Rating: DNF
Genre: Thriller

Read if you enjoy:
- Dysfunctional Families
- Victim to Vigilante

Thoughts:
▪️ It’s hard for me to not finish a book. I don’t like being or feeling like a quitter. I just could NOT get into this one. I tried hard, I read about halfway before I decided that it was better to not finish it and try to get out of the “slump” that I’ve been feeling all month long.

▪️ I just feel icky about a male author writing from a female character POV. A female character that has been the victim of sexual abuse as a child. All the characters which we get their POV are female too, each with their own personal issues. Why not write about a male character instead? Couldn’t that have been just as powerful?

▪️ To further prove my point about male authors and their attempts to write from female character POV - this quote “Paris has a key chain with a bead for each guy she’d slept with. Seriously. She insisted that if guys could put notches in their belts, why couldn’t she? A true feminist. I respected her for that.”

….just really? Was this necessary? I cringe.

▪️ I found that the chapters are just kind of jumpy and fragmented. I’m finding myself having to regroup occasionally throughout, reframe what’s going on and remember who is now narrating.

▪️Mediocre suspense, not feeling a big build up or the urge to not put this one down. Hence why I haven’t finished it, it just didn’t really get my attention.

▪️ I had difficulty connecting with any of the characters on any level. I wanted to feel something, and it just wasn’t happening. I struggle when I can’t get invested in at least one of the characters.

▪️ While I don’t seem to be alone - there are a lot of people out there who really seem to be enjoying this one. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

My Review ✨

I Know Where You Live by Gregg Olsen

#qotd: Do you think that sexual offenders can be "fixed"

Firstly, thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had LAYERS. Layers of abuse, layers of plot and layers upon layers. The first 40% of the book was a lot of slow building, and had quite a few silly quotes. I'll share ONE.
"He's muscular for a nerd, but also funny." Weird. But, as the book goes on the writing definetley becomes better and you start to see where Olsen is heading.
I have to give Olsen credit for being able to write 3 distinctly different female characters so well. He did what most male authors can't - and didn't make the females over sexualized like most male authors do.

The main topic in this book is incestual rape and sexual abuse by a family member and how turning a blind eye to that creates more problems than telling and each family member (Rose, Lily and Violet) all struggle with the after effects of it being shut down.

I loved the slow decline of all three characters and by the end was 100% rooting for Violet and wanting to murder Rose myself.

"For every member of that sad group of abuse surviovors, all of them have been fucked by silence" -Lily

"Only a victim knows the lasting damage of what these men do. People will say they sare, and on some level, they might. Who wouldn't agree that molestation or rape is among the vilest things one human can do to another? In the end, the only ones who really know are those who experienced it." -Violet

"Mom had spent her enitre life denying what happened in our home. She let a monster come and go freely.... Papa was free to hide what he was, while we were forced into a charade. It was like we were a family in witness protection with a false narrative protecting who and what we were. So yes, it was all her fault." -Violet

The ending was satisfying. Great read.

My Rating: 4 Stars.

I absolutely love this author’s work. I’ve not been disappointed in any that I have read. This one I can’t read and don’t feel I should mark it as a DNF. I’ve actually barely started it. It’s like reading about my life at the beginning only I was nine and it was my stepdad and my mother beat me so bad I missed a few weeks of school. Though I did go into therapy many years later it still messes with my mind. I suffer from extremem insomnia and felt so dirty and ashamed. Like I did something wrong. I know that is crazy but it’s how it happens sometimes.

I hope the publisher understands and that Mr Olsen does also. I just can’t read another word. It is making me have horrible flashbacks. I hope this book has a trigger warning. It needs one bad. Sexual abuse by a grandpa is so heinous and sick. Of course it is from anyone but a grandpa…

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I’m truly sorry I just can’t.

I give it 5 stars because I have no doubt it’s well written.

This was a difficult book to read, as it deals with childhood sexual abuse, but I found Violet to be such an empowering character. Though she had blood on her hands after hunting down predators, it in a sense contributed to her healing process and allowed her to take back control of what was taken from her as a child. Her mother and grandmother on the other hand…I so badly wanted to wring their necks throughout this book. I don’t understand why they couldn’t accept what was happening right under their noses and admit that what “Papa” had done was unforgivably wrong. Rose herself was a victim and still she brushed it under the rug and allowed this monster to be around her daughters.

This is definitely not for the faint of heart and could be triggering for some readers, so read at your own risk.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing a copy of this book to review.*

Gregg Olsen never ceases to scare me and unsettle me, and I Know Where you Live was no exception. The circumstances were outlandish yet somehow believable due to how good of a writer he is. I recommend everything he puts out.

This book is slow and boring. This book was a struggle and it took me forever to finish. With this subject matter, you should feel a connection to the characters. Every single character was unlikable. The whole book was a convoluted mess.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Gregg Olsen for a copy of "I Know Where You Live" in exchange of an honest review.

Gregg Olsen is one of my all time favorite authors, both fiction and non fiction. This one was a tough one for me to get through. It has quite a few triggers in it-child abuse, refusal to believe and revenge. You think that Violets mother Rose is the beginning of the cycle but you soon learn it goes farther back. This is a story of sweeping issues under the rug and then having them fester to the point of explosion. Although I understand where Violet is coming from I don't agree with the revenge that she takes. When we have trauma it is so easy to look the other way and that is what happens in this book. The outcome is what happens when everyone looks the other way.

I Know Where You Live by Gregg Olsen is a heavy, disturbing book but very well written book. There are many triggers but as always, his characters are intriguing and complex. Reading about revenge and vigilantism is the ultimate escape from reality for me. This was a quick read and I’m definitely going to be looking for more books by Olsen.

Violet knows her family isn’t like other families. There are so many secrets that no one discusses. When her grandfather has a terrible reaction to shellfish at her wedding, truths start surfacing and unexpected things start happening.

I can’t say much about this book without giving away so much of the plot. However, there definitely should be a trigger warning for those that have a difficult time reading about molestation and rape. This was a tough book to read, but very eye opening to the perspective of victims and the lifelong ramifications these terrible acts have on them.

When I requested this book I actually thought it was a thriller but, personally, felt more like drama, or women's fiction. There's twists yes and the topics about rape and pedophilia are hard. I was disgusted by all the details and as a mother I was just trying to understand the grandmother and mother in the book. I felt highly identified with the way they turn around to avoid life as I grew with a mom that wasn't into talking things. The characters aren't the kind you can like or dislike, I feel I needed more development, probably, to be able to connect to them. Many things in the story has no logic, is like the police is totally useless in it. But the representation of sexual abuse is really good. I felt that showing the grandfather as the rapist/pedophile was good as its usually people close to the kids who abuse them. I feel this book has too many trigger warnings and that needs to be addressed. I didn't love the book but I didn't hate it. I recommend it but only paying attention to the fact that the entire book goes around sexual abuse of minors!!!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for gifting me a digital ARC of the newest fiction book by a long-time favorite, Gregg Olsen - 4 stars!

Violet has never gotten over the sexual abuse she experienced from her grandfather, nor the fact that neither her mother or grandmother did anything about it. But when her Papa shows up at her wedding when he was expressly told to stay away, that was it for her. When he suffers an allergic reaction at the wedding and later dies, Violet is relieved. Then she realizes that she's not the only one in her position who needs help living with abuse.

Lots of abuse trigger warnings in this one, but the author is sensitive to the feelings of the victims. Told in short chapters from Violet, her sister, Lily, and mother, Rose, we learn how the abuse affected the entire family. This is a good look into inherited trauma, the consequence of lies and secrets in families all tied up in a very suspenseful read.

Trigger warning of sexual abuse, Child abuse, gas lighting, rape and neglect- before jumping into this book. Living in a world where people turn a blind eye to choke abuse of any kind is absolutely horrifying but it is even more vile and disgusting when sexual abuse is also involved. I love Greg’s books so I was kind of already prepared for the worst. We do live in such a different time now though I feel there are more instances of sexual abuse are becoming less in some places and people are speaking up more and more against their abusers.it was a quick read for me and despite it all I really liked this book but if you tell will always be my favorite.

I have previously enjoyed Gregg Olsen's books and this one is the best one I have read so far! The material is dark, but you can feel the suspense throughout the entire novel. This book focuses on Violet, who is coming to terms with the terrible things that have happened to her. This was a gripping story and I enjoyed the ending. I can't wait for more by Gregg Olsen!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my eARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It has many trigger warnings so please check those before reading as it won’t be for everyone. The book begins with melancholy but turns to liberating. Violet is an interesting main character with a burden to carry and I loved finding out more about her journey throughout the book.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

——-

This book is heavy. There’s no other way to say it. It’s important if you’re going to read it that you’re aware of that, and that you familiarize yourself with the trigger warnings before doing so.

That being said, I Know Where You Live seemed to hang its hat on being controversial, and for me, didn’t give much else.

I’m sure that for some, it will be more well suited, but for me, it fell just a little too flat.

4.5 stars

I Know Where You Live by Gregg Olsen is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When Violet's grandfather collapses at her wedding, and later dies, she isn't as heart-broken as some think she should be.  But Papa had abused her body and her trust long ago, and he wasn't even supposed to be there on her special day.

Lily, Violet's younger sister doesn't really care that her grandfather is dead either.  For what he did to Violet, he deserves to be dead.

Rose, their mother, got good at deflecting, denying, and looking the other way.  Her attitude of forgive and forget didn't sit well with her daughters.  But in the back of her mind....

Richard, their father, knows nothing about the abuse, and is too busy chasing other women to worry about his wife or kids.

Nana put up with a lot over the years, but defended her husband til the end.

But when the death looks suspicious, the police get involved.

Meanwhile, Violet is starting to understand the support group she attends.  A lot feel that once their abuser is dead, they can finally move on.  She starts to think that may be true.  Maybe she can help others.


My Opinions:
This one had me hooked from the beginning.  One of those that I didn't want to put down. It was a very emotional read - for me anyway.

The topics of this book are dark,  and sensitive, and somewhat disturbing.  This book is about sexual and emotional abuse, about denial, about revenge.  It is also about family.  It's about a past that never really goes away.  It is about how one event can affect many people for years to come.  Gregg Olsen did a really good job with a very sensitive subject.

The story is told from the perspectives of Violet, Lily and Rose.  They are all dealing with abuse and death in quite different ways. Even though I didn't particularly like them,  I did feel for them.

The short chapters meant that the pace was fast, but I found the story so compelling that I was turning the pages fast anyway.

This book deals with some very dark and heavy issues, I found it relatively easy to follow the other POVs and timelines, but the dates in the book make it so easy. The story is captivating, the three women have dealt with so much, it really makes you feel for each of them. I really enjoyed this book.

Violet is literally getting married when her grandfather, also known as Papa, has a suspicious heart attack at her wedding. She doesn't feel bad about it and is somewhat relieved. Violet told her mom, Rose, when she was younger what her Papa did to her, but she never believed it. Her younger sister, Lily, just learns about what happened to Violet. Can Violet really get back her life if her grandfather is not in it anymore?

The subject matter for this book was very heavy. Although very well written, it deals with some potentially triggering topics (see warnings). I did like the different points of view and felt the author did a great job handling the subject matter. I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE is a gripping story about famiIy and friends, I will not soon forget this story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review

TW: Incest, child molestation, rape and murder

Happy Pub Day to I Know Where You Live by Greg Olsen!
Violet’s grandfather is a predator who everyone lovingly called Papa but for Violet she has has a dark and disturbing past with him. When Papa suffers a sudden and suspicious fatal heart attack at her wedding, she feels joyful! Maybe she can finally move on like her support group said. Moving on is possible when monsters are removed permanently. She starts feeling like maybe she has a new calling, predator by predator she is after them and she feels liberated! But now she has to tell more and more lies and the secrets stack up!
Thank you to Uplit reads and Netgalley for advanced copies of this both digital and paper copies.

I've read many of Gregg Olsen's books, fiction, nonfiction, it really doesn't matter as he does an excellent job of weaving the characters through their stories until they stand at the crossroads of a dilemna only they can solve. In this case, it's generational sex abuse by a family member. Where does it stop? Why do those around the victim fail to protect them when they KNOW what is happening.

As a young woman's abuser suffers a very dramatic ending, she finds herself released from the emotional journey she has been on. But what will she do with the leftover hate and resentment? Her choices are limited and some may not agree with the choice this fictional characters makes, but there will be others who agree whole heartedly. Olsen has again brought us a story that stirs up emotions and opens so many questions that you'll be thinking of the story for some time.