IF YOU TELL

IF YOU TELL: A TRUE STORY OF MURDER, FAMILY SECRETS, AND THE UNBREAKABLE BOND OF SISTERHOOD

BY GREGG OLSEN

Gregg Olsen did a fine job in relating this true tale of three sisters raised by their dangerously mentally ill mother and compliant stepfather near Seattle, Washington.

Shelly Knotek was described as a beautiful, vivacious young woman who attracted all kinds of people with her charismatic personality. Unfortunately, many of those who were most attracted to her were those who were easily overwhelmed by a master manipulator. Not only did Shelly torture and abuse her own daughters in unthinkable ways, she subjected them to these same and worse nightmares that she inflicted upon others, even to the point of repeated murders.

This book is fascinating and horrifying. Both Shelly and her weak husband, who allowed himself to be manipulated as much as others did, inflicted continuous terror to her daughters, Nikki, Sami and Tori. In so many instances, I found myself wanting to scream at all of the victims to just “get out of that house!”

Although the author states that all three adult daughters are now living happy lives, I can only imagine that it took years of therapy for them to reach that point, considering the nightmarish lives they led. I sincerely hope they’ve been able to put their past behind them. The one thing that I wish the author had expounded on was more of their lives today, but I realize that the women themselves may have requested that this be kept private, based on all they’ve lived through. I don’t blame them.

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

4 stars