1551. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

A departure to non-fiction. Recommended to me by my son, the movie freak. You’ll see why later.

Late 19^th century, the US government is still relocating Native Americans including the Osage, once one of the largest plains tribes. They’ve been relocated south into the Oklahoma territory, to a Godforsaken prairie on the OK-Kansas border in a region already known to have a little bit of oil. Once settled by the Osage, it turns out that oil deposits are among the largest ever discovered anywhere.

Osage Nation is smart. They negotiate not just the land but also water, mineral, and oil rights for each member. The tradeoff is that the government doesn’t think Indians are capable of handling any potential windfall, so guardianships are assigned/bought/sold to whites in the county. The Osage need permission of the guardians to spend any money they might obtain. Ownership of the rights pass only by inheritance and cannot be gifted or sold. Drilling leases are bought and sold at auction with each Osage member receiving monthly checks based on lease payments and oil sales. The Osage become rich beyond anyone's imagination.

By 1920, the members of the Osage are, per capita, among the wealthiest people on the planet. Those who were able to spend their allotments spent freely on housing, clothing, cars, travel, food/liquor. They had servants and some servants had servants. Many of whom were white. A class distinction that wasn’t well accepted.

One by one, Osage natives are dying. Some are obviously murdered. Others are being slowly poisoned. Others die mysteriously with no cause of death determined. One family is wiped out by a bomb as they slept in their beds. Investigations are slow and many deaths are either ignored or the police, juries, and politicians are bought. When questions do get asked, details point to William Hale, a local businessman, as the man pulling the strings on this 'Reign of Terror.'

The plots are truly sinister. The book focuses on the family of Mollie Burkhart who is married to Earnest Burkhart (William Hale’s nephew). With the passing of her mother and then each of her sisters, Mollie inherits their shares of the oil money. If the long-term plot was to go to its fruition, when Mollie dies, Earnest would stand to inherit the entire family allotment.

Some influential Osage convince the US Justice Department to investigate, and the issue is assigned to the new Bureau of Investigation headed by the ambitious J Edgar Hoover. Hoover assigns Tom White, a Houston investigator of some note in Texas. From here, White and his team must peel back the layers of distrust and conspiracy in a region that distrusts Washington.

Yes, Hale leads a widespread conspiracy, but turns out that the couple dozen deaths that White investigates are but the tip of an iceberg of silence. The painstaking research by author David Grann uncovers links not to dozens of deaths, but to hundreds. While not a coordinated effort to exterminate the Osage, many saw an opportunity and the means by following Hale’s blueprint.

Make no mistake. This is a disturbing narrative about just how cruel people can be in the pursuit of riches and power. The Osage were failed on so many levels that still exist today. The book focuses on the 1920s and the role the publicity of the investigation had on the creation of the FBI, but Grann brings the story to current day with interviews of descendants of the original victims who still suffer the effects of that era. One thing that bothered me was that I’d no clue any of this happened. Wish I did. My dad grew up in SW Missouri and would’ve been old enough to maybe have heard about the investigation. I would’ve asked. I wonder how much of this might be in school curricula outside of Oklahoma. Wasn’t in any of mine.

My son the movie nut said I need to read the book in advance of Martin Scorsese’s movie of the same name to be released in October 2023. I’ve said that the real genius being Schindler’s List was the screenwriter who wrote a coherent storyline from the original book (that was one tough read). I’m going to bet the same will be said about this movie (Eric Roth screenwriter). If interested, the cast is loaded: Robert DiNiro (William Hale), Leonardo DiCaprio (Earnest Burkhart), Jesse Plemmons (Thomas White), other A-listers in minor roles (e.g. John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser) and a host of Native American actors playing the Osage members. First screening will be at Cannes in May 2023. I’ll have my ticket for opening day here. This’ll be good. A film without flying superheroes or dependent on CGI. Be it print or film, this is a story not to be missed

ECD

1550. A Cold and Broken Hallelujah

A Cold and Broken Hallelujah is the third novel in a four novel series by Tyler Dilts about Long Beach Police Department homicide detective Danny Beckett and his partner, Jennifer Tanaka. Long Beach is the city in California near Los Angeles. I have written very favorable reviews about these detective murder mystery novels, and this third novel is no less interesting and exciting.

 This is a story about three gang youths who jointly throw large cups filled with gasoline on a homeless man, and then light him on fire. The kids are quickly caught, having failed to clear the area of the murder quickly enough. They were dumb enough to have a video of themselves both preparing for the murder and then actually doing the deed. One of the youths was connected to a gang lawyer, a successful guy who had actually done prison time himself for a triple homicide. While in prison, Benicio Guerra, know was “Benny War” was able to graduate from college, and once out of prison, the lawyer managed to put himself through UCLA law school with a 4.0 GPA. However, rather than lead a straight and clean life, Benny War figured out how to make crime pay the illegal way.

 

The primary plot was driven by the fact that the LBPD had no idea who the victim was. Beckett had no idea and his given street name, “Bishop” did not help them find out who he was, at least not easily. As Beckett was trying to find out Bishop’s real identity, the story took us in and around the Long Beach area, and into the local crime scene as well as the more typical Long Beach residential neighborhoods. Beckett is the guy who suffered from significant burns from an earlier on-the-job injury, and he struggled with his chronic pain and his feelings about the death of his wife who died in a traffic accident when her car caught fire. Detective Tanaka was a most interesting character who could be the primary protagonist  in other novels.

 

1549. Second Term by J.M. Adams

Dateline: September 2012. Benghazi. The US is hearing chatter about threats to the US embassy. DIA operative Cora Walker is dispatched to sort it out. She believes that the threats to the embassy and ambassador are real and recommends getting the hell out of Dodge. The main defensive force is overrun and the ground support where she is stationed is told to stand down.

STAND DOWN! With American lives at stake, she rejects the order and heads in where her team succeeds in saving some lives, but not the ambassador or the main staff. And her reputation as a crafty, creative, and ruthless leader under fire is established.

 

Dateline: December 2028. Washington, DC. Cora has left the military, done some local print and TV journalism near her SW Virginia home, birthed a daughter, and caught the eye of the national level journalism community. A job change puts her close to DC politics where her skills (and reputation) are noticed by Sarah Vasquez, the Speaker of the House, who hires Cora to be her press secretary.

Cora’s hiring is timely for the Speaker. The 2028 election has just been held. Incumbent President Timothy Locke has just been beaten in the general election. Beaten? Try thrashed. By 20 million votes. His policies and self-serving executive orders have been accepted only by the very far far far out right wingers. Tell me if this sounds familiar: the election was a fraud , invalid voting machines, inaccurate counts, foreign intervention, criminal activities by sitting senators and representatives. “God, Guns, and Locke and Load” chants roll across the nation. Weapons have been transported to DC and secured for the faithful to do what is right. Not to mention that a second term to save this country is the will of God to be orchestrated by God’s own chosen Supreme Leader. And that the only proper course of action is for the election not to be certified on January 6, 2029 and to swear Locke in for a 2nd term that evening.

Locke has so many in power in his pocket that he can command an army of loyalist National Guard to ensure that his wishes succeed. Cora’s job (amongst dozens of other tasks) is to protect the Speaker whom Locke has singled out as a primary target. In the days after Christmas, Locke has suspended habeas corpus and arrested numerous members of Congress who oppose him. And Cora has to work out a plan to get the Speaker safely out of the Capital and DC.

The stage is set for the failures of 2020 insurrection to be corrected. The morning on the 6^th dawns cold but quiet. DC and Locke's team of loyalists have no clue about the storm that is Cora Walker in combat mode.

 

Holy crap. If this book doesn’t have you on the edge of your seat, nothing will. The history, the plot, the manipulation, the ‘who can I trust?’ questions in each chapter, the final reckoning. Not a pedestrian page in the book. Now I’ve read books that are so dense with plot-double cross-triple cross that it’s hard to keep the character’s loyalties straight. Where the action is so breathless, bombastic, and improbable to have even a hair’s-breath of reality.

Not this one. The step-by-step of Locke’s plan is frighteningly plausible and Cora’s response seems so realistic. And here’s what’s impressive: The is the author’s DEBUT NOVEL. Seriously? The maturity of writing, plot and character development is unreal. Now I like to read debut novels, maybe in hope of being on the front side of a ‘next big thing’. I remember reading Term Limits by a then unknown Vince Flynn and being blown away. Same for Brad Thor’s Lion of Lucerne and The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson. In the one hour since finishing Second Term, I’m ready to lump Adams in with those heavy hitters.

I’ll plagiarize a line from Bum Phillips (former head coach of the Houston Oilers NFL team). When asked if Earl Campbell what the greatest running back in the league, Phillips said, “He may not be in a class by himself, but it doesn’t take long to call the roll.” Thinking today the class of current political thriller authors has a new student and hero: JM Adams and Cora Walker. In short: one of the very best debut political thrillers I have ever read. Let's just hope he's not a one-hit wonder. 

Another winner in a long line of winners from Oceanview Publishing. Thanks to Netgalley for making the advance reader copy available. 

Publishing date is currently set for 17 October 2023. Mark the date on your calendar.

East Coast Don

 

#1548 Animal Farm by George Orwell

 Off-Genre warning:

 Didn’t we all read Animal Farm in an 8^th grade English class? Have you had a look at that novella since then? I probably read it again when I was in my 20s, but now 50 more years have passed. The book came up in a random discussion with a friend, and I decided to have another look. It’s remarkable how current the book is today. Although it was written in response to the Russian revolution of 1917 and especially in response to Stalin’s dictatorial and violent rise to power, it is an important book regarding the rise of dictatorships in the current world. It is a story about the vulnerability of democracy.  It is a great tale about how power corrupts humanity, no matter how noble were the original intents. It's a short read, and the power of Orwell’s fable remains impressive.

1547. Night Candy by Max Tomlinson

 #4 (of 5) Colleen Hayes mysteries. 

Couple details: It's December 1979. Colleen is an unlicensed PI in San Francisco. She's from Colorado where she served near 10y for murdering her husband when she found out he was abusing their daughter Pam. Near the end of Colleen's sentence, Pam took off for California where she joined up with a cult (the subject of a couple earlier books). When paroled, Colleen took off for California hoping to reconnect with Pam. They did, sort of. Pam was pregnant, lost the baby, and bolted again. Finding Pam remains Colleen's primary obsession. 

But bills have to be paid and she does what so many PIs do, tracking down philandering spouses. Plus she is attempting to get three young girls off the street corners. And she remains a sympathetic shoulder for SF homicide inspector Owens who, even a year later, hasn't moved on from his divorce from Alice. 

And that's the problem. Owens and Alice were making an attempt at reconciliation. They are headed for a romantic weekend at the site of their honeymoon near coastal Sonoma County. That's the last Colleen had heard from Owens until she gets word that that the romantic bungalow had burned down. In the debris is a badly burned female corpse tentatively identified as the former Mrs. Owens, a handgun licensed to Owens, and 2 bullet holes in the corpse. Doesn't take long for the local and county cops to lock up Owens. 

Most would see this as and open and shut case. Not Colleen. She and Owens may have butted heads on  earlier cases, but now, he is her closest confidant. The feeling is mutual. No one believes Owen other than Colleen. 

The trail seemed fairly straightforward. Find out who's framing Owens and why. And the why is where the trail takes a circuitous path toward the truth. An old beau (hers and Alice's), an insurance policy, a less than trustworthy dentist, one of the 3 street hookers and their pimp, SFPD Internal Affairs office, the lack of a corpse for a missing trans hooker. What started off looking to be a straight line investigation is anything but.

As stated, this is the 4th (of 5) Colleen Hayes mysteries (published by Oceanview Publishing . . . there's that name again. Publishers on quality mysteries and police procedurals). About the time I had read 50% of the book, the cards sure looked to be stacked against Owens. The case looked like it was locked up tight. What else could Tomlinson do with this story? Plenty. By comparison, the 2nd half of the book was a ton more interesting and engaging with the rapid fire twists to the story. 

I tend to read books envisioning whether it has TV/Movie potential. The best thing about this series is Colleen Hayes. Ex-con, tough as nails, not quite middle aged, unconcerned about chain of evidence, B&E, carrying a firearm (a felony), or any number of things that might get tossed out of court, her hippie/cowboy/surfer lawyer, and Tomlinson's attention to late 1970s detail. Lot of fun characters. What's not to love for Hollywood? And I'm the right age to identify with the 70s.

Check out the Colleen Hayes books. I will find #5 and get back to you. Confident they'll be a hit with you.

East Coast Don

1546. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

After reviewing nearly 1550 books over the last 14 years, most of which are thrillers and murder mysteries, I thought it might be fun to read one of the original authors in this genre, The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. It was published in 1939, and movies of the same title were made in 1946 (screenplay by William Faulkner, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Becall), and 1978 (starring Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, and Richard Boone). Chandler’s private detective was Phillip Marlowe, and there was also a television series about Marlowe that ran for two seasons in 1983 and 1986 (of which I have no recall).

 As is typical of so many modern day sleuths, Marlowe was a flawed character who drank to excess, but who was honest and capable of solving complex crimes. The story is based in L.A. and portrays a dark side of life in the 1930s  which is rife with violence and dishonesty. On the one hand, this was not good literature and there were problems with the plot as the characters jumped from one scene to another. There were too many coincidences for the plot to be taken seriously. Chandler wrote nearly nonstop similes that were supposed to represent the tough language of the way his bad guys talked to each other, and thought to themselves. Really, the characters were impossible to be believed. His mistreatment of minorities and gays would not be tolerated in the current world of publishing. On the other hand, there was still a charming quality to the book that I enjoyed. However, I’m not tempted to read any more of the seven book series that Chandler wrote. There is no denying that he was one of the early masters of this genre.

1545. Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships by Nina Totenberg

This is an off-genre topic, not our usual murder mystery/thriller.

 Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships has been written by Nina Totenberg about her friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the recently deceased Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. She was nominated by Bill Clinton and served on the court for 27 years. It’s my opinion that Ginsberg was a once-in-a-lifetime character who constantly showed grace and wisdom in her decisions.

 

This was more of an autobiography by Totenberg than a book that strictly focused on Ginsberg. Totenberg was an interesting woman who had some important differences from Ginsberg, such as the fact that Totenberg dropped out of Boston College in her third year. To write that Totenberg lived a less strict live than did Ginsberg would be a vast understatement. Totenberg came from wealth and it was her mother’s friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt that led to her internship at the White House and subsequent rise to being an insider in Washington political circles. Ginsberg gave from jews who escaped the holocaust in 1935 and who started life in the U.S. as paupers, although her father had already been recognized as a world-renowned virtuoso violinist. Both had to contend with careers in which women had not yet found a place, Ginsberg in the law and Totenberg in journalism.

 

As the subtitle suggests, this was a story about friendships. The friendships were not only Totenberg and Ginsberg, but Totenberg’s circle included other women who were fighting their way through female-resistant corporate structures, including Cokie Roberts and Leslie Stahl. Totenberg’s life was interesting enough on its own, and her relationship with Ginsberg only added a significant richness to the story. It’s remarkable that both Ginsberg and the author maintained rigid professional standards throughout their relationship, never revealing information to one another that was protected. The same can be said about Totenberg’s relationship with her husband, a physician who was treating Ginsberg and her friends, but never broke their doctor-patient confidentiality, so she did not learn of Ginsberg’s last and fatal bout with cancer until the very end of life.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it a high rating. It is a powerful story about love. I consumed this one in audiobook format, and it was Totenberg who read her own novel, which surely enhanced the experience for this reader.