It’s no secret that Native American Indians have faced more than their fair share of tragedy. David Grann’s novel, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI introduces readers to events so horrific and scandalous that it is almost impossible to believe it actually happened.
The novel introduces readers to the lavish 1920s lifestyle of the Osage Indians, who live on their Oklahoma reservation in mansions and drive multiple cars, all funded by the oil companies drilling on their land. Then, one by one, members of the tribe and their white family members are found dead, and many of the Osage begin to suspect murder. Eventually, the government steps in with a group of federal agents, and the FBI is born. What they uncover about the murders is more upsetting than anyone could imagine.
This novel is not one I would have picked up on my own. I’m usually not a huge fan of non-fiction books, but this isn’t like reading a textbook. Killers tells a story, not facts, and Grann keeps you turning pages. I kept reading for multiple reasons: firstly, I wanted to know who committed the murders. That was a given. Then, I wanted to know how the FBI would arrest and try the murderers. When that was over, I wanted to read on to know what happened to everyone after it was all over.
Grann did the world a favor writing this novel. We learn about the Trail of Tears while in grade school, and college American history classes tell us more about how the settlers treated the natives, but the mystery of the Osage Indians never made it into a textbook. This book contains a story that had to be told, or else it would have disappeared. This book will upset you, and with good reason. People say the truth is stranger than fiction, and Grann’s novel is proof of that.
Words From the Riverbed 
Hmm…this sounds so good! I’m definitely going to pick it up. Thanks for the great review.
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