This was a fascinating look into a gruesome murder that happened 20+ years ago. It was admittedly out of my comfort zone, since I have not been reading a lot of true crime nonfictional stories. However, Kathryn wrote in a very compassionate yet gripping manner.

I appreciated being given a lot of backstory of both victims but sometimes, the timeline felt hard for me to follow. I understand it's a reporter revisiting the facts but I would get lost in the timeline often.

Besides that, I felt like Kathryn illuminated angles of murder investigations that we don't see too often, (and I'm not coming for anyone's jobs -- I know not ALL federal and local authorities will drop the ball, as some did in this case) and helped readers understand why the conclusion authorities came to may not be the right one.

Of course that's not entirely hopeful or helpful towards the loved ones of the victims especially, but I think the general idea that we all deserve the truth, especially when it comes to horrible crimes like this, is something I agree with. Ultimately, it's a devastating story and even though it didn't have a nicely tidied-up ending as I expected, I appreciated this perspective.

I'm not a big non-fiction reader but am a sucker for an intense true crime story. Trailed sucked me in right from the beginning. I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and it was absolutely fascinating. I had never heard of the Shenandoah Murders and was astounded by the story. It explored the murders themselves, but it also goes into the safety of women in the wilderness.

I honestly found myself googling more about the murders and learning all I could even after the book was finished.

If you're into true crime, I recommend checking Trailed out!
{Thank you Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the eARC!}

I was in Virginia at the time of these murders and remember hearing about them, so I was very interested in what Miles found in her research for this book. I'm not sure that I agree with her conclusions on this case, but I found myself actually wishing that she'd set the case of Julie and Lollie amongst a deeper dive into other cases and written a broader book that was a bit more linear around all of those along with the parts she touched on around violence in the parks in general. When you think of enjoying the beauty of nature, you really shouldn't have to worry about psychopaths and bigots hunting you there. While I felt the narrative was a little disjointed, I did enjoy this book and have recommended it. Thank you to Algonquin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. 3.5 stars

Although this book came out in May of 2022 - I was recently sent a copy on Netgalley as part of an upcoming book tour.

I greatly enjoyed this true crime story about a case that I wasn't all too familiar with, despite a lot of it taking place in New England, where I am from. This is about the still unsolved murder of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams in the Shenandoah National Park. It details the case, and the man that originally charged with the crime. The case never went to trial and the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence, and it was interesting to see not only the lack of evidence, but the contradictory evidence that the police seemed to ignore in order to fit their theory of the case.

I also enjoyed the author's theory on who the actual murderer is, based on the evidence.

There were a few parts of the book that slowed down for me due to the information dump of the science behind some of the evidence testing, but other than that, I really enjoyed the book and read through it fairly quickly.

Trailed is an author directed investigation into the Shenandoah Murders. In comparison to some other true crime, which just reviews the investigation, Miles investigated this crime herself as well. For this reason, the book definitely comes through from her viewpoint/bias, but she seems to have done very thorough research. Another unique feature is that the murders took place in a national park and there is a focus throughout on providing research regarding murders that have occurred in national parks and/or when the victims were camping. The book moved along well, but this definitely lends itself to a reader who likes to have a greater view and put the crime in greater context.

Engaging true crime/memoir that affected me greatly, more that horror books. As a woman, I already feel uncomfortable in the woods, even though I'm a hiker, and this book resonated a bit too much. I understand why so many women in the book say they don't go into the woods anymore.

We follow our hapless, novice leader down the tangled, overgrown path of two murders. Along the way there are several side paths to explore concerning other tangentially related crimes, all against women, showcasing the expanse of violence against women. Along the way you can sense the author's growing obsession with finding the answers to who killed Julie and Lollie. The journey to find that answer is just as engaging as the true crime, and the narrative as a whole is as gripping as the best fiction mystery.

Trailed by Kathryn Miles is such a well-written account of murders on the Appalachian. I've recently started getting into true crime books and this one was fascinating. The NPS, FBI, and local police all overlap in a very small geographic area which can lead to improper investigating and poor communication. Hopefully someday the case will be solved.

Miles's writing, and tenacity (bordering on obsession) reminds me a lot of Michelle McNamara. I learned a lot about the case, but also about the wilderness and the National Park Service. Overall, a strong offering with a different perspective on true crime.

Received as a free ARC from NetGalley.

I loved this book. What drew me to it was the front cover and the description. The story is about the murders of Julie Williams and Lollie Winans in May 1996. They were killed in the Shenandoah National Park next to the Appalachian Trail. It covers facts about the murders, the investigation, statistics, and agencies involved and the downfalls in solving this case, The author put a lot of time, effort, and travel into this case and her research. She seems to have traveled everywhere and talked to every person and/or agency possible and read countless documents. I love that the author adds so many interesting details about the two women and their family. It's also interesting to learn why and how the author became interested in this case and trying to solve it.

I really enjoyed the writing and the story telling in this gripping tale. This book is about the unsolved murders of two women in the Shenandoah Valley. I highly enjoyable read!

This title is a very well-researched account of the Shenandoah National Park murders of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams in 1996. The author explores all aspects of the case, meeting with the FBI, and other experts to find the truth. She honors the dead women and her respect for them is evident in this beautifully written account.

This is a beautifully written book. Like it should, the mishandling of Julie and Lillie’s case plus various others is highly upsetting. The fact that certain people are unwilling to look at other possible suspects because they are dead set on it being one guy is infuriating,

I don't usually watch or read true crime, so I don't have the wealth of knowledge that most readers of the genre will come into this book with. I also have a lot of trouble with the "open ending" inherent with an unsolved case. However, Miles relays the facts sharply and with a good balance of emotional appeal, which keeps the pacing moving and doesn't let a reader get bogged down in details (because like most true crime, there are a lot of little details, but the way those are organized and presented is what separates a really good writer from one who is just okay)

I was aware of this case from the start because it was not only reported on DC area news at the time, it was a big story in the gay press. The horrific story always stayed with me because I couldn't imagine what these women had been through. It's always in the back of my mind when out walking a trail. Thanks to this book, I see I have reason to worry.

The author told the story very well, and used the right amount of compassion. She had a university connection to one of the victims, which added some additional insight into the women.

The brutality of the murders does stay with the reader, however. I found myself making sure I stopped reading well before bed time.

If you love true crime, you will want to pick this up. It will make you think twice before backpacking alone through the mountains as a woman. This was a 1996 cold case of 2 women brutally murdered in the Appalachian Mountains. Kathryn Miles decided to open it back up and start investigating.

Thank you so much to @Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy for an honest review.

# Trailed by author # Kathryn Miles is a true crime story. The unsolved murders by a serial killer, who got away. More horrible is a innocent man has been under suspicion for decades.Outdoors expert Kathryn Miles begins to uncover the truth…..
Thank you for the advance copy,
#Netgalley and # Algonquin Books 📚

Trailed is a wonderfully written book that investigates the cruel murder of two young women in 1996 on a Shenandoah trail in Virginia. Miles pulls in a wide breadth of sources, while synthesizing information, and connecting dots. The two victims and others in the story are painted in such a sensitive and illuminating way. I felt like I had such a great sense of them. It's so frustrating to read about the faulty investigation by the authorities, from the National Park to the police.

The writing style and information really helped color the events and people involved. Miles understands that so many issues may have contributed to these crimes and ripple effects on those who knew the victims or find solace on the trails. It shattered the idea and feeling of safety for so many young women. I highly recommend Trailed if you're looking for true crime with depth, compassion and insight.

Thank you Algonquin Books for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I devoured this book in a day. This was the best of the best true crime. Easy to read, compelling, and making a larger point about safety for AFAB & queer people in the wilderness. The author makes a good case for the true killer, and I hope this book will push the authorities involved to confirm her conclusion. A great book, and so well-written.

Something that I don’t talk about often is my interest in true crime. And if you are looking for a great true crime read, look no further than Trailed by Kathryn Miles?
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The care that was put into writing this book was apparent, and it is truly one of the best written books I have read about in a while. It is a dark subject matter, but I truly feel like I knew these two women and the love for them and anger at the circumstances showed through the page.
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I definitely learned a lot from this book, from the legal processes to the lack of protection that is found at some of the national parks.
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I would recommend this book, but very lightly. Please be aware that it is very graphic and there are quite a few trigger warnings.

Comprehensive, touching & interesting. The author clearly did her research and was genuinely affected by the deaths of these two women.