Blood Echoes [Hardcover]

Thomas H. Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1992

Recounts the prolonged agony of the Alday family as they are continually asked to testify in court about a 1973 crime during which six family members were brutally killed by escaped convicts. By the author of Early Graves. 15,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Probably the most famous crime in Georgia history was the 1973 cold-blooded slaughter of six members of the religious, law-abiding Alday farm family by four drifters from Baltimore: brothers Billy and Carl Isaacs, their half-brother Wayne Coleman and friend George Dungee. Forensic evidence and confessions left no doubt of the killers' guilt; the youngest, Billy Isaacs, turned state's evidence and the other three were sentenced to death. Then the appeals process took over and, after 12 years, the death penalty convictions were overturned. In later trials Carl was resentenced to die and is now on death row awaiting further appeals. In the meantime the surviving Alday women (five of the victims were men) were unable to carry on the work of the farm, and the land passed to outsiders. The trials, hearings and appeals have cost an impoverished rural county and the state hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars. Psychologically the survivors have never recovered. With this scorching indictment of the legal and court systems, Cook ( Early Graves ) portrays a case in which justice was both delayed and denied. He is most persuasive.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

After ten novels, Cook follows his first foray into true crime, Early Graves ( LJ 10/1/90), with this account of the 1973 murders of six members of one Georgia family. Cook's narrative of the senseless, sadistic rape and murder is vivid enough, but the bulk of the book deals with the crime's aftermath. In what amounts to an indictment of the criminal justice system, Cook contrasts the suffering of the innocent victims and their families with the legal maneuverings of the unrepentant murderers who, through numerous hearings and trials, have (so far) avoided their initially imposed death sentences. Less sensational than Clark Howard's Brothers in Blood ( LJ 2/15/83), this entry could attract readers looking for social commentary as well as murderous thrills. For true crime and law collections. Illustrations not seen.
- Rebecca House Stankowski, Purdue Univ. Calumet, Hammond, Ind.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; First Edition edition (February 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525933999
• ISBN-13: 978-0525933991
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #928,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

THOMAS H. COOK was born in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1947. He has been nominated for the Edgar Award seven times in five different categories. He received the best novel Edgar for The Chatham School Affair, the Martin Beck Award, the Herodotus Prize for best historical short story, and the Barry for best novel for Red Leaves, and has been nominated for numerous other awards.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of them was family, June 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Blood Echoes (Hardcover)

I thought the book was a wonderful recount of the happenings. One of the family, Aubrey Alday, was my uncle. He was married to my father's sister. The entire family was very friendly. I visited them several times when I was younger. I would go spend the night with my aunt and uncle sometimes. I just wish the men that killed them would get what is coming to them. They need to pay for what they did. They have no remorse.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Reason Has Despaired, March 31, 2001

By 

Becky - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Echoes (Onyx) (Paperback)

On May 14, 1973, six members of the Alday family were brutally slaughtered by a roving gang of brigands who were on the run from the law. For their family and friends, however, that was only the beginning of their ordeal.

The surviving Aldays lost their farm. With that, they lost their livelihood. They lost their privacy. They lost their innocence. Most significantly, they lost their faith in justice.

They gained the attention of unfeeling authors and film-makers whose only intention was to exploit this horror in order to make a quick buck and a name for themselves. These "people" made it possible for the smug, sociopathic Carl Isaacs to spew even viler invective upon this shattered family. But Isaacs and his cohorts assailed the Aldays only once (and I use the word "once" VERY lightly indeed). The inexcuseable judicial machinations of the American legal system has victimised this family repeatedly for the past 28 years.

You will shed many tears while reading this moving and disturbing dramatic work. Tears of sorrow for the lost lives of the Aldays and their remaining loved ones, tears of anguish that this kind of atrocity can occur, and tears of frustration and rage over the continuing persecution that the Aldays have endured.

The inscription on Mary Aldays tombstone reads; "Love can hope, where reason would despair." In this case, reason is more than despairing. In this case, reason is inconsoleable.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just information for a term paper, April 30, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Blood Echoes (Onyx) (Paperback)

My mother grew up with Mary Campbell Alday, and I had memories of her telling me about this horrendous murder when I was growing up, and about the pain and agony that she must have felt before she died. This book was not written to exploit the family or to help someone receive an excellent grade on a term paper. It was to tell the story of a horrible crime. The Alday's were real people with real family members. How would you feel if someone wanted to see gory details and photos of your slain family or friends? That is why I am rating this book with a 5 stars. I think you should re-evaluate your career choice Renee, if you want to see gore become a murderer...