Talk about intense! This is a story which is hard to listen to and unreal to believe. And to think this occurred for years and no one knew it…to children…in school.

Now, it is monotonous in places. But this is because the abuser, Shelly, abused so many people and she had favorite types of abuse. So she duplicates the same type of abuse on everyone in the household. Talk about a psychopath!

I also could not get past her husband. He just sort of sat back and let it all happen. He was definitely complacent and to me he is the worst one. He could have helped his children!

Need a real life story which will have you cringing…THIS IS IT!

This was insane. Absolutely nuts.

I listened to the audiobook though and I think my rating MIGHT be more bc I didn't vibe with the audio. It may also just be the writing in general I didn't like as much. Not sure.

The story, however, was interesting. It told about a family who was abused in every way you can imagine, and all by one woman. She controlled everyone around her like some kind of puppeteer. It was absolutely baffling.

Trigger warnings for sure.

Fabulous plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

Gregg Olsen's novels are always a great read. "If You Tell" is no different. The characters are deep and intriguing. I read this novel deep into the night, because I know there is always a twist at the end. If you are looking for a novel that is an easy read yet filled with taught tension this is it. The fact that this is based on a true story is even better.

Harrowing & heartbreaking story 🥲 Hearing these girls story of a lost childhood, trauma, and resilience was actually a privilege. I sit with prisoners daily and hear similar stories of heartbreak and struggle. You just can’t fathom how one goes through such trauma and… go on to live life. Resilience definitely plays a part 💗 I don’t say it often, because I truly believe that most people are good people, but Shelly? I don’t see any redeeming qualities in her and think she’s is quite frankly a horrible person. The things that she did were just, horrendous.

I listened to this on audible and I really loved the narrator, especially the voice for Shelly. Very much felt like a true crime tv show. A well written book and definitely recommend to true crime readers!

Working on backlist titles!!! So sad that I waited on this one, it was painstakingly brilliant!

🔥 You Can’t Change The Ending When It’s Real Life... 🔥

True Crime at its best. (Should I really even be saying that? 😳)

“No one seemed to notice what was happening in the little red farm house on Monaghan Landing road. Some people would later say that something odd MIGHT be going on over there. But other than a neighbor who called the authorities about the horses being neglected, nothing was ever reported.”

The story of “If You Tell” follows Shelly Knotek, her husband Dave & three daughters: Nikki, Sammy & Tory. Shelly gains gratification by harming other people & animals. For her victims, time must stand still as they try to ignore the abuse; the pain while questioning what they ever did to deserve this from someone they care so deeply for.

“No one wanted to set Shelly off. There simply was no telling what she would do next. She was volatile; unpredictable.”

Dying is the only way out of what is happening to me.”

I pride myself in being a tough cookie when it comes to all things gory; horrifying whether real or fake. I challenge myself to participate in things that terrify me in person, & by reading/watching the scariest things. But this—-

This.Was.Tough.

I found my eyes welling up, at times I was nauseous; I took a few breaks. I’m grateful this was a buddy read with some of my favorite ladies so we could vent. It was a tough pill to swallow.

Examples: Showers & using the restroom were a privilege ; drugging; sleeping outside naked.

“What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

Although, I must admit. I had been warned & now you are too!

I went in blind & had no idea about any part of this case & I’m happy that I did so. I would suggest if you’ve not heard of these devastating acts, that you do the same —simply for the shock factor.

I’ll never look at bleach or fire the same again.

#overbookedbookclub #beyondoverbooked #buddyread #truecrime #truecrimebooks #greggolsen #ifyoutell #netgalley

5 disturbing ⭐️

This is one of Gregg Olsen's best books! The subject and details are very hard to read, however, it is still so fascinating and interesting to read. I basically knew the story, but not the details. His descriptions of the abuse and the victims, along with the perpetrators, is so overwhelming. It really has stayed with me. It is so hard to know that people like Shelly Knotek actually live and breathe. Unfortunately she will get out of prison soon and who knows if she will hurt another person. The author really researched this book well and presented it well. It was so hard to put down, as I wanted it to continue. I highly recommend this book. It is fabulous!

Excellent and compellingly told story. It’s true that truth is stranger than fiction. A truly inspiring tale of survival and sisterhood.

Being a true crime junkie, I was really intrigued by this story. Having never heard about this family, the author did a great job describing each member and documenting a horrible family dynamic. The story was interesting and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes true crime about dysfunctional families.

This book was gripping and horrible. I couldn’t stop listening and felt sick the whole time. The writing however, wasn’t great. It was overwrought in places, instead of compassionate. There were also quite a few repetitive phrases like “so and so said, years later.” I’d recommend for the survival story, but not the writing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am a true crime junkie and I have to say this may have been one of the most difficult reads I’ve encountered in the genre. Not because it’s badly written — it is not — but because the story is so horrific. A story that needed to be told, but not for the faint of heart. I had to read it in stages.

I finished this book on April 2, 2020 and got too swamped with school I forgot to review.
I made the mistake of reading this book every night before bed. If this is something you've read before, you know that it will send chills down your spin no matter the time, but left me wide awake contemplating this terrible story. When you read stories like this, you forget that sometimes things that happen in real life are worse than you could ever imagine. Not for the faint of heart but I did enjoy nonetheless.

Gregg Olsen's "If You Tell" is both brutal and gruesome. The book is an enlightening study in trauma responses. The atrocities that these children had to endure in their own family home are horrific. That they have prevailed, and found ways to thrive, is testament to their own strength and the bonds between them. Shame on those who didn't listen to, or believe, them. May the victims who didn't survive rest in peace. I found it a difficult and very moving read. I also appreciated the inclusion of the Afterword by Katherine Ramsland, PhD. Recommend for fans of true crime and podcasts.

Great book! Couldn’t wait to read it, and it didn’t disappoint! Grabbed my attention within the first two chapters, and then I didn’t want to put it down. Excellent character development - I think that every reader will find a character to whom they relate. I enjoy books where there is character development, and then also a surprise, and this book provided both! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. This book really touched me. It was terrifying and horrifying and extremely well written. The author did a fantastic job telling this tale. I have recommended this book to all of my true crime loving friends snd I will for very much look forward to reading more books by this talented author.

I shook my head so many times while reading this book. It is understandable that the children were scared to tell people what was going on in their home. What I didn't understand, and felt the book failed to relay, was why the adults didn't reach out for help. Not after they had been under Shelly's control for awhile, but at the beginning when it started. Additionally, I felt like the book was incredibly repetitive. Events were referenced multiple times. This gets annoying and distracting very quickly. The author is not responsible for what actually took place, but they are for how the information is presented. Thankfully, none of this detracted from recognizing the horrible situation. There is no crueler animal than humans.

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen was a novel I've been looking forward to reading for a long time. Female killers intrigue and baffle me.
Michelle "Shelley" Knotek is a sociopath through and through. Reading the things that she did to her children and those closest to her in life just boils my blood and makes me sick.
For her behaviour to have escalated to the point it did with no intervention is just astounding. It seems to me that she did not hide who she was at all and if she did it was for such a brief period of time that I don't know how she didn't throw up red flags to everyone she encountered. She was horrible to be around, people knew that she was a liar and a manipulator but still seemed to allow her to get away with the things she did. I feel there was a HUGE injustice done to her children and obviously the 4 people she had a hand in murdering. I did find the book to be fairly well written and in the end no matter how the story was to be told it would leave the reader horrified. One thing that does not sit well with me is the level of abuse the husband Dave inflicted on the children and Shelley's friends, but did not seem to feel he was complicit or that anything was truly wrong.
For myself, I want to research the psychology behind the situations a bit more. How can individuals become so manipulated, conditioned, abused and not say anything?!
I hope that Shelley never sees the light of day as she has not taken one ounce of responsibility for her crimes. Thank you so much to the author for bringing this story to myself the reader, those girls needed their story to be told.

Thank you also goes to the Publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If You Tell by Gregg Olson

Brief Summary: This book details horrific abuse survived by three sisters at the hands of their mother. It also details their mother’s abuse of other friends and family members. I requested this book because I have a clinical interest in abuse and resiliency but also because I saw how many great reviews this book was getting. It did not disappoint.

Highlights: I have read several books on abuse. This is by far one of the most horrific. It was very hard to read at times and could be triggering for its graphic content. I could not believe she kept getting away with it. I kept reading to find out how this wise and cunning woman would slip up in a way that she couldn’t cover her tracks. I was also really impressed with the resiliency of her daughters and how they grappled with denial/not wanting to see the truth. How people learned to see Shelly for who she was was also fascinating!

Explanation of Rating: 5/5; this book was so hard to read at times but like a bad car accident I just couldn’t tear myself away

Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

We loved this book so much we included a copy in our subscription box. The talent this author has is mind-bending, and to think he tackles both nonfiction and fiction. We're in awe!

Gregg Olsen writes gripping true crime, and this one is no exception. But be prepared - this one will leave a residue long after you've finished reading it. It's hard to conceive of this level of evil, particularly within a family setting, but what's almost as disturbing is the level of complicity from the people on the periphery. There is no happy ending here, only an ending that is slightly less tragic than the beginning. #netgalley