Trailed

One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders

By: Kathryn Miles

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

“​A beautifully written account of a great American tragedy—the unsolved murders of an undetermined number of young women, all by the same serial killer, who got away. The truth is still buried. I couldn’t put it down.”—John Grisham, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A riveting deep dive into the unsolved murder of two free-spirited young women in the wilderness, a journalist's obsession—and a new theory of who might have done it.

They must have been followed. That’s the thought I return to after all these years . . .

In May 1996, two skilled backcountry leaders, Lollie Winans and Julie Williams, entered Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park for a week-long backcountry camping trip. The free-spirited and remarkable young couple had met and fallen in love the previous summer while working at a world-renowned outdoor program for women. During their final days in the park, they descended the narrow remnants of a trail and pitched their tent in a hidden spot. After the pair didn’t return home as planned, park rangers found a scene of horror at their campsite, their tent slashed open, their beloved dog missing, and both women dead in their sleeping bags. The unsolved murders of Winans and Williams continue to haunt all who had encountered them or knew their story.

When award-winning journalist and outdoors expert Kathryn Miles begins looking into the case, she discovers conflicting evidence, mismatched timelines, and details that just don’t add up. With unprecedented access to crucial crime-scene forensics and key witnesses—and with a growing sense of both mission and obsession—she begins to uncover the truth. An innocent man, Miles is convinced, has been under suspicion for decades, while the true culprit is a known serial killer, if only authorities would take a closer look.

Intimate, thrilling, and brilliantly reported, Trailed is a love story and a call to justice—and a searching and urgent plea to make wilderness a safe space for women—destined to become a true crime classic.

©2022 Kathryn Miles (P)2022 Algonquin Books

Critic reviews

“A gripping look inside a tragic, unsolved case.”—People

"A tragic story of young lovers, gone too soon. A #metoo reckoning, long overdue. A study of trauma’s ripple effects, extending for decades. Trailed is meticulously investigated, achingly intimate, and doggedly persistent in the pursuit of justice."—Robert Kolker, bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road

“Engrossing . . . Miles takes a comprehensive look at police procedures in federal parks and violence against women in rural areas . . . A must for true crime buffs.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Compelling

Prose/story a bit much at times; perf is excellent at smoothing over some navel gazing

True crime that gives life to victims

This is a good true crime book that delves into what it is, and what it was, to be a young queer outdoorswoman, both in the 1990s and now. Miles gives ample weight and attention to the interior lives, the relationships, the highs and lows, and the vibrant youthfulness of the women at the center of this story. Little time is spent on overly horrific details of the crimes committed against the two women. Where many true-crime tales rely on arm’s-length rehashing of the brutal violence— a focus on the taking of a life, Miles instead focuses on the lives that were lived, and how deeply the women were loved.
There were plenty of points in this book where I thought “I could have known those women. I could have been those women. Sometimes, I was those women,” and even if the reader isn’t a contemporary of Julie and Lollie and can’t quite see themselves reflected in the Indigo Girls soundtracked backyard college parties of the mid-90s, Miles presents portraits of Lollie and Julie to the reader that engage visceral empathy and universally in their journey.

Excellent Examination of the Murders of Julie and Lollie

It’s been almost 26 years since the murders of Julie Williams and Lollie Winans in Shenandoah National Park. A suspect was arrested six years after they were murdered, but the government eventually had to drop the case due to problems with their evidence. This book is excellently researched and shows the issues with that evidence, as well as making a good case for another plausible suspect. Be ready to spend some time with this book. You won’t want to put it down.

Interesting true crime

Narration is clear.

Interesting true crime story. That author explains why murders in the wilderness are especially difficult to solve.

Fascinating

Very well researched and written
If you are skeptical about the science of police procedures this book might have you seething with suspicion

⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5 STARS

⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5 STARS from this guy! It takes a lot to impress this critic and this book did that! Excellent true crime book, well worth reading. Honestly for me, a hidden gem, cause it wasn't up front and center on the algorithm queue if you know what I mean.
A very well told case is presented here about two beautiful college age young adults that were minding their own business and thought they were safe (and had a right to feel that way), but the evil of this world came and took these two amazing souls from us. So sad, so pointless. After the book gives us insight to both of these lady's lives and tells what happened to them in the end, it then goes into the way the case was sloppily handled by police, investigators, and PARK PERSONNEL. The author tells us how the case was fouled up, then she presents theories on who else could be responsible. These girls deserve justice, no matter their gender or sexual preference, they were still human. Why is it always the good ones? The ones that probably would have become something inspirational & would have made a difference ..or could it be that we all have something special to contribute to this world if we only search deep enough?. There's a special place in hell for people that brutally murder innocent souls. If you love true crime and enjoy a captivating read, this is the book for you my friend. Check it out. 😉

Incredible true crime novel

The narrator did a wonderful job reading this book. I could not stop listening. Kathryn Miles dies a great job bringing these two women to life.

This book is beautiful in its heartbreak.

I have listened to hundreds of titles over the past decade, and this is the first book that has compelled me to offer my humble opinion. There’s so much more to this book than the deaths of Lollie and Julie. It is also about their lives and their loves. It is about injustice for the sake of justice. I listened, then I listened again. Thank you, Kathryn Miles, for such a beautifully written book.

One of the top true crime & justice books I’ve recently listened to

There is a fantastic amount of detail, thought, and beauty in this book about a terribly ugly crime and the serious issues with its investigation. I highly recommend this for the genuine insight into the victims and their families, the clarity in covering scientific and legal issues, and the beautiful writing.

True Crime- wish it wasn't true

I listened to this book in only a couple of days and wanted very much to learn who the killer was. I won't ruin the end - the story is true and so very sad - but I will admit to a little frustration. I've been through some of the Appalachian areas and it is very beautiful country. Unfortunately, there are sick and dangerous individuals everywhere.