Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

47 reviews

megansreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Wow. I’ve never read a true crime book before and this was diving into the deep end. The author tells this horrific account with great compassion for the sisters and other victims. I would recommend this story to true crime lovers, criminal psychology enthusiasts, and people who believe in the power of sisterhood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Excrement, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt

ohyeahshebomb's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Abandonment, Violence, Addiction, Excrement, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Torture, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Medical trauma, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

ftd318's review

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

twistykris's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

3.75

The abuse and torture so many endured at the hands of Shelly (and Dave) is absolutely horrific. A very difficult read for the content involved (PLEASE check trigger/ content warnings).

I understand how difficult it must have been to compile all of this information from multiple people, but at times the book felt very repetitive and used a lot of unnecessary metaphors. 

Also, I have

VERY little sympathy for Dave. Yes, he was abused by Shelly and being a victim of someone so terrifying can alter your mentality, I know. But you CANNOT tell me he didn't know that what she was doing was so fucking wrong. He literally shot and killed his own nephew because she told him to. He watched his wife abuse her children and grown adults. He says he didn't know bleach was bad for the skin and thought it was fine that Shelly made Ron soak his feet in boiling water and bleach?? HUH?! And the fact they're both OUT AND FREE? Disgusting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism and Animal cruelty

jacquelynrovene's review

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, and Murder

cfarron's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Homophobia, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Murder

sammiepineapple's review

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

The book was descriptive, these children and at risk adults were certainly living a nightmare. It is scary to think about the people in the world who are truly doing these things. 

As for the book, it felt a little long winded and repetitive. I wouldn’t read it again but I’m glad I finished it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Eating disorder, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Drug use, Incest, Kidnapping, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

tiffanyyfaith's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Murder, Sexual assault, and Violence

shelbyglover's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.25

Though well written, I found this book extremely difficult to read given it is a true story. It hooked me at the start and was very fast paced. About the halfway point, I contemplated abandoning the book due to its graphic content. It's extremely heavy. I truly could not believe some of the things I read.  However I powered through the book in hopes for the best outcome possible for their situation. Overall the book was a good read. Not the best thing I've ever read but If you enjoy true crime this would be up your ally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, Blood, Body shaming, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Child death, Murder, Gore, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Self harm, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Torture

Moderate: Cancer

amberlinanderson's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

3.0

This is a very intriguing story. Sickening for sure! I didn’t care for the way it was written, though. It probably could have been half the size. A ton of unnecessary repetition. Also, the title is misleading. They may be bonded in sisterhood right now, but they were completely dissociated growing up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Torture, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Homophobia