Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

34 reviews

turnherintoliterature's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

katepruett's review

dark tense medium-paced

4.0

disgusting and disturbing and violent and engaging AND TRUE. the way that this book is written sucked me in so deep. the ending moved a little quick for how long I felt invested, but maybe that’s just how true crime is? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse and Vomit

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

bell4trixx's review

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

Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Excrement, 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

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, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Drug abuse

kahbarrow's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

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

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

n_binversie99's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, and Incest

sydneylneel's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

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

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

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

systemofanoun's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

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