A #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon Charts, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s shocking and empowering true-crime story of three sisters determined to survive their mother’s house of horrors.
After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have … mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.
For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.
Harrowing and heartrending, If You Tell is a survivor’s story of absolute evil—and the freedom and justice that Nikki, Sami, and Tori risked their lives to fight for. Sisters forever, victims no more, they found a light in the darkness that made them the resilient women they are today—loving, loved, and moving on.
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A tragic true life accounting.
I just couldn’t do it – too much. I’m not a woos, and I appreciate true crime, but the constant, grueling, “wallowing” and other abuse – just too much. I truly appreciate this is factual, and perhaps that in and of itself was problematic in this instance, but I’m throwing in the towel.
I would still rate this book high and recommend it; there’s nothing wrong with the writing, the style, or the prose – it’s the subject that is truly haunting. I just can’t do it. Maybe I am a woos; maybe I have grown too old and can no longer compartmentalize.
Best of luck with this one – Mr. Olsen has done a fine job; too fine – I’m signing off.
4.5 wtf did I just read stars!!
Ok so I love true crime but rarely do I read books about it because they tend to bore me a bit. I want the juicy bits. I will say this book was written as a story but was all truth. And I enjoyed it. Once I am done with this review I am going to look it all up because I definitely need some faces with these names!!
Let me tell you that this book is FULL of triggers and make you want to choke a person moments. My heart was so broken and to know this was real was so freaking pitiful.
The author did a wonderful job conveying this story. I truly grasped all of it and felt like I was watching a movie. I think I just couldn’t give it 5 stars because it didn’t leave me reeling for more. But I don’t know how you even rate a true story so I have to give the author high marks because the writing was on point. Maybe it was because this book was just so very long.
I hope you are ready to meet one of the WORST mothers in the world. One of the worst humans in the world and can I say I’m extremely disgusted with the punishments dealt out to Shelly and Dave. They were wayyy to nice. Just because Dave was, dare I say it, a bitch doesn’t mean he didn’t do these horrible things. Im angry with the police. Im angry with everyone. Even Lara. Like did nobody see how strange shit was. And if they did we could have saved lives. A child. My heart aches for all four kids. Worst of all Shane. How they didn’t turn and kill her I will never know.
If you are into true crime or even horror stories. This is a great read.
This story is based on true events that will make your stomach turn. the thought that she gets out of prison soon is heartbreaking for those that faced her abuse and will never be seen again and the daughters that will have to know that their abuser is free and out of prison.
Bone-chilling, heart-wrenching, and downright traumatizing. I highly suggest this book for anyone interested in true crimes or anyone willing to read about the true evils that walk this earth.
This book kept me on my toes. It is a true story of a seriously twisted family, and one that I highly recommend. It is very well written and I will read more from this author.
Some people thought this book was too much, but it is reality. I believe that the author did an outstanding job telling the story. What a tragic true story.
This book. Man, what can I even say? It’s twisted and breathtaking. A must read for true crime fans!
This story is about Shelly Knotek, an overly abuse woman who murdered. The things this woman did to her daughters and the people she claimed were friends, loved ones, is so horrifying. I like the way Gregg Olsen writes. Its like your reading a story instead of reading a biography. He always seems to draw me in right away. This book was horrifying, but at the same time very well written and such a good read. I recommend this book for all you true crime buffs.
Excellent book!
IF YOU TELL is a shocking, true crime portrayal of the Shelly Knoteck murder case. This story is absolutely BRUTAL. I remember seeing is on a few investigation shows in the past but those shows didn’t touch upon half the horrible things that went on onside this home. Even while reading this I felt my stomach churning at the brutality of this sick woman! It’s almost unbelievable! Gregg Olsen does an excellent job bringing his readers into this house of horrors. He has clearly done a lot of research into this case and it shows through his writing. It almost felt like I was living through these awful murders **shudders**
If you’re a true crime aficionado like I am, this is a must-read book! It’s a little long (just over 400 pages) but reading it is almost effortless despite the despicable things that are shared within the book. I love true crime novels and have been reading them for years. This one stands apart from all of them. It just may be my favorite of the genre because it is professionally written and researched. Highly recommend if you can stomach it!
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The author (or in this case, perhaps journalist?) makes the people in this experience understandable
Very sad and tragic.
I just finished reading IF YOU TELL and read it in two days which is fast for me. What a great book! I see where it is a bestseller and I know why.
Audio listen and the narrator was great. It never ceases to amaze me what’s going on in people’s homes. How some can look normal to the outside eye yet they are able to do horrific things and continue on with their lives. This definitely makes your eyeballs pop a few times and hang your mouth open. Sad these kids saw such horrific things and were treated so badly. Recommend to people who like reading true crime.
I like real life stories and this was a doozy. I kept thinking now they will catch the mom in the story but they didn’t. I had to keep Reading to see if justice would happen. The story was twisted , unbelievable and easily read.
Unbelievable cruelty within a family.
It was a very sad book but I knew that going in.
True story – cannot believe someone could be this sick and twisted. Glad the sisters have each other
This book was a tough read. This isn’t something I would normally read but I subscribe to “Scribbler Box” ( a writing subscription box) and this book came in one of them. I’d seen reviews about this book and knew what it was about. I was hesitant to read it at first because, as a survivor of abuse, it was – for lack of a better word – triggering. After months of debate with myself, I read it and I was right. I’d witnessed similar behavior in my abuser. But this book didn’t trigger me though many parts were difficult to read. If anything, it helped me process some of what I went through. I don’t feel alone anymore knowing that, as awful as it was, these women had moved on just as I had. I’ll be keeping this book.
If You Tell is a book that although disturbing(what true crime is not) it is also a book of survival, sisterhood, love and hope.
I admire Nikki , Sami and Tori for telling their story and for being survivors.
The more you read, the more you can’t believe how their mother and dad could be so cruel (understatement).
Gregg Olsen has done a remarkable job in telling the sister’s story and even the dad’s viewpoint.
I cant believe this is my first true crime book by Gregg Olsen, it wont be me last!!
Thanks Gregg Olsen for a great read, this book will stay with me for quite awhile