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

By Snap Read

We offer you a deeper guide, summaries, and analysis of Gregg Olsen's book "If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood," you'll enter the terrifying world of the Knotek sisters, Nikki, Sami, and Tori, who endured unimaginable abuse at the hands of their own mother, Shelly. This isn't just a story of a monstrous parent; it's a chilling exploration of a family fractured by manipulation, violence, and a web of dark secrets.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Snap Read
• Release date: Nov 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9791223025604

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

Summary & Analysis

Gregg Olsen

Snap Read

Table of Contents

Copyright

Overview

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Epilogue

Quote from the book

Copyright

This book is protected by copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Copyright © 2024 by Snap Read.

All Rights Reserved.

Overview

If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood, published in 2019, is a nonfiction book by Gregg Olsen that delves into the harrowing true-crime story of the Knotek sisters. Nikki, Sami, and Tori endured unimaginable abuse at the hands of their mother, Shelly Knotek, who became infamous for the Raymond torture killings in Washington State.

Olsen, a seasoned author specializing in real-life crime narratives, crafts a compelling account of individuals facing extraordinary circumstances. Throughout his prolific career, he has penned numerous bestselling nonfiction books that explore sensational true-crime cases, including the stories of Mary Kay Letourneau, Eli Stutzman, and Susan Powell's disappearance. His expertise has also led him to appear as a commentator on channels like the History Channel and Discovery Channel.

Introduction

The book starts off by introducing you to three sisters: Nikki, Sami, and Tori. These sisters are all grown up now, living their own lives in the Pacific Northwest. It seems like they have everything together. Nikki lives in a nice house near Seattle with her husband and kids. Sami chose to stay in their hometown and became a teacher at an elementary school. Tori, on the other hand, lives in central Oregon and has a cool job working with social media.

But here's the thing: even though their lives seem normal on the outside, all three sisters have a secret. They all remember bits and pieces of a tough childhood. Even though they have different dads, their mom was the same for all of them, and she wasn't very nice. Because of this, the sisters are super close. They may have had a rough start, but they have each other, and that's a powerful bond.

Mother Shelly

Chapter 1

The town of Battle Ground, Washington, Shelly Long's birthplace, bore the weight of a violent history. Named after a clash between the Klickait tribe and the U.S. Army, the town's past mirrored the turbulence that would unfold in Shelly's own life.

During the idyllic 1950s, Battle Ground presented a picture-perfect image of small-town America. Shelly's father, Les Watson, was a charming local figure who owned a bowling alley and several nursing homes. His life took an unexpected turn when he met Lara Stallings, a young woman employed at his bowling alley. Despite a ten-year age difference, Les concealed his true age and swept Lara off her feet.

Unfortunately, the truth about Les's past, including a previous marriage and three children, emerged only after their wedding. Two of these children, Shelly and her brother Chuck, were forced to leave their mother, Sharon, a depressed alcoholic, and come live with Lara and Les.

From the outset, Shelly proved to be a challenging child. She frequently spoke on behalf of her brother and expressed constant animosity towards Lara. The warmth of a traditional family seemed absent in their household.

Adding to the family's dysfunction, Sharon offered no contact, sending neither calls nor gifts. Les attributed this to her own troubled upbringing. In 1967, the Watsons' lives took another dramatic turn. A homicide detective from Los Angeles delivered the devastating news of Sharon's murder; her body was discovered in a disreputable motel room. This tragic event necessitated the Watsons taking in their youngest son, Paul. Notably, thirteen-year-old Shelly displayed a startling lack of emotion upon learning of her mother's demise, hinting at a distant and perhaps nonexistent bond.

Chapter 2

When Shelly's youngest brother, Paul, came to live with the Watsons, things got even more complicated. Paul hadn't learned how to act around others yet, and he often did things without thinking. Lara, trying hard to be a good stepmom to all three kids, quickly realized it was a tough job, especially with Shelly.

Even though Les and Lara tried to make the whole family feel like one big team, Shelly wouldn't join in unless it was her idea. If things weren't her way, she'd throw tantrums, make excuses, and even lie to avoid participating. This constant clash made it hard for Lara to understand Shelly.

As Shelly grew older, her anger wasn't just about not getting her way anymore. It turned mean and even violent. Once, she even crushed glass and snuck it into her siblings' shoes! This shocked Lara, but then she learned a surprising truth from Grandma Watson, Shelly's grandmother.