David Grann has skyrocketed to the top of the nonfiction writing game in the past decade. Scorsese’s recent adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon and the news of him teaming up with DiCaprio again for The Wager only add fuel to the fire. But before we get swept away by Hollywood glitz, let’s dive deeper into the source material itself. So, buckle up, bookworms, because, in this post, we’ll be exploring all of David Grann’s books ranked according to their Goodreads ratings. Prepare to discover hidden gems, revisit old favorites, and maybe even find your next literary adventure!
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using links on this page, we may earn a commission.
All of David Grann’s Books in Ranked According to Goodreads Rating
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann
Goodreads rating 4.23 / 5
Released April 18, 2023 by Doubleday
A shipwreck on a desolate Patagonian island forces starving survivors into a desperate gamble: build a flimsy boat and sail a thousand miles across treacherous seas. Amidst starvation, disease, and whispers of cannibalism, young midshipman John Byron leads the perilous voyage, only to face accusations of mutiny and murder upon reaching land.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, by David Grann
Goodreads rating 4.15 / 5
Released October 10, 2023 by Vintage
Oklahoma’s 1920s sun-kissed oil-drenched soil, birthing not crops but avarice. The once tranquil Osage Nation morphed into a hunting ground, with wealthy Osage stalked by whispers and bullets. Murders, one by one, stained the land, but from the ashes rose Tom White, an FBI agent with eyes like steel. He and his relentless team, undeterred by shadows and lies, clawed through deceit, sniffing out truth buried in greed.
The White Darkness, by David Grann
Goodreads rating 3.94 / 5
Released October 30, 2018 by Doubleday
Haunted by Shackleton’s icy ghost, British soldier Henry Worsley plunges into Antarctica’s white hell in Grann’s The White Darkness. Obsessed with the explorer’s failed South Pole attempts, Worsley devours diaries, collects relics, and yearns to walk in his footsteps. Grueling expeditions unfold: in 2008, a team trek across unforgiving mountains, pushing Worsley to conquer what Shackleton couldn’t – the South Pole. Yet, the frozen grip tightens. Home offers no solace, only the unfinished challenge of Shackleton’s solo crossing. At 55, Worsley embarks, dragging a sled across 1,700 miles of desolate whiteness.
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, by David Grann
Goodreads rating 3.88 / 5
Released February 24, 2009 by Doubleday
Driven by a tattered diary and the whispers of a lost civilization, British explorer Percy Fawcett embarks on a series of Amazonian expeditions in Grann’s The Lost City of Z. Haunting rumors of El Dorado, a glittering city hidden in the jungle’s depths, ignite Fawcett’s ambition, propelling him into a treacherous dance with the rainforest. He and his men battle fever, starvation, and hostile tribes, while the Amazon throws up its own nightmarish obstacles – from piranha-infested rivers to poisonous snakes and headhunters lurking in the shadows. Yet, Fawcett’s obsession becomes his compass, each failed expedition strengthening his resolve to find the mythical city.
The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness & Obsession, by David Grann
Goodreads rating 3.79 / 5
Released January 1, 2010 by Doubleday
In David Grann’s captivating anthology, The Devil and Sherlock Holmes, you won’t find the iconic detective himself, but rather a collection of true-life mysteries just as perplexing and thrilling. Plunge into a world where obsession breeds deception (think a renowned Sherlock Holmes scholar found dead in suspicious circumstances) and ambition fuels madness (like an arson investigator racing to prove an innocent man’s last wish).
The Old Man and the Gun: And Other Tales of True Crime, by David Grann
Goodreads rating 3.72 / 5
Released September 4, 2018 by Vintage
The Old Man and the Gun isn’t your typical collection of grisly murders and cold cases. It’s a rollercoaster ride through three captivating true-crime narratives that blur the lines between fascination and revulsion. First, strap in for the whirlwind tale of Forrest Tucker, a charming, silver-haired bank robber who pulled off daring heists well into his seventies, baffling authorities and captivating. Then, dive into the labyrinthine mind of a Polish detective haunted by the chilling possibility that a famed novelist’s work may hold the key to a decades-old murder. Finally, witness the audacious con game of Frédéric Bourdin, a French chameleon who slithered into the life of a missing Texas teenager, only to find himself ensnared in a web of his own deception.
