Something Big - by Patrick Wohl (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Something Big tells the story of the infamous Brown's Chicken massacre, a brutal case that captivated Chicagoland after remaining unsolved for nearly a decade.

Customers know Brown's Chicken for its crispy buttermilk fried chicken and flaky biscuits. The Illinois-based franchise has a reputation for delicious but simple comfort food. But through no fault of its own, the words "Brown's Chicken" are also synonymous with one fateful night in January of 1993.

"A Real Hometown" is the trite but apt motto of Palatine, Illinois, a quaint middle-class suburb west of Chicago. On a snowy Friday evening, the staff and owners of the city's local Brown's Chicken franchise were closing up when two final customers arrived just past 9 p.m. As the night drew on and the employees hadn't returned home, the families of the owners and workers began to worry, prompting police to investigate. When they entered the dark building, police were shocked to find seven bodies stacked in the restaurant's freezer and fridge. The killers, of course, were long gone. In the months that followed, the horrendous story rocked Chicagoland and the case remained unsolved for nine years.

The Brown's Chicken massacre is one of the most infamous cases in Illinois history, yet it is often misremembered. In Something Big, Patrick Wohl gives a new account of the story, taking readers behind the scenes and sharing the perspective of the people who lived it.

Review Quotes

"An eye-opening and detailed account of one of the most horrific crimes in Illinois history. It's an unforgettable telling to an unforgivable crime."--Nic Edwards, host of the podcast True Crime Garage

"The Brown's Chicken Massacre sent ripples through suburban America. Something Big takes the reader back to when this horrific crime happened and tells the stories of the people involved, making this a true crime book you won't be able to put down."--Charlie Worroll, host of the podcast Crimelines

"This book by Patrick Wohl is the first real deep dive into the Brown's Chicken Massacre, a case so fascinating any true crime fan will want every detail."--Kristin Williams, host of the podcast True Crime Creepers