Need To Know by Karen Cleveland

The Blurb On The Back:

Perfect husband. Perfect father. Perfect liar?

Married for ten years.

Four children.

She thought she knew her husband better than anyone.

She was wrong.

Vivian Miller is a CIA analyst assigned to uncover Russian sleeper cells in the USA. After accessing the computer of a potential Russian spy, she stumbles on a secret dossier of deep-cover agents living in her own country. Five seemingly normal people living in plain sight.

A few clicks later, everything that matters to Vivian is threatened – her job, her husband, even her four children …

Vivian has vowed to defend her country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. But now she’s facing impossible choices. Torn between loyalty and betrayal, allegiance and treason, love and suspicion, who can she trust?

Will her next move be the right one?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Karen Cleveland’s debut spy thriller is a disappointingly predictable thriller where every plot twist is signposted far in advance and where the main character lacks agency – constantly manipulated by the men surrounding her for their own purposes (and even though she’s aware of the possible manipulation, she has no counter to it), which makes for a frustrating read.

NEED TO KNOW will be released in the United Kingdom on 25th January 2018. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

I, Witness by Niki Mackay

The Blurb On The Back:

Six years ago, Kate Reynolds was found holding the body of her best friend; covered in blood, and clutching the knife that killed her.

Kate has been in prison ever since, but now her sentence is up. She is being released.

There’s only one person who can help: Private Investigator Madison Attalee, the first officer on the scene all those years ago.

But there’s someone out there who doesn’t want Kate digging up the past. Someone who is willing to keep the truth buried at any cost.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Niki Mackay’s debut thriller plays a little fast and loose with the English legal system and its slightly soapy premise and the killer was too obvious but there’s some strong writing on show here – notably through the portrayal of a domestic abuse storyline – and I found both Madison and Kate to be interesting characters who each has their own demons such that I would be interested in reading a sequel.

I, WITNESS will be released in the United Kingdom on 19th April 2018. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.