley.)

Could not finish, I won this through a goodreads giveaway and through NetGalley and publisher and it just did not do anything for me. I have tried for months to finally get through it but I just was not feeling it..

Trust me. This is NOT your standard spy thriller. And in this case, that’s a very good thing. What would you do if you are a CIA agent investigating Russian sleeper agents and your own husband’s picture appears on your screen? This is the premise of Cleveland’s Need to Know and it was so unique and well done with twists and turns along the way that I never saw coming! And just when I thought I was turning the last page, BOOM, more twists! I am hoping this is just the beginning of a series from Cleveland because I would love to read more about Vivian, Matt and the whole gang!

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine for an advance copy. All opinions are my own

The definitive spy story ! What a exciting book. I loved it and was unable to put it down.
Vivian is a counter intelligence CIA officer with a family. She seems to have the perfect life. Until a Russian sleeper cell infiltrates her peaceful existence and she finds herself in danger. Soon she is answering to the CIA as well as her family who have lost trust in her. Her life becomes a series of incidents that may put her on both sides of the law . This was a great spy story with all the right elements. Its being made into a movie and I look forward to seeing what they create from this great story.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

Saw some promising advance buzz about this but it just didn't measure up. Not believable at all.

This review is in exchange for a free e-galley from netgalley.com.

Good fun-- read it in just a few hours--though one must suspend belief throughout. That's fine; it was just what I needed. I kept thinking, "This is so ridiculous (in a good way....) It would never happen" but having recently read the book about British spy Kim Philby, I suppose anything is possible. Can't wait for the movie and can't wait to see what Cleveland writes next.

A classy spy novel with intrigue, doubt, and fierce loyalties. This debut novel by former CIA analyst, Karen Cleveland, grips and doesn’t let go. The main character, Vivian, tracks Russian sleeper agents for her career, and at the end of chapter one, realizes they are much closer to home than she thinks! Hacking into a recovered laptop from a known Russian source, she uncovers five covert agents who are sleepers and she is about to expose them. But what must she do when one of them is related to her? The book immediately gets the reader thinking ethically and to what extent we might bend the rules.

By chapter six, she makes a decision that affects everyone in her family, her four children and husband included, and the story takes off. Can she protect her family from those who really wish harm, or is she trapped? And will she be able to move on when lies are built on lies?

If you love spy stories, or possible real life fiction, this book is for you. I will admit at some points, I struggled with some of Vivian’s decisions, but her motherly ways influence her in ways I might not have chosen. However, the end is satisfying, and some of the conversations throughout the book aren’t predictable, but flow as if characters are actually having a conversation, which is rather refreshing. For a debut novel, I would definitely read more by this author.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Random House Publishing through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Twisty turny spy thriller - recommended. I didn't expect the ending - and I almost want a sequel, but don't want the perfection of the stand-alone to be ruined.

What an engrossing ride! We are introduced to Vivian, who works for the CIA as an analyst who identifies sleeper cells. Her job opens up a world of trouble for her family. Each decision Viv makes seems to make the situation worse and finding someone to rust becomes a problem.

Need to Know is the kind of book I love recommending to my friends. This book has kept me up all night. The NEED TO KNOW about the heroine's (Vivian) husband's (Matt) connection with the Russian left me on edge. Vivian as a CIA specializes in finding Russian sleeper cells in the US and for her to learn that somehow her husband was involve with the Russian left her in knots. To think that they have children and she really dotes on her husband, Vivian was left to wonder what to do with what she just learned. Was his husband really involved with the Russians or was she just mistaken?

Holy Moly! (pun intended).
What a thrill ride, I've just finished the book and I'm still breathless, finishing the book in just a couple of days, having to deal with the inconvenience of having to go to work and wonder all day long what awaited me when I picked up the book again.
Vivian is a CIA analyst in the Russia section and while working on a target's laptop that the CIA has hacked their way into comes across a file that contains a file called "friends". In the file, there are five picture files, the first four no one remarkable, the fifth, however, is a picture of her husband. Immediately torn and confused, she confronts her husband when she gets home and he confesses that he is indeed a sleeper agent. Confusion, stress and much anxiety develop for Vivian, leading her to question everything she has previously taken for granted: the love of her husband, their kids, her husbands family, where his loyalties lie and much, much more.
This book is seriously awesome, tense, exciting, stressful and mindblowing. How would you react in such a situation? Although I questioned some of Vivian's decisions, they all seemed reasonable somehow, and yet the excitement continued to the very last page. If you haven't picked up this book yet, seriously run to favorite book dealer and get this fantastic book.

Need to Know by Karen Cleveland

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Karen Cleveland jumps into the world of writing and lands on two solid feet with her debut novel. With superb writing that keeps you guessing, characters that are completely relatable and a mystery just begging to be solved, Ms. Cleveland leaves her readers in no doubt that she will be in this field for years to come.

I probably shouldn’t have tried to read this excellent book when I was fighting a severe cold but it was so good that I powered through and hope I didn’t overlook anything. When I looked the book information up after I finished I was surprised to realize this was Ms. Cleveland’s first book! It was so good I thought she must have written others before. I have certainly added her to my list of “must read” authors for any future works and can’t wait to see what she brings out next. With all the kerfuffle over Russia and its involvement in US politics lately, I was interested in reading books with ties to that oft mentioned country. Lo and Behold, I was offered this book a couple weeks ago and latched on with a tight grip. Ms. Cleveland carefully crafted a book that everyone could relate to – and given how many people work in government offices these days, this may be someone’s reality. Vivian is a CIA analyst who has worked for several years to develop a system to detect Russian sleeper agents that live “normal” American lives. Knowing she is on the verge of the biggest breakthrough of her career, Vivian is thrilled to discover that her system has uncovered local agents and handlers that may soon be activated. Only trouble is, when she finally accesses the files pertaining to the sleeper agents, she will find the man she has loved and been married to for 10 years is one of them. Unable to process what she is seeing and afraid to confront her husband Matt with the truth right before her eyes, Vivian will have to decide what matters most: her job or her family. She has heard of others that had to turn in friends or friends of friends, but how can she destroy her family and the lives they’ve built together? Carefully beginning the necessary conversation with Matt, Vivian is deeply shaken to find that she was targeted by the Russians 11 years ago when they first met. Vivian was working on a less important CIA target and the Russians needed someone on the inside who was unaware of their manipulation. Matt ( or Alexander Lenkov) was recruited in Russia at 15 to come to the US as a student who would be able to surreptitiously integrate into the American way of life and target those who could give Russia the information they needed. It was his job to push Vivian to apply for the Russian analysis job that was soon to be available at the CIA. Never realizing that his covert activities would become harder to continue when he fell in love with his target, Matt is in the impossible position of wanting to protect his family and serve his homeland. Vivian cannot fathom turning Matt in, so they search for ways to keep what they know secret. But the Russians and the CIA are not in the business of keeping families together and it will take all their intellectual know-how to prevent either side from tearing them apart. There was so much to love about this book, from the thriller passages when you held your breath to see if Vivian would get caught, to the sacrificial love that Vivian and Matt have for each other and their children, it will certainly be one I recommend to others highly. There was no unnecessary language outside of a couple “O my Gods” and other than a brief reference to Vivian and Matt sleeping together after a date, there was no other sexual references. That automatically raises my opinion of an author when they can write with no crutch of language or sex. Ms. Cleveland was also able to convey the heartfelt desire of her characters to keep their good and quiet everyday life. Although that was not the original intent, Matt and Vivian have a good marriage that has nothing to do with their jobs, rather it is based on their devotion to each other. Their fight to protect their family is a recurring theme that all readers will applaud. To be able to write about the mundane as well as the thrilling with the same adeptness is a skill that not usually seen in a first time author but Ms. Cleveland, it seems, has this skill in spades. It was the moments of everyday life that let me identify with Vivian and helped me “walk alongside” her in this wonderful story. Would that more people would be honestly torn to make a decision that could destroy their marriage or family rather than viewing everything as disposable. I can hardly wait to see where Ms. Cleveland will take this series next and I know it will be good. I will definitely be looking for her future works with anticipation and hope her next book will be out soon. I will highly recommend this book to others and hope to get a hard copy of the book for my shelves soon. Well done, Ms. Cleveland and welcome to the big leagues!!

I received this E-book free of charge from Ballantine Books/Random House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

This book kept me glued to my chair, completely sucked in by the premise and the characters, unable to imagine how the plot would play out and unable to stop reading. Look up the term "compulsively readable" in a dictionary and you will find the image of this book. Not just a really good suspense novel, although it is that, this book challenges a lot of assumptions we all probably make. Like the best novels, it not only made me read, it made me think.

I loved this book. So well written. I found this book unputdownable!!

2.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CIA analyst Vivian Miller is assigned to uncover Russian sleeper cells. She is working on developing a system to identify the undercover agents that live as normal people in plain sight. After finding a dossier of sleeper agents living and operating in the USA, everything she cares about, including her family, is threatened.

The first few chapters of this book was promising, but the story quickly nose-dived into clichés and predictability. Considering Vivian is a freaking CIA agent, it's ridiculous how enormously stupid, naïve and annoying she is in this story. Her thought-process is nonsense and for an allegedly smart woman, her decisions don't make sense at all.