Tell Me Everything

Tell Me Everything combines investigative journalism with memoir as author Erika Krouse recounts her work as a private investigator on a landmark Title IX sexual assault case. After stumbling into PI work with no prior experience, Krouse takes on a complex civil case involving sexual assaults connected to a university football program. As Krouse investigates the case and interviews witnesses, she confronts her own history of childhood sexual abuse and its lasting effects on her life. The parallel narratives of the investigation and Krouse's personal story create a dual exploration of trauma, memory, and the search for truth. Krouse documents the challenges faced by assault survivors within the legal system while navigating her role as both an objective investigator and someone personally affected by similar experiences. The book tracks the multi-year investigation through its various phases as the legal team works to build their case. At its core, Tell Me Everything examines how institutions protect perpetrators, the complexities of seeking justice, and the ways trauma shapes identity and human connection. The memoir raises questions about objectivity, healing, and what constitutes truth in both legal and personal contexts.

Readers describe this memoir as raw and unflinching in its examination of both personal trauma and investigative journalism. The book maintains high ratings across platforms, with 4.3/5 on Goodreads (2,000+ ratings) and 4.5/5 on Amazon (500+ ratings). Readers appreciated: - The parallel narratives of personal healing and legal investigation - Clear explanations of complex legal processes - The author's honesty about her own struggles - The balance between heavy subject matter and moments of humor Common criticisms: - The timeline jumps between past and present confused some readers - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more details about the legal resolution Multiple reviews note the book's impact on their understanding of sexual assault cases. One reader commented, "The author shows how her own past informed her ability to gain trust from survivors." Another wrote, "This book changed how I view the legal system's handling of assault cases."

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📚 The author worked as a private investigator while writing the book, specializing in Title IX cases, despite having no prior investigative experience. 🏈 The central case in the book led to major reforms in college football recruiting practices and resulted in a $2.85 million settlement for the victims. 🔍 Erika Krouse has prosopagnosia (face blindness), which ironically made her a better investigator because she developed keen observation skills to compensate. ⚖️ The University of Colorado football recruiting scandal featured in the book ultimately led to the resignations of the university president, athletic director, and head football coach. 📝 The book took Krouse ten years to write, partly because she had to wait for the legal case to conclude and partly due to her struggle with processing the trauma she encountered during the investigation.