True-crime books tend to divide their focus between the crimes themselves, the criminal, and the investigative and judicial procedures. Prolific true-crime author and novelist Gregg Olsen takes a different approach in his latest effort, IF YOU TELL. The book centers on the experiences and survival of the daughters of Michelle Knotek, who was convicted of two murders but is guilty of much more than that. Though coverage of Knotek and her crimes was not as sensational or well publicized as other similar cases, the details are equally horrific. Providing her three daughters, as well as other family members, a platform to share their memories and emotions sets IF YOU TELL apart from traditional true-crime stories.

Michelle “Shelly” Knotek’s early life was far from easy. She was raised, along with her two younger brothers, first by her alcoholic mother and then --- after her mother abandoned them --- by her young stepmother, Lara. Lara noticed that even at six years old, Shelly’s behavior was odd and even frightening. She seemed to control her younger brother, and when it was learned that her mother had been beaten to death, 13-year-old Shelly hardly responded at all. Her behavior grew increasingly violent over time. She lied, set fires, stole from her family, and even filled their shoes with broken glass. When she was 15, she falsely accused her father of raping her.

"IF YOU TELL accomplishes what it sets out to do. The result is a compelling portrait of terror and a powerfully honest, yet still sensitive, look at survival."

Olsen loosely connects Shelly’s actions and mental state to her traumatic life with her birth mother and the influence of her cruel paternal grandmother. But the aim is far from behavioral analysis, and readers are left to try to understand Shelly’s motivations as a child and especially as an adult when her abuse of others turned deadly. Shelly married for the first of three times when she was 17 years old. All three of her husbands were drawn to her good looks and charm. But each one ended up emotionally and physically victimized. Shelly named her three daughters Nikki, Sami and Tori. The real heart of the book is their resilience and strength throughout years of terrible abuse, including the suffering of Shelly’s other victims, which they witnessed and were often forced to be a part of.

The details of the abuse and crime are almost unbelievable. The power of sisterhood (not to mention the unconditional love of Lara toward the three sisters) on display here is amazing and inspiring. Olsen gives Nikki, Sami and Tori the space on the page to unpack, explain and wrestle with their feelings for their mother. It is fascinating to witness as a reader. He also gives voice to Lara, who often was the only real positive adult family member the girls had. Astonishingly, Dave Knotek, Shelly’s third husband and criminal accomplice, was allowed to share his viewpoint as well.

While not quite as gruesome as Jack Ketchum’s based-on-a-true-story novel, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, Shelly Knotek’s story shares many features with that infamous tale and is not really for the faint of heart or squeamish reader. Again, those looking for analysis of the criminal mind or legal procedural details won’t find them here. Still, IF YOU TELL accomplishes what it sets out to do. The result is a compelling portrait of terror and a powerfully honest, yet still sensitive, look at survival.