Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

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

218 reviews

kahbarrow's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

2.75

---

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

cardlikecredit's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

4.5

This book was intense. Well written so that it flowed more like a narrative than just straight non-fiction. Keeps you hooked until the very end. Read with caution though, the details are really tough.

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Fatphobia, Confinement, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent and Excrement

katekreadsalot's review against another edition

5.0

Extremely difficult read 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Body shaming, Death, Murder, and Gaslighting

tawnieblue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Slavery, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, and Violence

priscillarobock's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Medical content, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Bullying, and Toxic relationship

dale1997's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Torture, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Child abuse, Murder, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

oofie's review

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.

---

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

bukushelves's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

3.75

The last time I read about an evil mother was when I read A Child Called It ages ago. I thought that was the worst, but no, this Shelley Knotek made Dave's mom look like a saint.

There are so many triggers in this book, so many abuses (both to children and adults), so if you plan on reading it, please proceed with caution.

The only thing I wish it had more of is on the court case and police investigation. 95% of the book is about the abuses, only about 5% (maybe even less) about the sentencing/investigation.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

n_binversie99's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

---

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

andieobrien99's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Oh my god this book is absolutely heartbreaking, sickening and deeply disturbing. I cannot believe how evil people can be😭 
Those poor girls. Poor Kathy, Shane and Ron. 
I cannot simply fathom how any human is capable of being so evil. 
I truly hope those poor girls have been able to recover and live the life they’re able to now❤️

May Shane, Kathy and Ron rest in peace

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual content, and Physical abuse