Book Review- Erika Krouse's Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation

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.

Book Review- Patrick Radden Keefe's Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks

Thank you to LibroFM and Penguin Random House Audio for providing me with an audio copy of Patrick Radden Keefe’s Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks.

Rogues is a collection of Keefe’s prize-winning essays from The New Yorker. As the subtitle indicates, the subjects in the collection vary, but are tied together with the commonality of existing on the fringes of society. All twelve essays are fascinating and worth reading, but personally, I was especially captivated by two of the essays.

The first standout was Keefe’s reporting on a criminal trial in Amsterdam, in which a sister testified against her mobster brother and is now living in hiding. Keefe traveled to Amsterdam and met with the sister, Astrid Holleeder, in a very tense and secretive situation, as although her brother is behind bars, she lives in fear of reprisal from his associates. She explained the fears of growing up with a psychopath brother and of the criminal element in Amsterdam, which is well hidden in the beautiful city that she loves. What struck me most about this article was the way in which Keefe wrote about Holleeder’s strength and defiance. She refuses to leave Amsterdam, even if she must live a secluded life. She stood up to her brother, even when the profits from his criminal enterprise helped fund the family, a situation in which many family members were happy to turn a blind-eye. Holleeder put everything in her life at risk to do the right thing.

The other story involved Anthony Bourdain. I had not previously heard of Holleeder or the situation in Amsterdam, but I was very familiar with Bourdain. The familiarity is what attracted me to Keefe’s thoughts on the deceased chef, writer and travel star. Bourdain’s eclectic career and brash attitude put him in squarely in the rebel category and make his life intriguing to outsiders. Keefe’s article gave me a taste and I wanted more, so I picked up Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential to read following Rogues.

If you love non-fiction that explores dynamic personalities and true crime, you must pick up a copy of Rogues. Keefe is a keen storyteller with a flair for the dramatic. His writing will take you to unexpected places.

Book Review- Sarah Priscus' Groupies

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a copy of Sarah Priscus’ novel, Groupies.

The year is 1977 and Faun Novak needs a change. Her mother has recently passed away and feeling no ties to her midwestern home, Faun heads for Los Angeles, to live with her high school best-friend Josie. Josie has recently dropped out of college to focus her efforts on dating mega rockstar Cal Holiday, frontman for the group Holiday Sun. Josie’s life seems so glamorous and carefree that Faun wants to be a part of her world. Josie coaches Faun in all aspects of what it means to be a groupie, and soon Faun is initiated, finding herself in a small inner circle of woman who give all of their energy to supporting the band that they love.

The lifestyle is intoxicating and Faun quickly gets wrapped up in parties, drugs, and relationships with loose boundaries. As a groupie, her primary job is to keep the men of Holiday Sun happy, running errands and bolstering their egos. However, Faun has her own ambitions. She dreams of being a photographer and carries a Polaroid camera everywhere she goes, casually documenting candid moments with the band. When she begins to realize that Holiday Sun and the associated groupies don’t have her best interests at heart, Faun decides to sell her polaroids to the tabloids, a move that not only threatens her friendship with Josie, but puts Josie’s life in danger.

Oh this book…I finished it last night and I’m left with very mixed feelings. On the positive, it is an easy and compelling read. I loved the seventies Los Angeles setting and the faux glamour of the rock and roll lifestyle. Groupies has many similarities to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six. Priscus does a great job with pacing. The story grows increasingly dark, and just as Faun becomes disenchanted with the parties, so does the reader.

Faun and Josie, along with the other “groupies” ring true as young women figuring out their lives. I do not believe that a main character has to be likable as a requirement, Faun is NOT likable, but she is relatable. I understood her moves and her self-centered world view. The story takes a very unexpected turn in the final third, setting Faun up for a transition out of late adolescence. This story build works well.

My issue with Groupies was the slowness in which the characters change. Faun and the rest of the female characters are fairly vapid throughout and the story ends with many of them still stuck in the groupie lifestyle. Faun’s shift occurs very late in the story, maybe in the final ten percent, and the catalyst is primarily due to a shocking situation that happens to Josie. I guess it just feels like the female characters make the choice to service the men, even when they are treated poorly or see other women being abused. The women rarely make active choices outside of being of service to the band. It’s a depressing situation and I think this vibe, which likely was intentional, made me feel cynical and angry.

Even after writing this review, I don’t feel like I’ve sorted out my emotions regarding Groupies. I didn’t dislike the writing or the general story, so much as I disliked the vibe. I can’t remember the last time I had this situation occur with a book. I would definitely read future works by Priscus, but Groupies left me in a funny state of mind. One additional comment thought, is I’ve engaged in a lively discussion regarding Groupies on Instagram and many people loved it. So while it might not have been exactly my cup of tea, I would not hesitate to recommend it. It’s also awesome to support Priscus as a debut author!