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

by David Grann
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Technical:
  • ID: 860
  • Added: 2025-09-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-10
  • Formats: 44
  • Reviews: 2
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99–£10.99
Reviews
voyager-online.org · Unknown · 2023-11-07
captivating 4.50

The book, though not widely popular, is a captivating true crime story that leaves readers on the edge of their seats. Grann's journalistic style and thorough research make it a must-read for history and true crime enthusiasts.

Killers of the Flower Moon is a compelling read that delves into the horrific murders of the Osage people in the 1920s and the formation of the FBI. David Grann's journalistic background shines through in his short, choppy, and easy-to-digest writing style. Despite his neutral tone, he manages to create a gripping narrative that keeps readers engaged. The book leaves many questions unanswered, reflecting the FBI's own unresolved mysteries. Grann's exploration of Osage County and interviews with descendants highlight the lasting impact of these crimes. This book is highly recommended for those interested in history and true crime, offering a chilling look at a dark chapter in American history.

Quick quotes

    Grann is a master at leaving you on the edge.

    Even though the majority of the questions are answered. A lot of questions were left unanswered.

    This book is a must read for anyone interested in history, as well as anyone interested in a little bit of true crime.

nytimes.com · Unknown · 2017-04-12
impeccable 4.50

David Grann's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is a meticulously researched and fluidly written account of the Osage Indian murders in the 1920s, though it lacks the personal touch and eccentricity of his previous work. The book is praised for its confident and dynamic prose, making it a near-perfect piece of nonfiction.

David Grann's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' delves into the tragic history of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma during the 1920s, where numerous members were brutally murdered by whites seeking the oil beneath their land. The book is lauded for its impeccable research and fluid dynamics, making it a compelling read. However, it misses the unique, soulful, and somewhat eccentric quality that made Grann's previous work, 'The Lost City of Z,' so memorable. 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is confident and light on its feet, but it lacks the personal touch and offhandedly cerebral elements that gave his last book its distinctive character.

Quick quotes

    Grann’s new book, about how dozens of members of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s were shot, poisoned or blown to bits by rapacious whites who coveted the oil under their land, is close to impeccable.

    What it lacks is the soulful, trippy, questing and offhandedly cerebral quality of his last and best-known book, 'The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon' (2009).

    That volume is deservedly regarded as one of the prize nonfiction specimens of this century.

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