A review by ka_ke
If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

dark emotional informative slow-paced

3.0

I didn’t realize If You Tell was non-fiction until I actually started reading it. But the content of this book reaches a level of dark monstrosity that not even Stephen King himself would write it. The Knotek case is a once-in-a-lifetime look into psychopathy with plenty of theories as to how Shelly Knotek’s early childhood impacted her through out her life until her imprisonment. It also shows just how effective abusive individuals can be with their victims. For Shelly to claim having cancer for literal decades with no one questioning her, its almost amazing to learn about. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt