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.
Wes Browne’s website is https://www.wesbrowneauthor.com/
They All Fall the Same by Wes Browne. Crooked Lane Books, 2025. ISBN 9781639109104 (hardcover), 304p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through NetGalley so I could review this for a journal.
Will not read. There are so many dark and violent books today.
You’re right, Carol. There are, and this one is dark and violent.
I like S. A. Cosby’s books, in spite of some extreme violence. So far, the heroes in the three Cosby books I’ve read were appealing and, at heart, ethical. These characters don’t sound worth spending any time with!
I agree, Kim. There really were no redeeming characters in this one. Yes, in Cosby’s you do get appealing, ethical characters. You’re right.
He was on a panel that I attended at Bouchercon last year. After listening to him, I downloaded his book “Hillbilly Hustle”. After 25 pages, I found it not to be my cup of tea and didn’t finish it. I think he’s a talented writer but very dark.
Oh, I agree, Bev. Talented writer, but too dark for me. And, no humor. S.A. Cosby’s books are dark, but he alleviates them with humor.