Blizzard of Lies

"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.