Another book taking place in Jackson Hole/Harlan area. Yes, there are drugs, but not icy and the focus isn’t on all that. It’s about two rivaling families, meaning of family, and revenge. It was “ok”. Narration very good. Not too much depth.

Dark, Violent, and Tragic - but impossible to look away from.

“They All Fall the Same” by Wes Browne is a gritty, Southern noir thriller that takes you deep into the murky world of organised crime in backwoods Kentucky. Burl Spoon, a long-standing cannabis kingpin, is as ruthless as they come – but his world begins to crumble when a family tragedy strikes, forcing him to walk the fine line between revenge and redemption.

This one didn’t immediately grab me. The “no good guys here” trope felt a little heavy at the start, and it took a few chapters to get into the rhythm. But once the story picks up, it really picks up. The pacing smoothed out, and the intrigue of watching these deeply flawed characters navigate crime, family, and Covid-19 lockdowns kept me hooked.

Burl Spoon is unapologetically irredeemable, and his enemies aren’t much better. Yet, Browne manages to weave threads of goodness around the edges – through bystanders, family, and innocent lives caught in the chaos. This isn’t a story about heroes, but about the collateral damage that follows power and violence.

It’s not necessarily high literature, but Browne’s ability to craft compelling, multi-dimensional characters (even the villains) makes this novel worth the read. If you enjoy Southern noir, complex family dramas, and stories that blur the lines between justice and vengeance, this one’s for you.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

#AudiobookReview #TheyAllFallTheSame #SouthernNoir #CrimeThriller #Bookstagram #NetGalleyReviewer

*They All Fall the Same* delivers a gripping tale of power, revenge, and fractured family dynamics set against the gritty backdrop of the drug trade in Jackson County. Cannabis kingpin Burl Spoon’s empire thrives, but his personal life is in turmoil—his daughter battles addiction, his son resents him, and his wife’s loyalty wavers. When tragedy strikes with his daughter’s overdose and a murder tied to a rival family, Burl's retaliation ignites a dangerous conflict. As his granddaughter Chelsea’s safety hangs in the balance, Burl is torn between vengeance and redemption. The raw emotions and high stakes kept me hooked, though the story contains homophobic language that may be triggering for some readers.

Let me start out and say the narrator Matt Godfrey was excellent. He provided such a well rounded array of accents and inflections in the characters that I felt at times I could picture the people in this story very clearly through his voice. If you have read S.A.Cosby's Razorblade Tears and you loved it, I encourage you to check this book out. It has the same level of angst and noir vibe as the previously mentioned book. There's a lot of violence so be warned. The characters are really fleshed out and offer different viewpoints from different characters. A very interesting story and it's almost hard to know if you are actually rooting for the bad guy or not. A lot to unpack with so much death and questionable characters but the bottom line is this story really paints a picture of multiple families in the deep south.

Wes Browne’s They All Fall the Same plunges readers into a gritty, modern-day tale of crime, loyalty, and consequences. The story revolves around a kingpin protagonist whose selfishness knows no bounds—except when it comes to his granddaughter, the one person he truly cares about. This dynamic is the very thread that pulls him into a chaotic spiral, setting the stage for a dark and morally complex narrative.

The novel evokes the spirit of old-school Westerns with its “cowboys and robbers” energy, though here the stakes revolve around drugs and power rather than gold and land. Browne crafts an unapologetically grim atmosphere, rich with tension and suspense. The writing delivers a slow, deliberate build-up that effectively mirrors the moral decay of its central character and the gritty world he inhabits.

However, while the story’s setup is compelling, it falls slightly short of perfection. The narrative could benefit from a stronger hook to fully immerse the reader from the start. Despite this, the vivid characters and the emotional undertone of familial devotion amidst chaos provide a strong anchor.

They All Fall the Same is a raw and gripping tale for fans of crime dramas with morally complex antiheroes. It’s dark, grungy, and leaves you pondering the cost of loyalty and the thin line between self-preservation and self-destruction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Matt Godfrey does a fantastic job narrating this story and I highly recommend the audiobook!

I am new to Wes Brown and I must say, I really enjoyed this book. I was not sure what "southern noir" meant but I like it!

The Spoons are the cannabis cartel of Jackson County and have been for the past 30 years. Similar to Burl Spoon, Clovis Begley is the harsher drug kingpin that deals in coke, heroin and fentanyl, and like his drugs, he has a more violent streak. When the business and personal lives of these 2 men intersect, things get deadly, violent and only the strongest will survive.

I loved the writing of Brown. Its clear, sharp and at times brutal. You will find no clichés in this read. The pacing is fast, the characters are relatable and well drawn, and the story is plucked from any city newspaper. I loved the madness and tenacity of Burl to be able to wait out his revenge and to do it so methodically.

The story itself grabbed a hold of me from page one, and did not let go of me until I was done. This one delivered at the highest level.

5 stars - highly recommend.

Burl Spoon built an empire growing and selling marijuana in rural Kentucky. He owns his county. But his family wants nothing to do with him. When his daughter, who has struggled with addiction as an adult) is missing, he finds it is the fault of another local drug lord. One who focuses on importing, rather than growing. She ODed and the Begley family left her for dead. When she does die, Burl vows revenge. Burl and his men go to war with the Begley family. But will anyone be left standing?

These people are all terrible humans, but I did like Burl and was rooting for his family. It was a fast paced back and forth, with each man one-upping the other. And the ending? *chef's kiss*

It is a quick read- both in pace and length. I read it in one sitting.

Matt Godfrey narrates the audiobook and does a great job.

I received an advance audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Not your typical organized crime boss novel. I was expecting more of a cliche feel, but was pleasantly surprised at the depth and well-rounded characters.

Burl is a tough guy who can basically do whatever he likes because everyone fears him. But Burl has a soft spot for his daughter and granddaughter. When his daughter goes missing he crosses paths with another local drug family empire. Burl holds them responsible for his daughter, they retaliate, and then vice versa. How far will each side go? How many lives will be sacrificed in the name of their feud?

I ate this up. I loved the writing and characters. The narration was absolutely wonderful!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jan 07 2025

𐙚 Small-Town Corruption
𐙚 Vengeance
𐙚 Moral Complexity

They All Fall the Same is a gritty Southern noir. Wes Browne delivers on an intricately plotted mystery brimming with suspense and moral complexity. The blend of crime drama with raw family dynamics crafted an emotionally charged and suspenseful story. Burl Spoon, the aging cannabis kingpin, is a fascinating antihero, balancing ruthless power with vulnerability. In this small-town drama everyone seems to have something to hide. This was a treat of a layered morally gray, vengeance-fueled, small-town mystery.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰ /5

Thank you for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. ・❥・