Stephanie Maddox has relentlessly worked her way up to working in internal investigations in the FBI. This has obviously earned her many powerful enemies, a number of whom would be happy to see her life destroyed. However, could it be that the person she should fear the most is the one she is closest to? Throughout the book, Stephanie must continuously question how well she knows her son, Zachary. The image she holds of him is closer to the small boy heading off to kindergarten than the reality of the practically grown up teen who is preparing to leave for college.
The plot ricochets back and forth between what we do or do not really know about Zach. Did he send the email? Is he being framed in an attempt to get to Stephanie? And who exactly is involved-a spurned old flame, the mob, a charming but manipulative senator, a terrorist organization? Red herrings and possible theories abound in this fast paced novel, but none of them truly hit the mark for me. While I appreciate the author's attempt to keep the reader guessing, I felt that there were too many "what ifs" being thrown at me and they served more as a distraction than a way to keep me involved in seeing what happened next. I personally would have liked a smidge more character development, especially with Zach since most of our (wrong?) information about him comes from his mostly absent mother.
Fast paced, non stop action will make this a popular book with many looking for something that zips along and will keep them entertained from one chapter to the next. 3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy. This did not impact my review.

This story got a little out of the realm of possibility for me, but overall was enjoyable. It was more of an action story than a thriller, which may be part of what threw me off.

The pace is very fast and because of the amount of action it is a very quick read. I do wish there had been more character development as this would have added a bit more color for me.

Keep You Close# NetGalley
Karen Cleveland

If you want a book that will keep you on the edge of you seat trying to figure it out, then this is the book for you. I did not figure out all the twists and turns until the very end of the book. It had so many moving parts of the story that I had a hard time keeping up with all the angles. The main character Stephanie, is an FBI Special Agent Investigator who almost gets in over her head trying to figure out a plot against the United States while still protecting her son. It moves very fast. I like a book like this that keeps you guessing until the final page. I started it and had to finish it all in one sitting.

I was provided this book as an advanced copy read from NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2.5 Stars

This book had a lot of potential but a few things kept me from loving it. FBI agent Steph’s son seems to be at the center of a domestic terrorist threat, but she believes he is being set up. I was kept guessing as to who was behind it, which I liked. I didn’t like Steph as a mother. She constantly left Zach alone and unprotected. I also felt that too much was going on and too many subplots were being explored. Also, what is it with characters having inner psychologists (or goddesses) speak in their heads like a separate entity? Does anyone actually do that in real life?

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland instantly grabbed my attention and pulled me in. FBI Agent Steph Maddox gets some unsettling news about her son, which at first she claims cannot be true. But can she deny the fact that she just found gun in his room, moments before this accusation. No there has to be an explanation for all this, he is being framed. Steph is determined to find the truth and prove that her son is innocent. But how far is she willing to go?

Keep You Close is an action packed page thriller keeping you guessing at all times. However, I feel the story line fell somewhat flat. I am not sure if I needed more character development or if the story line just seemed too far fetched but I didn't end the book as captivated as I had started it.

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy for my honest review.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
I loved, loved Need to Know by Karen Cleveland, so when I saw an arc on Netgalley for Keep You Close, I automatically requested it. Then, I got excited when I was approved for it. However, I became super disappointed in this sophomore novel. This novel does have ties to the first, which I loved. Yet, I felt like the bones of this book was similar to Need to Know, so I wasn’t surprised at the ending and what was going on, which is why I gave it 2.5 stars. I found parts enjoyable, but I found myself more annoyed with this book since I could guess things super easily.

Really, it is more like a 3.25 or 3.5 but Goodreads doesn’t let us do that. Steph Maddox is an FBI agent with a lot going on her in life. She’s a single mom raising a sullen teen, she’s got her mom living nearby, and of course a career that never stops. Until everything comes crashing down around her as she is tipped off by a former lover & fellow FBI agent that her teenage son is under investigation for terrorism. Thus begins a journey to solve a few cases and get some unanswered questions solved for Steph. I would say this is a fun read and a light read. It is fun to try to solve all the different mysteries that pop up in Steph’s investigation.

I love a good psychological thriller. This was almost that. It was a little bit lacking in something...I think the characters were not quite believable or the plot maybe had a view twists or turns that were too contrived for my taste. I like my thrillers to be edge of my seat, page-turners, but where I don't figure out the ending too soon (and not because it's so odd of an ending that no one would see it coming unless they were a psychopath themselves), but within the realm of reality. Nothing happens that can't be possible in the perfect thriller. This doesn't quite feel like it meets that level. It was good but not great. With a little work, maybe it would have been perfect.

#KeepYouClose #NetGalley

FBI Chief of Internal Affairs and single mother, Stephanie Maddox discovers a gun in her son’s room. Then she discovers he is being investigated for possible ties to domestic terrorism. There is a reason Stephanie joined the FBI, but will protecting her son lead her to forsake those reasons?

Distressingly close to possible scenarios in today’s government, this is a well written engrossing novel and a fast read. I get a little uncomfortable when smart women do stupid things even if protecting their own, but what mother wouldn’t?

Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland is an exciting psychological thriller. I recently read Need to Know, and loved it. I enjoyed this book, but not as much. Stephanie Maddox is a single mom with a teenage son Zachary, and she is also an FBI internal investigation agent. After she finds a gun in her son's room, and he is suspected of domestic terrorism. This book goes through the struggle Stephanie faces as an agent and protector of her son. This book is full of twists and turn, and of course nothing is as it seems. I highly recommend this book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

It doesn't matter what you say. No one would believe you. No one. Those words....


Stephanie Maddox a single mom and FBI agent has a mission. To give voice to the unheard. To give justice to the oppressed. Raising a son has been increasing difficult for Stephanie as she balances her need for justice and the son she loves. However, when a colleague approaches her about her son and the FBI's suspicions, she realizes that she must keep her son close. It is a game of communication, cat and mouse between mother and son. It comes to does she know her son and how can she protect him. Can she protect him from the past, her son's own father?

Stephanie must find out who is behind the investigation and what it all means for her as a mother, daughter and a FBI agent who is trained to protect USA interest at all cost.

Many conflicting emotions with this one.

A Special Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

It was a book that kept me guessing through most of the book. It is definitely a book for our time because it matches our news to a degree

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Keep You Close asks is "What would you do to protect your son. Would you betray your son or your country?" It is the second novel by Karen Cleveland. Her first, Need to Know, was a New York Times Bestseller.

Cleveland's background as a CIA analyst with most of her time spent working in counterterrorism helps bring authenticity to her work. While she writes fiction, she is able to get into the mindset of Stephanie Maddox, the head of the FBI's Internal Investigations division, so well it has a feel as if she is writing her memoir. Her debut novel's main character, Vivian Miller, works as a CIA counterintelligence analyst. Hmmm...

Maddox believes her near-perfect son is being framed and searches to discover the truth. Including CIA and FBI agents, makes choices made by Maddox more believable. In an environment whose very nature requires people to doubt and mistrust, she needs to decide whom she can trust and what to believe.

Keep You Close is a stand-alone novel. However, Need to Know's main character does appear in this novel. I did not realize this until I finished reading this novel.

Cleveland does not have any future works listed on Goodreads.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/19.

Ballantine Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Keep You Close. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

A woman comes face to face with an impossible decision, one that could ruin the career for which she has sacrificed so much. Working in Internal Affairs for the FBI, Stephanie Maddox has to use the evidence to judge whether her fellow agents have been adhering to the strict letter of the law. When she is confronted with the possibility that someone she loves has been breaking the law, what will Stephanie do to rectify the situation?

I do like how the author wrestles with the internal struggle that many parents face regarding their children. That being said, I found the realism of Stephanie's response to be in question. The plot was familiar in a lot of ways, as it is similar to the dilemma that many parents face. I just did not buy Stephanie's reaction at the conclusion, nor did I feel any connection to her. Having liked the author's previous novel, Need to Know, I was disappointed in Keep You Close. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend the novel to other readers.

What does a woman do when the person she loves and idolizes more than anything is accused of something terrible?

A good fast paced read. Someof the twists were alittle far fetched. Plot wasn't totally for me.
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a disappointment. I loved Karen Cleveland's first book, Need to Know, I recommended it to a number of people and they loved it too.

This book was confusing and boring at times. Their were characters that did not make sense or explained very well.. Steph was annoying with always ordering out, feeling like she was not a good mother and daughter and then still sabotaging the relationships.. I did not feel sorry for her at all.

The Epilogue did not explain anything. I would not recommend this book

This had promise but, IMHO, fell short. The premise is a good one: how well do we know our teen children in an era of Social Media and Internet access? The writing was okay, but I tired of the use of first person, present tense. And Stephanie Maddox... she seems to me to be uncharacteristically jumpy for an FBI agent. Disclaimer: I skimmed pretty heavily at the repetitive sections when our heroine gets bogged down in her paranoid thoughts and worries about her son. I got it after the third time.

Could have been better: too many conspiracies going on for me.

Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland held my interest from beginning to end, but I felt it was almost tedious to get through at times. It seemed that the same basic theme of a wall being thrown up in front of the heroine's progress throughout. It was a bleak take on Federal Agencies and the American government to some degree. Heavy on the collusion with Russia theme.

The aspect of the book that bothered me the most was the main character as a mother. She repeatedly put her son behind her job, put his life in danger, and spoke cruelly to him. Her continued unwillingness to step up her game as a mother made it much less believable that she would move heaven and earth to protect him.

Overall, I was disappointed in this effort over the author's book last year, Need to Know. Both were cynical and dark, I felt like aside from the lead character's mother, there was not anyone to like or root for in Keep You Close. I am sorry to be leaving a negative review.

Thanks to the publishers, author, and NetGalley for an advanced ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Karen Cleveland's debut novel, Need to Know, was dazzling thriller and she does not experience a sophomore slump with her new release. Keep You Close further establishes Cleveland as an important new voice in American fiction.

In Keep You Close, a woman is forced to confront her sense of right and wrong. The one person she loves most is accused of a horrific, unimaginable crime. Stephanie Maddox is an FBI agent who has worked for nearly 20 years to establish herself and cement her reputation within the organization. She's a single mother to Zachary, her teenage son, who has sacrificed along with Stephanie for her career. She has missed school functions, birthdays, and other events. Despite that, she and Zachary have a close relationship and Stephanie is certain that she knows her son better than anyone else possibly could. She is devoted to him and would do anything to protect him from the terrible secret she carries with her.

But Zachary has secrets of his own.

And one day Stephanie is rattled when she finds a gun hidden in Zachary's closet. She can't imagine how a loaded gun got into his room. The possibilities are too horrible to contemplate. One of her colleagues -- a member of the domestic terrorism squad -- comes to her house to speak with her, She is stunned when he tells her, “It’s about Zachary.” He proceeds to brief her about the activities of a terrorist group known as the Freedom Solidarity Movement. Stephanie knows its not possible that Zachary has gotten involved in such a group. If he did, he had to have been tricked or gotten caught up with the wrong crowd the way kids sometimes do. She is confident there is no chance that her boy, a good kid, could have willingly agreed to be part of a terrorist group plotting the murders of several high-profile government officials. "He wouldn't be involved in that," she tells her coworker.

Keep You Close moves at a relentless, compelling, and sometimes terrifying pace. Cleveland, a former CIA analyst, again demonstrates her command of her subject matter. And showcases the internal struggle of a mother desperate to learn what she doesn't know about her teenager. But Stephanie is not just any mother in America. She is a trained, experienced agent with integral knowledge about exactly how far terrorists groups will go to recruit, indoctrinate, and manipulate unwitting citizens. And ordinary mothers don't get greenlighted -- the term used when the mob puts a hit out. Moreover, if Stephanie withholds information from the Bureau her career could be ruined.

It soon becomes clear that neither Stephanie nor those closest to her are safe. Whoever is behind planting evidence to make it look like Zachary is guilty will stop at nothing to keep Stephanie from discovering and exposing the conspiracy,

Cleveland injects numerous plot twists and revelations, as well as a few heartbreaking developments, that propel the story forward to its explosive climax. The story is sophisticated, timely and frighteningly realistic. When Stephanie finally learns what is actually happening, it is apparent that the truth could be the lead story on any American news broadcast.

Stephanie is a sympathetic, relatable character. What mother wouldn't take any risk necessary in order to save her child? And because Cleveland has crafted the character so skillfully, readers will cheer her on and, like her, hold on to hope that her child is innocent. And that the country is safe. "I'll always keep you safe," Stephanie told Zachary when he was a little boy. Finding out whether she is able to keep that promise is entertaining and mesmerizing. Keep You Close is another tautly-constructed, must-read thriller Cleveland. A worthy successor to Need to Know.