If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood - 4 stars

[Raine]

If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood has to be one of the most horrible books I have ever read. The writing is great but the story, especially the first half which explains what happened to Kathy, needs to be read in steps. I couldn't read this book straight through - I started it, read about Kathy, then read Daisy Jones and the Six, came back to this book, and when I got upset started Dry Hard, and then finally finished this book this morning. I am only reading it because it was chosen for my monthly face-to-face book club.

This is a true crime story of Shelly Knotsen and how she abused not only her children, but also friends that she invited to live in her house. The book was written because her three daughters got together and wanted something published because Shelly is due to be released from prison in 2022 and they believe she should not be and she will just commit the same crimes again. I agree.

I can understand how her daughters could be manipulated and also how they thought their punishments were normal, but I cannot understand the friends Kathy and Ron and how they just let Shelly berate them the way she did. I think it was the way they ended up depending on Shelly - she took everything from them, including dignity.

This really is a creepy book and the fact that it is true is just mind-boggling. For those of us who live in a happy world, the world of Shelly and Dave Knotsen and their daughters and victims is just unfathomable I really hope Shelly is not released from prison and the book does it's job.

I'm glad I read it now that I'm finished - this is something I never would have picked for myself and probably wouldn't have finished if it wasn't for the book club discussion coming up this week!

[Susie]

I generally love dark and disturbing in my fiction, but I’m not sure about non-fiction. Thanks for the warning!