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

How could I have never heard this story about the Osage Indian Tribe before? I am well-read and curious, but it is a history that while not covered up, is little known. I am so glad I read this book. I am telling all my friends to read this book for the history — none of them knew this story either. I picked it up as I wanted to know more about how the FBI was created. What I got was a riveting murder mystery (my favorite genre), excellent history that includes oil, homesteading, tribal history and how the FBI was created. Some are complaining about the narration. I am fine with the narration. My complaint is that the story feels like it came to a halt when it changed to the first person in the final act. That portion of the book should have been inter-woven throughout the book as it slowed down the momentum of a great middle section of the book.

This book is read by three different narrators. In this case, the narrators make or break the story. The first narrator walks us through the mysterious murders that keep happening to the Osage tribal members – but she combines singsong and monotone with a dash of schoolmarm in a way that it was all I could do to hang on for Will Patton\’s section. Will Patton comes riding in on his dark horse, just the way he does in every James Lee Burke masterpiece, to bring the narrative to life with his whispering snarl and resonant emphases. Suddenly you\’re the lawman in the 10 gallon hat shaking up J. Edgar Hoover\’s bureau out where the law gets slippery, and the narrative picks up and takes off. The third narrator is an elderly fellow who reads the first-person segment about how so many more Osage were killed than were previously thought. He\’s fine. Overall, the story is a compelling tale about the lengths to which greed and institutionalized racism will go to nearly eradicate a people, and how whether energy is clean or dirty, it exploits the land and the people on it.

Yes, the series of narrators is confusing. More on that later. The important thing is that this is a great story, an important story, an amazing story that has been hidden from you. Everyone should read or listen to it. This is a true American crime story, a story full of villains and honest to god heroes. If you loved Boys in the Boat or Unbroken, don\’t miss this one. It\’s top notch research and story telling. I couldn\’t put it down. Now, about the narration. First, you have Ann Marie Lee reading it. Her enunciation is perfect, but she hasn\’t got a dramatic bone in her body. I\’m sorry Ann Marie. It\’s like listening to a kindergarten teacher reading Dick and Jane. No character. No drama. What the heck? Next Will Patton comes along.He has read a number of Stephen King books and is a marvelous dramatic reader. He can do the voice of evil really well. The transition is all the more jolting for the listener. From Romper Room to Stephen King. Suddenly you\’re listening to a totally different book. But you\’ll want to continue on because the story is that good. At the end there\’s Danny Campbell — another fine reader, and another adjustment for the listener. It\’s a double shame that this story of a conspiracy to murder the Osage tribe and cover up the crime is bungled by Random House Audio. Are they part of the conspiracy too??? I highly recommend this book in spite of Random House\’s unfortunate production.

I read the reviews before buying so I guess I was forewarned and ready for the accents of the changing narrators. I didn’t find this distracting. It just seemed like they were trying to use the speaking style of the person and time period that was the focus of their section of the book. The topic is really affecting. I knew l little about it from a high school history class, but iI found it so incomprehensible back then that I hardly believed it. After reading this, the part I find hard to believe is that those in power didn’t know exactly what they were setting up when they created the guardian system. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

The story is divided into three parts. I enjoyed all three, but was especially entertained by the second story. The second character, the Federal Agent, is so dedicated, unflappable, and ahead of his time, he seems almost unbelievable. The narrator captures the character\’s qualities perfectly.

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