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Need to Know

An instant New York Times bestseller

Perfect husband. Perfect father. Perfect liar?

“Terrific.”—John Grisham
“Superb.”—Lee Child
“Breathtaking, heart-pounding.”—Louise Penny
“A fast-paced, relentlessly gripping read.”—Chris Pavone

Vivian Miller. High-powered CIA analyst, happily married to a man she adores, mother of four beautiful children. Until the moment she makes a shocking discovery that makes her question everything she believes.

She thought she knew her husband inside and out. But now she wonders if it was all a lie. How far will she go to learn the truth? And does she really… NEED TO KNOW?

Film rights sold to Universal Pictures for Charlize Theron • Rights sold in 30 markets

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Praise for Need to Know

“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

“Pulse-pounding.” —O: The Oprah Magazine

“Accomplished . . . a nonstop thriller tapping into a hot mix of contemporary digital counterintelligence, old-school spying and ageless family drama.” —Shelf Awareness

“An early contender for next year’s Gone Girl.” —GQ (UK)

“The Russia page-turner that should be on everyone’s list.” —New York Post

“Perhaps there will be two or three readers out there who manage to finish the first chapter of this terrific debut and put it down for more than an hour. But they’ll be back. And they’ll devour it like the rest of us, skipping lunch, losing sleep, turning pages until the end, where we’re all left waiting for more.” —John Grisham

“Prediction: If you read chapter one, you’ll read chapter two. If you read chapter two, you’ll miss dinner, stay up far too late, and feel tired at work tomorrow. This is that kind of book. Superb.” —Lee Child

“Karen Cleveland is the real deal—an exciting new voice in thrillers. Scarpetta would call her friend.” —Patricia Cornwell

“I am consumed with awe that this a debut novel. Breathtaking, heart-pounding, it manages to be at once intimate and sweeping, characterful and plot driven. Need to Know is a really astonishing achievement for any writer, let alone a first-time novelist. I love it!” —Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“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, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

“Need to Know carves out a uniquely compelling space among thrillers: high-stakes international intrigue combined with high-drama domestic suspense. These richly overlapping layers of tension create a fast-paced, relentlessly gripping read.” —Chris Pavone, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats

“Heart-poundingly suspenseful and heart-wrenchingly insightful, Need to Know hums with authentic detail, crisp storytelling, and characters that will long stay in your thoughts—a gripping thriller with real psychological depth.” —JP Delaney, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Before