This was a gripping and respectful deep dive into one of the most disturbing crimes in Illinois history. Something Big is the kind of true crime book that doesn’t just rehash newspaper headlines but adds important depth, context, and humanity. Patrick Wohl does an excellent job unraveling the details of the 1993 Brown’s Chicken massacre, from the tragic murders themselves to the nearly decade-long manhunt that followed.

The storytelling is clear and methodical without ever feeling cold or clinical. Wohl gives voice to the victims, their families, and the investigators who spent years trying to bring justice to a town still haunted by this crime. His research is extensive and it shows, but it never overwhelms the reader.

This case has often been remembered more for its shock value than for the lives lost. This book changes that. It is heartbreaking, horrifying, and necessary. True crime readers will appreciate the sensitivity and seriousness Wohl brings to the story.

Highly recommended for fans of Ann Rule or anyone who wants to better understand how a crime like this reverberates through an entire community for decades.

As someone who had never heard of this tragedy prior to receiving the book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had read the blurb for the book and that was it.

I felt the book was well written, it provided me with the facts of the case, as well as building a full picture of the people who were murdered, which allows you to see them as the people they were, more than just as victims reported in the media. I thought the author did an excellent job of bringing their stories to life.

The book is full of details surrounding the murders and the police investigation that ensued, and takes you through the whole process, including the hearings at court and the outcomes. I thought it was respectful and well researched.

I did feel there was a slight disconnect in the timeline of the book, and that there was a jump forward and then back that confused me slightly but I do think this is largely due to the nature of the investigation and eventual conclusion rather than an issue with the writing.

So much thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 1, 2025
In January of 1993, two young men broke into a Brown’s Chicken restaurant in Illinois after closing hours and opened fire, intentionally killing the restaurant’s two owners and five other employees. The case remained unsolved for nine years and, finally, when apprehended, one of the suspects admitted that he did it because he wanted to do “something big”.
And that is where Patrick Wohl’s non-fiction true crime story, “Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre, A Decade-Long Manhunt, and the Trials That Followed” gets its name. Although Wohl claims the story is a well-known and frequently told one, at least in the state of Illinois, it was a complete unknown to me. Seeing as I didn’t have any background to go on, I couldn’t tell you if Wohl presented information that had been previously unknown or not. What I can tell you, though, is the story is engaging and disturbing, even though the tale itself is gory and disturbing.
“Big” is split into three parts; the first talks about the victims of the crime, whether it was those who were slaughtered that day or those who were intensely affected, the second part focuses on the background characters who played an important role in the crime itself and its resolution (even if they didn’t know it yet) and of course, the third part talks about the trial and its verdicts. Wohl ensures that all question readers have are answered to the best of his ability, while still maintaining a high level of respect for the victims and their loved ones.
The crime itself was so out there and so bizarre that I don’t think even the suspects really knew what motivated them. That being said, although Wohl provides us with a bit of background on both murderers, I wanted more on their upbringing and the influences in their lives. Was the hard childhood Jim endured enough to turn him into a killer of seven people? Did Juan simply allow himself to be influenced by the more dominant Jim? These are the details that I most desperately wanted to know but, as is in most true crime, these are the details that often aren’t revealed to anyone outside of the criminal minds themselves.
Whether you knew about the Brown’s Chicken Massacre or not, Wohl provides a compulsively readable version that true crime fans will flock to (pun not intended).

I actually hadn’t heard much on this particular crime story as I’m an Aussie and it happened when I was rather young, but I really loved how this book approached it and the victims/their families with such respect!
Everything was written so beautifully and you weren’t left with questions because they were answered!
It wasn’t just a drone on of information that you didn’t need to know, it was insightful.
Getting to learn about each of the victims and the days/weeks ect leading up this horrible crime was the right way to do this! It wasn’t just a book about the murderers ect which I sometimes find happens!
Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read this!
You should be proud!

I find myself with mixed feelings on how to review SOMETHING BIG by Patrick Wohl. While I absolutely appreciate the fact that Wohl wants to give the victims dignity by telling their stories to show who each were as people and not just as victims… at parts the book kind of meandered without any real focus.

I did enjoy the backstory of Brown’s Chicken, it made what happened seem all the more horrific. However by about 3/4 of the way through the book, I found my attention wandering. It is as though there is too much “extra”, and that took away from the strength of the narrative instead of adding to it.

Despite this, for the most part I did enjoy Something Big, and would recommend it to those who enjoy reading true crime.

If you ever heard the story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre, the horrors of that event stick with you. When picking up Patrick Wohl's Something Big, I remembered much of the overall story but wanted an in-depth look. While Wohl gets points for his emotional approach to the material, his technical approach left much to be desired.

Wohl deserves big points for his introduction and where his heart is. He grapples with the genre of true crime and asks himself how to make this book more than just more gristle for the fanatics looking for blood and gore. This is hugely admirable and Wohl does succeed in putting a spotlight on the victims more than most do. Unfortunately, this is also a big part of why the book felt flat for me.

In Wohl's efforts to highlight the people of this tragedy, he completely forgets to give this book a narrative with a strong perspective. Most chapters, even towards the end of the book, keep introducing new characters who do not have strong reasons to be there. For instance, the town mayor has a chapter devoted to her, but if you completely skipped this section, it wouldn't matter to the overall story. These chapters are also very surface level. Without getting into spoilers, a witness breaks this case wide open years after the crime. There is no analysis of how this person came to this momentous decision.

Wohl's heart was certainly in the right place. However, a story is more than just giving the facts to the reader. He never found a way to provide true insight into this case.

(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by NetGalley and Post Hill Press.)

I first read about this back in 2003 in Possley’s book and it has always remained with me. This book refreshed my memory on details and was a good retelling of the horror, tensions, and the extended wait for a resolution to the tragedy.

I know about Brown’s Chicken due to knowing people that live in Chicago. They go to the establishment a lot. I was intrigued when I saw the arc available and requested it. I am glad I did. Because I know of a lot of places and towns mentioned in the book, it made the book that much more enjoyable to read. I began this book and was quickly drawn in. From page one, the writing was enough to make me not want to put this book down, It flowed very well with a little history about Brown’s Chicken and how it came to be, as well as the people associated with the establishment that were murdered. It also gives you insight into the people who did the crime and their actions after as well as people they associated with. Very good read and really keeps your attention. Anyone who likes/loves true crime, this is the book for you. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book, Receiving the book in this manner, had no bearing on this review.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. This is a perfect example of what an honorable true crime book should be. Rather than glorify the parts of a crime that can traumatize those affected by it, the author chose to cover a lot about the victims and the pursuit of justice. This was one of the most respectful true crime books I have ever read and I read A LOT of them. I had heard briefly of the tragedy at Brown’s Chicken but now I know so much more. The details of the investigation and journey to get justice for the victims was covered so well. This was not a book that left me confused and bored by detail at all.