A Blizzard of Lies - Dave Wedge on the Karen Read Trial

OA1296 - Dave Wedge is a veteran Boston reporter and New York Times bestselling author who covered (among many other things) hundreds of murder trials as a reporter for the Boston Herald and other local outlets. Dave joins OA to discuss his new book Blizzard of Lies, the definitive account of the prosecution and two unsuccessful attempts to prosecute Karen Read for the still-unexplained death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. Beyond its excellent coverage of one of the most infamous prosecutions in modern Massachusetts history, Dave’s book takes an objective look at the case for a fascinating snapshot of how, among other things: so-called “forensic fandom” in independent and social media has driven public perception of the justice system-, Aiden “Turtleboy” Kearney’s aggressive and questionably ethical independent coverage propelled the trial into international news, and the “Free Karen Read” movement may have influenced the defense, the prosecution, and the outcome of a case which Dave convincingly argues may be an unfortunate turning point in American legal history.

Blizzard of Lies is this month’s OA Book Club selection! Patrons at every level are invited to join at 4:30 PM EST on Sunday September 27th before we discuss the book.

1. Dave Wedge’s website

2. Blizzard of Lies: Karen Read, John O’Keefe, and the Shocking Unsolved Murder in Cop Town, USA , Dave Wedge (2026)

Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!