Atlantic County Library System

UnCovered Review by Collette Jones, Egg Harbor City Branch Manager

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: THE OSAGE MURDERS AND THE BIRTH OF THE FBI by David Grann is a riveting true story of greed, serial murder, and racial injustice that exposes an extremely disturbing episode of American history. In the early 1920s, the Osage people of Oklahoma were the richest people per capita in the world, thanks to the oil that was discovered beneath their land. But their newfound wealth made them a target for white criminals, who would stop at nothing to steal their land and their money. Over a period of two decades, dozens of Osage were murdered in a series of brutal killings that came to be known as the Reign of Terror. The killers were never brought to justice, and the Osage Nation was left devastated.

In KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, Grann tells the story of this horrific crime spree and its aftermath. He draws on extensive research, including interviews with descendants of the victims, to paint a vivid portrait of this dark chapter in American history. Grann’s writing is both gripping and informative. He does an excellent job of weaving together the complex details of the case with the personal stories of the victims and their families. As a result, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON is not only a compelling read, but also an important work of historical documentation. In addition to its historical significance, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON also offers a timely commentary on the issue of racial injustice. The Osage were victims of a hate crime, and their story is a reminder that racism still exists in America today. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, crime, or the legacy of racism in the United States.

The Osage were a wealthy tribe who had oil reserves on their land, and they were targeted by white men who wanted to steal their money. The murders were carried out in a variety of ways, including poisoning, shooting, and arson. Grann also provides a detailed account of the history of the Osage and the oil industry in Oklahoma. One of the most striking things about the book is the way Grann humanizes the victims. He tells their stories in detail, and he shows how their lives were changed forever by the murders. The victims were not just statistics; they were real people with families and friends who loved them. Grann also does a good job of showing how the murders affected the Osage community as a whole. The community was traumatized by the violence, and it took many years for them to recover. The perpetrators of the murders are also given a fair hearing in KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. Grann does not try to make excuses for their crimes, but he does try to understand why they did what they did. He shows how the perpetrators were motivated by greed and racism, and he explores the social and economic factors that contributed to the violence. 

Finally, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON is a story about the FBI. The bureau was still in its early days when it was called in to investigate the Osage murders, and it was a major test of its capabilities. The FBI eventually solved the case, and its success helped to establish the bureau as a major law enforcement agency. The movie release is due out this year directed by Martin Scorsese.