Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

32 reviews

bell4trixx's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

3.0

For anyone who is in to true crime. There are parts of this book that is interesting and informative, it does seem like the author did a lot of work researching what happened, but this book could have used a better editor. By the end of it, it really seemed to drag on, I think some of the stories of abuse could have been edited out..

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Cursing

Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Excrement, Torture, and Medical content

If you are triggered by abuse not a good read. Good read if you’re in the mood for an in-depth true crime on an abusive family/mother

rpow14's review against another edition

The descriptions of abuse and absolute torment were too much for me. The mother exhibits every type of abuse there is on her children and her housemate. Knowing this was based on a true story added to the horror.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Physical abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: Drug abuse

kahbarrow's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Medical content, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Murder, Homophobia, Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Bullying, Body shaming, Suicide, Fatphobia, Death, and Sexual content

oofie's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

4.25

This book tells the story of the absolute shitbag of a human being that is Shelly Knotek and how she tortured (and, in three cases, murdered) those around her.

Shelly is one of those people who patently proves that not all people are inherently good. She was a terror growing up, and it just got worse when she had children and partners of her own. She is a narcissist and sadist who delights both in wreaking havoc, despair, fear, and pain. 

Shelly mentally, emotionally, and physically abused each of her husbands and three daughters. She gaslit them, made them think that it was their fault, and conscripted them into being co-conspirators. The poor people in her life and circle went through so much literal torture and abuse from living with her. This story is one of the most disturbing I've read due to all the above, and the insane amount of manipulation this woman did to those around her.

This book also hit a little close to home because my own brother is a narcissist. While not being anywhere near Shelly's level (thank god), it was a little shocking reading some of the things she did and realizing that those are things my own brother has and would do to me, my siblings, and my parents. 

Furthermore, I appreciate this book because it goes into victims of abuse. Why didn't those around her just leave? Run away? Why didn't they fight back? When you're a victim of abuse, however, it's never that simple. It is a mindfuck, and no one is immune from it. It is incredible to see the strength Shelly's daughters had, however, in finally escaping from their mother and bringing them to justice. I just wish the courts would have meted out far more justice than they did.

The book is well written, was easy to understand, and fascinating to read. I hope that Shelly's victims can find some measure of peace and be estranged from her even when she's out of prison.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Domestic abuse, Murder, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

n_binversie99's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Mental illness, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Suicide, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Vomit

Minor: Gun violence, Incest, and Animal cruelty

sydneylneel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Cursing, Violence, Suicide, Homophobia, Murder, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Ableism, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Torture, Sexual violence, Slavery, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Domestic abuse

alybarnett02's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.5

My first book about real life serial killer. Finished this in a week on audio for book club. WHEW. This was heavy. But so freaking good. I love hearing the sisters bond towards the end. This stuff is nuts and doesn’t even seem real! Ready to add more books like this to my TBD

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Slavery

systemofanoun's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Slavery, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Cancer, Body shaming, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Animal death

ftd318's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Death, Cancer, Murder, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

wildroseoftexas's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

4.0

Heartbreaking. 

The author did an excellent job putting a horrific situation into a book. The book read like a novel and I often caught myself thinking there was no way this wasn’t fiction from a seasoned thriller author. 

I took one star because the timeline jumps back and forth were sometimes hard to follow and I had to reread a page to make sure I was following correctly. 

An important read to understand and be aware of signs of abuse and why victims, especially children, may struggle to ask for help or give light to the truth of what’s happening to them. 

Many many many trigger warnings. And don’t Google the mom after you’re done reading unless you want to scream and rage over the injustice of it all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Child death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse