If You Tell is a heart-pounding novel of suspenseāa true story of family secrets and the unbreakable bond between sisters, told by New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen. It was summertime in Camano Island, Washington, and two sisters were playing on the beach near their home. Five-year-old Kyra screamed as she ran toward her mother that someone had taken her baby sister from their blanket. Her eight-year old sister Jessica immediately took off sprinting down the beach after the kidnapper. When she caught up to him, Jessica identified herself as āthe meanest girl in schoolā and threatened to hurt him if he didnāt give back her sister right then and there. Thankfully, younger sister Carly was returned unharmed moments later . . . but the nightmare for this tightknit family had just begun. More than two decades would pass before Kyra and Jessica learned why their infant sister had been snatched from them that day on Camano Island Beach: Their father John Polziekāone half of an abusive married couple āhad murdered his first wife Regan Stevenson nine years earlier in Oregon with a crowbar then staged it to look like a burglary gone wrong.
For who is this book for ?
If You Tell is a heart-pounding novel of suspenseāa true story of family secrets and the unbreakable bond between sisters, told by New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen.
Pros :
- Gregg Olsen is a New York Times bestselling author
- If You Tell is a heart-pounding novel of suspense, which makes for an exciting read
- The story is based on true events, making it all the more intriguing
Cons :
- If You Tell is a fictitious story, not a true one
- The bond between sisters may be unbreakable, but it’s nothing compared to the love of a parent for their child
- The meanest girl in school probably would have been more effective if she had brought along some backup
Learn more about the author
Gregg Olsen is the New York Times bestselling author of eight nonfiction books, including If You Tell. His work has been featured on such programs as Dateline NBC and 20/20, and his stories have appeared in magazines ranging from Ladiesā Home Journal to forensic science journals. Gregg spent more than a decade working as an investigative journalist for The Seattle Times before becoming a full-time novelist. He lives near Seattle with his wife and two children.
Reader Reviews
“5 out of 5 stars. Gregg Olsen has done it again! This book is a heart-wrenching, yetcelluloid inkblot inspiring story about the unbreakable bond between sisters.”
“Olsen crafts a taut, suspenseful thriller . . .”
“I’m not a reader of mystery or suspense, but I read If You Tell in two days because the story was so compelling. It is rare to find nonfiction that is so well written, with psychological insight and compassion for all involved.”
“Gregg Olsen is one of the best suspense writers out there and If You Tell did not disappoint. This riveting, true story about two sisters who band together to find their kidnapped baby sister had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.”
