Summary of If You Tell by Gregg Olsen: A True Crime Story of Sisterhood and Murder

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen unveils a deeply disturbing and tragic story of abuse, torture, and serial murder that unfolded in a small coastal town in Washington. This chilling true crime account exposes the monstrous behavior of a mother, Michelle “Shelly” Knotek, and the enduring survival of her three daughters, who were forced to endure unimaginable horrors.

The heart of the story revolves around Michelle “Shelly” Lynn Watson Rivardo Long Knotek, a woman who inflicted unspeakable mental and physical abuse on her own family. Described as a “monster” rather than a traditional villain, Shelly’s behavior was not only extreme but also manipulative, creating a toxic and dangerous environment for her children and anyone who came into her life.

The book follows the harrowing experiences of Shelly’s three daughters—Nikki, Sami, and Tori—as they struggle to survive in an abusive home. The narrative also highlights the tragic stories of several others who crossed paths with Shelly, including Kathy Loreno, a close friend of Shelly who endured severe torture and eventually died, and Ron Woodworth, another victim who lived with the Knoteks and met a similarly tragic fate. Additionally, the mysterious disappearance and death of Shelly’s nephew, Shane Watson, plays a pivotal role in the story.

If You Tell is a profoundly disturbing true crime story that chronicles the unimaginable abuse, manipulation, and murder perpetrated by Shelly Knotek. The book also highlights the strength and resilience of her daughters, who survived their mother’s cruelty and ultimately found the courage to expose the truth. The story is a testament to the victims’ enduring strength and the pursuit of justice, offering readers a glimpse into the psychological impact of abuse and the possibility of renewal after trauma.

Through its compelling narrative, If You Tell stands as a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the power of resilience in the face of overwhelming evil.

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen Details & Statistics

Statistics of If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

• Best Sellers Rank:

  • #3,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Serial Killers True Accounts
  • #28 in Murder & Mayhem True Accounts

• Customer Reviews:

  • 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 166,047 ratings

• Genres:

  • True Crime
  • Nonfiction
  • Audiobook
  • Crime
  • Thriller
  • Mystery
  • Horror

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen Quotes

1. Most moms stayed home taking care of the children, maybe later returning to the workforce or taking classes at Clark College to continue dreams thwarted by conventions of the day and marriage.

2. He was always wondering when the other shoe would drop and Shelly would go into attack mode.

3. Shared memories are like jagged puzzle pieces. Sometimes they don’t exactly align with complete precision.

4. She knows that what happened to her has altered her life in ways that are invisible, but though she chooses to think the best of people, she can’t do that when it comes to her parents.

5. Sometimes hitting the pause button on a life beginning to spiral out of control by moving to a new house can actually reset the situation and make things better.

6. no one can help a troubled person who doesn’t think they need it

7. She’d done exactly what she’d wanted to do. Making people unhappy was her way of having fun.

8. Victims who want to get help recognize how difficult it would be to convince authorities of the sadist’s behavior. They know that if they try but fail, the punishment will be severe. So, they often decide to just wait it out and hope they can eventually flee.

9. Randy had an inkling that something else was afoot. Shelly’s father appeared too eager to pass his daughter off to another man.

10. Enduring their mother was what bound them together. And while they might have had three different dads, they were always 100 percent sisters. Never half sisters.

11. Their parents had killed multiple people. They’d done the most cruel and vile things anyone could do to another person. And so much of it had happened right before their eyes.

12. She was smart enough to see what was right in front of her, but survival mode gave Sami the singular ability to shove it all aside.

13. There was a tragic irony to the date. It was Kathy Loreno’s birthday. Missing for a decade, the woman who’d told the Knotek girls not to help her, out of fear that something would happen to them, would have turned forty-five that day.

14. I loved my mother because I didn’t know I had a choice. I had to love her

15. Dying, she thought, is the only way out of what is happening to me.

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen Table Of Contents

• AUTHOR’S NOTE
• PROLOGUE

PART ONE

• CHAPTER ONE
• CHAPTER TWO
• CHAPTER THREE
• CHAPTER FOUR
• CHAPTER FIVE
• CHAPTER SIX

PART TWO

• CHAPTER SEVEN
• CHAPTER EIGHT
• CHAPTER NINE
• CHAPTER TEN
• CHAPTER ELEVEN
• CHAPTER TWELVE
• CHAPTER THIRTEEN
• CHAPTER FOURTEEN
• CHAPTER FIFTEEN

PART THREE

• CHAPTER SIXTEEN
• CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
• CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
• CHAPTER NINETEEN
• CHAPTER TWENTY
• CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
• CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
• CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
• CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
• CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
• CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
• CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

PART FOUR

• CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
• CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
• CHAPTER THIRTY
• CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
• CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
• CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
• CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
• CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
• CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
• CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
• CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
• CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
• CHAPTER FORTY
• CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
• CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
• CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
• CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
• CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
• CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
• CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
• CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

PART FIVE

• CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
• CHAPTER FIFTY
• CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
• CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
• CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
• CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
• CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
• CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
• CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
• CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
• CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
• CHAPTER SIXTY
• CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

PART SIX

• CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
• CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
• CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
• CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
• CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
• CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
• CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
• CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
• CHAPTER SEVENTY
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
• CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

PART SEVEN

• CHAPTER EIGHTY

• CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE

• CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO

• CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE

• CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR

• CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

• EPILOGUE

• AFTERWORD

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

• ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Summary of If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

Summary of If You Tell by Gregg Olsen: The Horrifying True Crime Story of Shelly Knotek and Her Family’s Survival

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen is a chilling account of the abuse, torture, and murder perpetrated by Michelle “Shelly” Lynn Watson Rivardo Long Knotek, a woman whose actions left a trail of devastation in her wake. The story reveals the harrowing experiences of her three daughters, Nikki, Sami, and Tori, and the tragic lives of others who came into her orbit, including Kathy Loreno, Ron Woodworth, and Shelly’s own nephew, Shane Watson. The book unfolds in seven parts, each revealing a new layer of horror and the eventual pursuit of justice.

Part One: MOTHER – Shelly Knotek’s Early Life and Deceptive Nature

In Part One, we are introduced to Shelly’s early years in Battle Ground, Washington. Even as a teenager, Shelly demonstrated manipulative behaviors, making false accusations against family members, including her father and step-grandfather. Her stepmother, Lara Watson, faced the repercussions of Shelly’s chaotic actions. Shelly’s ability to deceive and manipulate is evident from her teenage years, setting the stage for the extreme behavior that would later devastate her family. Her relationships were marked by turmoil, including a brief marriage to Randy Rivardo. This part emphasizes Shelly’s talent for creating chaos and her tendency to disrupt those around her.

Part Two: SISTERS – Nikki and Sami’s Enduring Abuse

Part Two shifts the focus to Shelly’s daughters, Nikki and Sami, and their experiences living under Shelly’s abusive rule. They, along with Shelly’s third husband, Dave Knotek, began their life in Raymond, Washington, where Shelly’s cruelty escalated. Shelly’s mood swings and brutal punishments, such as a degrading practice known as “wallowing,” targeted primarily at Nikki, set a terrifying precedent for the sisters’ lives. Despite the abuse, Nikki and Sami formed a close, supportive bond. This section also introduces Kathy Loreno, a close friend of Shelly, who would eventually become one of her most significant victims.

Part Three: The Escalation of Abuse

Though the content of Part Three is not fully laid out in the excerpts, it can be inferred that it details the escalating nature of Shelly’s cruelty within the Knotek household. The intensity of the abuse grows, particularly towards her daughters, and the introduction of Kathy Loreno marks the beginning of even more severe torture. Kathy’s torment, which includes being locked in a pump house, is a pivotal moment in the narrative. This section likely delves into the lengths Shelly would go to in order to manipulate and degrade her victims.

Part Four: HUSBAND – Dave Knotek’s Complicity

Part Four examines Dave Knotek’s role within the Knotek household. Despite Shelly’s relentless devaluation and mistreatment of him, Dave remained loyal, seemingly oblivious to the full extent of her cruelty. His denial and passive role in the abuse ultimately make him complicit in Shelly’s actions. This part likely portrays his failure to protect his daughters and others from Shelly’s destructive behavior, including his eventual involvement in the disposal of the bodies.

Part Five: SCAPEGOAT – Ron Woodworth’s Isolation and Death

In Part Five, Ron Woodworth, another victim of Shelly’s manipulations, is introduced. Ron, isolated from his family, becomes the target of Shelly’s abuse, mirroring the treatment of Kathy. Shelly exploits Ron’s vulnerabilities, keeping him separated from his loved ones and controlling his life. His relationship with Shelly is marked by manipulation, and he too becomes a victim of Shelly’s violence. The section chronicles the tragic events leading up to Ron’s death and the ongoing abuse that permeated his time with the Knoteks.

Part Six: OPPORTUNITY – Shelly’s Manipulation of Mac

Part Six explores James “Mac” McLintock, an elderly man who was a friend of Kathy Loreno’s mother. Shelly ingratiated herself into Mac’s life, ultimately gaining power of attorney and taking control of his assets. Shelly saw Mac’s estate as an opportunity to further her own interests, manipulating him until his suspicious death. This part highlights Shelly’s calculating nature and how she continued her abuse of others, including Ron and Tori. The Knoteks’ suspicious activities, such as their sudden acquisition of Mac’s property, raised alarms among neighbors and authorities.

Part Seven: TRUTH – The Unraveling and Pursuit of Justice

In the final part, Part Seven, Shelly’s deceptions begin to unravel. Tori, now a teenager, becomes a new target of Shelly’s escalating abuse. Nikki and Sami, who had long suspected their mother’s involvement in the disappearances of Kathy and Ron, finally gather the courage to speak out. They report the truth to the authorities, exposing Shelly’s abuse and the deaths of Kathy and Ron. The revelation of Shane Watson’s murder by Shelly’s urging marks a pivotal moment in the story. Nikki and Sami’s bravery in confronting their mother, despite their fear, led to Shelly and Dave Knotek’s arrests. Shelly ultimately pleads guilty to manslaughter charges for Kathy and Ron’s deaths, bringing some measure of justice to the survivors.

About the Author: Gregg Olsen

Gregg Olsen, a #1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author, has penned over thirty books, including Lying Next to Me, The Last Thing She Ever Did, and two novels in the Nicole Foster series, The Sound of Rain and The Weight of Silence. Renowned for his captivating storytelling, Olsen has made appearances on various TV and radio programs, such as Good Morning America, Dateline, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and MSNBC. His work has been featured in prominent publications like Redbook, People, Salon, the Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, and New York Post. Both his fiction and nonfiction works have earned critical praise and numerous awards, including spots on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Olsen’s young adult novel Envy was selected for the National Book Festival by Washington State, and The Deep Dark earned the title of Idaho Book of the Year.

Originally from Seattle, Olsen now resides with his wife in rural Washington State, where he is currently working on his next thriller. For more, visit greggolsen.com.

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