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Brothers in Blood: The True Account of the Georgia Massacre
A "gripping, emotionally charged" account of a brutal crime committed by escaped prisoners from an Edgar Award-winning author (Los Angeles Times Book Review).
In 1973, six members of the Alday family were brutally murdered in their home in Donalsonville, Georgia, by fugitives who escaped from a Maryland prison and broke in to the Alday's house. Two of the escapees were brothers, and they picked up another one of their siblings, only fifteen years old, along the way. The governor at the time--future president Jimmy Carter--called it "the most heinous crime in Georgia."
This true account looks at the entire not only the unspeakable massacre and its aftermath, but the horrifying backstories and motives of the various perpetrators--one of whom would finally be executed thirty years later.
In 1973, six members of the Alday family were brutally murdered in their home in Donalsonville, Georgia, by fugitives who escaped from a Maryland prison and broke in to the Alday's house. Two of the escapees were brothers, and they picked up another one of their siblings, only fifteen years old, along the way. The governor at the time--future president Jimmy Carter--called it "the most heinous crime in Georgia."
This true account looks at the entire not only the unspeakable massacre and its aftermath, but the horrifying backstories and motives of the various perpetrators--one of whom would finally be executed thirty years later.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1983
105 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Clark Howard
110 books29 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Born in Ripley, Tennessee in 1932, Clark Howard is one of the most honored mystery writers in America and has long been a favorite of readers of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and numerous other publications.
A professional writer for over 40 years, he has written sixteen novels, six books of non-fiction, and has two published collections of short stories, in addition to more than 200 uncollected short stories. While versed in many genres, he is best known for his crime fiction and mystery stories which have won the prestigious Edgar Alan Poe Award, five Ellery Queen Readers Award, the Derringer Award, and have been nominated for the Anthony, Shamus and Spur Awards.
His stories have been adapted for film (The Big Town was based on his novel THE ARM) and television, which included the Alfred Hitchcock Presents series. His original screen play Last of the Good Guys was a featured Movie of the Week on CBS, and his non-fiction book SIX AGAINST THE ROCK was also a television movie.
His work has been translated into numerous languages and he has a large following of faithful readers in several countries, particularly in China and Japan where his writing appears regularly.
A ward of Cook County by age 12, Clark Howard grew up on the lower West Side of Chicago, living in a succession of foster homes, from which he habitually ran away. During this period, he was an amateur boxer for the Midwest Athletic Club on the West Side. But soon, in his mid teens, he became a confirmed juvenile delinquent and was eventually sent to a reformatory. Later he was allowed go live with his maternal grandmother in a small town near Memphis, Tennessee.
He discovered two new worlds in the South of the late 1940s — old time Negro jazz music and ‘heads up’ crap shooting, the latter of which later became the subject of THE ARM, his first novel.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 and served as a rocket launcher gunner in the Punchbowl in Korea. He was one of eight survivors in a platoon that survived the battle of the high ground north of the Punchbowl. He was discharged from the marines at age 20.
He entered journalism school at Northwestern University in Chicago under the GI Bill, but left after one semester when his writing was judged by his professor as being “undisciplined and of no commercial value.” Unknown to the professor, he had already sold two short stories to New York magazines.
Clark Howard now makes his home in Palm Springs, California. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Author’s Guild, and Writers Guild of America.
He was awarded a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in January 2011 in recognition for his contributions to literature, particularly the genre of American short stories.
Born in Ripley, Tennessee in 1932, Clark Howard is one of the most honored mystery writers in America and has long been a favorite of readers of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and numerous other publications.
A professional writer for over 40 years, he has written sixteen novels, six books of non-fiction, and has two published collections of short stories, in addition to more than 200 uncollected short stories. While versed in many genres, he is best known for his crime fiction and mystery stories which have won the prestigious Edgar Alan Poe Award, five Ellery Queen Readers Award, the Derringer Award, and have been nominated for the Anthony, Shamus and Spur Awards.
His stories have been adapted for film (The Big Town was based on his novel THE ARM) and television, which included the Alfred Hitchcock Presents series. His original screen play Last of the Good Guys was a featured Movie of the Week on CBS, and his non-fiction book SIX AGAINST THE ROCK was also a television movie.
His work has been translated into numerous languages and he has a large following of faithful readers in several countries, particularly in China and Japan where his writing appears regularly.
A ward of Cook County by age 12, Clark Howard grew up on the lower West Side of Chicago, living in a succession of foster homes, from which he habitually ran away. During this period, he was an amateur boxer for the Midwest Athletic Club on the West Side. But soon, in his mid teens, he became a confirmed juvenile delinquent and was eventually sent to a reformatory. Later he was allowed go live with his maternal grandmother in a small town near Memphis, Tennessee.
He discovered two new worlds in the South of the late 1940s — old time Negro jazz music and ‘heads up’ crap shooting, the latter of which later became the subject of THE ARM, his first novel.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 and served as a rocket launcher gunner in the Punchbowl in Korea. He was one of eight survivors in a platoon that survived the battle of the high ground north of the Punchbowl. He was discharged from the marines at age 20.
He entered journalism school at Northwestern University in Chicago under the GI Bill, but left after one semester when his writing was judged by his professor as being “undisciplined and of no commercial value.” Unknown to the professor, he had already sold two short stories to New York magazines.
Clark Howard now makes his home in Palm Springs, California. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Author’s Guild, and Writers Guild of America.
He was awarded a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in January 2011 in recognition for his contributions to literature, particularly the genre of American short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 12, 2013
The story itself is very disturbing, even more so when you live only a few miles from where it actually happened! The events are bone-chilling and will linger in your mind for a long, long time. The author has a hard edge in his style and pulls no punches in terms of vulgarity, racism, and sexual content. At times it is uncomfortable to read but this only makes the story come alive since it is based on actual events, instead of being just a figment of the author's imagination.
October 17, 2021
I had never heard of the Georgia Massacre of 1973 until I read this book. This is the true account including the backstories of the victims, not just the perpetrators. I liked that the author went deep into the family history: the goals, feelings, and plans the victims had. Many times, the victim is not a feature character in a true crime book.
The author also included backstories showing all of the events that led the killers to cross paths with an innocent family and basically execute them when they were really only there to steal money for gas.
The main "holy terror" is Carl Issacs. Along with him is his brother Billy who had just started to get his life back on track after being in the reformatory. He had dreams and plans, and, at the young age of 16, was coerced to go along with his brother who wanted to reintroduce him to his oldest half brother Wayne. Had Billy not gone, things might not have happened the way they did, and Billy would have likely achieved his goals and dreams, but Carl bullied him into going along with them.
The novel is set in 1973, the year that Carl, 2 of his brothers, and his brother's friend George killed six people as they travelled through Georgia looking for a store to stick up or an empty house to rob. Carl, Wayne, and George had just escaped from prison in Maryland. Billy did not chose to go. The choice was made for him. On this night, they murdered six members of the Alday family, kidnapping and raping one man's wife and killing her in a secluded, wooded area.
The one thing I didn't like is that I think the author spent too much time on Alday family history. I think it was somewhat important to the story, but some of the day-to-day details about the Alday ancestors were a bit unnecessary. Another thing that rubbed me wrong was how the dialogue was written. The killers would use the word "Guy" in much the same way we use, "dude, broh, or bruh." It didn't seem to fit. I was only 8 when this crime was committed, but I've never heard anyone say it this way: "Guy, no! I think it's fabulous!" (page 205). This was used on multiple occasions throughout the book, and it just bothered me.
I think they author did a fairly good job of explaining the hardships in the lives of Carl Isaacs and Wayne Coleman. Less is know about George Dungee, but enough to show how he ended up where he was. I don't think the author is trying to solicit sympathy for the killers, just that their road to murder was set up by the circumstances of their backgrounds.
The author's characterization of both good guys and bad guys, mostly through their own actions, demonstrates the disparity between good and evil, city dwellers versus rural folks, and the haves and have-nots. The author was able to build suspense by starting with a place not far from the end, then going back to describe the events that led up to the tragedy.
I also notice several "To Kill a Mockingbird" references. For example, on page 136, the text says, "'Birds is part of the forest,' Jimmy said. 'They're harmless. And they sing pretty. Ain't no need to kill them.'" I see this as a nod to Harper Lee.
Governor Jimmy Carter (future President Carter) called it the most heinous crime in Georgia." And it was brutal! The saddest part is that it took the state 30 years to finally execute Carl Isaacs. If you can get past some of the racial slurs in the book, you might like it if you're a fan of true crime.
The author also included backstories showing all of the events that led the killers to cross paths with an innocent family and basically execute them when they were really only there to steal money for gas.
The main "holy terror" is Carl Issacs. Along with him is his brother Billy who had just started to get his life back on track after being in the reformatory. He had dreams and plans, and, at the young age of 16, was coerced to go along with his brother who wanted to reintroduce him to his oldest half brother Wayne. Had Billy not gone, things might not have happened the way they did, and Billy would have likely achieved his goals and dreams, but Carl bullied him into going along with them.
The novel is set in 1973, the year that Carl, 2 of his brothers, and his brother's friend George killed six people as they travelled through Georgia looking for a store to stick up or an empty house to rob. Carl, Wayne, and George had just escaped from prison in Maryland. Billy did not chose to go. The choice was made for him. On this night, they murdered six members of the Alday family, kidnapping and raping one man's wife and killing her in a secluded, wooded area.
The one thing I didn't like is that I think the author spent too much time on Alday family history. I think it was somewhat important to the story, but some of the day-to-day details about the Alday ancestors were a bit unnecessary. Another thing that rubbed me wrong was how the dialogue was written. The killers would use the word "Guy" in much the same way we use, "dude, broh, or bruh." It didn't seem to fit. I was only 8 when this crime was committed, but I've never heard anyone say it this way: "Guy, no! I think it's fabulous!" (page 205). This was used on multiple occasions throughout the book, and it just bothered me.
I think they author did a fairly good job of explaining the hardships in the lives of Carl Isaacs and Wayne Coleman. Less is know about George Dungee, but enough to show how he ended up where he was. I don't think the author is trying to solicit sympathy for the killers, just that their road to murder was set up by the circumstances of their backgrounds.
The author's characterization of both good guys and bad guys, mostly through their own actions, demonstrates the disparity between good and evil, city dwellers versus rural folks, and the haves and have-nots. The author was able to build suspense by starting with a place not far from the end, then going back to describe the events that led up to the tragedy.
I also notice several "To Kill a Mockingbird" references. For example, on page 136, the text says, "'Birds is part of the forest,' Jimmy said. 'They're harmless. And they sing pretty. Ain't no need to kill them.'" I see this as a nod to Harper Lee.
Governor Jimmy Carter (future President Carter) called it the most heinous crime in Georgia." And it was brutal! The saddest part is that it took the state 30 years to finally execute Carl Isaacs. If you can get past some of the racial slurs in the book, you might like it if you're a fan of true crime.
October 19, 2021
This was an interesting read of a murder case I'd never heard about. After finishing the book I delved deeper and was disappointed in that the author seems to have gotten many facts of the case inaccurate which I found annoying. Whether intentionally or inadvertently, the author does a fine job of showing anecdotally the importance of good family/parenting during childhood and the influence on the adult you become.
January 3, 2024
I have so many thoughts about this book that lead to a three star rating. To be entirely fair, this true crime book is well written, but in ways that make it feel fictionalized. There are more problems, though, that make my rating what it is. First... I don't need the victims to be saints to find their murders vile and disgusting. And the crimes *are* vile. But what seems a hagiography of the victims feels excessive. I mean, two of the Aldays joining the KKK is presented as youthful hijinks. Think about that... Hijinks that they did a kind of 'Aw Shucks' confession to their mother about. Disturbing, and that alone makes me doubt a lot of the Alday family details. The whole religious angle is excessive, in fact. And lengthy. And detailed in suspicious ways, given that those presented thusly are dead. I'm not sure where the extremely detailed accounts of their internal religious conversions come from unless they wrote it down. So... Three Stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2021
I could NOT put this one down and read it in just 2 days. Mr Howard wrote an extremely compelling story of these poor brothers, growing up in poverty, foster homes and lack of a mother's love, which made me almost feel so sorry for them. But when he gets to the gruesome details of what they actually did to the Alday family, whom I fell in love with, all my sympathies vanished. This was so senseless and vicious, as all murders are, but it's a story told in such a way that you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next. This is one of the BEST true crime books I've read in a very, very long time. Although the book ends with the convictions of these 4 men, I did Google to see what happened to them all. Justice was served.
June 22, 2020
when carl and wayne and George escape from a prison in Maryland on may 5th they take the younger brother billy with them and hit the road robing place for gas and food for their trip. wayne and billy and carl are half brothers from his mothers 12 kids that first her husbands left than her they all grew up in foster homes the only one of the 3 had a shot of a good life was billy till carl came along. everything changed on may 1973 when they went to rob an empty house and people showed up and it all went down hill after that and innocent people died because of it... this was a really disturbing story that changed so many lives that day....
September 23, 2021
True story well reported.
The author does a great job of plotting and character development throughout this story of the way evil breeds evil across generations and social gradients.
It’s mainly an indictment of our foster system, our children’s courts and the low value we have placed on social work, all at a great cost in humanity and dollars.
The author does a great job of plotting and character development throughout this story of the way evil breeds evil across generations and social gradients.
It’s mainly an indictment of our foster system, our children’s courts and the low value we have placed on social work, all at a great cost in humanity and dollars.
November 6, 2021
I had not previously heard of this story and the crime itself, along with the context and backstories, was very interesting. I wish it had been written in a more traditional format instead of trying to sound like a novel, which was distracting.
November 11, 2021
Very good read!
Very interesting story,seems to be a good storyteller? Terrible tragedy that I had never heard about! You wonder how their lack of family cohesiveness contributed to this awful senseless tragedy?
Very interesting story,seems to be a good storyteller? Terrible tragedy that I had never heard about! You wonder how their lack of family cohesiveness contributed to this awful senseless tragedy?
November 26, 2022
Good although a bit too sympathetic to killer Carl Junior Isaacs. I love that rural part of Georgia and was horrified by these murder when they happened and remain horrified to this day that the lives of these good people could be taken so callously.
August 5, 2020
Intriguing, well-written account of 1973 mass murder in Georgia. Lots of dialogue, which made the events and conversations easy to imagine.
August 15, 2020
I read this book many years ago. I have never forgotten this story; I doubt I ever will.
November 27, 2020
Lots of invented dialogue and details of sexual deviancy. Definitely interesting but not really my cup of tea.
January 2, 2021
Chilling to know this happened 6 days before I was born!
Loved having the perspective from all who were involved.
Loved having the perspective from all who were involved.
October 19, 2014
there seems an implicit angle here that the institutionalized, unrehabilitated and brutalized foster children were let down by the society they preyed on. After revealing the full and senselessness of their rape-murders, any sympathy is hard. the author brings in the biographies of the criminals and their victims. Jumping around from the the post - crime lam to the pre-crime childhood, etc. is just a pointless dramatic history like writing a screenplay, not history
January 8, 2013
You do have some sympathy for the killers when you are reading about their lives but then you get to the chapter about what they did to those people and there goes any sympathy you had...at all.
June 13, 2013
It touched me, at the end of it i was about to fall crying!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews