Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

Written by:
David Grann

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
548
Narrator
108
Release Date
April 2017
Duration
9 hours 4 minutes
Summary
#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

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!
Reviews
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Margaret G

Wonderfully written account of the historical events and perspectives. As an Osage tribal member and family who was impacted by these murders, this book was well researched and caught the emotion of the times.

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Heather L

I found the book to be very interesting and eye opening. I am sorry to say that I knew nothing of the Osage murders. The amount of research that must have been done for this book is remarkable.

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Harry L

Fascinating look at evil and power and shame. The only consolation from the heartbreak is that we live in a different world. For now.

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Claudia S

I liked this book and believe it's a story that needed to be told, and heard. Very interesting, however the author went on a 2 hour long rant about J. Edgar Hoover and how horrible he was, even though the only Osage murders solved were those solved by the FBI.(under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover) If it weren't for this I probably would have given it a four or five. Good book, but the rant bogged it down for quite a while.

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Anonymous

While the story behind this book is fascinating and truly a piece of history that is shamefully looked over in this country, I could think of a hundred different ways it could’ve been told better. If you like the idea of someone sitting down and reading you a history book, this is for you. No character development, no story telling.. just facts, dates, and names… So. Many.. Names. The most unappealing “read” I’ve ever encountered. I can’t wait to see it in the movies though which is the exact opposite of how I usually feel when it comes to the stories I read. I was so disappointed that this incredible piece of history that deserves so much more attention than it’s ever been given, was told in this manner. While it was seemingly accurate, it totally lacked the humanity it sorely deserves.

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H.B. Z.

I am living in Oklahoma so I am somewhat aware of this bit of history; however, this book expands my understanding greatly. It's maybe more far reaching than I could have imagined. My grandfather was one of the drillers in the Osage and Kay counties, so I've heard some stories about the oil discoveries in this area. This is really a great book. I just hope the movie is half as good. If so, maybe it will give these events the attention they deserve.

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Lynn H.

A lot of great historical info, I was not aware of the plight of the Osage!

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Catherine L

Interesting information on Osage murders but felt the book was unorganized and hard to follow. Could use an edit.

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Jason E.

A helpful window into a terrible tragedy.

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Jaimelynn S

Narrators were great. Book was slightly hard to follow with all full names being used . Much better than the movie!

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Jon E.

A compelling and momentous story of money, greed, jealousy, brutality and racism aimed at Indigenous People. NOT just a story of genocide, but about the calculated killing of Tribal members to get their wealth and society’s willingness to look the other way. And, yes, the rise of the nefarious J. Edgar Hoover.

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Paul C.

The book is very informative. It tells a horrific story about the Osage murders and the utter evil that existed to carry out the murders. I saw the movie halfway through the book, and the movie merely glossed over the tragedy of this history. The book answered so many questions I had after seeing the movie. I had a problem with the first narrator. She sounded like she was reading a children's book rather than a history book. The tone of her voice didn't match the subject matter. I had the same problem with the narrator of The War On Cancer. However, this is not enough to dissuade people from getting this book.

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Patrick M.

First book by this author. I thought it was very interesting and told in a very orderly easy to follow flow. Learned a lot that I did not know Osage murders, Native American history and the FBI. Loved the way the author wrapped up his process and brought things to a conclusion.

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Anonymous

The narrator was slow with no spark. The book was also slow.

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Susan M.

Amazing and eye-opening, could not turn it off

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Anonymous

I enjoyed the history of how they solved the murders but kind of a sad ending, though.

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Anonymous

Great

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Anonymous

I enjoyed reading about this part of our history

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Jackie S.

Haunting to think about all the atrocities that happened on US soil. This is an important story that I’m glad is being told.

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Jack B.

Ugly truth! Sadly another example of racism in land of the free and the home of white nationalism.

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Chuck C.

It was a great book.

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Cynthia Rogers

David Grann the great researcher all the details are brought brilliantly into the story. They historically labeled reign of terror with the Osage Indians in the early 1900s was amazing very sad amount of murders that continued just to gain the money from oil. This was the beginning of the FBI and their research which was had just used fingerprints to claim murderers, but the FBI was not always looking for real murders. The indigenous people were not supposed to be protected, but those to be used in their money taken by Guardianships American history do not necessarily written by the losers but the winners

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Shawn S.

Excellent book. Narrators captured the emotions of the period.

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Mark Trevithick

"Killer's of the Flower Moon" is the story of the Osage murders in the early 20th Century. It is well researched, unearthing details missed by the many investigative teams, including the fledgling FBI. Tom White, the agent whose persistence, tenacity, and sense of fair play made him a fordable enemy of the many conspirators. In general, this is one more gut wrenching, tragic story of man's evil towards his fellow man, and specifically, against another Indian Tribe, the Osage.

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Mark S.

None of us in our book club were familiar with this piece of history before we read this book. It is horrifying that one segment of humanity reduced another segment of humanity so that it was okay to murder them, and we were never taught this in history class. None of us knew that it was this crime that made the FBI’s reputation. The hero of the story is as good as any western hero that came out of Hollywood. I often tell friends that the history of the west is even more compelling than western fiction. This book is such an example. The narrators did justice to the material. If you want to learn about how the Osage were treated after oil was discovered on their land, what happens when we dehumanize people who are not like us, the true story of a western hero we never heard of and one of the earliest FBI cases, give this book a try.

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Lisa D.

Enjoyed each and every moment.

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Anonymous

narrator a disappointment.

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Ryan F.

Incredible story with a great narator. A story everyone should know. These type of stories are the forgotten foundation of this country and is important that all people know how this nation was really built.

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Steel_Magnolia

Absolutely heartbreaking story of how greed and racism destroyed a family and tribe.

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Anonymous

This book started out a little slow. I did not care for the first narrator, and the author was setting up the story with so many characters and facts that it was tough to follow. However, when the second narrator started, I really began to enjoy this book. It was great to learn about the origins of the FBI and how they were dedicated to solving the Osage murders. The third narrator was also really good and I enjoyed hearing about the continued investigation long after the initial one started. Overall very good read...just need to get past the first part.

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Rachel D.

Such an important read.. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this treacherous chapter of American history. Perfectly combines my loves of history, true crime, and social justice. You won’t regret listening!

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Nicki R.

The topic of this book is interesting and well researched. However it is a bit dramatic in parts and the narrators are even more dramatic.

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Kristyn L.

Wow this book was amazing!! I learned so much about the history of the frontier and American Indians in the 20th century. The narrators were fabulous and the story kept me so captivated with suspense I couldn’t stop listening. Even to the last hour I was in awe that this was all true and a part of our horrible unspoken history! I would recommend this to everyone!!

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Allen E.

As a native born Oklahoman, with relatives from the 1800s living in various locations throughout the stated I found the book fascinating. More so because some of my family lived in that area. Conspiracies to do evil have been with us from the beginning of time.

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Corinne W.

Should have been a text book

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Steven L.

One can’t help but feel the pain of the Osage families that have gone, and in many ways are still going through this horrendous ordeal. There is no happy ending here.

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Phyllis S

Horrific deeds done to the Osage Indians. Sad tale of distortion, murder, and thievery mostly instigated by greedy folks.

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Lee W

Very interesting. I had no idea about any of this. Well worth the time.

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s simon

This woman is the worst kind of bad actor ; self aware, self-satisfied and possessing the diction of a Mid Western public school educated Tupperware/welcome wagon greeter from the 1970’s. Clearly the people in either editing or publishing do not care about this interesting book because they let their sister in law from Des Moines, who’s having a hard time going through the change so they pity her,narrate the book.

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