A well-researched book about a horrific time in American history. The storyline sometimes got stymied by all the details, though.

4.5/5

I read this to coincide with the release of Martin Scorsese’s theatrical take on the book. While the film and book choose to tell this story in two entirely different ways, both masterfully illustrate how a nation founded on white supremacy could cultivate institutions and systems that would allow such senseless and callous evil to be carried out with shocking ease and no fear of consequences. The have-nots who had everything taken from them suddenly came to inherit the earth, and a country that had viewed them as savages for centuries began to circle like vultures.

As heartbreaking and downright terrifying a story as you’ll ever read. It says more about where we are as a country and how far we still have to go that this is not required learning for every student in America. I know I had zero knowledge of it until very recently. Many thanks to David Grann and Marty for bringing these stories to the forefront, and even more thanks to the Osage for refusing to let the memories of the lost die despite so many efforts to silence them.

Almost perfect.
The book was divided into three parts.

1- The "Reign of Terror" in Osage
2- The federal investigation on the Osage killings mystery
3- Loose ends to pounder on after almost a century later

The book would be perfect if the author discussed more on the birth of FBI. That section was quickly brushed over. Even though the content was really about "the birth" of the bureau but there wasn't enough information to satiate my curiosity. Overall, it was still a wonderful read, not dry at all, about a horrible historical event.

Interesting piece of history that once again, we were never taught.

grann is undeniably gifted in creating beautiful creative nonfic sentences, but this book’s overall narrative structure was like a wikipedia page which overall hurt his prose imo (preferred the wager BIGLY)

Before I even talk about this book itself I really, really NEED to gripe about the audiobook. First off? Avoid the audio. Just don't even bother.

Secondly, I just don't understand the narration choices here. I really don't. Why did Will Patton not narrate the entire thing? He was the strongest of the three, and the switching up of narrators for a book like this served no useful purpose I could figure out. Instead, it was distracting. I also think I would have liked the first part of the book more had it not been narrated by Ann Marie Lee. I don't know that I can properly express the relief I felt when she stopped talking and Will Patton took over.

Okay, so enough about how problematic the audio was...the story now. It was interesting. I found parts of it really intriguing. I liked the beginning of the story, setting the stage for the middle. I liked how it introduced the reader to Molly and her family, making this recounting personal. I always have an easier time with nonfiction when I can grasp onto a personal connection or story that lures me in and makes me care about the rest.

The middle part was the best part of the book. Not only because of Will Patton (but again...yay Will Patton!), but because the story of the investigation and trial was really interesting.

The end wrapped it all up fine, but really nothing beats that middle section, because it just captured so much. The corrupt sheriff, the investigation, the fledgling FBI, the pins and needles trial. That was all great. It made the rest seem sort of unnecessary.

So, overall - a worthwhile read. But I have to admit, it's possible I would have rated this higher if not for my really annoyed experience with the audiobook.

Riveting with exceptional research