As has been noted in quite a few reviews for "If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood," this is a book that is simultaneously a rather brutal read yet also a remarkably compelling one. "If You Tell" is based upon the true story of an almost unfathomably abusive family led by the iron first of Shelly Knotek, a domineering woman whose abusive ways seemingly have no explanation yet whose ways are inflicted upon nearly everyone who crosses her path including boyfriends, husbands, her three children (Nikki, Sami, and Tori), and some misguided souls who unfortunately cross her path and pay the ultimate price. "If You Tell" goes into detail, brutally so, regarding the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of the three children and the impact it had on their inability to end the cycle until lives had been lost including those of at least two boarders. "If You Tell" also provides remarkable detail regarding these crimes, as well. This isn't a book for the timid reader. Best-selling author Gregg Olsen doesn't shy away from the brutality of this household and these crimes. A good majority of the book is centered around these actions, while only a brief section in the beginning goes into Shelly's early years and an even more brief section at the end goes into the post-conviction lives of the three girls who seemingly have managed to build normal lives despite childhoods that were anything but normal. Several of the reviews have commented with disbelief regarding the actions, an understandable and even refreshing response given one would like to believe that everything that unfolds in "If You Tell" is the exception and not the rule. It's difficult to fathom a parent being this brutal to so many people and so many people for so many years simply not reporting it. While we could spend days discussing the cycle of trauma that helps to explain the lack of reporting, to a healthy heart and mind it's simply difficult to believe. In some ways, "If You Tell" reminded me of one of Indiana's most famous homicide cases - that of Sylvia Likens in 1965 when a young teenager who'd been staying with a neighbor while her parents were traveling with a circus ended up being brutally assaulted/murdered by the mother, her daughter, and several neighborhood children. The same kind of questions arose to the surface - "How could a family do such things?," "How could children be involved?," and "How did no one notice until it was too late?" While it's important to note that the children were not involved, other than simply being aware of it and being too terrified to report it and being under a sort of authoritarian spell by a mother who could justify anything, the dynamics are very similar in the stories. If there's a beef I have with the book, and there is, it's that Olsen focuses so much energy on detailing the brutality yet does a relatively weak job of setting up the characters in the story and an even weaker job in providing a satisfying ending. Without giving the ending away, there's so many possible ways to explore questions, pending issues, and possible conflicts that aren't that far off in the future that "If You Tell" feels incomplete and, in the end, feels like it's exploiting the story and its subjects. While there's a possible reason to document the stories so brutally, and as someone who has written a book myself from the perspective of being a survivor, it's ultimately the structure of the book that I find insufficient as I wanted more about the lives of the three sisters and how they are ultimately preparing for the future. There is reference to the relationship with the father, but it's practically an afterthought. While "If You Tell" is far from a weak book, it's ultimately a book that sells the drama more than tells the story. The survivors deserved much more than that.

This is a true crime story of three sisters who were horrifically and systematically abused by their parents, Shelly and Dave Knotek. Their mother was a master manipulator who both actively engaged in the abuse and forced others to commit abuse for her. Over the course of many years, she tortured and murdered three other people as well, two family friends and a cousin of the sisters. The things she devised to do to those she abused were nothing less than depraved. Eventually, the sisters could escape their parents and reach out to the authorities. Ultimately both Shelly and Dave spent time in prison for their crimes. If you enjoy the true crime genre, you'll find this to be well-written with a smooth flow. The story itself is both shocking and captivating. If you're squeamish about DA you shouldn't read this. Gregg Olson doesn't sugarcoat the details.

Emotional Impact: If You Tell is a harrowing true story that evokes deep feelings of rage and sadness. The narrative is both heartbreaking and frustrating, making it a challenging read. It's one of the most disturbing stories I've encountered, and it left a profound emotional impact. Story vs. Writing: The book's strength lies in its true story, which is one of unimaginable cruelty and resilience. While some readers have criticized the writing for being repetitive and leaving questions unanswered, it's important to recognize the limitations the author faced. The lack of complete answers reflects the reality that even the survivors—the sisters—may not fully understand the events or motivations behind them. Criticisms and Perspectives: Many reviews focus on the desire to understand the "why" behind Shelly's actions and the lack of earlier intervention by authorities. However, the book is not intended to provide all the answers. Instead, it serves to shed light on the sisters' survival and the horrific experiences they endured. Conclusion: While some readers may find the storytelling frustrating due to unanswered questions, If You Tell effectively conveys the unimaginable horror faced by the sisters. It isn't about solving a mystery but rather about bearing witness to their story of survival and resilience.

This book was a hard read because of the events that take place and so well written I had images in my head of said events. Great book though it’s nice to hear the victims voice after all they’ve been through. Highly recommend reading this!