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Blood Trail
Now updated with a new afterword, the classic true crime thriller by journalist Steven Walker and veteran police detective Rick Reed exploring the grisly crimes of a sadistic serial killer who dismembered his victims.
Joseph Weldon Brown confessed to more than a dozen murders across seven states. He was convicted and sentenced for killing a woman whose body he dismembered and scattered across three Indiana counties. In prison, he hogtied and strangled his cellmate, then asked the judge to lock him up for life because if he was released, he would continue killing.
Police detective Rick Reed was on the scene when Brown led authorities to the scattered remains of Ginger Gasaway in 2000. After Brown’s arrest, he confessed to a shocking number of other heinous crimes—the torture and murders of drifters and sex workers, the cold case of a naked woman’s body found in a roadside ditch, even the murder of his own mother. Detective Reed was the one man Brown opened up to—and the only one to cut through the deceptions and lies and learn the terrible truth . . .
In this newly updated edition, now-retired detective Reed reveals his personal theories and insights into one of the darkest minds he has ever encountered—and one of the most terrifying crime stories ever told . . .
Joseph Weldon Brown confessed to more than a dozen murders across seven states. He was convicted and sentenced for killing a woman whose body he dismembered and scattered across three Indiana counties. In prison, he hogtied and strangled his cellmate, then asked the judge to lock him up for life because if he was released, he would continue killing.
Police detective Rick Reed was on the scene when Brown led authorities to the scattered remains of Ginger Gasaway in 2000. After Brown’s arrest, he confessed to a shocking number of other heinous crimes—the torture and murders of drifters and sex workers, the cold case of a naked woman’s body found in a roadside ditch, even the murder of his own mother. Detective Reed was the one man Brown opened up to—and the only one to cut through the deceptions and lies and learn the terrible truth . . .
In this newly updated edition, now-retired detective Reed reveals his personal theories and insights into one of the darkest minds he has ever encountered—and one of the most terrifying crime stories ever told . . .
320 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 28, 2024
Thanks to Goodreads, Citadel books, and the author's for sending me this book in exchange for a fair review. This book is a true crime story. This is a very unique story about a man that murders his girlfriend and then claims to have murdered 13 other women. Is he a serial killer or a attention seeker? This is a must read for fans of the genre. 4.25 🌟
August 31, 2025
This book had so much potential to be interesting. But instead it was constantly bogged down in minutiae that was drily presented and long-winded. It was also extremely repetitive. There were seemingly endless pages on briefs and subpoenas discussing whether Miranda rights were properly issued only for the judge to eventually rule that the evidence could be presented. Those pages could have been condensed to a few sentences at most, or: The defense tried to argue that the defendent’s civil liberties were violated by failure to properly inform him of his Miranda rights, but they were ultimately unsuccessful.
This is a real paragraph in this book: “After the meeting with Levco, it was time to pick up Special Agent Tom VanWormer. Reed drove back to his office to pick up a binder that contained information about the case and maps of the area. Then he drove to the Federal Building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. He rode the elevator up to the third floor, then walked down the royal blue carpeted hallway to a heavy wooden door emblazoned with the emblem of the FBI. Reed met Van Wormer and the two men left to go to the correctional facility in Carlisle, Indiana.”
Lest you think any of those details are relevant to the meat of the story please let me assure you they are not.
This book had two authors: a journalist and one of the men who investigated the case. Sadly, they wrote this with all the insight and sensitivity of an AP newswire story.
The most interesting part of the book are what I understand to be typed transcripts of the murderer confessing. While I’m sure the authors edited these, they were not accompanied with engaging analysis or even much suspense.
The text’s insistence that the first murder (Ginger) recounted is the stuff of legend and horror stories is ridiculous. It’s a very sad case, but unfortunately domestic violence and dismemberment are all too common to be as shocking or compelling as the writers seem to think they are. It would have been nice to learn more about Ginger in life too, perhaps from interviews with people who loved her.
I wish the authors had interviewed more people involved or asked better questions of those who were interviewed.
The author could have explored so many themes about the criminal mind, failures of the justice system to protect women, victimology, the impact of this type of investigation on the mental health on law enforcement. Instead this was a very dry recitation of facts about a case that seems extremely straightforward. Boooooooo
This is a real paragraph in this book: “After the meeting with Levco, it was time to pick up Special Agent Tom VanWormer. Reed drove back to his office to pick up a binder that contained information about the case and maps of the area. Then he drove to the Federal Building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. He rode the elevator up to the third floor, then walked down the royal blue carpeted hallway to a heavy wooden door emblazoned with the emblem of the FBI. Reed met Van Wormer and the two men left to go to the correctional facility in Carlisle, Indiana.”
Lest you think any of those details are relevant to the meat of the story please let me assure you they are not.
This book had two authors: a journalist and one of the men who investigated the case. Sadly, they wrote this with all the insight and sensitivity of an AP newswire story.
The most interesting part of the book are what I understand to be typed transcripts of the murderer confessing. While I’m sure the authors edited these, they were not accompanied with engaging analysis or even much suspense.
The text’s insistence that the first murder (Ginger) recounted is the stuff of legend and horror stories is ridiculous. It’s a very sad case, but unfortunately domestic violence and dismemberment are all too common to be as shocking or compelling as the writers seem to think they are. It would have been nice to learn more about Ginger in life too, perhaps from interviews with people who loved her.
I wish the authors had interviewed more people involved or asked better questions of those who were interviewed.
The author could have explored so many themes about the criminal mind, failures of the justice system to protect women, victimology, the impact of this type of investigation on the mental health on law enforcement. Instead this was a very dry recitation of facts about a case that seems extremely straightforward. Boooooooo
July 24, 2024
I received this book courtesy of the Goodreads First Reads program, for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Ginger Gasaway ran into the wrong person at a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Joe Brown was known for gambling, being a former convict, and a short temper. Was he capable of cold blooded murder? If so, was he capable of a wide range of serial killings? Or is he a serial liar? Mr. Walker and Mr. Reed have offered us a chance to decide. Let's see the evidence.
Dislikes: Joe Brown strikes me as a pity-party going. He takes a limited form of responsibility for any of his actions.
Politics, in my opinion, should have no place in a criminal case.
Likes: This book does show some sympathy for many of those associated with the victim. Even the victim gains sympathy, even when they weren't in the more honorable occupations.
Mr. Reed was quite willing to dig into an admitted monster's mind, and past, in order to find the truth.
Conclusion: This is a book that is for the non-fiction and true crime fans. Aspiring detective authors, and fans of shows such as Dateline, The New Detectives, and 48 Hours, should pick this one up. Enjoy the book.
Overview: Ginger Gasaway ran into the wrong person at a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Joe Brown was known for gambling, being a former convict, and a short temper. Was he capable of cold blooded murder? If so, was he capable of a wide range of serial killings? Or is he a serial liar? Mr. Walker and Mr. Reed have offered us a chance to decide. Let's see the evidence.
Dislikes: Joe Brown strikes me as a pity-party going. He takes a limited form of responsibility for any of his actions.
Politics, in my opinion, should have no place in a criminal case.
Likes: This book does show some sympathy for many of those associated with the victim. Even the victim gains sympathy, even when they weren't in the more honorable occupations.
Mr. Reed was quite willing to dig into an admitted monster's mind, and past, in order to find the truth.
Conclusion: This is a book that is for the non-fiction and true crime fans. Aspiring detective authors, and fans of shows such as Dateline, The New Detectives, and 48 Hours, should pick this one up. Enjoy the book.
August 8, 2024
I actually discovered this book while perusing the true crime section at B&N. What hooked me in more, it happened in Indiana. The same state I live in. I’m a criminal justice major and always up for true crime. I honestly felt incomplete after reading this. I really thought SOMETHING may have been found. But no. Joseph Weldon Brown, in my opinion, is quite similar to Henry Lee Lucas. I could say so much more about this. But I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you for writing it and sharing your experience with us on such a horrific and heartbreaking case.
July 30, 2024
I received this book from Goodreads giveaway. I rarely write a book review but this book deserves the time and effort. It has been many years since I read a true crime book that I was unable to stop reading! It was easy to read, as well as being exciting and held my attention. Not once did I have the thought that I wished I were done reading it already. Definitely a great read.
March 30, 2025
True story about a sick twisted man. The book is very detailed about a murder he committed. Almost to detailed. He had a tough childhood and was a pathological liar. So even though it’s a true story you really don’t know what the truth is.
July 19, 2024
It was a sad read.
July 29, 2024
Good book that was an easy read. I enjoyed it
August 2, 2024
Enjoyed reading. Received in a Goodreads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews