Something Big

The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre, a Decade-Long Manhunt, and the Trials that Followed

De: Patrick Wohl

Narrado por: Patrick Lawlor

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 listeners behind the scenes and sharing the perspective of the people who lived it.

©2025 Patrick Wohl (P)2025 Tantor Media

Outstanding from start to finish

As a lifelong Palatine resident, I was blown away by how deeply researched and factually accurate this book is. Patrick Wohl captures not just the tragedy itself but the humanity and local atmosphere surrounding it. His attention to detail, fairness toward everyone involved, and storytelling style make this stand out from every other account of the case. It’s clear he put in tremendous care to get it right. An excellent listen — professional, respectful, and truly compelling.