4.0 (1 rating)
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history, from the author of The Wager and The Lost City of Z, “one of the preeminent adventure and true-crime writers working today."—New York Magazine • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • NOW A MARTIN SCORSESE PICTURE
“A shocking whodunit…What more could fans of true-crime thrillers ask?”—USA Today
“A masterful work of literary journalism crafted with the urgency of a mystery.” —The Boston Globe
A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century
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 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.
Look for David Grann’s latest bestselling book, The Wager!
“A shocking whodunit…What more could fans of true-crime thrillers ask?”—USA Today
“A masterful work of literary journalism crafted with the urgency of a mystery.” —The Boston Globe
A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century
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 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.
Look for David Grann’s latest bestselling book, The Wager!
Published: April 3, 2018
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780307742483
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4.0
1 rating
Meagan W.
Feb 8, 2026
Killers of the Flower Moon is a deeply researched, meticulously detailed account of the Osage murders and the so-called Reign of Terror, and that depth is both its greatest strength and its biggest challenge. The level of detail is impressive and often chilling, laying bare how systemic greed, racism, and corruption were allowed to operate in plain sight for years.
At times, the narrative can feel heavy with information, which slowed the pacing for me and kept it from being a 5-star read—but the importance of this story can’t be overstated. This is not a fast or comfortable read, but it is an essential one, especially if you want to understand how these crimes were ignored, enabled, and ultimately tied to the early foundations of the FBI.
A solid 4⭐ for its impact, rigor, and historical weight
At times, the narrative can feel heavy with information, which slowed the pacing for me and kept it from being a 5-star read—but the importance of this story can’t be overstated. This is not a fast or comfortable read, but it is an essential one, especially if you want to understand how these crimes were ignored, enabled, and ultimately tied to the early foundations of the FBI.
A solid 4⭐ for its impact, rigor, and historical weight