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Keep You Close
Keep You Close
Karen Cleveland | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What would you do to protect your son? Would you betray your son or your country?
‏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.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Chestnut Man in Books

Mar 24, 2019  
The Chestnut Man
The Chestnut Man
Søren Sveistrup | 2019 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.9 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
A great debut
If that cover doesn't draw you in and make you pick it up, you are a lost soul !!!

And if the cover doesn't do it for you, the story certainly will. It does make for uncomfortable reading at times given the subject matter but it is a story about a serial killer so some gruesome descriptions of the crimes shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

The plot is gripping, dark and thrilling and the pace of the book is ideal with a seamless mix of murder, politics and police procedure all wrapped up in a perfect psychological thriller package. I actually don't normally like what is called Scandi-noir after having previously tried and failed to read one by a very successful author but this one is excellent.

The characters are fantastic - I know it's a good book when I can see the characters as real people and imagine who would play them if the book were made into a film or TV series - the Danish actor, Kim Bodnia, from The Bridge (Bron/Broen) and Killing Eve would be perfect for the role of Hess.

This is the debut novel by this author, although he has written the highly acclaimed series "The Killing", and a very accomplished debut it is and my thanks must go to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.