Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars DNF at 45%

Extremely well written and I enjoyed Matt Godfrey's narration. Two Kentucky crime families go to war and burn it all down. Author did a great job making Burl Spoon very unlikeable. Burl is hurting after his daughter dies of a heroin overdose and he punishes the people he thinks responsible. Just not the right book for me at this time so DNF.

This book is a trip. I wanted to read it because it was supposed to be like a revenge story, like SA Cosby would tell and I love me some him! Even though the story was action packed and the revenge plotting was there and carried out to the point you felt like you were in a movie...the biggest missing piece for me was the narration. I disliked it, which made me drag through listening to it. I would see this as a movie though!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

They All Fall The Same by Wes Browne, Narrated by Matt Godfrey

Two crime families go to war in this story about loyalty, family, power and revenge. This book has everything you'd want from an organized crime thriller: crime bosses, rival crime families, revenge, family drama, tradgedy and murder. The plot keeps you rooting for one family or the other while the twists keep you wanting more and to see what happens next. The narrator was perfect for this audiobook. I am looking forward to reading more by Wes Browne and will keep a look out for anything narrated by Matt Godfrey.

#TheyAllFallTheSame #WesBrowneAuthor #MattGodfreyNarrator #DreamscapePublishing #NetGalley #crimethriller

Honestly I wasn’t too fond of these narrators for this audio. The voices sounded fake and as if they were trying too hard to change or disguise the voices.

The storyline was very hard to keep up with, so many characters and the dialogue wasn’t good. I got lost a couple times and had to go back and relisten to some chapters as I had no idea what transpired between which characters.

Overall I wouldn’t reread this book or recommend it.

When I saw the S.A. Cosby comparison, I knew I had to listen to this one.

They All Fall the Same is a dark and compelling noir thriller that masterfully blends family drama with high-stakes crime. Set against the rugged backdrop of Kentucky’s backwoods, it follows Burl Spoon, a hardened cannabis kingpin whose criminal empire has thrived for decades. On the surface, Burl seems untouchable, but beneath that tough exterior, his personal life is falling apart.

When his daughter overdoses on fentanyl-laced heroin, and one of his employees is murdered—Burl’s world starts to crumble. He’s pulled into a brutal cycle of vengeance, targeting Clovis Begley, the patriarch of a rival heroin-dealing family. But the deeper Burl digs into his pursuit of retribution, the more he risks losing everything that truly matters, especially his beloved granddaughter, Chelsea, the only person who still sees him for more than his criminal persona.

This was like if S.A. Cosby wrote the TV show Ozark. As a huge fan of that show and everything Cosby has ever written, you can imagine how fast I consumed this one. Browne is so good at creating emotional weight in the midst of some truly spectacular action. As a character, Burl is layered and complex—he’s ruthless when he needs to be, but his vulnerability and the love he feels for his granddaughter make him sympathetic, even when his actions are morally questionable.

Browne’s writing is sharp and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the grit and tension of the rural setting. The plot moves quickly, driven by a sense of impending violence, but it never loses sight of the emotional heart of the story. The explosive confrontation with the Begley family was truly top-notch action. Seriously, I need to see that on the big screen.

I highly recommend this book, in whatever format. The audio was amazing, but I'd imagine the print version is just as good. I can see this getting optioned by Hollywood. I'll be there for opening night if it does.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC! 💫 I just wrapped up They All Fall the Same by Wes Browne, and honestly... I’m a little torn. It was okay—not a total win, but definitely not a flop either. There were some cool moments, but it just didn’t completely click with me. It’s not my usual jam, and I wasn’t 100% sold on the narration either. The accent was tricky to follow at times, but it did match the character vibe, so... I’m conflicted! 😅

✧ Crime Boss Vibes 👑
✧ Family Drama 🤯
✧ Revenge Galore ⚔️
✧ Dysfunctional Family ❤️‍🩹
✧ Morally Grey Characters 🥀
✧ Dark and Gritty Noir 🌑

Okay, so we’ve got Burl Spoon, a tough guy running a cannabis empire in Kentucky. Things take a nosedive when his daughter dies from a heroin overdose. 😔 Now, he’s deep in family drama, trying to hunt down the people who did it. It’s definitely gritty and dark, with some chaotic moments, but I was expecting more twisty turns and jaw-dropping stuff, and honestly, it didn’t hit those highs for me.

The characters? They were decent, but I feel like they could’ve been developed more. It's not highbrow literature, but it’s a pretty raw dive into loyalty and revenge. If you're into Southern noir or gritty crime, this could totally be your vibe. For me though? Eh, not so much.

Would I recommend it? Maybe to fans of dark crime thrillers or those who love morally grey characters. Just don’t expect it to totally blow your mind!

Wow! What an emotional rollercoaster! You don’t want to like the main character but I found myself rooting for Burl, a morally corrupt & deeply flawed person. This book reminded me that even bad guys have family & friends they care about. They will do their best to protect them & seek revenge when those they love are harmed.

I found this to be a fresh concept for a book, not like anything I had read before. I was on the edge of my seat through the twist and then until the very end.

This is my first book by Wes Browne. I enjoyed his writing style/story and plan to read his other book Hillbilly Hustle. Matt Godfrey did an excellent job with the narration. He really brought the story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a great book! The author does a great job developing the characters. While most of the characters are morally bad, the author does a great job of making the reader feel connected to them. The storyline is great and the end will leave blindsided. The main character deals with a lot in this story and you feel the emotional rollercoaster throughout the book. I would highly recommend this book.

The audio presents a deep and powerful narration. The voice is strong, commanding attention from the very beginning with its presence and clarity. The pacing and tone add to the intensity, drawing listeners into the experience.

The style of delivery, however, is quite intense and leans toward a military and aggressive tone. This might come across as too forceful or overwhelming for some listeners, especially if a softer, more balanced approach is preferred. The strong focus on authority and power may feel too much at times.

The execution of the audio is undeniably impressive. The production quality is high, and the narration is clear and well-articulated. The depth of the voice work adds a significant layer to the overall effect. Despite the tone feeling somewhat too aggressive for personal preference, the work is professionally done and demonstrates strong skill and attention to detail."

It’s not very often that you get caught up rooting for the bad guy. In any other scenario, Burl Spoon would have me seething. But when Burl’s family gets involved with a rival drug lord, all hell breaks loose in rural Kentucky. The author did a great job of building the characters, drawing me in as they developed.

The audiobook narrator did a phenomenal job, as well.

Thanks to NG and the publisher for the advanced copy —
Releasing 1/7/25
This was great! The author’s professional background serves him well in these types of novels. And I would wholeheartedly agree with their assessment that if you like S A Cosby, you’d enjoy this one! It was different from any that I've read before (the pot industry), but mixed with relevant topics of laced drugs and overdosing -- combined with small-town sheriff vibes, this felt very much like it could be a series and I hope it is! I would read more from this author.

The audio was really well done!

Burl Spoon has been running a successful crime gang in Kentucky for decades. He has only marginal attachments to his wife, son, daughter and mistress, but he is devoted to his granddaughter. Clovis Begley and his family are in the heroin business, and when Burt’s daughter dies from a dose of fentanyl-laced heroin supplied by Clovis the two crime operations go to war And I mean that literally. Their engagement had the feel of a military campaign.

I am a little tired of books about criminal lowlifes, but this one was very well done. Burl and Clovis were both interesting characters, the strikes and counter strikes just kept coming and there was a chilling last sentence. If bad language and/or violence disturb you, avoid this book. I found it both fast paced and entertaining and I would read this author again. The narration by Matt Godfrey of the audiobook was very good.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

The story offers a gritty Southern noir thriller that delves into the dark, complex world of organized crime in backwoods Kentucky. While the premise was compelling, it didn’t immediately hook me, and the audiobook's accent made it a bit challenging to stay engaged. The “no good guys here” trope felt heavy initially, but as the chapters progressed, the narrative found its rhythm.
This isn’t a tale of heroes but a raw exploration of power, violence, and the collateral damage they bring. The characters are vividly drawn, and the emotional undertone of familial devotion amidst chaos adds depth. While the story’s setup is intriguing, it could have benefited from a stronger opening hook to fully capture the reader’s attention from the start. Despite the shortcomings, it’s a story that delivers a haunting look at loyalty, vengeance, and the human cost of power.

They All Fall the Same is a story where there really aren't any good guys. All the bad guys have redeeming qualities, but not enough to redeem them, in my humble opinion. Cannabis kingpin Burl Spoon is unhinged and you never know exactly what he's going to do next. While his business is going well, his personal life surely isn't, and that's ultimately what drives him over the edge into full chaos. There are more sinister characters, but once you dive in, you'll see for yourself just how darkly twisted they are. Definitely an edgier darker thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down until it was completed. Awesomely thrilling ride!

Narration by Matt Godfrey was easy to listen to, multiple nuances for different characters, and all around sucked me in to the storyline. Very well done!
*I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

The story centers around a powerful cannabis Kingpin who seeks revenge against the family he feels responsible for his daughter’s tragic overdose. “War” is waged against these two crime families in the South and one tragedy leads to the next and our main character Burl is forced to face the facts of his life that is falling apart around him and the decisions that lead him to this place. A raw and gritty story that leaves you in an emotion turmoil not knowing if you want to hate the characters or feel bad for them. The narrator did an excellent job of putting you right in the middle of the action. A definite must listen.

I really enjoyed this one, I was hooked from the beginning and finished it in under a day. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic- completely different voices for each character even though they had similar accents. The characters were interesting and flawed and the book had tons of action. Highly recommend this one!

This was not my usual genre and I’m not sure what compelled me to request it through NetGalley, but I’m glad I did! This read as a general fiction for me and I loved it. I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend this voice narrator!

This story is a sober example that regardless of your socioeconomic class, friends/family, job, etc., you can still be vulnerable. In this case, the MC went from untouchable to bottom of the barrel with nothing left. I found the story to have perfect pacing, an unpredictable ending, and I loved all the characters!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC!

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.