NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history, from the author of The Lost City of Z.In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built … their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.
Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered.
As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.
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A history that everyone should know about and understand
Excellent written about what did happen to Native Osage when oil was found on their properties
This book tells an awful truth in our history. Twist and turns, conspiracies, and cover ups. Very eye opening and great book.
I picked this up with no knowledge of these events in U.S. history. I found it riveting and greatly disturbing. I highly recommend this informative, well written account.
3.5 Stars – less reflection about the book (which was very good), but more that it is not the type of book I normally read. Wanted a richer story, though that would probably have required fabrication of events. I appreciate that the author stuck to the truthful facts. Very thought provoking on a subject/event that I had little knowledge of.
If you liked Killer in the The Devil in the White City, you will likely enjoy this. The writing felt similar to me.
One of the best historical books I have read.
Story well told that needed telling.
Fascinating story of murders to cash in on Native American rights.
Very good book filled with information and also unpredictable.
A great view of how whites have treated Native Americans in the past. This should be read in conjunction with Peter Mathiessen’s In the Spirit of Crazy Horse: The Story of Leonard Peltier and the FBI’s War on the American Indian Movement
A troubling tale of murder and greed in northeast Oklahoma. Who knew?
Fabulous story of the FBI and terrible atrocities perpetrated on Native Americans. I learned a lot.
A true account of man‘s terrible treatment against his fellow man ( and woman).
I found this slice of American life to be so hidden in most of main stream America that it made me ashamed. The legacy we have left to the original Americans is pretty bad. My heart breaks for these people and the loss of their culture, identity and pride. This is a good wake up and check your politics kind of boom.
A book to read for information on what happened to Native Americans. Should not be missed.
Sad period for Native Americans in Oklahoma
There is a reason why this book is on the new times best seller list-it’s really good. I listen to the audible book and now I’m reading it just to enjoy it again. I don’t usually like to listen and then read it.
In the early nineties I read a magical novel titled Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for that book, losing to John Updike. Like, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Spirit is also about the Osage murders. David Grann did a marvelous job rendering the atrocities perpetrated on the Osage over their land and oil reserves. This is yet another dark stain on American history and our treatment of its indigenous peoples that is not taught in schools, and should be. I am glad he has reintroduced this story to a vast number of readers and that it was chosen by the PBS/New York Times book club, Now Read This, to increase awareness of yet another painful period in the lives of Native Americans. I do wish, however, that David Grann had given voice, thanks, and acknowledged Linda Hogan and her brilliant novel of the same story.
Killers of the Flower Moon shocked and saddened me. The violence and exploitation of the Osage Tribe is both tragic and a disgraceful chapter in early 20th century history. We must read and teach our citizens about such horrific history in hopes that it should never repeat again.
In my opinion its true crime mixed with historical.