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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Exception time, the true birth of the FBI as an organization and reads like the very best crime mystery.
This book has it all: history, suspense, mystery, tragedy, triumph. The history of the Osage Indians and the evil done to them is not taught in our history classes, and it should. Well-written and researched. One of the best books I have read.
Non-fiction. Terrific real story. I grew up inOklahoma and never heard anything about the murders. I did know about the wealthy Indians. Had many friends who were part Indian.
I am not a big fan of non-fiction but I found this book very interesting. I am ashamed of this chapter in our country’s history and find it hard to believe that people can be so cruel and greedy. I was truly riveted by the story of the Osage but found the parts of the book pertaining to the creation of the FBI a little dull. I think this would have been a much better read and I would have given it 5 stars if there had been less of that part of the story. I am not sure it was even essential to the telling of this part of history and could have been condensed down to a paragraph or two.
A modern day telling of Antigone set in a Muslim neighborhood of London.
A true story of the start of the FBI and the Osage Indians and the fortunes they amassed.
What was done to the Osages to steal their head-rights was deplorable. The author dug back a hundred years to expose the depths of this tragedy.
I found it fascinating and informative. An investigation into the mysterious deaths of Osage at the turn of the century.
I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately it is a true account of a very sad chapter in U.S. history. The information was so good; the author’s research was extensive. My only criticism is that it is very difficult to keep all of the characters and their relationship straight in the stories about the killings. Perhaps a family tree diagram would be helpful But this truly is a book worth reading.
Amazing true story in American history that very few people knew about.
This is an excellent story that should be read by everyone, especially in middle school and up. The history of white men in authority, exploiting, demeaning and killing the Native American population for persona; gain is a topic of which every American school child should be aware.
Thought it was quite an eye opening. A period of our tragic history that I knew nothing about.
An inside look at the ways of government agencies—both good & bad
An amazing and interesting story about a time in American history, all but lost. David Gramm brings these people and this time to life on the written page. He has a naturally inquisitive mind open and honest to people and times very different than his own.
Very interesting and tragic. Scam against Native Americans.
Impeccably researched- shocking story. I lived in Oklahoma for 3 years and did not know anything about this event. Absolutely shocking. A must read.
only partially through it and the story will hit you where you live.
Excellent read
Intersesting and historical (really happened)
You can’t make this stuff up