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Killers of the Flower Moon

The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

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Killers of the Flower Moon

Written by: David Grann
Narrated by: Will Patton, Ann Marie Lee, Danny Campbell
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About this listen

#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 SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION 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!

©2017 David Grann (P)2017 Random House Audio
True Crime United States Fiction Mystery Emotionally Gripping Scary American History Flower Farming
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What the critics say

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR:
Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, GQ, Time, Newsday, Entertainment Weekly, Time Magazine, NPR, Vogue, Smithsonian, Cosmopolitan, Seattle Times, Bloomberg, Lit Hub, and Slate

“Disturbing and riveting.... Grann has proved himself a master of spinning delicious, many-layered mysteries that also happen to be true.... It will sear your soul.” —Dave Eggers, New York Times Book Review

“A marvel of detective-like research and narrative verve.” Financial Times

Editorial Review

Killers of the Flower Moon describes a series of murders investigated haphazardly by various law enforcement personalities, until the arrival of a young J. Edgar Hoover—barely 30 years old—and the birth of the FBI.

From journalist David Grann, this gripping book investigates a series of murders of wealthy Osage people that took place in Osage County, Oklahoma, in the early 1920s—after big oil deposits were discovered beneath their land. After being awarded rights in court to the profits made from oil deposits found on their land, the Osage people prepare to receive the wealth to which they are legally entitled from sales of their oil deposits.

The Osage are viewed as the “middle man”, and a complex plot is hatched to eliminate the Osage inheritors on a one-by-one basis by any means possible. Officially, the count of the full-blooded, wealthy Osage victims reaches at least 20, but Grann suspects that hundreds more may have been killed because of their ties to oil. The book details the newly formed FBI's investigation of the murders, as well as the eventual trial and conviction of cattleman William Hale as the mastermind behind the plot.

Killers of the Flower Moon is being adapted into a film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Brendan Fraser, Jesse Plemons and Eric Roth. It will be released in theatres by Paramount Pictures and stream on Apple TV+ in 2023.

Featured Article: 20 Best True Crime Audiobooks for Your Inner Detective

There is nothing more thrilling than the unfolding tale of a true crime story. Whether an unsolved mystery, a deep dive into a criminal mastermind, or a look at an infamous serial killer, true crime is gripping, captivating, and engrossing. The best true crime audiobooks will have you on the edge of your seat, anxious for more. Add to that an emphatic and powerful narrator, and you simply won't be able to stop listening. Here are the 20 best true crime audiobooks to satisfy your inner detective.

What listeners say about Killers of the Flower Moon

Average Customer Ratings
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Sad Historical past

Very well written and informative about history we should be aware of not sweeping it under the rock because it was a dark time. Thank you.

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A fascinating and unbelievably true must-read!!

You know when you hear something so incredible that you just want everyone else to listen to it too so you can talk about it? This unbelievably TRUE story is one of those!

I have never been a non-fiction reader but was intrigued when I first heard about it, reads like a murder mystery novel that left me feeling shocked, outraged and not likely to ever forget.

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Excellent story.

I especially liked the final few chapters about the investigation and the writing of the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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U.S.A. -What’s so Great?

David Grann draws back the thick curtains that have for so long covered the terrible crimes, coverups and injustices done to the Osage people during the early part of the last century. America is not the land where dreams can be pursued and realized by anyone- in the case of the Osage, the Federal Government and the FBI and other levels of law enforcement did not do the events Grann chronicles justice. This is a very revealing read of what goes on when a minority is marginalized and then exploited. As we see with American’s current administration, not much has changed. Excellent read.

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A solid presentation of a depressing moment in history

This story is meticulously researched and well presented. The 3 different narrators provide different emphasis to each section of the overall story - sometimes with mixed results. Overall a very good real crime story that is well presented.

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Killers of the of the Flower a

Moon
A excellent truth told
FGood tale worthy of Telling
A fascinating bit truth
Glad to have listened

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Highly recommend

Sad story the way we treated first nations people. white America called people savages when the truth is white Americans were the savages.

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Amazing story but …

The was my first audio book and my experience has left me wondering if I like this medium and whether to stick with audible. The female narration in part 1 was absolutely excruciating. There was a lot of backstory in this section, necessary to put this overlooked period into the history books and give a rich context to the story. But her voice was all wrong. Sooooo dull. I almost gave up and thought I’d wait for the movie and then — will Patton’s voice came in part 2. I couldn’t stop listening. I sat on the couch unable to turn off the book! The story picks up pace with the FBI on the hot pursuit of the killers. But Patton’s voice - always riveting - brought this fascinating made for Hollywood story to a next level. Audible please get him to read the whole book!

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Not the "feel good" book of the year, but...

...an important story to tell. America is occasionally reminded of how it treated the people who got here first. Considering the predation suffered by the Osage, entirely sanctioned by local government and community leaders, and abetted by a federal government that treated capable adults like children, this should be mandatory reading for high school students. Not America's most shining hour.

The main fault with this presentation was the narration of Ann Marie Lee. I concur with other reviewers who found her "Storytime with Auntie Ann Marie" delivery both inappropriate and lacking the necessary gravitas for the subject matter. The narrator of the second section of the book was great, and the narrator of the final section acceptable. But I wouldn't consider Ms. Lee a candidate for the narration of Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee or The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

Worth a credit, but don't expect to come out of this feeling great about humankind.

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Incredible story telling

I was captivated listening to this true story, told from 3 different perspectives. It is hard to comprehend the level of cruelty bestowed upon these people, but important to seek out stories like this to truly understand. I definitely recommend everyone listen to this, to further understand how evil people can be and how this and many other unconscionable acts have been taken against Indigenous peoples

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