Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation

"Tell Me Everything" will be, as they say, living in my head rent-free for a long time. The subtitle, "The Story of a Private Investigation" hints at the idea of private investigation as a profession. And yet privacy as a theme is so nuanced. There are many things in here that are "private." The narrative seamlessly jumps from the university rape investigation to a memoir of Krouse's early childhood. The mood itself is subdued, like an abused child. The honesty of the events in this story felt palpable. A great example of this is Krouse's initial feelings about sex work, which feel ... uncomfortable at first. I would implore you, though, to keep reading. The awareness and wisdom inherited along the way is well worth it. Krouse's ability to be honest about her initial bias feels human. I was completely hypnotized by Krouse's writing style. Reading this book is like watching an engrossing true crime documentary - it is brief and brusque and painful.

Content Warnings

kingsteph's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Content Warnings

haleysversion's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative slow-paced

2.0

Content Warnings

chandie's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

Content Warnings

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

4.5

Out March 15, 2022 [Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Part true-crime, part memoir, Tell Me Everything is the story of Erika Krouse, whose work as a private investigator helped uncover a culture of systemic sexual abuse within a university football program. Krouse’s narrative weaves together both the investigation itself and the impact that the work and the case had on her as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this one, but whatever my expectations were, this book exceeded them. I will admit that I was left a bit uncertain about what to “take away” from the book as a whole, which is why I docked a half star, but there is undeniable beauty in a book that leaves some of its message open to interpretation.

Moreover, even if the ending could have been slightly neater, I really loved the entire rest of the journey. The writing was impeccable and deeply engaging, just novelistic enough to keep me captivated at all times and just journalistic enough to make me feel fully factually informed. Krouse’s personal story was also deftly intertwined with her investigative work and the case, adding layers that were heartbreaking but incredibly valuable to the narrative. And, as a lawyer myself, I appreciated Krouse’s layperson treatment of the law—including enough legal detail to inform readers while not turning this into a legal treatise, and avoiding the common trap of glorifying or romanticizing the law while still being evenhanded and fair.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, the case itself, while infuriating, is absolutely worthy of attention. This book isn’t an easy read, but it’s one of those books everyone should pick up.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: true crime; investigative journalism vibes; memoirs.

CW: Sexual assault/rape, child sexual abuse/pedophilia, mental health, suicidal thoughts.

Content Warnings

More...