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

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How did Olsen’s narrative voice help to immerse you into the reality of the Knotek family’s life? Did you feel like you were in each moment with the family, or did you feel like you were observing their lives from a distanced perspective?
• Olsen is a prolific writer of true crime books. What distinguishes If You Tell from his other works? Conversely, are you able to see the common links between Olsen’s works and suggest what draws him to cover a case for a book?
• Do you think Nikki, Sami, and Tori are happy to be free from Shelly and Dave? How might their experience continue to have affected them for the rest of their lives?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Do you have any siblings you are close to? What are the factors that allowed your relationship to develop this way (e.g., shared experiences, shared values, etc.)? If you don’t have this kind of relationship in your life, discuss any close siblings you might know, whether they are from your family or not.