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If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood Kindle Edition
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A #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon Charts, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s shocking and empowering true-crime story of three sisters determined to survive their mother’s house of horrors.
After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.
For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.
Harrowing and heartrending, If You Tell is a survivor’s story of absolute evil—and the freedom and justice that Nikki, Sami, and Tori risked their lives to fight for. Sisters forever, victims no more, they found a light in the darkness that made them the resilient women they are today—loving, loved, and moving on.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherThomas & Mercer
- Publication dateDecember 1, 2019
- File size4723 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“This riveting account will leave readers questioning every odd relative they’ve known.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Olsen presents the story chronologically and in a simple, straightforward style, which works well: it is chilling enough as is.” —Booklist
“An unsettling stunner about sibling love, courage, and resilience.” —People Magazine (book of the week)
“If You Tell accomplishes what it sets out to do. The result is a compelling portrait of terror and a powerfully honest, yet still sensitive, look at survival.” —Bookreporter
“This disturbing book recounts the unimaginable abuse and torture three sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek endured from their own mother, Shelly…the strong bond they form to survive and defy their mother’s sadistic tendencies is inspiring.” —BuzzFeed
“A true-crime tour de force.” —Steve Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of No Stone Unturned
“Even the most devoted true-crime reader will be shocked by the maddening and mind-boggling acts of horror that Gregg Olsen chronicles in this book. Olsen has done it again, giving readers a glimpse into a murderous duo that’s so chilling, it will have your head spinning. I could not put this book down!” —Aphrodite Jones, New York Times bestselling author
“A suspenseful, horrific, and yet fascinating character study of an incredibly dysfunctional and dangerous family by Gregg Olsen, one of today’s true-crime masters.” —Caitlin Rother, New York Times bestselling author
“There’s only one writer who can tell such an intensely horrifying, psychotic tale of unspeakable abuse, grotesque torture, and horrendous serial murder with grace, sensitivity and class…A riveting, taut, real-life psychological suspense thrill ride…All at once compelling and original, Gregg Olsen’s If You Tell is an instant true-crime classic.” —M. William Phelps, New York Times bestselling author
“We all start life with immense promise, but in our first minute, we cannot know who’ll ultimately have the greatest impact on our lives, for better or worse. Here, Gregg Olsen—the heir apparent to legendary crime writers Jack Olsen and Ann Rule—explores the dark side of that question in his usual chilling, heartbreaking prose. Superb and creepy storytelling from a true-crime master.” —Ron Franscell, author of Alice & Gerald: A Homicidal Love Story
“A master of true crime returns with a vengeance. After a decade detour into novels, Gregg Olsen is back with a dark tale of nonfiction from the Pacific Northwest that will keep you awake long after the lights have gone out. The monster at the heart of If You Tell is not your typical boogeyman, not some wandering drifter or man in a van. No. In fact, they called her…mother. And yet this story is about hope and renewal in the face of evil and how three sisters can find the goodness in the world after surviving the worst it has to offer. Classic true crime in the tradition of In Cold Blood and The Stranger Beside Me.” —James Renner, author of True Crime Addict
“This nightmare walked on two legs and some of her victims called her mom. In If You Tell, Gregg Olsen documents the horrific mental and physical torture Shelly Knotek inflicted on everyone in her household. A powerful story of cruelty that will haunt you for a long time.” —Diane Fanning, author of Treason in the Secret City
“Bristling with tension, gripping from the first pages, Gregg Olsen’s masterful portrait of children caught in the web of a coldly calculating killer fascinates. A read so compelling it kept me up late into the night, If You Tell exposes incredible evil that lived quietly in small-town America. That the book is fact, not fiction, terrifies.” —Kathryn Casey, bestselling author of In Plain Sight
From the Publisher
Despite their childhood, the women survive, even flourish, after their mother is incarcerated. But the PTSD and triggers abound to this day. For one, a morning shower can be a trigger; for another, it’s the smell of bleach that brings on the bad memories.
New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen is a master of both true crime and domestic suspense, and with If You Tell he has brilliantly combined his talents. The riveting true story told by the three sisters who survived their brutal childhood in the tiny coastal logging town of Raymond, Washington, reads like a fast-paced thriller. But unfortunately, it is all true. Every single excruciating detail.
- Liz Pearsons, Editor
About the Author
#1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author Gregg Olsen has written more than thirty books, including Lying Next to Me, The Last Thing She Ever Did, and two novels in the Nicole Foster series, The Sound of Rain and The Weight of Silence. Known for his ability to create vivid and fascinating narratives, he’s appeared on multiple television and radio shows and news networks, such as Good Morning America, Dateline, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and MSNBC. In addition, Olsen has been featured in Redbook, People, and Salon magazine, as well as in the Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, and New York Post. Both his fiction and nonfiction works have received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including prominence on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Washington State officially selected his young adult novel Envy for the National Book Festival, and The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year.
A Seattle native who lives with his wife in rural Washington State, Olsen’s already at work on his next thriller. Visit him at www.greggolsen.com.
Product details
- ASIN : B07Q5TL9SQ
- Publisher : Thomas & Mercer (December 1, 2019)
- Publication date : December 1, 2019
- Language : English
- File size : 4723 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 431 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #123 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
I live in rural Washington State (about a mile as the crow flies from Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard's infamous Starvation Heights sanatarium). My thriller, THE LAST THING SHE EVER DID was an Amazon Charts bestseller. LYING NEXT TO ME was a reader favorite, charting at No. 1 in the Kindle store and the bestseller's list at the Washington Post. My true crime book, IF YOU TELL, found a home on Amazon Charts for more than 140 weeks. In fact, it was the bestselling Kindle ebook of 2020 (and the second-bestselling of 2021). I've been a guest on Dateline NBC, NPR, Good Morning America, The Early Show, FOX News, CNN, Anderson Cooper, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, 20/20, Snapped, Deadly Women, William Shatner's Aftermath, and A&E's Biography. You can find out more about me at www.NotoriousUSA.com.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book gripping and thought-provoking. They praise the sisters' strength and resilience, describing them as remarkable for surviving horrible circumstances. The research and writing are praised as thorough and useful in educating readers about the sorts of lives some people live. However, some readers feel the pacing is slow and repetitive, with situations being described over and over again. There are mixed opinions on readability - some find it well-written and challenging, while others find it hard to read or slow. Opinions differ on the story quality - some find it gripping and thought- provoking, while others say it's slow and frustrating.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book gripping and thought-provoking. They say it's an eye-opener that grabs their attention from the beginning and never lets go. The story gives them a different perspective on life and is inspiring.
"...The narrative is both haunting and inspiring, showcasing the indomitable strength of the human spirit...." Read more
"Great writing and kept me captivated. Being a true story was also a pull that kept me reading day and now got!" Read more
"...love reading about the cruelty, but it was super interesting and eye-opening to see just how badly one person can treat another...." Read more
"Enjoy it for casual reading and keeps my interest" Read more
Customers find the book a powerful story about the strength and dignity of the sisters. They appreciate their ability to survive horrible circumstances and how the human spirit can overcome terrible situations. The sisters are described as courageous and vulnerable for sharing their story. The book is described as well-crafted and told through the eyes of the sisters.
"...An amazing story of survival, of surviving a person whom you believe loves you and cares for/about you without question...." Read more
"...The narrative is both haunting and inspiring, showcasing the indomitable strength of the human spirit...." Read more
"...- he has carefully woven a readable story on a timeline into a great framework, leaving us to wonder and quetion why these people weren't stopped..." Read more
"...These sisters are absolutely remarkable for everything they had to endure. I would highly recommend this book to anyone." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's research and writing quality. They find it well-researched, thorough, and detailed. The author sticks to the facts without overdoing the story. Readers appreciate the honesty and understanding few can provide.
"This book is a great read. Although very heart wrenching, it is very detailed and well written...." Read more
"I enjoy knowing the criminology, victimology, psychology, science, and the trial in the true crime genre...." Read more
"...Very thorough investigation via self reports of all of the survivors but the recounting of the abuse and torture seemed unnecessarily repetitive..." Read more
"...read at times because, while it had its benefits, there was far too much exposition...." Read more
Customers have different experiences with the book's readability. Some find it well-written and compelling, while others find it difficult to read due to the horrific abuse. The author carefully selects words to tell the true story.
"...But it’s paced so well and the subject matter really hits home. Triggering for sure, but written in a way that makes it hard to put down...." Read more
"This was well written. I’m trying to base my review on the writing and the author not the horrific disturbing and disgusting story being told...." Read more
"...However, the author does such a great job at breaking things up to make them more digestible and fluent for the reader while still delivering key..." Read more
"...I had them listen to some of it. It was too much for them to digest." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the story. Some find it gripping and captivating, while others find the content brutal and hard to read. The subject matter is described as disturbing and shocking.
"...But it’s paced so well and the subject matter really hits home. Triggering for sure, but written in a way that makes it hard to put down...." Read more
"...The book reads easily, the story is easy to follow, it’s told very well, almost like watching an episode of dateline...." Read more
"...The abuse sustained in the family and to those they encounter was monstrous...." Read more
"...more digestible and fluent for the reader while still delivering key aspects of the story...." Read more
Customers have different views on the story. Some find it emotional and gripping, while others find it disturbing and heartbreaking. The story is described as frightening and difficult to read, with unexpected twists.
"...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..." Read more
"...well versed in non-fiction, but I thought he did a fantastic job at making me feel horrified and angry for these three sisters who grew up in abject..." Read more
"I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was at once horrific and excruciating and maddening. And yet, I couldn’t stop reading...." Read more
"Ten out of ten for me. Intense and disturbing, couldn’t put it down, great but sad story, good flow, will re-read." Read more
Customers find the book's pacing slow and depressing. They describe the mother as inhumane and evil, making it hard for them to put the book down.
"I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was at once horrific and excruciating and maddening. And yet, I couldn’t stop reading...." Read more
"Some of the book was tough to get through. Horrific. But I’m glad that the sisters found safety. It’s wild to me that people can be so impressionable." Read more
"...The story itself is awful and inhumane. Glad it ended the way it did." Read more
"...Be grateful for your survival. This tale is disgusting and shocking, but it's worth the time spent. Good luck...." Read more
Customers find the book repetitive. They mention the situations being described get very repetitive after a while, and the storyline is repeated so much to create a longer book. Some parts are frustrating and infuriating, as you think adults would know better not to remain in those situations.
"...It was at once horrific and excruciating and maddening. And yet, I couldn’t stop reading. I couldn’t stop imagining...." Read more
"...Repetition and some detail could have been omitted to shorten the story and better hold the reader's attention...." Read more
"This book was at times frustrating and at times infuriating. The abuse sustained in the family and to those they encounter was monstrous...." Read more
"...but the recounting of the abuse and torture seemed unnecessarily repetitive without additive value...." Read more
Reviews with images
Psychotic, torturing, manipulative behavior- Very well written!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023Riveting and soul crushing, I couldn’t put this book down. My first time reading anything by Gregg Olsen. I’m not well versed in non-fiction, but I thought he did a fantastic job at making me feel horrified and angry for these three sisters who grew up in abject terror of their mother and did everything in their power to just make it out alive.
At times I was shocked at all the times no one did anything to leave or get help. But I forget how pervasive fear is. The whole “don’t rock the boat” mentality. I should know better because I was raised by a violently turbulent mother who could be the sweetest, funniest and lovable person and in matter of seconds (always feels instantaneous) turn into the devil. I saw a little bit of myself in each of the sisters. The living inside your head fantasizing about revenge or better yet leaving them behind and forgotten for good and then the sicker and more confusing part of you that still loves them and yearns for the unconditional love in return. But this mother was unhinged 24/7 and completely unredeemable. EVIL.
These children were conditioned their entire lives by this “master manipulator” (gaslighting a very powerful tactic) that this is what family is. This what’s normal behavior. But they knew deep in their souls that this wasn’t right. The children I could understand. They were too afraid to speak out because they had been taught that they had no where to go. Their worse fear was that no one would believe them (because sometimes they had a hard time believing, “aka understanding” it themselves) and being brought to even greater heights of torture in retaliation. What I had trouble fathoming were the so called adults.
I suppose that shouldn’t have shocked me either, because I’m more than aware that most adults don’t have it all together and can live the majority of their lives in a perpetual state of ignorance. It’s so easy. Out of sight out of mind and all that nonsense.
But some people, like Shelly, who was referenced as an apex predator throughout this story had that uncanny ability to sense and then weed out the very vulnerable. People who needed a friend. Were given the barest of minimums in kindness and support and then had it all taken away. By that point they were already in too deep to really understand what they had gotten themselves into. Broke my heart. There are so many lost souls in this world just trying to figure things out and at the same time willing to give everything they have to offer to others. Making it easier to be taken advantage of, which would be bad enough.
But these unfortunate souls had the bad luck to make contact with Shelly. And be sucked into her abyss of gaslighting, finger pointing and violent rhetoric that had everyone under her roof a husk of their former selves. And that’s what she thrived off of. Like a vampire sucking the life out of her intended victim. She’d drain them of their confidence, free will and any sense of purpose until they were as empty as she was.
It’s hard to imagine that some people are just born evil. But I 100% believe that Shelly is one of those people. Maybe she’s missing something in her brain that provides the ability to truly empathize with others and know what it means to do right by someone other than themselves. But Shelly lacked all of the qualities that make us truly human. I know we all have the ability to be savage and take on the world when we’re being cornered. But Shelly, even as a little girl relished in her ability to be rotten.
There was a family history of abuse and neglect. Maybe it was in the blood or learned behavior? Maybe it was too late for Shelly to change by the time she was already brought to live with her estranged father at 6 years old? That’s terrifying.
There are no answers as to why this woman did what she did. It’s frustrating that so many people were aware of the situation and did nothing, but it’s not hard to understand why. If not for her inherent laziness and her incredible sense of entitlement, she could have been the leader of a cult that took over entire communities or a country if her vision went beyond just humiliating and dominating over one person at a time. She was so very good at lying and manipulating. Not everyone bought into. But she knew how to pick her battles and who to mess with. She was always in it to win it. She just never realized that her crimes would come to light by her own daughters. Her original victims. The girls by all accounts should have been her own mirror images. But they were born with a conscious. And after years of trying to make it out and stay out they could finally do the one thing that was never an option before. Stand up to the monster.
I’m emotionally wrecked after reading this. But it’s paced so well and the subject matter really hits home. Triggering for sure, but written in a way that makes it hard to put down. Sorry for this incredibly long and irrelevant review.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024This was well written. I’m trying to base my review on the writing and the author not the horrific disturbing and disgusting story being told. The book reads easily, the story is easy to follow, it’s told very well, almost like watching an episode of dateline. The content of this story however is so disturbing I almost wish it was fiction bc this is terrible.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2024Something about rating this book so high makes me feel disgusted just because of the content of the book & it being a true story. However, the author does such a great job at breaking things up to make them more digestible and fluent for the reader while still delivering key aspects of the story.
Shelly is quite literally the devil in the flesh and deserved a much more harsh sentence than she received. There were many times throughout this book that I had to pause and recollect due to the nature of the torture that took place.
I believe this book does a great job at showing how trapped one can feel in an abusive situation as well as the range feelings that victims experience for their abuser.
I would recommend this book but with heavy trigger warnings as it is very graphic.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2020As 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2024I have never winced or felt sick when reading a book before, this was totally gripping and I read it in 2 days, hard to believe this really happened and hope never to hear it’s happening elsewhere. Truly captivating, excellently written.
Top reviews from other countries
- Rob MilleyReviewed in Canada on December 30, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars A disturbing true story that shows the true power of sisterhood.
I got this book for my girlfriend for Christmas. Here is her review.
You couldnt get my nose out of it. I finished it in three days; I would have finished it in less time but I’m an adult and have work.
Okay onto the review. Yes, listen to the other reviewers — it IS very morbid and Olsen doesn’t hold back on the details. Very detailed descriptions of the abuse and depravity these poor people endured. I’m a horror and true crime fan so I can handle it. If you’ll be uncomfortable by the sick details then I suggest you avoid this book.
At the same time, this is a true story. A true story of a woman who tortured her own children, other family members, and even her friends. It’s difficult to think that there are people like this in this world, but there are. So for other reviewers who are shaming Olsen for the brutal details, I’m sorry but there’s no nicer way to describe what was done to these people.
Shelly Knotek is a horrible person but Olsen still conveys the three sisters, Nikki, Sami, and Tori, as genuine human beings who survived Hell. They were not portrayed as victims; even though they endured terrible things in their adolescence, they grew closer and stronger as a result. With their courage, they took down their abusive mother.
I have to mention Olsen, who was the best writer for this book. His writing is creative and you get a clear picture of everything. Yet, his creativity doesn’t take away from the survivors’ story.
I also appreciate the last section from the psychologist. I read some other reviews before writing my own and some reviewers were shocked at how adults could let this happen. Unfortunately that’s what torture does to you. You become compliant and you lose a part of yourself. The psychologist briefly describes how one changes when they’re around insane people and it’s essential that we all understand the psychology behind these stories. Because of that, I suggest all readers take a look at this section first and I wish it was included at the beginning of the book and not the end.
After reading this book, it makes me wonder if we can do anything to prevent this type of abuse. Until then, we can read books such as If You Tell, identify the warning signs of a psychopath, and stay vigilant.
- JoanneReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult content but 5 stars
Very sad story but the author tells it very well. If you enjoy true crime or crime related books you’ll enjoy this one although the fact it’s a true story makes it much harder to read in my opinion. It goes into detail about what went on which I think is appropriate because it’s a true story so it shouldn’t be watered down however it can be upsetting at times.
- Zelin M.Reviewed in India on August 3, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars If you tell...
A dark story with horrific happenings. Wonderfully written; the details of the victims and abusers were justly done. I don't think it's overdone and too much gruesome details are mentioned. But I think it was needed so we can understand why the victims did what they did. However, I cannot come to terms with the kind and intensity of the abuse. I wish Shelly was given capital punishment for what she did. She truly deserved it.
- Jesús ArenasReviewed in Mexico on February 23, 2021
3.0 out of 5 stars A cruel story worth reading.
There are moments while you are reading the book when you wonder why the explicit cruelty with which the writer tells the story of the Knoteck family. There are paragraphs that are hard to read. It is just a true story worth reading.
Jesús Arenas
Reviewed in Mexico on February 23, 2021
Images in this review -
In_full_bloom 🌷🌼🌺💐🌸🌹Reviewed in France on October 18, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Une autre perle de Gregg Olsen
Après plus d’une décennie, quand les sœurs Nikki, Sami et Tori Knotek entendent le mot "maman", il griffe comme une griffe d’aigle, déclenchant des souvenirs qui ont été leur secret depuis l’enfance. Jusqu’à présent.
Pendant des années, derrière les portes fermées de leur ferme à Raymond, dans l’État de Washington, leur mère sadique, Shelly, a soumis ses filles à des abus inimaginables, à la dégradation, à la torture et aux terreurs psychiques. À travers tout cela, Nikki, Sami et Tori ont développé un lien défiant qui les a rendus beaucoup moins vulnérables que ce que Shelly imaginait. Alors même que d’autres étaient entraînées dans la toile sombre et perverse de leur mère, les sœurs ont trouvé la force et le courage d’échapper à un cauchemar qui a culminé dans de multiples meurtres.
Poignant et déchirant, "If You Tell" est l’histoire d’un survivant du mal absolu, et de la liberté et de la justice pour lesquelles Nikki, Sami et Tori ont risqué leur vie. Sœurs pour toujours, plus jamais victimes, elles ont trouvé une lumière dans l’obscurité qui a fait d’elles les femmes résilientes qu’elles sont aujourd’hui — aimantes, aimées et en mouvement. Livre très bien écrit par Gregg Olsen, auteur à succès du New-York Times qui avait déjà participé à l'écriture du fort bien documenté "If I can't have you", sur l'histoire de Susan Cox-Powell. D'un anglais facile, je recommande le livre et l'auteur.
In_full_bloom 🌷🌼🌺💐🌸🌹
Reviewed in France on October 18, 2021
Pendant des années, derrière les portes fermées de leur ferme à Raymond, dans l’État de Washington, leur mère sadique, Shelly, a soumis ses filles à des abus inimaginables, à la dégradation, à la torture et aux terreurs psychiques. À travers tout cela, Nikki, Sami et Tori ont développé un lien défiant qui les a rendus beaucoup moins vulnérables que ce que Shelly imaginait. Alors même que d’autres étaient entraînées dans la toile sombre et perverse de leur mère, les sœurs ont trouvé la force et le courage d’échapper à un cauchemar qui a culminé dans de multiples meurtres.
Poignant et déchirant, "If You Tell" est l’histoire d’un survivant du mal absolu, et de la liberté et de la justice pour lesquelles Nikki, Sami et Tori ont risqué leur vie. Sœurs pour toujours, plus jamais victimes, elles ont trouvé une lumière dans l’obscurité qui a fait d’elles les femmes résilientes qu’elles sont aujourd’hui — aimantes, aimées et en mouvement. Livre très bien écrit par Gregg Olsen, auteur à succès du New-York Times qui avait déjà participé à l'écriture du fort bien documenté "If I can't have you", sur l'histoire de Susan Cox-Powell. D'un anglais facile, je recommande le livre et l'auteur.
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