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

Hardcover, 405 pages

Published Nov. 3, 2019 by Thomas & Mercer.

ISBN:: 978-1-5420-0522-7

(4 reviews)

After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.

For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.

Harrowing and heartrending, If You Tell is a survivor’s story of absolute evil—and the freedom and justice that Nikki, Sami, and Tori risked their lives to fight for. Sisters forever, victims no more, they found a light in the darkness that …

After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.

For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.

Harrowing and heartrending, If You Tell is a survivor’s story of absolute evil—and the freedom and justice that Nikki, Sami, and Tori risked their lives to fight for. Sisters forever, victims no more, they found a light in the darkness that made them the resilient women they are today—loving, loved, and moving on.

3 editions

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

Review of 'If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Shudder! The concepts of "love" and "parenthood" are truly put to the test in this situation, and the reader finds
him or herself questioning all friends/relatives and doubting everything "good" having been taught ever!
Not having ever experienced such a depraved and awful circumstance and surrounding, it's really hard for me to understand how "love" for the monster/tyrant of Shelley can even be experienced by the children or the husband! But, on the other hand, I know what love and respect ACTUALLY are and contain!
I know that in many ways my own childhood was NOT "standard" – depending on what you mean by "standard". But my parents were kind and respectful, and they refused to treat anyone human as anything else. The picture painted here is so distressing and horrid that it's impossible to really imagine.. I'm glad that I read this and was able to see what some …

Shudder! The concepts of "love" and "parenthood" are truly put to the test in this situation, and the reader finds
him or herself questioning all friends/relatives and doubting everything "good" having been taught ever!
Not having ever experienced such a depraved and awful circumstance and surrounding, it's really hard for me to understand how "love" for the monster/tyrant of Shelley can even be experienced by the children or the husband! But, on the other hand, I know what love and respect ACTUALLY are and contain!
I know that in many ways my own childhood was NOT "standard" – depending on what you mean by "standard". But my parents were kind and respectful, and they refused to treat anyone human as anything else. The picture painted here is so distressing and horrid that it's impossible to really imagine.. I'm glad that I read this and was able to see what some parents are willing to do and to experience vicariously the horrors committed by those who love you, and the vicariousness of the experience was all I needed, because the actual experience must've been absolutely miserable!

An

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Dec. 12, 2023

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July 11, 2021

acaleyn

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April 21, 2020