This is almost like the true tell of an urban legend. I’ve heard this story so many times from my husband who grew up in Chicago that I found it fascinating to read the story. Tragic and horrible as it is. The whole case was an insane tangle of evidence and conflicting state,ents and so much grief and it’s very well conveyed here, including how hard it was to find and narrow down suspects. Fascinating but horrible.

I hadn't heard of this story before, and I went into this book completely blind

The author did a good job in describing and bringing life to each of the victims. It was very tastefully written and made me really feel for the families

There was plenty of information about the case and murders included in this book - you don't need to be familiar with this story to read it

It feels wrong to say that I 'enjoyed' this book with it being a real story. But it was a very interesting book that I would recommend to others

Something Big attempts to bring a true-crime case to life by blending historical fact with a more novelized storytelling approach. The book focuses on the murder at the heart of the story, walking readers step-by-step through the events leading up to the crime, the investigation, and its eventual resolution. Patrick Wohl presents the case in a very linear fashion, making it easy to follow chronologically, and there’s a clear effort to build atmosphere and humanize those involved.

Unfortunately, the execution fell short for me. While the intention was clearly to create an accessible, almost cinematic reading experience, the prose often felt overly simplistic. The inclusion of numerous side characters—many of whom contributed little to the core narrative—slowed the pacing without adding much depth. Some sections that could have offered greater insight or emotional resonance felt rushed or underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more substance.

I went in expecting something with the depth and storytelling precision of In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross—richly reported, tightly focused, and deeply immersive—but this one didn’t quite reach that level. That said, the central murder story itself is compelling, and I appreciated the clear foundation laid for the events leading up to the crime.

Who this might appeal to: Readers who enjoy straightforward, fact-driven true crime narratives told in chronological order may appreciate this approach, particularly if they prefer a simpler, more accessible writing style without the density of more investigative or literary nonfiction.

True crime writing at its best.
Didn't knew about this infamous incident. Glad I got my hands on this book, thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with the eARC.
This one is for all the true crime lovers out there, go and read this book. Sometimes, a bit lengthy but may be its the requirement for the flow of the writing.. overall, solid 4-star read!!!

This was a good book. It was well-written.
At times it was hard to read but it's worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Really liked this book! Thank you to the author and net galley for the advanced e-copy. I didn’t know about this tragedy before reading and it was interesting to follow along and learn about all involved, especially those who lost their lives. The narrative started off great and story like but was lost in the middle and came back at the end during the trials. I feel like that is not complete fault of the writer as it’s hard to intertwine 7 different people and their lives into a cohesive time logical story when it’s only one instance that linked them together. Lots of information provided but still a good read!

“This isn’t supposed to happen here.”
But sadly, tragedy strikes when you least expect it. I decided to give this one a try because it was eerily reminiscent of the tragic restaurant murders that happened in East Texas. I was intrigued by the writing style the author chose. I really liked how the author let the reader learn more about the victims, how some had traveled far to do something big here in America. Several were relatable, but then the brutal murders happened — and all for what? A senseless and tragic event that took place in a small town that will never be forgotten. We not only get to know the victims, but we also learn about the murderers, how they grew up, the relationships they had, and how the townspeople either united or turned on the local police and their investigation. Overall, it was a very intriguing story, right up to the trials. My heart aches for those who were brutally slain on that fateful day in 1993. I really liked how the title came into play and appreciated the tribute to the victims.

A very special thanks to Post Hill Press + Netgalley for the gifted arc.

If you love chilling true crime that reads like a thriller, Something Big needs to be on your list.

📍 Set in Palatine, Illinois
📆 A crime that haunted Chicagoland for nearly a decade
📖 A case that’s been misremembered, until now

Customers came for the chicken and biscuits
What they left behind was a crime scene that would shake the state

On a snowy night in January 1993, seven employees were found murdered inside a Brown’s Chicken. It took nine years to uncover the truth and the full story is finally being told.

In Something Big, @thewohlymammoth takes us beyond the headlines and into the heart of one of Illinois’ most infamous murder cases.

In Jan 1993, Palatine, Illinois, two men entered the 'Brown's Chicken' restaurant around closing time. At 3am police investigated reports that the workers had not returned home & found seven bodies in the walk-in freezer & fridge. Seven members of staff, including the two owners, had been killed & it would take a decade to bring their killers to justice.

As someone not from the US, I had never heard of Brown's Chicken or the murders before. The author has approached the case by not focusing on a linear reconstruction of the events, but by putting the spotlight on the people themselves. I think this does help to avoid sensationalism & to remind that reader that these were very real people with real lives which were tragically cut short.

I did think it occasionally lost a bit of focus & there were some things I was left wondering. For example, I was very interested as to why the false confession made out of nowhere happened, but the author never really returned to those two people & what the impact was on their lives. Overall it was an informative read but there just seemed to be something missing for me. 3.5 stars (rounded down).

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Post Hill Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I received a free copy of, Something Big, by Patrick Wohl, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I remember the Browns chicken murder from when I was a kid. It was such a sad time, January 1993. Seven people were murdered, and it seemed like it was never going to be solved. I was looking forward to reading this book, being from Illinois and remembering the case, but I did not like the writers style.

I had to read this since this horrendous crime happened near where I grew up in Chicago and was very familiar with the setting.

Brown’s Chicken was a large chain and was one of my favorite restaurants when I was a child. Thinking about it brings back many fun memories of going there with friends and family after performing in ice skating events. The location we frequented was not the one depicted in this book, however.

Something Big, really delves into the history of Brown’s Chicken and how it became a Chicagoland staple. I loved learning about how a little farm stand turned into a successful business and its connection to Portillo’s, another Chicagoland favorite restaurant.

What I found most intriguing, is learning about the people connected to the case. Wohl presented them as individuals with dreams and aspirations and not just as victims. Just as intriguing, was learning about those who committed the crime and those who kept secrets. I’m a big fan of Ann Rule true-crime books because she also offers a deep perspective into all involved parties as Wohl has done.

This is an incredible account of a truly nonsensical act. I’m heartbroken for the families of the seven employees lost that night in January 1993.

Thank you so much @thewohlymammoth for a gifted copy!

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre, A Decade-Long Manhunt, and the Trials That Followed
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Patrick Wohl
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: July 1, 2025
5⭐️

♦️ 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ♦️
I don’t read true crime stories too often, but I watch documents, Dateline, 20/20, you name it. This story intrigued me because it happened around Chicago, which I am just a few hours from, and I hadn’t learned about it yet! This story is so crazy!

Essentially, one evening in January 1993, after closing up at Browns Chicken restaurant, the employees working never came home. Families start to worry and get police involved. When they arrive at the restaurant, they discover 7 bodies in the freezer/fridges of the employees. And it eventually takes 9 years for the murderers to be apprehended.

To start, I enjoyed the way Wohl told this true story. He focused on the human element of the case, providing background on the victims and key players in this case. While I was reading, I felt like I was given a personal account of everyone’s lives before the crime happened. You feel for the victims and their families when you learn how one or two of them were not supposed to be working that night, or how some just started this job or had just moved to America! You get that human connection to them, where something crazy like this can happen anywhere.

➡️ Also, side note, my eyes bugged out when I read the main murderer moved down to my city area and was eventually arrested in the town next to mine!

This story also highlighted the effort that went into this case over 9 years before apprehending the suspects. So many agencies were involved in this case and it’s crazy to know how many man hours go into these cases!

The DNA evidence that came into play was interesting because the criminalist at the time knew to save specific evidence that at the time they couldn’t get a profile from, but she knew science was advancing rapidly enough that it was worth saving!

If you like true crime stories, documentaries, etc, give this story a read!!

📚 ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre, A Decade-Long Manhunt, and the Trials That Followed
By Patrick Wohl
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Publisher: Post Hill Press

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Huge thanks go out to Patrick Wohl for sending an autographed advanced copy of his book, and to Post Hill Press and to NetGalley for the e-arc -- in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

When author Patrick Wohl reached out and asked if I'd be interested in reading his upcoming true crime book, Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre..., I couldn't say yes fast enough! I was honored when he sent an autographed copy of this incredible read. And to my fellow true crime fans, prepare yourself for Something Big to be added to your TBR lists immediately.

Something Big is a comprehensive and thoroughly detailed written account of the Brown's Chicken massacre (as it became widely-known) in Palatine, Illinois, on January 8, 1993. Sensitive and tactfully-written, it was clear to me that Wohl had taken his time in compiling this information and had really gotten to know those involved in this case. In the preface, Wohl explained he was raised not far from where this tragedy occurred and grew up eating Brown's fried chicken. As such, this case stuck with him over the years. While there were numerous books about this case, none came from someone with local ties, and Wohl cited his desire to focus on the stories of those involved and share the human side of the tragedy.

"People trusted me with incredibly intimate stories about this awful event that profoundly impacted their lives. Many of them still live with this tragedy day in and day out. To them, it's not just a story. I promised to write this book in a way that is different from other tales, respecting the families while still managing to tell a compelling narrative for readers with no connection to Palatine, Illinois."

After finishing this gripping read, I assert Wohl did EXACTLY as he set out to do. This book was so well-written, with each chapter dedicated to a detailed story of a person's life and their connection to the brutal crime. His writing style was immersive, as he took me along on his journey of looking deeper into the lives of those impacted by this crime - from before the crime was committed until after the verdicts were delivered.

I greatly appreciated the way in which Wohl shared this accounting of one of Illinois's most brutal crimes and its impact on everyone it touched. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime -- and I genuinely look forward to any future true crime stories to which Wohl may lend his masterful writing prowess.

#SomethingBig #PatrickWohl #PostHillPress #truecrime #truecrimereads #BrownsChickenMassacre #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #bookaddict

I hadn't heard of this case so I was surprised to learn of the case and its emotional weight as this book explored the human cost of violence.

Something Big by Patrick Wohl is an incredibly detailed and well-researched account of a massacre I was only vaguely familiar with. I had heard of the case before, but didn’t know the full story. After reading this book, I feel thoroughly informed from the crime itself to the arrest and eventual convictions of those responsible.

Mr. Wohl does a remarkable job not only in telling the story of the victims — who feel real and deeply human through his descriptions and personal stories — but also in shedding light on the perpetrators. Understanding who they were and what led them to commit such a heinous act adds important context and depth to the narrative. You also get to know the investigators and legal professionals who worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victims and their families.

The pacing of this book is excellent. At no point did it drag or feel bogged down by unnecessary detail. In many true crime books, I’ve noticed the trial portion can feel overly long or too technical. Not here. As a paralegal, I personally enjoy that aspect of a case, but I appreciated how Mr. Wohl struck the right balance — providing just enough trial coverage to inform without overwhelming the reader.

Overall, I think Something Big is a good read. If you’re looking to learn about this case, this would be the first book I’d recommend.

4.5/5
Thank you @thewohlymammoth @post_hill_press for the gifted copy of this book!

I’m so thankful Patrick Wohl reached out to me about Something Big because I TOTALLY remember this story from the news! I moved to the Chicago area after college, and this case has lingered in headlines and conversations here ever since. It took place in Palatine, just about 40 minutes from where I live — the senseless murder of seven innocent people at a Brown’s Chicken one night as they were closing up.

Patrick does such a great job honoring the victims, giving us a real sense of who they were beyond the crime. Two were high school students, and the others were hardworking people chasing the American Dream. I always appreciate when a true crime book highlights the lives lost and reminds us of their humanity — not just the horrific event. Patrick really did them justice.

The book also offers a thorough look into the killers’ backgrounds, the painstaking police work, and the long, winding road it took to finally bring them to justice years later. Honestly, thank goodness for people with a conscience who refused to let this case go cold.

It felt like reading a 48 Hours or Dateline episode and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Patrick’s research is solid, his sources well-cited and I could not put it down once I started.

If you’re a true crime reader, this one is absolutely worth adding to your list. Rest in peace to the seven victims of this heartbreaking tragedy — you are not forgotten.

If you’re a true crime reader, this one is absolutely worth adding to your list. Rest in peace to the seven victims of this heartbreaking tragedy — you are not forgotten.

As someone who had never heard of the Brown's Chicken massacre, I was intrigued to learn about it. When I first read the title, I'll be honest I thought chicken's were massacred. But that's just because I had never heard of Brown's Chicken. After learning that Brown's Chicken is an actual fast food chain I was eager to learn more about this restaurant and what happened to it's people.

Here's a little synopsis.....back in January 1993 in Palatine, IL a Brown's Chicken restaurant is robbed and seven people massacred. This true crime book is a unique telling of this tragedy. Its written a bit differently than a traditional true crime book in which each chapter is about a different person or persons. Its an interesting take and it really gets down to the emotional aspects of the victims and their families. It doesn't just focus on the crime itself but it focuses on the victims before the tragedy and the impact on their families afterwards.

If you like true crime I would definitely check out this book.

A powerful and well-researched true crime book about the 1993 Brown’s Chicken Massacre, a case I hadn’t heard of before. Patrick Wohl focuses not just on the crime, but on the victims’ lives and the long, complex investigation. Respectful, informative, and deeply human.

As someone who lives for true crime podcasts, I was shocked I hadn’t heard about this case before. Something Big was a gut-punch of a read. It’s a tragic, horrifying story, but Patrick Wohl handles it with care and thoughtfulness. What really stood out to me was how much space he gave to the victims and their families—we get to see who they were and what they brought to the world, not just what was taken from them.

The crime itself was senseless and cruel, committed by men who wanted to do “something big” for no reason other than violence. As a crier, I definitely had moments where I had to pause and sit with the weight of what the families shared. Still, the writing flowed so well, and the story was told with such clarity and respect that I couldn’t put it down. I’d absolutely recommend this to fellow true crime readers. It’s heartbreaking, yes,but deeply human.

5 STARS!!! The Brown’s Chicken Restaurant massacre, Chicagoland. Prepare yourself for a true crime experience unlike most others. This book reads like a well-crafted 8-part documentary, delving deep into the intricacies of the case with a phenom level of detail. What sets it apart is its rigorous commitment to transparency; every source is meticulously cited, allowing the reader to follow the investigative trail firsthand. This commitment to factual accuracy ensures a gripping narrative without resorting to the sensationalism and graphic imagery often seen in television true crime docs.

If you're a fellow true crime buff seeking a richly detailed and ethically presented account, then this is your next must-read.