Reviews tagging 'Death'

If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen

196 reviews

raesengele's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Murder, and Gaslighting

This is a VERY graphic book. For the first time while reading true crime I honestly wondered if I should be reading these things. It's horrific what happened, but the family wanted it to be told.

mjohansson7's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

shelbyglover's review against another edition

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

Moderate: Cancer

nurse_travels's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Torture

colleencouture's review against another edition

challenging dark sad

3.5

Very dark and hard to read. detailed recounts of abuse. Trigger warning to any victims/survivors

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

alanacreech's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Murder, and Gaslighting

hollistera's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

lisa_butler79's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

If you Tell - Gregg Olsen

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I needed a day too get over this book before I wrote a review. Quite literally WTF! I actually have no words for the abuse that Shelly inflicted on her children and best friend. I have no words for the husband that allowed this too happen and turned a blind eye because he was also so scared or her. I'm shocked to the core.

If this was a fictional novel I would actually be thinking there Is no way someone could be that vile, vindictive and manipulative to do that to another human being. However, this Is actually based on a real event which makes this even more horrific. How on earth does someone brainwash another human being to this extent. I have so many unanswered questions.

The author did an amazing job of writing this horrific story of the 3 sisters that survived. The courage they showed to report their own mother and put themselves in the spotlight was so brave.

When I finished the book I Googled the story and learned that Shelly was released last year. This is scary. I don’t believe at all that she is any different now than she was then. Anyone that can do this too another human being with no compassion will still be mentally ill and a threat to society. In my opinion.

This book shook me to the core and I will be thinking about it for a long time because no fictional story can be scarier than this woman. Not for the Faint hearted

1st photo my dog and book cover hes had a haircut 
2nd photo book cover
3rd photo back of book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

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

Minor: Homophobia, Rape, and Suicide

heathermarie08's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

3.0

This is a horrible story of an evil mother, her brave children and victims. I usually enjoy true crime but for some reason did not enjoy this book as much. It read a bit slow and I felt like could've been a shorter book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Blood, and Alcohol