Blizzard of Lies: Karen Read, John O'Keefe, and the Shocking Unsolved Murder in Cop Town, USA by Wedge, Dave

"A propulsive recap of a fascinating case." --Publishers Weekly

"This is, hands down, one of the best works of crime nonfiction to hit shelves in years." --Booklist

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 murder 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.

Author: Dave Wedge
Publisher: Benbella Books
Published: 07/28/2026
Pages: 296
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.88lbs
Size: 9.10h x 5.90w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781637749289

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 05/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 06/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2026

About the Author
Dave Wedge is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning investigative journalist who wrote for the Boston Herald for 14 years. His book about the 2013 Boston Marathon attacks, Boston Strong: A City's Triumph Over Tragedy, was adapted for the 2016 movie Patriots Day. He has written bestsellers about Tom Brady and "Deflategate," Whitey Bulger, and John Lennon. His most recent books, Riding with Evil: Taking Down the Notorious Pagan Motorcycle Gang and Blood & Hate: The Untold Story of Marvelous Marvin Hagler's Battle for Glory, are both in development as feature films.

Dave is also a co-producer on Hunting Whitey Bulger, a three-episode Hulu docuseries produced and narrated by Ben Affleck and based on Dave's book, Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America's Most Wanted Crime Boss. The series airs in early 2027. He is represented by The Gotham Group and Sterling Lord Literistic. Find him on Instagram @davidmwedge.