Review: Need to Know

Author: Karen Cleveland
Started reading: February 2nd 2019
Finished the book: February 7nd 2019
Pages: 306
Genres: Thriller, Fiction
Published: January 23rd 2018
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads score: 3.84
My score:

Synopsis
Vivian Miller is a dedicated CIA counterintelligence analyst assigned to uncover the leaders of Russian sleeper cells in the United States. On track for a much-needed promotion, she’s developed a system for identifying Russian agents, seemingly normal people living in plain sight.

After accessing the computer of a potential Russian operative, Vivian stumbles on a secret dossier of deep-cover agents within America’s borders. A few clicks later, everything that matters to her—her job, her husband, even her four children—are threatened.‎

My thoughts

I have been pondering since I've finished this book, if I would give it 4 stars, or 5 stars. I can't really come up with a great reason to not give it 5 stars, but I can't give the book 5 stars if I compare it to my other 4 star-book. I do think this is a GREAT book and especially the ending made me doubt my rating.

Pros

• Trust nobody: This is a book where you can trust nobody. I have been reading those kind of books a lot lately and I LOVE IT. Vivian is a main character who is in a web full of lies and doubt and you can feel it in every fiber of the book. I didn't trust any of the side characters and the way that played out was great!
• Way out: I did NOT see any way out of the mess that Vivian is in. At some point she only makes it worse by making mistakes and doing reckless things. I liked the way the story played out and I felt like the book was satisfactory in the questions that were answered. I also liked the ending, but that was even better after reading the last few pages.
• Ending: Okay, the ending was COOL. I liked the way things turned out but OH BOY! That final page was GREAT and I actually need another book right now? But I don't think that it's going to come, so I'm in WTF modus right now and have no idea WHAT HAPPENED in the end.

Cons

I can't come up with a very clear con, but I will still rate the book with 4 stars.

Overall

Easy to read, a lot of suspension and a great ending. I love how Karen Cleveland was a CIA analyst for years and how you can see that in this book. You just feel like she didn't just made stuff up. A seriously good debut that I would recommend to any thrillseeker.

Other opinions on this book

"Shaping up to be one of the year's biggest new thrillers."

- Entertainment Weekly

"So timely... Think of the perfect mix of Homeland and The Americans... Need to Know needs to be read by all who relish spy novels. As entertaining as it is informative and as irresistible as it is impossible to put down."

- Providence Journal

"I raced through this gripping tale of domesticity and deceit. Karen Cleveland deliciously ratchets up the tension at every turn. You won't be able to put it down until the final, stunning page!"

- Shari Lapena, NYT bestselling author

Thank you for reading!

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