Member Reviews
"Gregg Olsen handles sensitive subjects with skill, depicting the impact of incest, rape, and abuse on three generations. The author's realistic and honest portrayal makes for a compelling read. Trigger warnings are necessary, but the book is well-written. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher."
This book has a few trigger warnings the main one being that Violet the main character has suffered from sexual abuse. Despite this it's a well written and directed story.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse this was a hard book to read. It took me quite a while to get through it, but like all of Gregg Olsen's books it was well written and worth reading.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy to read.
Such a good author! This book does have trigger warnings of of incest, rape, and abuse. The author did a wonderful job of portraying three generations and how they dealt with these things. Although it’s a very tough and delicate subject, the author did a great job writing about it in a realistic and honest way. . Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book
The writing style of this author has impressed me. Although this particular topic wasn't my preferred genre, I found the crime novels written by this author to be excellent. The twists and turns in the plot took me by surprise, and perhaps it was because of my recent encounters with offenders that made it uncomfortable for me. However, this book served as a stark reminder that such crimes never truly disappear. It's apparent that Gregg Olsen is a talented storyteller.
Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for an eARC of I Know Where You Live by Gregg Olsen. Olsen is truly famous for his book "If you tell" so whenever I see something by him, I rush to request and read.
Violet's grandfather - happily married, but she knows him as a predator - is found out by her younger sister, Lily. The thing is, their mother doesn't believe it. Papa suffers a fatal heart attack at Violet's wedding, and she's now free. Or is she?
I LOVEEEE stories about betrayal, revenge, family secrets - Sign me up. Olsen is a fantastic storyteller and will keep you turning the pages with this one. Keep in mind the trigger warnings with this one.
Trigger warning- I did not realize Gregg Olsen's books got so dark- this was my first attempt at reading one and I had to take a break.
The characters were likeable and well developed, but the story line was heavy.
I had been in a reading slump after not getting into a couple books prior to this. I started reading “I Know Where You Live” and I was immediately engaged and my reading slump was officially over. I finished the book over the course of three evenings. I do want to preface by saying this book has some definite trigger warnings for incest, abuse, and rape. However, this book is about the victims who are out for revenge. Highly recommended for those who like psychological thrillers,
*Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Gregg Olsen, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
“All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped. Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of its handlers. Some parents smudge, others crack, a few shatter childhoods completely into jagged little pieces, beyond repair.”
― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
I am a huge fan of Gregg Olsen. Washington is my adopted state and I love to read books that take place here. I devour every book he writes and this is no exception. A Young woman, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, gets her revenge by looking up predators online and making sure they pay for what they did. This is a riveting novel about bad parenting, secrets and most importantly, revenge.
Violet Manfred has a lot going on. She has just married the love of her life; she has an exciting career, and her grandfather, known as Papa, passed away at her wedding. Violet isn’t sad but grateful. This isn’t a terrible loss. She didn’t want him there and had specifically asked that he not come, which was ignored. And then he has the audacity to have a seizure at her wedding. She is relieved. He was a horrible man who molested her decades ago, though no one including her parents would believe her or acknowledge the molestation. Now that he is gone, she feels a sense of relief and lightness. But what else can she do to make sure no one else suffers the pain she has endured for years? What if she helps eliminate the other predators who roam free? It’s an interesting concept.
When Violet joins a sexual assault support group, a fellow member encourages her to redress the balance for other victims. Because she feels freed by her Papa’s death, she hopes that by eliminating other predators, she can free others from the nightmare of having their abusers walk free. She begins by hunting down the predators that are close by, eliminating one while she is on a business trip two hours away from her home. One by one, she finds predators who have served their time and eliminates them, enjoying a strange sense of empowerment that she is ridding the world of these horrible men. But clearly, committing multiple murders has consequences and as the bodies pile up, so do the lies, and Violet loses track of what is a lie and what is the truth.
I Know Where You Live is heavy. Not in the sense of If You Tell, but with equally disturbing subject matter. Olsen describes, in detail, experiences with sexual assault and molestation, which may hit people a little too hard. It can be tense and uncomfortable to read but the author has a story to tell, and he does it eloquently. Trauma and revenge are never easy subjects and what added to the tension is that Violet is not really a likable character, though with good reason. Someone can ask the question of whether her acts were vengeful or virtual? I really enjoyed this book, though most of the characters, with the exception of Violet’s sister, were not decent people.
I love all the books I have read by Gregg Olsen and this book did not disappoint. This book deals with difficult subject matter but sadly, a true reality for many families. This book deals candidly with the subject of child sexual abuse. Three generations of a family that create a lie to protect an abuser. You can actually relate to the feelings demonstrated of the three women in the book and how and why each of them reacted to the event. People react differently in different situations and not always for the better. A must read. Gregg Olsen is fabulous!
Gregg Olsen...
You have super powers when it comes to expertly crafting a book that will have any reader emotional.
I have been a long time fan of Olsen. None, and I mean, none, of his books have ever been below a 5 star rating. After reading the first few, I knew none of these books would ever feel rushed. The amount of time and research that goes into each novel shows.
I Know Where You Live
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters, flawed, sarcastic and multi-dimensional, come to life right before your eyes. You become so invested in their stories that you are left mesmerized begging for more.
Olsen, has never shied away or "tamed" his book down for a specific audience. I love that about him, he is who he is and he does not write to conform to any sort of standard. Olsen knows how to push the envelope and leave you with that pit in your stomach.
This was an expertly crafted novel that I will forever recommend. Kudos to Olsen on yet another sure to be bestseller. It was an honor to read and review I Know Where You Live, in exchange for an honest review.
Teaser :
Revenge, justice, or closure? Family crimes can’t be hidden forever in this provocative novel of suspense by #1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen.
Violet knows that time is a futile healer. When she thinks of her happily married grandfather—a predator lovingly referred to as Papa—the feelings of rage and betrayal still swell. Her younger sister, Lily, just discovered the numbing truth about him. Their mother, Rose? She can’t believe it. Not Papa. Leave it alone, Violet. Focus on the now.
When Papa suffers a sudden, and suspicious, fatal heart attack at Violet’s wedding, she can barely conceal her joy. Maybe the fellow survivor at her support group is right: moving on is possible only when monsters are removed from society permanently. Violet is focusing on the now. Even if doing so calls for extremes.
For herself, and for the sake of other victims like her, Violet is reclaiming the power stolen from her as a child. Predator by predator, she’s coming for them. It’s intoxicating. It’s liberating. But the secrets she now keeps, and the lies she must tell, come with a price.
I liked this book. I have read several Gregg Olsen books. This one made it so you could really relate with the characters and you felt for the family. I thought the book flowed nicely and it kept me wanting to read more.
4, nearly 5 STARS! A Gregg Olsen novel….it’s awesome & empowering but maybe went a bit far for me. Vigilante justice can seem so enticing but, as Violet learns, it’s far from a cure all. That saying “‘lie down with the dogs & you’ll wake up with the fleas”. Do 2 wrongs ever make a right?? But, hey, it’s fiction & great escapism. Really hard to put down once it starts!😁
Trigger warning: molestation & some violence.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Another great one by Olsen. I’ve liked almost all of his books I have read so far. This one included.
This was a great read. Gregg Olsen has done it yet again! Such an uncomfortable but important subject has been taken on on this story. The characters were all pretty terrible but pretty realistic. Kept me guessing.
3.75 Stars
Her wedding day was supposed to be the happiest day of her life but for Violet Hilliard, it was the final descent into her family’s ruination. Secrets hidden through generations could either make them stronger or completely destroy them.
This book delved into a heavy subject, and I liked the direction the author took with the characters. Most of them were not likable and deserved a punch in the face. I enjoyed seeing how each of them coped with the situations, no matter how wrong they were.
I liked the overall storyline. However, I wanted to feel more intensity between the characters considering the subject matters. There were still some unanswered questions, but I liked how the story ended.
I Know Where You Live is a story of repressed trauma and emotional freedom. It would appeal to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers involving a sensitive subject.
I Know Where You Live deals with the heavy issue of childhood sexual abuse. I am pretty sure the author clearly wanted the readers to show sympathy/empathy towards Violet and her sister Lily and everything they went through but instead, I found myself sympathising more with their mother Rose and grandmother. It must be like living in a personal hell for people who find themselves not being able to help or do anything against such evil in their own homes.
I also struggled to get through the book and had to switch to the audiobook to be able to finish it. It had nothing to do with the subject matter... I simply couldn't relate to Violet and especially Lily who just came across as a spoiled brat.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐✨💫
This story was a heart breaking tale of abuse. I think Olsen did an exemplary job of displaying the reality of the subject.
I Know Where You Live by Gregg Olsen by Greg Olsen is a family drama involving a search for closure and revenge. Violet told her mother, Rose, what Papa, her grandfather did to her when she was a child and she wasn't believed. Her mother, Rose told her to forget about it and to let it go. Violet's younger sister Lily didn't know what happened, but she knew it was bad. Now Violet is getting married and she does not want her grandfather there, but he shows up anyway. At the reception he experiences a severe allergic reaction to shellfish, collapses, is hospitalized, and then unexpectedly dies in the hospital. Violet has been attending a support group for survivors of sexual abuse. She believes the best course of action is to kill the perpetrators. This is a family trying to heal a deep wound and overcome a devastating legacy. But eventually all secrets are revealed.
Violet Hilliard grew up in a family where silence became equated to denial. No longer willing to perpetuate the lie, Violet becomes empowered by her new found resolve. But the consequences of such actions not only affect Violet but also the dynamic between the women in her family.
“I know that you know more than you’ve ever let on.”
Told in multiple POV and a shifting timeline, the plot builds as it is based on reliability and experience of each narrator. There is no question about the violation and its reverberating effects. What transpires is about finding a voice and healing, but also the continued abuse wrapped in denial. With multiple characters having motives, narrowing down the exact culprit is unraveled by secrets.
In this character driven mystery thriller, the layers of generational damage are evident. Though certain inactions made these characters unsympathetic, there is also a reality to it. As for Violet, her progression was intriguing but it also made me wonder how long it could last without permanently changing her. For me, Rose’s POV was the strongest and pivotal to a resolution.
I Know Where You live is about survival and vengeance. This book would appeal to those seeking a fast-paced suspenseful read.