Dave Wedge with Tori Bedford: Blizzard of Lies

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In January 2022, a Boston police officer turned up dead in the snow, seemingly a victim of a simple hit-and-run.
But Officer John O’Keefe’s death kicked off a scandalous whodunit that invited federal scrutiny and triggered nationwide outrage.
The explosive story of O’Keefe’s death, and the subsequent accusation and trial of his girlfriend Karen Read, ignited one of the most high-profile true crime mysteries in decades. The apparently open-and-shut manslaughter case quickly devolved into a chaotic mixture of lies, institutional corruption, and police cover-ups that threw the Massachusetts law enforcement scene into turmoil.
And Read’s 2025 acquittal left O’Keefe’s death an unresolved mystery, with more questions than answers.
With dramatic twists including a rogue journalist, a mistrial, and polarizing public protests—along with revelations that called several other M**der cases into question—Blizzard of Lies is a Boston-area veteran reporter’s detailed and immersive account of one of the most controversial crime stories of his career.
Featuring interviews with people on both sides of the case, including law enforcement, Read and her legal team, and the O’Keefe family, investigative journalist Dave Wedge shares inside stories and new details on:

• John O’Keefe’s turbulent relationship with Karen Read
• Evidence excluded from the courtroom
• Additional cases now in jeopardy because of misconduct uncovered during Read’s trial
• Heroic acts from O’Keefe’s policing career
• The O'Keefe family’s civil suit and ongoing pursuit of the truth

The definitive narrative of a controversial, headline-grabbing tragedy, Blizzard of Lies dispels the myths and misinformation around John O’Keefe’s death to chronicle a vivid account of a complex case and the lasting emotional toll on all involved.

Dave Wedge is a New York Times bestselling author based in Boston. His books include: Boston Strong: A City's Triumph Over Tragedy, a non-fiction drama about the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings adapted for the 2017 movie Patriots Day; Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America’s Most Wanted Crime Boss, which is soon to be a three-part Hulu docuseries with Ben Affleck narrating and co-producing; Ice Bucket Challenge: Pete Frates and the Fight Against ALS; 12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady's Fight for Redemption; The Last Days of John Lennon, written with Casey Sherman and James Patterson; Riding With Evil: Taking Down the Notorious Pagans Motorcycle Gang, and Blood & Hate: The Untold Story of Marvelous Marvin Hagler's Battle for Glory, which is in development as a feature film with Academy Award-winner Sam Rockwell.

Tori Bedford is an Emmy-winning on-air radio and television host and reporter at GBH News, an NPR and PBS affiliate based in Boston.

Brookline Booksmith, thriving in the heart of Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Massachusetts, since 1961, is one of New England’s premier independent bookstores. We offer a vast selection of books, ranging from current bestsellers to the most eclectic titles. We are also known for our beautiful and inspired gifts. Customers buy and sell gently used books in our treasured Used Book Cellar and enjoy our bountiful bargain book selection. We host award-winning events series (including our groundbreaking Transnational Literature Series), offering more than 300 author talks, community conversations, and book clubs annually. Find more at brooklinebooksmith.com!