Question 1

Where is the main setting of the story?

Accepted Answer

Raymond, Washington

Question 2

Who is the primary abuser in the story?

Accepted Answer

Shelly Knotek

Question 3

What is the relationship between Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek?

Accepted Answer

Sisters

Question 4

What kind of abuse did Shelly subject her children and houseguests to?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Question 5

Who was Shane Watson in relation to the Knotek family?

Accepted Answer

Shelly’s nephew

Question 6

What techniques did Shelly use to manipulate and control her victims?

Accepted Answer

Lies, threats, and isolation

Question 7

What was a common punishment Shelly used on her daughters?

Accepted Answer

Deprivation of food and forced outdoor isolation

Question 8

Who was Kathy Loreno?

Accepted Answer

A live-in friend who became a victim

Question 9

What happened to Kathy Loreno?

Accepted Answer

She died due to abuse in the Knotek home

Question 10

Who was Ron Woodworth?

Accepted Answer

A mentally ill man who became another live-in victim

Question 11

How did Shelly try to cover up the disappearance of her victims?

Accepted Answer

Burning their bodies and lying about their whereabouts

Question 12

What role did David Knotek play in the crimes?

Accepted Answer

He participated, including in disposing of bodies

Question 13

Who among the daughters was especially determined to expose the truth?

Accepted Answer

Nikki

Question 14

What was one psychological effect the girls experienced after years of abuse?

Accepted Answer

Stockholm syndrome

Question 15

Why is Shane Watson’s story particularly heartbreaking in If You Tell?

Accepted Answer

He was a vulnerable teen who uncovered the truth and was silenced for it

Question 16

How long did Shelly get away with her abuse before it came to light?

Accepted Answer

More than a decade

Question 17

What sentence did Shelly Knotek ultimately receive?

Accepted Answer

22 years

Question 18

How did the crimes come to light?

Accepted Answer

Sami and Nikki contacted the authorities

Question 19

What makes Shelly’s abuse particularly chilling to readers?

Accepted Answer

She used her maternal role to justify torture

Question 20

Why is If You Tell considered a powerful and important true crime memoir?

Accepted Answer

It highlights the resilience of survivors & the importance of speaking out

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

2) Who is the primary abuser in the story?

3) What is the relationship between Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek?

4) What kind of abuse did Shelly subject her children and houseguests to?

5) Who was Shane Watson in relation to the Knotek family?

6) What techniques did Shelly use to manipulate and control her victims?

7) What was a common punishment Shelly used on her daughters?

8) Who was Kathy Loreno?

9) What happened to Kathy Loreno?

10) Who was Ron Woodworth?

11) How did Shelly try to cover up the disappearance of her victims?

12) What role did David Knotek play in the crimes?

13) Who among the daughters was especially determined to expose the truth?

14) What was one psychological effect the girls experienced after years of abuse?

15) Why is Shane Watson’s story particularly heartbreaking in If You Tell?

16) How long did Shelly get away with her abuse before it came to light?

17) What sentence did Shelly Knotek ultimately receive?

18) How did the crimes come to light?

19) What makes Shelly’s abuse particularly chilling to readers?

20) Why is If You Tell considered a powerful and important true crime memoir?