Thank you to Libro FM and Macmillan Audio for a copy of Erika Krouse’s Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation.

Despite having no previous experience as a private investigator, Erika Krouse is given an opportunity by a lawyer named Grayson who notices Krouse’s keen ability to get people to talk. Not only does Krouse have the gift of getting clients to open up and trust her, but she also has a knack for blending in with a crowd. Grayson hires Krouse for long-term case involving rape culture among athletes at a Colorado University. Krouse must confront her own history of sexual violence, while working this high-profile case.

Tell Me Everything is an excellent book. Krouse balances the genres of memoir, journalism, and true crime to reveal a story that is as engaging, as it is horrific. The case involved university football players who were accused of underage drinking/drugs, soliciting prostitutes, and rape. One of the biggest issues in the case was the cover-up by university officials and prominent members of society, who had an interest in supporting the football team, no matter how heinous the crimes. Additionally, teenage recruits were involved, as some of the illegal behavior took place during recruitment weekends, the parties used to entice young men to choose this particular university. The adult prostitutes often turned a blind-eye to the men being teenagers.

Krouse interviewed former players, both those accused and on the periphery, prostitutes involved, and the rape victims to try to get a full picture of the situation. The university and local authorities were determined to keep the crimes from being prosecuted, so Krouse used her power of persuasion to get confessions. One of the prostitutes that helped with the case, did so at great detriment to her personal life. Krouse had gained this woman’s trust through a guise of friendship, knowing that professional lines were blurring, eventually feeling guilt for this aspect of private investigation. The work was not always clean. Krouse often had to lie and manipulate to gain access to information.

Tell Me Everything is fascinating, but due to the grim content, a difficult read. Krouse’s private life and family relations are nearly as complicated as the case, which adds an interesting layer to the book. I felt heavy that Krouse has difficulties, but from a story perspective this added so much more to Tell Me Everything, much more nuanced than if she had simply written about the case. It could not have been easy to be so candid about her personal issues, but it certainly made Tell Me Everything an outstanding book.

If you like non-fiction that tackles complex societal issues Krouse’s Tell Me Everything is an excellent pick.