"They All Fall the Same" is a gritty, fast-paced noir thriller set in the backwoods of Kentucky, following Burl Spoon, a cannabis kingpin whose personal and criminal life collide with devastating consequences. The novel dives into the underworld of organized crime, with themes of revenge, family dysfunction, and the price of power.

While I didn’t find it to my taste, as I prefer Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries, this book is more in line with fans of Ozark, Narcos, or Peaky Blinders, blending crime, family drama, and moral decay. My husband, on the other hand, loved it and could easily see it adapted into a TV show or movie. His score: 5/5, while I would give it 3/5, making it a well-crafted book for those who enjoy darker, edgier crime stories.

Wesley Browne's They All Fall the Same is a thrilling noir that pulls you into the gritty world of rural Kentucky crime. With a compelling narrative and well-developed characters, Browne delivers a story that's both thought-provoking and action-packed.
The novel's exploration of family, loyalty, and the consequences of a life lived on the edge is both heartbreaking and exhilarating. Browne's prose is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a world where violence and retribution are never far away.
While the plot may feel a bit predictable at times, the characters and their complex motivations more than make up for it. The ending is satisfying and leaves you pondering the moral implications of the story long after the final page.

Wesley Browne's They All Fall the Same is a thrilling noir that pulls you into the gritty world of rural Kentucky crime. With a compelling narrative and well-developed characters, Browne delivers a story that's both thought-provoking and action-packed.
The novel's exploration of family, loyalty, and the consequences of a life lived on the edge is both heartbreaking and exhilarating. Browne's prose is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a world where violence and retribution are never far away.
While the plot may feel a bit predictable at times, the characters and their complex motivations more than make up for it. The ending is satisfying and leaves you pondering the moral implications of the story long after the final page.

This is a new author for me. None of the characters are people you’d want to be friends (or enemies) of. There really weren’t any likable characters which isn’t to say it wasn’t a compelling read. The theme is heavily centered on drug dealers, their criminal organizations and the consequences thereof. If there are people contemplating a future in criminal activity this would be a good deterrent. It’s a cautionary tale of the far-reaching tentacles of one person’s poor choices.
Burl doesn’t think he’s as bad as those other people that sell the hard stuff, until it affects him personally. There are small town cops, some on the take. The setting in Kentucky was a state I know nothing about except the derby. Burl’s troubles have far reaching ripples for his family. I enjoy Southern Noir and this one didn’t disappoint, I will look for more from this author.
Crooked Lane Books (via NetGalley) provided an Advance Reader Copy of “They All Fall the Same” by Wesley Browne. Publication is expected 01/07/2025. These honest, personal thoughts and opinions are mine given voluntarily without compensation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wes Browne for the opportunity to read 'They All Fall The Same.'
I thoroughly enjoyed the read. The book is based around organized crime boss, Burl Spoon, and his adversaries. As you can imagine, Burl is not a good person. However, his commitment to his family is enduring to me.
'We All Fall The Same' is written in a southern noise flare that had me hooked from the first chapter.
I can't wait for more Wes Browne's books in the future!

Browne's writing is both evocative and unflinching, painting a vivid picture of the rugged landscape and the morally ambiguous characters who inhabit it. The story is driven by a sense of impending doom, as the tensions between rival factions escalate and the consequences of Spoon's actions become increasingly dire.
At the heart of the novel is a complex exploration of power, loyalty, and the corrupting influence of wealth. Spoon, a man who has built an empire on the back of illegal activity, is forced to confront the consequences of his choices and the devastating impact they have on those around him.
While They All Fall the Same is a dark and violent novel, it also offers moments of tenderness and humanity. Browne's characters are flawed and complex, making their struggles and choices all the more compelling.
For fans of Southern Gothic fiction and gritty crime dramas, They All Fall the Same is a must-read. Browne's masterful storytelling and unflinching portrayal of the human condition make this novel a standout in the genre

Wes Browne’s forthcoming novel (January 2025)), They All Fall the Same, is a follow up to 2022’s Hillbilly Hustle and features one of that novel’s characters, Burl Spoon. With a story that’s as compelling as the best Elmore Leonard novels and with characters as authentic and gritty as Chris Offutt’s Mick Hardin series, Wes Browne’s latest is a must read!

They All Fall the Same is a novel about the conflict that arises when two local men who work outside the law come to blows and their families are the other's target. This novel was very charged and combative. These two men fighting for their families but they cause more harm in the process.

I thought this novel was very precisely written. My meaning, there was no flowery language, it was written for the subject matter which was very cold and direct which succeed in immersing the reader into this world. The plot was exciting and nerve wracking. It really got the heart pumping. I felt a little cringe reading this because I really came to like Burl (one of them men) and really disliked Clovis who were eccentrically the same person both thinking they were moral being but both are deplorable. I am not sure what that says about me, LOL.

I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning. 4.25 Stars

"They All Fall the Same" is a story about a marijuana kingpin, Burl, and how his life begins to spiral after his daughter overdoses and one of his employees is murdered. Wes Brown’s writing is sharp and evocative, creating a tense and atmospheric setting that perfectly complements the story's dark themes. The book also takes place during the time of COVID, which adds an interesting element to the book.

I was a big fan of Browne's first book, HILLBILLY HUSTLE. Not just for the smart writing and strong plotting, but because it was a book that Kentucky right. It understood the region, its people, the culture. It never felt like a story that just could have been set anywhere. And best of us, it introduced us to drug lord Burl Spoon, who moves from the role of antagonist in that novel to protagonist in THEY ALL FALL THE SAME, Browne's latest.

Please note: Burl's the protagonist, but he's sure as hell no one's idea of a "hero." He's still as selfish, self-possessed, calculated, and methodical here, but this time he's focused on maintaining his grip over both his power in the community and over his family, and he's losing that power. Between a drug-addicted daughter, a gay son he refuses to accept, and a wife who's finally straying after years of his own infidelity, Burl's begrudgingly coming to understand the world is changing and he can't control it all.

When his daughter overdoses and an employee is killed, this sets Burl off on a path of vengeance that splits his world apart, coinciding with the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

Browne makes audacious choices throughout the book, none of them arbitrary, but rather reflective of each individual. THEY ALL FALL THE SAME is as much a character study as a crime novel, and thus it's not always about the nicest people, and they often make terrible choices that you also completely understand. They are people pushed against the wall, to the edge, and their decisions make them and the book all the more compelling. It's crafted with a knowing cultural eye and gallows humor that makes it more than just another southern-fried noir.

THEY ALL FALL THE SAME is a rural thriller soaked in blood and bourbon and I promise you'll love every page of it.

Wes Browne brings back cannabis dealer Burl Spoon from Hillbilly Hustle in a vicious, cruel novel. When two drug dealers in Kentucky go to war in They All Fall the Same, they don’t care who gets hurt or what gets destroyed.

Burl Spoon controls his empire in Jackson County, Kentucky with an iron fist and the men who protect him, his family and his businesses. But, he can’t do much when his own family spins out of control. He’s been cheating for decades, but when his wife cheats, it’s not acceptable. His son left for Louisville after he came out, and Burl refused to accept it. He’s tried to get his daughter, DeeDee, off drugs for years. The only one Burl still loves is his granddaughter, Chelsea.

But, when DeeDee dies of a drug overdose, Burl takes on the family that sold her heroin laced with fentanyl. Clovis Begley heads up that empire in another county. When Spoon’s men kidnaps one of Begley’s sons, it launches a war. The war is violent and dramatic, and only ends when homes burn and Burl is forced to disappear. A year later, COVID and masks makes Spoon’s intended revenge possible.

I’ve read descriptions that call Wes Browne’s writing Southern Noir, and compare it to S.A. Cosby’s books. I don’t know. They All Fall the Same reminds me a little of Ace Atkins’ books. Browne’s book lacks the humor that can be found in Cosby’s. Oh, yes, it’s rural noir, with the violence, foul language, and family ties I’d expect. But, at times, it’s so vicious, I had to look away.

In the Kentucky hills of neo-noir They All Fall the Same, personal tragedy comes up against the score-settling of crime bosses and ages-old codes of honor and revenge. Wes Browne spins a tale of high stakes, with larger-than-life characters, and pitch-perfect dialogue, where the operative emotion is menace and the soundtrack is a volley of gunshots. Jump onboard, and hold on tight.

They All Fall the Same tells the story of a marijuana kingpin, Burl, and how his life begins to spiral after his daughter overdoses and one of his employees is murdered by his rival, Begley, a heroin kingpin. But where is the line between retribution and cold-hearted revenge, and how blurred is it? How far should you go for your friends and family? This is a book full of chaos, twists and turns. Rated 3 because I wish it had gone into more detail about the different characters and the specifics of relationships between them.

Burl Spoon, the marijuana kingpin and Clovis Begley, the heroin kingpin, live in adjacent counties in Kentucky. They travel in close circles, and both are motivated purely by money and self-interest. If you google Southern noir, the picture of They All Fall the Same needs to come up. Morally compromised protagonists and relentless revenge all while understanding that greed and money are the top of the pecking order so that business can be productive.
All is fine if everyone ‘stays in their lane’. Burl Spoon’s daughter overdoses and dies on fentanyl in the presence of those attached to Clovis Begley. Everyone wants to be the last man standing and nothing will stand in their way. Immersive and authentic come to mind when thinking about this novel. Especially being from Kentucky. There is not a location talked about in this book that I haven’t been close to myself. The problems that these two families experience are raw, real and current. Don’t write this off. (Not going to lie, I googled Burl Spoon. I tried to find out the truth behind the story.)
Thank you Wes Browne (Kentucky native) Crooked Lane Books, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance.

Marijuana kingpin - Burl Spoon VS. Heroin kingpin - Clovis Begley

When Burls daughter overdoses on fentanyl laced heroin there’s only one thing left to do. Make the Begley family pay for everything they’ve taken from the Spoons. As these two hot heads come to a head trying to fight grief with grief - eye for an eye. It’s the pull of Burls granddaughter that causes everyone to fall.

When I tell you while I was reading this book I couldn’t decide what family I was rooting for. All I know is I was rooting for every single pup and Chelsea. This book is set in relatively present time (2020, masks, virtual learning, you know what I’m getting at).

Bodies started stacking, people were getting hired and completely going off the rails, raids, going into hiding. When I say this was just a wild read. I could wrap my head around how both sides were all up in arms. This brought a whole different meaning to an eye for an eye.
However, I have to give it up to Burl. His enemy was ready to go lower than lower and as much as he could have gone straight to hell he didn’t. So as much as I didn’t like him to start, I do now.

This was such a good book I would rate it a 3/5 stars it kept me on my toes and I really enjoyed it! Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC..

In the rolling hills of Kentucky, where secrets are buried as deep as the roots of ancient oaks, organized crime boss Burl Spoon reigns supreme. His empire thrives on money, power, and a ruthless code of loyalty. But when tragedy strikes his family, the very foundation of his criminal dynasty begins to crumble.

Wes Browne’s noir thriller, “They All Fall the Same,” plunges readers into a world of blood feuds, vendettas, and desperate alliances. Burl Spoon’s daughter succumbs to a heroin overdose, and an employee is brutally murdered. The catalyst for revenge is set in motion, pitting Burl against the Begley family—a rival clan entrenched in the heroin trade.

Burl’s character is a symphony of contradictions: a ruthless kingpin with a soft spot for his granddaughter, Chelsea. As he seeks vengeance, he grapples with redemption, torn between protecting his legacy and saving what remains of his fractured family.

Browne’s prose is a shotgun blast of raw authenticity. He paints the Kentucky landscape with the same reverence as the blood-soaked history that stains its soil. The Hatfields and McCoys would feel right at home in this tale of warring crime families, where bullets fly, secrets fester, and allegiances shift like shadows.

If you crave gritty, character-driven noir with a Southern Gothic twist, “They All Fall the Same” delivers!

It only took reading a few lines from Wes Browne’s They All Fall The Same Way to know I was in store for a pleasurable Southern Noir experience. Upon finishing the novel, my assumption was proven to be quite correct.

Browne has woven together a crime tale describing a battle between competing forces with wonderfully crafted sentences capturing a sense of time, place, and circumstance, while easily moving to my list of top novels of 2024.

In Jackson County, Kentucky, for over three decades, things have mostly gone well for cannabis mogul Burl Spoon, however, lately, troubles originating along the domestic side of his empire seem to be more trouble than issues on the crime side.

Clovis Begley is similar in ways to Burl, but at the same time, is vastly different. He, too, is in the illegal drug business, but mostly deals in the harsher types of drugs and possesses a greater taste for outright brutality.

Soon, due to unusual circumstances, the worlds of Burl Spoon and Clovis Begley not only encroach upon each other but collide in seemingly never-ending carnage where many dead will be left behind in the remaining ash and rubble.

To me, other than the wonderfully worded novel, what drew me to They All Fall The Same Way was how Browne has written a novel full of nasty characters where their introduction does not automatically cause the reader to viscerally dislike the villainous characters in a novel. While it does not cause any of them to be admired or seen favorably, what it does do is allow the reader to complete the novel and not ask oneself when finished why hours were wasted spent on a novel full of rotten characters. Browne is even able to somewhat humanize Burl Spoon and one other villain purposely weaponized for carnage.

One way Browne does this is by producing one-dimensional characters beyond that of merely villainous people and adding at least some aspect of humanity to their character that tends to sprinkle a dusting of sympathy.

Another way was how when it came to the introduction of villains in this novel, Browne was able to create and flush them out in a progressive manner where each was more disturbing than the previously introduced one.

They All Fall the Same Way is set to be published in January 2025 and is highly recommended to readers of Southern Noir/Rural Noir, with wonderfully developed characters. Netgalley provided an ARC for the promise of a fair and unbiased review.

This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.com

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

Southern noir at its finest. Come for the characters, stay for the gripping story. Perfect for fans of David Joy & Wiley Cash, but great for anyone, honestly. Highly recommend!