Reviews tagging 'Torture'

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

190 reviews

lottie1803's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Grief, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Terminal illness

hehashcraft's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

2.0

The writing is fine but the content is so horrific. Cannot believe people like that woman actually exist in this world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Slavery, Death, Physical abuse, Bullying, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

missbecca's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, and Murder

anusplugger's review

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This story was truly heartbreaking to read and to know that these were true events were frightening. There are people out there who are like Shelly out in the world living without facing any consequences for their sadistic actions and it's so sickening . My heart goes out to all of the victims and victims family who were involved in all of this. There were moments in the story where I got frustrated with the victims because I kept thinking this was all fictional, but I had to take a deep breath to remember that these were true events. And if I were in their shoes, I myself would have done the same as them. However some people in the story should have been more involved and should have taken more action.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Self harm, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Suicide attempt

vbarker91's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Rape, Terminal illness, Homophobia, and Cancer

onlyemilyreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Torture, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Murder

caitcalvert's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Gaslighting, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Murder, Torture, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, and Child abuse

labbyreads's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

2.0

Read Full Review

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen takes readers on a heart-wrenching journey through the chilling true story of Shelly Knotek and the unimaginable abuse inflicted on her children. Olsen commendably highlights the victims' resilience, but the focus on family dynamics falls short of expectations. The characters feel one-dimensional, missing an opportunity to explore the psychology behind Shelly's actions. The dense and graphic content, coupled with a dragging middle section, makes for a challenging read. The pacing issues and a disjointed timeline contribute to a somewhat dissatisfying experience. While capturing unimaginable horrors, If You Tell falls short of being the best true crime, offering an okay but flawed narrative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Excrement, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Murder, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Violence, Torture, Animal death, Gaslighting, and Death

rhireadz12's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Violence, Vomit, Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Cursing, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Torture, and Sexual assault

amandak87's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Death, and Mental illness