On October 20th, 2023, the Oscar clad director, Martin Scorsese, released his twenty seventh (and possibly last) feature film, “Killers of the Flower Moon”. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the film has received nothing but high praise and fantastic reviews from critics and fans alike. After all, it is a Scorsese film – it was destined to be great.
I have yet to get the opportunity to see “Killer of the Flower Moon” myself, although I am dying to do so. However, I have done the next best thing. I read the actual book.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is the book which Scorsese’s film is based upon. I feel as though most do not know that this film was initially a book. When I spoke to one of my friends who was going to see the film, I asked him if he had read the book. He looked at me confused. He did not even know the book existed.
I find this a little odd. When a book is being adapted into the movie, usually everyone knows that it was firstly a book – either because the book is already a highly popular read or because the movie trailers make mention of the fact that it’s based upon a book.
Due to the book’s lack of popularity, I thought I should do you all the service of filling you in on it.
The book is authored by David Grann, a long time journalist who has written for firms such as: Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Grann made use of the skills he picked up from this career and launched an investigation into the murders inflicted upon the Osage people in the 1920s, and how the FBI formed in the wake of these horrific acts. He then wrote his findings in Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.
Grann’s background in journalism shows itself throughout the book. He writes in a short, choppy, easy to digest manner – like a newspaper. Also like a newspaper, Grann depicts the story of the Osage murders in the third person and remains neutral throughout the entire book.
Despite Grann’s rather blandness, he still manages to retell a captivating story that leaves you itching for more. At some points during the book I got up and started pacing while I read. Grann is a master at leaving you on the edge. Chapter after chapter ends with you just wanting to find out more about the murders. Who could have done this? How deep does the killers’ plot run? How will the FBI resolve the case?
Even though the majority of the questions are answered. A lot of questions were left unanswered. This is because even the FBI never figured it all out themselves. Yes, they caught the biggest killer, but they could not link him to all of the deaths during the reign of terror on the Osage.
When Grann is doing his own research, he continuously unfolds more and more of unsolved murders and holes in the FBI’s case. By the end of the book you are still left wondering if they caught the true mastermind behind the years of murder.
Grann also personally explores Osage County, the county of Oklahoma where the Osage people reside, and shows the modern day effects of the mass murder in the 1920s. He interviews numerous descendants of victims and other vital community members. The interviews highlight not only the effect of these murders, but also how the Osage people still fight to preserve their culture today.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in history, as well as anyone interested in a little bit of true crime. The plot that was orchestrated by the killers is insane, and the fact that they were inches away from getting away with their crimes is absolutely terrifying. I am excited to see how this will be adapted onto the silver screen and I think anyone interested in the movie should give the book a chance.
