Killers of the Flower Moon: Book to Movie Adaptation
Back in the summer of 2019 we heard lots of buzz about the true crime story captured in Killers of the Flower Moon. It was the hottest non-fiction book around during those days and the book had not only legs in the literary world, but Hollywood took note and a movie was released in October 2023.
Killers of the Flower Moon – a true story
“Killers of the Flower Moon” was written by David Grann and covers the story of the 1920’s Osage Indian tribe murders, also referred to as the Osage “Reign of Terror.”
The Osage Nation originally settled in a rocky area of land now known as Oklahoma after being pushed west by settlers. They originally hoped that the rocky landscape would avoid any further interest by settlers in the land, as it had poor soil that was not favorable for farming. Later, however, it was found that this land was rich in other natural resources, including valuable oil reserves.
The Osage people were given legal rights to the oil by the courts – specifically called “headrights” – which are rights that could not be bought or sold but rather could only be acquired by inheritance. The vast wealth of the Osage people, as well as this legal right handed down by the courts, led to an insidious and sinister conspiracy to obtain rights to the land.
Killers of the Flower Moon – Conspiracy
The level and commitment to deception required to gain control of the Osage fortune is truly staggering.
The goal was to infiltrate the Osage community, gain control from within, and eliminate each of the Osage inheritors. In some instances, this included marrying into the tribe, while others included gaining guardianship over Osage members deemed incapable of managing their wealth. When those methods were exhausted, members of the Osage nation began to die in a variety of suspicious ways.
The killing spree is explored in the first section of the book, through the family of Mollie Burkhart. Mollie suffered unimaginable loss, as her mother and three sisters were all killed. Mollie and one of her sisters, Anna, were married to the Burkhart brothers, white men whose uncle, William Hale, was a prominent and powerful member of the community.
Anna’s death is detailed in the first section of the book as an example of the suspicious circumstances that accompanied the rash of deaths among the Osage people. Although victims were shot, poisoned, and involved in suspicious car accidents, the investigations into those deaths never resulted in any arrests. After Anna’s death, Hale pledged to find out the culprit and obtain justice.
Greed, Corruption, and Abuse of Power
Eventually, the totality of the murders garnered the attention of the Bureau of Investigation (which became the FBI). Investigator Tom White was brought in to lead a team and determine what was going on. White and his team uncovered shocking evidence that proved a large network of people, including Hale and the Burkhart brothers, were involved with the murders. Hale, along with one of the Burkhart brothers and an accomplice, were eventually tried and convicted, with Hale being determined to be the mastermind behind the conspiracy.
The Osage Community
Amid the darkness, “Killers of the Flower Moon” also illuminates the incredible resilience of the Osage people. Despite the horrors they faced, they persevered in their quest for justice. Grann highlights the tenacity of those who refused to let their loved ones’ deaths be forgotten, even when the odds seemed insurmountable.
The latter portion of the book focuses on this element of the story, with Grann recounting his trips to interview descendants of the victims in his attempt to answer lingering questions regarding the case. These investigations showed that the “reign of terror” lasted longer than officially claimed, with suspicious deaths occurring after the incarceration of Hale. Sadly, Grann indicates his belief that the conspiracy included virtually the entire community of Osage County.
Critical Acclaim
The critics loved Killers of the Flower Moon, praising the author for his deep dive into this relatively unknown story as well as his diligence in finding out facts and speaking with the people of the Osage nation. In the book, he gives you a chance to get to know them and their dogged diligence in refusing to let their loved ones be forgotten. Their strength and determination in the face of overwhelming odds is inspiring.
Book Review – Killers of the Flower Moon
As much as we really appreciated learning about this untold part of history, and the importance of the story, we personally felt this book was a little tough to get through. It was very detail-oriented, with an extensive backstory given, which at times made it hard to keep our interest.
To be fair, we were expecting it to be focused on storytelling and not as much on significant deep dives into the history of the Osage nation or the FBI. In that way, it was almost like a research book, which bogged us down rather than keeping up a faster storytelling pace. We had to really want to find out what happened to want to pick the book up again.
We do think that our criticism of the book is in the minority, as the reviews indicate on Goodreads. “Killers of the Flower Moon” has a 4.13 star rating, which we definitely would classify as a literary triumph. It is a book that does transend a true crime story. Rather, it is a book that explores a dark period of American history, as well as shining a light on human greed and a testament to the resilience of a community in the face of unimaginable adversity.
If you’re a fan of true crime, historical non-fiction, or simply appreciate masterfully told tales that shed light on hidden injustices, this book is one that you will enjoy and learn from. “Killers of the Flower Moon” will grip your soul and leave an indelible mark on your understanding of the human capacity for both evil and resilience.
If the research aspect of it makes you hesitate to pick up the book, no worries! The movie is now out!
Movie Release – Killers of the Flower Moon
With a budget of over 200 million dollars, the movie adaptation of “Killers of the Flower Moon” got the attention of Hollywood heavyweights. Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, the movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, who was originally intended to play the role of Tom White, the lead FBI agent. DiCaprio instead pushed to have his role changed to that of one of the Burkhart brothers. He is the nephew of the film’s primary antagonist, Hale, played by Robert De Niro. The movie’s cast also includes Jesse Plemons as Tom White, and Lily Gladstone, who is a tour de force in her role as Mollie Kyle.
Set for a theater-only release by Paramount Pictures on October 20, 2023 (streaming on Apple TV+ to follow), no detail was spared. Early reviews are calling it spellbinding and saying that it is DiCaprio’s best work to date. The combination of Scorsese’s directorial genius and the talent of the cast is bound to make this movie memorable.
A movie interpretation of this book should actually work really well. It can tell the story in a more visually captivating way, with the ability to make details more relatable by showing them with a human element. We are both curious and hopeful that the movie will do the overall story of the book justice while at the same time being engaging and keeping the viewers riveted throughout.
Book Recommendations
If you liked Killers of the Flower Moon, here are some books we think you would enjoy.
For another true crime story, check out The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
For an amazing book written by a native american author, pick up There There by Tommy Orange.
Another great option is David Grann’s latest 2023 release, The Wager. We have heard great things about this book, and have it our TBR.
We hope you have enjoyed this book review and discussion of the corresponding movie Killers of the Flower Moon! Have you read the book, or seen the movie? Let us know what you thought of it!
For more bookish content, check out our book division of the blog. We have posts on Stephen King, Sarah J. Maas, Lessons In Chemistry, book reviews and more!
Hey Book Nerds! Let’s be friends on Goodreads!
Slowprose, book division of Slowestuff
Love Bookish Content? Pin This Post!!
I’m sharing this blog post. With the movie being released, there’s a buzz about what the story is about, but not many people are aware of how vile the story is. Thank you for your detailed summary. I love true crime and will probably read.
Thank you so much! It is such an important story that no one has heard of!