Killers of the Flower Moon - David Grann - A Short Summary & Review

 Killers of the Flower Moon - The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI - David Grann - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

The FBI finds the Guardians who murdered the Osage for their oil.

A short summary:

Killers of the Flower Moon investigates the brutal murders of members of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma after oil made them some of the wealthiest people per capita in the world. As Osage men and women were systematically killed for their headrights, a sprawling conspiracy emerged, one protected by money, racism, and silence.

The case eventually drew the attention of a newly formed federal investigative force, later known as the FBI. What followed was not only a criminal investigation, but a sobering reckoning with how justice in America has often failed Indigenous communities.

My favorite quote from the book:

"History is a merciless judge."

- David Grann, Killers of the Flower Moon

Questions to ponder while reading the book:

Have you ever been to Pawhuska?

Do you believe in guardianships?

My review:

This book offers an in-depth look at a shamefully overlooked chapter of American history. The story is deeply tragic, not just because of the murders themselves, but because of how long they went unacknowledged and unresolved.

Grann’s research is impeccable. He reconstructs the crimes with precision and restraint, allowing the facts to speak for themselves while exposing the systems that enabled such atrocities to continue unchecked.

Killers of the Flower Moon is unsettling, necessary, and unforgettable. It forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about power, greed, and the long shadow of injustice in America, and it does so with clarity, respect, and moral urgency.

*The Osage Nation's Immaculate Conception Church is beautiful. Read the story about it here*

_____________________________________________________________________________

About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

✨ #TakeTheBackRoads

Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!