Blood Trail by Brad Preston

by Brad Preston

Bonnie and Clyde should have never killed the old man. They thought no one would care - he was just some recluse living in the woods - and they needed his cabin so they could hide out and wait for the heat to die down. But someone was watching. Someone who knows the old man and calls the cabin home. And he's been killing his whole life. Three friends have entered these woods on a weekend camping trip. This was their chance to reunite, have some fun, and get away from the city. But Bonnie and Clyde have other plans for the trio. For Sara, Will, and Steve, this excursion is not just about pleasure. It's about ulterior motives and dark secrets. And in the wild, secrets can be murder. A relentless game of cat-and-mouse is about to begin as the hunters become the hunted and the path to retribution becomes twisted and tangled. A shade of grey colors the forest as allegiances are broken and lies unmasked. If they make it out alive, they'll have the devil to pay - and he's got his own axe to grind... It's about to get messy.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 22, 2011

Reviews

[Agnes Odek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preston’s Blood Trail, is a psychological thriller with a deep, unsettling subplot and a darker, bloody plot. With a modern Bonnie and Clyde on the run, friends on a camping getaway, and a cabin in the woods, what could go wrong?

Will is haunted by the ghost of his past, and to confront it, he carries along his girlfriend and sketchy friend. A weekend getaway was what it should have been. Bonnie and her supernatural Clyde are on the run after committing murder. They all end up in the same forest. The cabin is a symbol for each. Bonnie and Clyde see it as a refuge, while Will sees it as the place that holds answers. For the owners of the cabin, a son and his father, peace becomes a thing of the past.

I enjoyed reading Preston‘s work. The fast-paced nature of the fueled action keeps the reader engaged. However, this book isn’t for the faint-hearted, as the lot lives at the trail of blood in their wake. As much as the book was enjoyable, one is left with more questions than answers. A book to be read by those who appreciate morally grey characters.

[Dan A. Foster · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really?

This is nothing but profane and disgusting language. It’s too bad that I have to waste more words on a review.

[Katie Rufo Barksdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique, fast-paced read that will keep you on the edge of your seat! I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives. Reader discretion advised for those who do not like blood/gore. This was a quick read that shows how interconnected our lives are. My husband came home to find me completely engrossed in this book on the couch. Preston does a great job developing multiple characters and seamlessly shifting perspectives.

[Kathryn Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and was so excited to read it! This book did not let me down. It was fast-paced, creepy and the ending!!! That ending was not what I expected!!

The characters evoked sympathy and disgust. How can I like and hate them at the same time? I liked how it jumped around from all of their POV.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a really twisted story and leaves you wanting more!

[Tymmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/4 of the book was great. The end? What in the Banana Land Hell was that about?

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad Preston’s Blood Trail is a high-octane, modern-day Bonnie and Clyde story that combines psychological suspense, wilderness survival, and relentless tension in a way that’s both thrilling and deeply unsettling. What begins as a simple weekend getaway for three friends quickly spirals into a deadly chase involving fugitives, haunted pasts, and a brutal fight for survival.

At the heart of the story is Will, a man tormented by dreams of a mysterious girl he barely knew, visions that push him toward dangerous answers. Travis, his childhood friend, lives off the grid with his father, abiding by a strict, self-made code far removed from modern society. When their paths collide with a pair of ruthless fugitives, the isolated wilderness becomes the backdrop for a heart-pounding game of predator and prey.

Preston’s writing is atmospheric and intense, capturing both the beauty and menace of the woods. He masterfully explores themes of loyalty, trauma, instinct, and justice through layered characters and unpredictable plot turns. As the lines between hunter and hunted blur, you’re never quite sure who’s in control, or who will make it out alive.

Blood Trail is a gritty, adrenaline-fueled ride that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t ease up until the final page. Preston crafts a story that’s not only suspenseful, but also emotionally charged and psychologically rich.

For fans of backwoods thrillers, survival fiction, and morally complex characters, this book is a must-read. Unforgettable and ferociously paced.

[James Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Trail by Brad Preston is the kind of thriller that drags you deep into the woods and dares you to find your way out. It’s tense, gritty, and often downright brutal—a proper survival thriller with a noir edge. Imagine a mash-up of Deliverance and The Most Dangerous Game, but with a pair of modern-day Bonnie and Clyde types thrown into the mix. Bonnie is as deadly as she is twisted, Clyde is her hulking, near-superhuman partner, and together they leave a trail of chaos that collides with hikers, hunters, and a wilderness that feels alive with menace.
The Georgia backwoods setting is an absolute star here, all eerie isolation and raw atmosphere, while the pace rarely lets up. Multiple storylines weave together—revenge, survival, and a dash of the supernatural—keeping the tension high and the stakes bloody. Yes, the ending feels a bit rushed, and a few questions are left dangling, but the ride is wild enough that you hardly mind.
If you like your thrillers dark, violent, and full throttle with morally grey characters, Blood Trail will sink its teeth in and not let go. Just don’t expect to sleep easily after wandering through Preston’s sinister forest.

[Stevie Mac · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reads like it was written by a horny teenage boy with a penchant for violence. There's gratuitous detail of violence, injuries, sexual thoughts and death. There's even a sexual assault scene and the word p*ssy appears in this book so much I lost count (both in reference to female anatomy and describing someone as a coward). There are no likeable characters, nothing relatable, very little plot that makes any sense - just terrible sex references and violence. At one point a character describes sleeping like a log and waking up hoping she gets another type of "log" inside her. Its like that throughout.

I generally don't rate books low as I appreciate the time and effort that goes into writing one and I certainly couldn't do it but this one was a struggle to get through

[Dee Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Trail is a dark fast-paced horror thriller that continously delivers on the gore. Each group of charaters is distinct and brings their own tension to the story in how their paths crossed. The whole book leaves you questioning if such darkness truely lies within humanity or is there something greater at play.

That being said, the ending felt a bit rushed especially with what is reveled in the end. I do wish there was some more time spent on who or what Clyde is as I felt like the book was coming to a logical end and the ending just left me with more questions.

Thank you Goodreads for the e-copy!

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was that, and this really delivered. Not so much the happy ending that you expected, but the story is solid. I liked the tension that it brought on, and there was more than it’s share of killing and murder. The ending was bad, and frankly suited to the book actually. I can’t think of any ending that should have happened, maybe one survived or something, but overall I think the dark note that the book ended on seemed to be fitting. It’s just a good story pretty much, and say if you don’t like happy endings, this horror book is for you.

[Cat Roule · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! I think I read this in 2 days. My hubby kept asking, "When are you coming to bed?" I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Fast-paced, chilling, and unexpected. Murder, lost love, monsters, and more.
Thank you so much for this signed gifted copy from Goodreads Giveaways, Brad Preston, and Rogue Press!!!

[Chrystal Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

This is a really trippy story. Lots of horror. The characters are very well written and most of them were scary individuals. If you're looking for happily ever after this is not where you'll find it. Great job.

[Mark Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ending was a major let down.

Really enjoyed this book until the last couple of chapters when it seems the author just wanted to finish it quickly and you are left with a whole lot of unanswered questions.

[Dawn Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise

Didn't think it was going to end like it did so did surprise me! That was quite the bunch of characters. Glad I didn't meet any of them on my camping trips 🙃. 5 stars for sure. Thanks for sharing.

[Natelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

This one was too graphic for me. I got about a third of the way through it and couldn’t see the connection between the two storylines aside from two mentally ill people lashing out at the world by trying to take what they wanted by any means necessary.

[Kevin Shiple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange read

This is a very odd story. It is written well and holds you in its grip but it is very odd.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

An utterly strange book. Fantastic writing & characters. A gory thriller horror with a sprinkle of the supernatural thrown in amongst it for good measure.

[Susan B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pointless! Don’t Waste Your Time

It’s seldom that I don’t finish a book, but…..If you like cliched characters, gratuitous violence, and a nonsensical plot this book is for you.

[Matt Egan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book sounded interesting, but the plot just didn't come together for me. I read 64% of the book before deciding my reading time would be much more well spent on other, better books

[Rebamom7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

need more from this author

This book was so well written. Raw and gritty, descriptions that take you there and keep you there. The author surely has another yarn or two in him?

[Trenton McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and brutal. A little darker than the normal crime thriller, with shifting character perspectives, and touch of the supernatural. A fun backwoods crime spree.

[Christina Danzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and creepy crime thriller. Loved the multiple storylines and characters, Bonnie especially. That ending was bloody and brutal.

[Stacey Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, fun, and brutal! Had me on the edge of seat as the multiple storylines converged in a bloody mess!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that the characters weren't just good or bad. Some were evil and others were merely human in their faults, all of which made for a fun, weird book.