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Quick answer: If you loved Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann, try The Lost City of Z by David Grann, The Wager by David Grann, Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, The Radium Girls by Kate Moore and In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
Killers of the Flower Moon tells the story of the Osage murders of the 1920s, when members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, who had become rich through oil on their land, began to be killed in alarming numbers. David Grann follows the case through the investigation by the new FBI and its agent Tom White, revealing a conspiracy far larger than anyone had imagined. The book is a gripping piece of narrative nonfiction that also confronts a hidden chapter of American history. The picks below share its true-crime tension, deep research and forgotten stories. They suit adult readers, and some include disturbing content.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Killers of the Flower Moon
Readers love Killers of the Flower Moon because it reads like a thriller and feels like a revelation. Grann structures the book in three parts, shifting from the Osage perspective to the investigator’s to a final section about what he discovered himself, which changes what we think the book is about. He is respectful to the Osage people and relies on archives, interviews and descendants’ accounts. The material is shocking but handled with care. A 2023 film directed by Martin Scorsese brought the story to a wider audience, and many viewers sought out the book afterward.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Killers of the Flower Moon: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lost City of Z | David Grann | Adventure history | More David Grann |
| The Wager | David Grann | Adventure history | Survival and mutiny |
| Say Nothing | Patrick Radden Keefe | True crime and history | Hidden conflicts |
| The Devil in the White City | Erik Larson | Narrative history | Crime and history entwined |
| The Radium Girls | Kate Moore | History | Hidden injustice |
| American Fire | Monica Hesse | True crime | Small-town crime |
| In Cold Blood | Truman Capote | True crime classic | The original true-crime novel |
| Bad Blood | John Carreyrou | Investigative | Corporate deception |
| Empire of Pain | Patrick Radden Keefe | Investigative | Power and consequences |
| I’ll Be Gone in the Dark | Michelle McNamara | True crime | A real-life search |
| Devil in the Grove | Gilbert King | History and law | Justice denied |
| The Burning | Tim Madigan | History | A buried massacre |
| The Poisoner’s Handbook | Deborah Blum | Science and history | Crime and forensics |
| Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil | John Berendt | True crime | Southern atmosphere |
| Columbine | Dave Cullen | True crime | Careful, serious reporting |
1. The Lost City of Z by David Grann
Grann follows the obsessive search for a lost city in the Amazon by British explorer Percy Fawcett, who vanished in 1925, and then ventures into the jungle himself. It’s a gripping tale of exploration and obsession.
2. The Wager by David Grann
A British warship, the Wager, is wrecked off Patagonia in 1741, and the survivors give wildly different accounts of what happened. It’s an epic of survival and storytelling.
3. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
The story of the disappearance of a mother of ten in Belfast and the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It’s deeply reported, moving and sometimes shocking.
4. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The story of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and a serial killer who used it to lure victims. It alternates between architects and a murderer, and is a classic of narrative nonfiction.
5. The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
In the 1910s and 1920s, young women who painted watch dials with radium paint were slowly poisoned, and fought for justice in court. It’s moving, well-researched and angry.
6. American Fire by Monica Hesse
A series of arsons strikes rural Virginia, and the author investigates who is behind them and why. It’s a thoughtful look at a forgotten community.
7. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The 1959 murders of a Kansas farm family and the killers who were caught. It helped to define the genre of true-crime writing.
8. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
The inside story of Theranos, the blood-testing startup that turned out to be a fraud. It’s tense and reads like a thriller.
9. Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
The history of the Sackler family and the opioid crisis, based on years of reporting. It’s long, thorough and infuriating.
10. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
McNamara’s investigation of the Golden State Killer, completed after her death by others. It’s compelling and humane.
11. Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King
The story of the Groveland Four, young Black men falsely accused of a crime in 1949 Florida, and the lawyer Thurgood Marshall. It won the Pulitzer Prize.
12. The Burning by Tim Madigan
The story of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, in which a white mob destroyed a prosperous Black neighborhood. It’s carefully researched and sobering.
13. The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum
The story of the birth of forensic science in 1920s New York, told through the lives of a medical examiner and a toxicologist. It’s fascinating.
14. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
A story of murder and eccentrics in Savannah, Georgia. It’s colorful, witty and a bestselling classic.
15. Columbine by Dave Cullen
A long investigation into the 1999 school shooting and what the public got wrong. It’s heavy but thoughtful, and deals with violence against children, so approach it with care.
How to Pick Your Next True-Crime or History Read
- Want more David Grann? The Lost City of Z and The Wager.
- Want hidden history? The Radium Girls and The Burning.
- Want a classic? In Cold Blood and The Devil in the White City.
- Want investigative reporting? Say Nothing and Bad Blood.
- Want something gentler? The Poisoner’s Handbook and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
- Check content notes. Several of these books describe real violence.
The Real History Behind the Book
The Osage bought their reservation land in Oklahoma, and it turned out to sit on one of the richest oil fields in America. Each Osage member held a headright, a share in the mineral rights, which made many wealthy and made them targets for people who wanted that money. The murders, known as the Reign of Terror, took place in the 1920s, and the case was one of the first major investigations of the Bureau of Investigation, later renamed the FBI. The Osage Nation continues to tell its own history, and many readers pair the book with works by Osage authors.
Other Books About the Osage
To understand the story more fully, look for resources from the Osage themselves. The Osage Nation and its museum share history and educational material online. Some readers also recommend Linda Hogan’s novel Mean Spirit, a fictional story inspired by the same events. Reading these works alongside Grann’s book gives a fuller picture and helps place the murders in the long history of land and rights. Whenever possible, support Native voices and Native-owned bookstores.
What Is Narrative Nonfiction?
Narrative nonfiction tells true stories using the techniques of fiction: scenes, characters, suspense and a strong structure. It relies on extensive research, and the best authors are careful to separate what they know from what they imagine. Books like Killers of the Flower Moon, The Devil in the White City and Say Nothing are examples. They’re popular because they combine education and entertainment, and because they often reveal the hidden pasts of familiar places. If you enjoy this style, look for award lists such as the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction or the Andrew Carnegie Medals.
Content Notes
Killers of the Flower Moon describes murders, poisonings, racism and exploitation, and it contains painful stories about real families. Some of the books on this list cover war, torture or sexual violence, including Say Nothing and The Radium Girls, which describes the suffering of poisoned workers. If you want a gentler read, start with The Wager or The Lost City of Z, both of which focus on exploration and survival. If you want more on crime, In Cold Blood and The Devil in the White City are classic choices. Take breaks when you need to; these are heavy stories.
A David Grann Reading Plan
If you want to read all of David Grann, a good order is The Lost City of Z for adventure, Killers of the Flower Moon for crime and history, and The Wager for survival at sea. His essay collection, The Devil and Sherlock Holmes, gathers shorter pieces first published in The New Yorker, many of them strange and wonderful. Grann tends to spend years on each project, and his books reflect deep research and a talent for finding hidden stories. Reading them in any order is rewarding, and each stands alone.
Related: best nonfiction books for book clubs and best true crime books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Killers of the Flower Moon?
David Grann’s own The Lost City of Z and The Wager are the closest matches in style. For true crime, try The Devil in the White City or In Cold Blood.
Is Killers of the Flower Moon a true story?
Yes. It’s based on the real murders of Osage people in the 1920s and the FBI investigation.
Should I read the book before seeing the film?
Most readers recommend reading the book first, since it tells a different part of the story and includes a final section about the author’s own research.
Is it appropriate for teens?
It contains violence and mature themes, but many older teens read it in school or on their own.
What should I read after Killers of the Flower Moon?
Try The Lost City of Z, The Wager or Say Nothing, depending on whether you want adventure or investigative reporting.