Sunday Salon

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI ~ by David Grann, 2017, history (Oklahoma), 416 pages

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma.  After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.

Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off.  The family of an Osage woman — Mollie Burkhart — became a prime target.  One of her relatives was shot.  Another was poisoned.  And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered.

As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery.  White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.

This book was a finalist for the National Book Award.  Here's one popular highlight:  "This is why the Osage Indians refer to May as the time of the flower-killing moon."

I told a friend — who was wearing a blue Snoopy tee shirt with "I'll do it tomorrow" on it — that Snoopy is my favorite dog.  Snoopy's philosophy makes me think.  Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?  I found this photo online to share with you.

Sorry, Snoopy, but I've started something "new" on my blog.  Or rather, I've returned to being catty.  I plan to once again post on Caturdays.  Take a look HERE at yesterday's announcement.  I have photographed my neighbor's cat.  Well, I took a picture of his photo of the cat, whose name is Samson.  It's a big cat, in need of a "big" name.  Tune in this coming Saturday to read more about it.

Deb at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon.