The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise

by Casey Sherman

The scandal. The genius. The murder that shocked America.

Frank Lloyd Wright was more than the mind behind America's most iconic buildings—he was a man whose turbulent private life captivated a nation. The famous architect's stormy marriage to Kitty Wright and his infamous affair with another woman, Mamah Borthwick, ignited one of the country's first celebrity scandals, splashed across headlines from coast to coast.

Then, in August 1914, scandal turned to horror. A tragedy at Taliesin, the Wisconsin home Wright built as a monument to love, shook the very foundation of Wright's life—and catapulted him back to the front pages of newspapers across the country as readers clamored for glimpses of his very darkest moments.

In The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright, New York Times bestselling author Casey Sherman delves beyond the myth of Wright's genius to reveal a man of relentless ambition, consuming passion, and devastating loss. With haunting intimacy and propulsive storytelling, Sherman delivers a portrait of an artist who could not escape the shadows of his own making—and who rose, again and again, from the ashes.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Crime, Audiobook, Historical

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2026

About the author

Casey Sherman is a New York Times Bestselling Author of 13 books including The Finest Hours (now a major motion picture starring Casey Affleck & Chris Pine), Boston Strong (the basis for the film Patriots Day starring Mark Wahlberg), Animal & Hunting Whitey.
Sherman is also the author of 12, Search for the Strangler, Animal, Bad Blood, Black Irish, Black Dragon, Above & Beyond and The Ice Bucket Challenge.
Sherman is a contributing writer for TIME, Esquire, Washington Post, Boston Herald and Boston Magazine and has appeared as a guest an analyst on more than 100 television news programs.
Sherman is a graduate of Barnstable High School (Cape Cod), Fryeburg Academy (Fryeburg, Me.) and Boston University.

Reviews

[Jessica Betz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just wasn’t good. I found myself skimming at multiple points in an attempt to get through it. The title alone was incredibly misleading - “Mass Murder in Paradise, The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright” yet the topic of the murders was the smallest portion of the book. This book should not be labeled as true crime, but rather a biography. This is an exhaustive telling of what a horny, self-centered, and entitled man Frank was. This book focused so much on his romantic relationships rather than much detail of the murders with his architectural feats thrown in. Additionally, I would’ve expected to hear more of the authors own voice than just a ton of bits and pieces glued together from other works. In fact, the bibliography may have even been longer than the murder portion of the book.

[Kasandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5

A fairly short account of the life of Frank Lloyd Wright with a focus on the murders that occurred at one of his homes.

I knew of FLW from school but only knew small handful of facts. I was surprised when no one else in my family (parents grandparents siblings and kids) had heard of him or any of his work. So it might not be shocking to learn I didn’t know much of anything about him as a person.

This book is not comprehensive, but it’s a quick overview with an emphasis on a few key years and events. If you’re looking for high level l, this will work, but it does miss out on a lot. At one point, Sherman very casually mentions FLW is the most popular architect in the US and up to this point he only mentions about 4-5 five homes FLW worked on. So I had to pause and try to grapple with this and did my own research to find just how many homes FLW design and were built. And then I realize it’s 20 years of his life in in those short chapters.

If you have an interest in the architecture, this book delves into a few key homes and does provide some insights but it’s severely lacking a lot. I wish there had been a least more dedicated to explaining how many works he designed and maybe locations and names but it’s not even mentioned as far I can remember.

Once Mamah is introduced there’s little to no architecture other then about Taliesin. The focus shifts to the coverage of tabloid like drama in FLW’s life that leads up to the events causally mentioned at the beginning - a fire at Taliesin. This part tries to reiterate how terrible the news coverage was and how it affected FLW and the dangers of sensationalism but it also feels like it leans into being scandalous especially with the title of the book and it being such a central focus.

After this, the book still continues on but still condensed. The focus is on Miriam and their life in Japan and the ongoing tribulations FLW experiences along with more news scandal. If casually mentions Fallingwater, Taliesin West and the Guggenheim in the last few pages.

This makes the pacing so funky. If the goal is the focus on the scandal and the murders I feel like a final chapter highlighting his key events would make way more sense then drawing out the last 40% of the book and still abruptly condensing the last 30-40 years of his life into so few pages anyway.

Not only that the books gets repetitive with how certain events are recalled and it’s very unnecessary.

Another problem is that this book is not polished or professional. If has weird idioms and phrases and an informal conversation like tone that makes the book read like a high school paper. Even the paragraph and chapter structure is juvenile.

For some reason almost every single chapter ends with a hint or straight up reveal what is going to happen next. I couldn’t help but think of those click bait style headlines - you won’t believe what happens next - type structure or sometimes it would just say what happens and then you have to still read 4-5 pages of it. It ruins any type of buildup and is completely unnecessary in NF writing. I don’t need chapter ending cliff hangers to create suspense.

The book is well researched and I think the last 25% of the book is sources. And after awhile the sophomoric tone becomes less pronounced.

Overall, if you are looking for the bare minimum architecture and want to know about FLW personal life and the scandals that followed and the tragedies then this is a decent read. Since it’s informal and written at a lower reading level it’s a fast read for the most part. If you are looking for a more balanced approach to his life with more details on the 500+ homes and buildings FLW designed and were built this is a letdown with only having 10-15 mentioned.

Bottom line I think you can find more polished and professional books about Frank Lloyd Wright m, one that feels less sensationalized than this one. I did learn a lot so I don’t want to take away the level of work Sherman did put into the pages it just wasn’t my style of writing I like in my non-fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and sourcebooks for providing an ARC of the book.

[Chesli]

You may know Frank Lloyd Wright for the mark he left on architecture, but did you know how tumultuous his personal life was? Casey Sherman provides a quick glimpse at the life of this legendary architect and educator by documenting his triumphs, love life, professional missteps, personal scandals, and the unfortunate tragedy that occurred at Taliesin in 1914. Sherman's cinematic pacing and quick chapters immerse you in the historical context and help you gain a better understanding not only of Wright but also of his companions, notably Mamah Borthwick.

Overall, I did love learning about all of the things (good and bad) associated with Frank Lloyd Wright; however, I do wish the killing had been more central to the text. It felt like a blip, with the bulk of the book focusing more on the general scandal of affairs, divorces, and marriages. I wish the title had been edited to more closely reflect the broader net the book was casting. Loved the writing style, but it left me wanting a bit more focused read or some new developments regarding the 1914 murders.

3.25/5 rounded to 3 stars

[VeroniCanRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐ ARC Review - A drama-filled story that fascinates and scandalizes as it uncovers the passions, crimes, lies, and true history of the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

🏠 For Fans of:
- biography
- architecture
- behind the curtain
- family drama
- scandals
- podcast-style books
- true crime

✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
As someone who took only two history of architecture courses in university, Frank Lloyd Wright is a name that stuck with in. Soon after graduation, I moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I found the Meyer May House and Amberg House.

At no point during the Meyer May House tour nor during my classes did they touch upon the scandalous side of this architecture’s life.

Well, let me tell ya!

There are difficult childhoods, debt troubles, lies upon lies, troubled marriages, cheating, and so. many. scandals!

The drama escalates but clearly sets a pattern from childhood to adulthood so as author Casey Sherman draws us closer to the final scandal turned murderous tragedy. But, as it so often does, life goes on and we get to follow along with

I thoroughly enjoyed the way all the information was presented, pulling from properly sourced items (articles, memoir, autobiographies, direct quotes, etc.). It truly read like I was listening to a great podcast with the perfect layout of childhood-youth-adulhood timeline, leaning into the troubles that were caused and pushed upon Wright, and the occasional cheeky phrasing that kept the book scandalous yet endlessly entertaining.

🖤 Thank you to author Casey Sherman, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for the free advanced digital copy. As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise by Casey Sherman
📅 Release Date: May 26, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.25 out of 5

[Beth]

I'm not going to rate this book because I didn't finish it BUT I picked up the book and read as far as I did because Frank Lloyd Wright is an interesting historical figure and this book is well written. I just find given the volume of books available and the fact that I read a lovely novel about Frank Lloyd Wright, that this was too repetitive. What did I expect right?

In fairness, if you haven't read a book about Frank Lloyd Wright, and find his life to have been interesting, this book is a great place to learn more.

Recommend.

[Cassie (eclectically.bookish.cassie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

Can this be properly categorized as True Crime? I don't read a lot of books in this genre, but I imagined this to be a whole lot more riveting than it was. The book opens with the fire at Frank Lloyd Wright's "paradise" compound in Wisconsin and gives no explanation of the events leading up to it. It then jumps into Wright's early life and traces basically his entire biography. The true crime events of this don't come into play until at least half way through. While learning more about Wright's ambition, personal relationships with family, lovers, and children, and his impact and influence was interesting, this book was simply not what it was billed to be, in my opinion. If you go in expecting biography and history more than scandal and mystery, I think you could enjoy it. For me, it was lacking.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the advance reader copy and the opportunity to review early.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was a very interesting biography of Frank Lloyd Wright. While I was aware of the murders at Taliesen, I didn't know about all of the scandals that Wright faced throughout his life. His attitude toward society's rules reminds me of other geniuses - of course they don't apply to him! I'd love to hear all of this from his children's point of view, since it seems like they were often left behind.

My only issue with this book is that the title is kind of misleading. While it does tell the story of the murders, that's only maybe 20% of the book, and the cover makes it look like Mamah was the killer. I suppose most people don't know about it, though, and it would get them to pick up the book.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a long-time fan of the work of FLW. I’d only heard bits about his life…this was an interesting read.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot of new information. William R. Drennan’s book , Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders, covers the same ground and is a much better read. (See my review)

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, cinematic 1910s historical true-crime masterclass.

"A meticulous, deeply atmospheric narrative that pairs a legendary architect's personal scandal with the chilling urgency of an investigative podcast."

In THE KILLER AND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, bestselling author Casey Sherman departs from standard biographical texts to deliver a deeply haunting, Edwardian-era true-crime thriller mystery. The story hinges on a towering creative genius whose scandalous romantic choices indirectly put a mass murderer inside his own home. Genius vs. homegrown monster.

Elevator Pitch
The tragic true story of the notorious 1914 massacre at Frank Lloyd Wright’s secluded Wisconsin estate, chronicling how America’s most brilliant architect overcame devastating personal tragedy and societal exile to achieve architectural immortality.

Setting
The early 1900s, moving from bustling Chicago streets to the rolling hills of Spring Green, Wisconsin. The centerpiece is Taliesin, a secluded estate designed as a monument to love and sanctuary, which ultimately turned into a gruesome crime scene.

Vibe
Cinematic, suspenseful, and haunting. It blends the rigid social expectations of the Edwardian era with the slow-burning dread of a high-end investigative podcast.

Genre: Nonfiction / Historical True Crime / Biographical Drama.

Themes
~The High Cost of Genius
~Societal Hypocrisy
~Female Agency

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT: THE ARCHITECT OF OBSESSION
Turning personal tragedy into a crucible for creative survival.

Standout Characters
~Frank Lloyd Wright:
The protagonist, brilliant, unapologetically ambitious, and deeply flawed, whose massive ego is shown alongside his architectural brilliance.

~Mamah Borthwick:
Wright’s partner, an independent, intellectual, and trailblazing feminist given true agency away from the shadow of being a "mistress."

Author Writing Standout
Sherman’s background in high-end investigative journalism shines through in his meticulous, highly cinematic pacing. He avoids dry historical text, writing the everyday logistics of early 20th-century life and the harrowing timeline of the Taliesin massacre with striking, tactile realism.

Takeaway
Great art often requires the crucible of profound loss; while tragedy can shatter a paradise from the outside, a true creator will use the ghosts of the past to build their greatest triumphs.

Title Significance
The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright act as a stark acknowledgment of a dark chapter in American history. It represents the intersection of Wright's lifestyle choices and the media's obsession with his scandals, hinting that his desire to escape society inadvertently drew a deadly threat into his inner sanctuary.

Metaphor
Wright’s estate, Taliesin, serves as the central metaphor of the book. It represents a physical manifestation of his paradise and creative ego that was violently shattered, only to become the foundation from which he repeatedly rose from the ashes.

Why You Should Read
Read this if you are a fan of cinematic, investigative historical non-fiction like The Devil in the White City, or if you want an atmospheric true-crime story that exposes the raw, human cost behind one of America's greatest architectural legends.

My Thoughts
The narrative succeeds beautifully in building historical tension. The 1900s timeline is perfectly captured—not just in its aesthetics, but in the sharp contrast between rigid Chicago society and the isolated freedom of Wisconsin. Wright is an unforgettable, unvarnished lead, while the focus on Mamah’s intellectual independence is deeply refreshing. A masterfully executed, high-stakes timeline.

Verdict: 5 / 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"An engrossing, beautifully researched historical true-crime hybrid that seamlessly balances human drama with a horrific American tragedy."

Recs
~The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson (for the rich historical atmosphere and true-crime depth)
~ Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders Author: William R. Drennan December, 2008 by William R. Drennan
~Loving Frank by Nancy Horan is a bestselling biographical fiction book that approaches the same tragedy from a personal angle.

Special thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 9, 2026
June 2026 Must-Read Books
June Newsletter

[Paul Emilio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book title can be somewhat misleading. I say, somewhat. When I picked up to read The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise, by Casey Sherman, I expected an account of famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s reaction to the massacre that occurred at his Wisconsin home, Taliesin, and the motivations of the massacreur, Julian Carlton.

What I got was a biography. With details of the crime and the criminal.

Not that I minded as much, but I was hoping for an in depth analysis of the historical mass murder. So it goes.

Frank Lloyd Wright was famous for his innovative building designs, and also, at the time, infamous for his dalliances. Or so they said. He was more of a serial monogamist. He was accused of adultery, married to women who wouldn’t let go, and dogged by the media for a good portion of his life. He just wanted to be left alone but couldn’t stand being so.

There were many strong women in his life who influenced him. Frank Lloyd Wright's mother, Anna Lloyd Jones Wright, played a crucial role in shaping his future. As an educator, she determined that her son would become an architect even before his birth, adorning his nursery with images of European cathedrals to ignite his enduring passion for the discipline. His first wife, Catherine "Kitty" Lee Tobin, significantly impacted the architect by serving as a muse for domestic life and a stabilizing partner during his formative years in Oak Park, Illinois.

But the brilliant architect couldn’t stay hitched for long.

Martha "Mamah" Borthwick Cheney, his first mistress, greatly shaped his life and artistic endeavors. As a highly educated feminist, she acquainted Wright with progressive European thoughts, igniting his dream of an ideal, harmonious haven. For years, Kitty Wright refused to divorce her husband, making his private life with Mamah that much more difficult.

Mamah’s life, and the lives of her two children from a previous marriage, ended tragically: a frantic butler of Wright’s, Julian Carlton, suffering from severe moodiness and paranoia, brandished an axe and murdered them and four other employees at Taliesin on August 15, 1914. He set the place on fire and swallowed muriatic acid before he fled. Wright was away on business at the time of the incident. Following the killer's death soon after capture, the official investigation largely relied on the testimonies of survivors, forensic evidence, and statements from Carlton's spouse. I was hoping for more details, but they just weren’t there.

Wright was never the same afterwards.

The architect's second spouse was Maude "Miriam" Noel, a sculptor he wed in November 1923. Their short and tumultuous union fell apart within a year, primarily due to her serious morphine addiction, resulting in a contentious and widely publicized separation followed by their divorce in 1927. Wright’s third and final wife—who he met and fathered a child with while still married to Miriam—was Olgivanna Lloyd Wright, a Montenegrin dancer, author, and composer. They quietly tied the knot in 1928, established the Taliesin Fellowship apprenticeship program in 1932, and created the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in 1940. She directed the foundation until her passing in 1985.

Frank Lloyd Wright's influence on Tokyo showcases a fascinating cultural exchange that flows in both directions. His Prairie School style drew considerable inspiration from Japanese architecture, while he introduced groundbreaking seismic engineering and organic design principles to Tokyo, which have greatly impacted modern Japanese architecture. His masterpiece, The Imperial Hotel, with a floating foundation and interlocking sections to safeguard against earthquakes, was completed in 1922.

Advocating for "organic architecture," Wright was a trailblazer in open floor plans, integrated furniture, and the creation of a seamless connection between buildings and the natural environment. Throughout his 70-year career, he completed more than 500 projects, fundamentally transforming our approach to designing and experiencing space. The famous architect died on April 9, 1959, in Phoenix, Arizona. He passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital at the age of 91, just two months before turning 92, as a result of complications from surgery to treat an intestinal blockage.

As far as this book goes? I recommend it, if you dig interesting historical people and the events that shaped their life.

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I write this review, there has been another mass shooting in America, and all the press wants to know is why it was done. (It honestly doesn’t matter which mass shooting we’re talking about; the impulse is the same.) This usually can be accomplished through social media, as the perpetrators know that whatever manifesto or online posts they have is going to be thrust into the spotlight. Worse, there’s the actual expectation from the public that the motivation for the crimes be exposed. If that reason isn’t readily available, it will engender conspiracy theories about why we don’t know.

So anyone reading about the mass murders that took place at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s rural Wisconsin manor, in 1914 is going to be a little disoriented. Casey Sherman does an excellent job reconstructing and retelling the incident, but the only people with any sort of media presence at that time in history were, well, figures like Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick. We simply don’t know much about the culprit. Sherman documents the sketchy information that we do have, but given that there was never a trial and the killer’s wife essentially vanished shortly after, there really isn’t much there other than conjecture.

In THE KILLER AND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, Sherman handles this by focusing on Wright, who wasn’t on the scene for the murders, and his various relationships with the women in his life. There is a lot of material to work with here, starting with his turbulent relationship with his admiring but difficult mother.

Wright married young and fathered several children during his formative years in Chicago, but his relationship with his first wife was not particularly loving, and he wasn’t a notably expressive parent. He fell hard for Mamah Borthwick, a Chicago acquaintance who at the time was married to another man. While this romantic pairing may have passed without much notice in the 21st century, when they left their spouses for a European idyll, it was front-page news in Chicago and around the country. Wright returned to his wife, who refused to consider divorce, but installed Borthwick and her children at his newly built compound in rural Wisconsin.

At the time of the murders, Wright was struggling with the early-20th-century version of “cancel culture,” as his personal life was resulting in a real reduction in his business. It wasn’t until after the tragic deaths of Borthwick, her children, and others working out of the Wisconsin campus that he was able to repair his reputation --- which, ironically, came about due to an even greater tragedy. The Wright-designed Imperial Hotel in Japan survived a hideous earthquake and served as the headquarters for recovery efforts. This led to the masterworks for which Wright is best known today. (And, tellingly, Sherman points out that Borthwick’s murder burnished her reputation as well, at least when compared to Wright’s other future romantic partners.)

Sherman does a masterful job setting the scene and telling the story that we have, even though he can't fill in the blanks about the information that was lost to history. THE KILLER AND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT is a skillful retelling of a horrible moment in the life of an irreplaceable artist and builder.

Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds

[Lyndsay Scanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I rarely read nonfiction. It can be dry and I’d much rather lose myself in a fantasy world. However, I’m somewhat familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and when I read the synopsis of this book I was immediately intrigued. I had no idea his life was full of so much chaos and drama.

Sherman did an absolutely incredible job of walking the reader through Wright’s life. He gives enough context of Wright’s childhood for the reader to gain insight, but didn’t dwell for so long that it was dull. The pacing of the book as a whole was extremely well done. When the murders happened around 50% of the way through I was worried that the rest of the book would be boring. I was shocked there could possibly be more (spoiler alert, there is! This man’s life was insane). Sherman did a great job of showing the whole story - he’s honest about Wright’s inability to acknowledge his own wrongdoings and doesn’t paint him as a misunderstood character, but he also doesn’t force the reader to like him either. He is impartial and allows the reader to figure out how they feel about him, Kitty, and Mamah.

For me, I was so stunned that Wright consistently made some awful choices and didn’t seem to care how he hurt his family. Even more shocking was that his kids didn’t hate him!

This story and Sherman’s writing style kept me engaged the entire time. In fact, I stayed up late to read it and finished it in just two days because I absolutely needed to know how Wright’s affair, escape to Europe, and return home ended in multiple murders. I only knew that he managed to create beautiful homes that worked with nature around them, so I was shocked as this violent tale unraveled around him. I appreciate that Sherman obviously did so much research and even included actual letters and some of Wright’s writing. It made me feel like I was living through the scandals along with the American public at the time.

I have already recommended it to many people, so I’m excited for this to come out in May so I can hear their reactions!!

Even if you don’t really like nonfiction, give this a shot. If you like true crime and scandal, you’ll love this!!

As for me, I will be picking up more of Sherman’s books ASAP

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to SourceBooks and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 5/26/2026. I’m going to have to come straight out and say it. This book was very well researched, very detailed, and generally well-written. It gave an enormous amount of insight into the personality of not only the infamous architect Frank Lloyd Wright but also his 3 wives and all of the highs and lows of his life - both professionally and personally. However, it also is very much a misleading sort of book. The title made me fully believe I was getting a true crime book. I mean, the title IS The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise.

That title is, in fact, a big old fib.

The book starts at the very beginning of FLW’s life - from his feckless but brilliant father to his dominating and determined mother to his childhood spent between art and nature. Fine, I thought, we are giving a basis for the man to whom this tragedy happened. Makes sense. But then it proceeded to go on about his schooling, his engagement to Kitty, his early professional life, meeting his soulmate (Mamah Borthwick while both of them were married), the subsequent scandal, and so on ad nauseum. Again, this is all fascinating and well-researched and I gaped at the variety of strong (and often selfishly unpleasant) personalities of the people involved. I mean, FLW was no saint and I could armchair-psychologist him for a variety of narcissist but his first wife Kitty was not much better with her delusions and her conscious manipulation of the press. Don’t get me started on Wife #2 who was a completely different piece of work.

But, anyway, in the middle of all of that, we have a chapter or three on the event which resulted in the death of seven people (including his beloved Mamah) and the burning of his idyllic home Taliesin. So this was not really a book on the horrible crime committed. This is a book about the crazy-ass life of Frank Lloyd Wright - genius, innovator, father, husband, sensitive soul, and selfish prick… Among any number of other facets.

I liked it for what it turned out to be but do not, as I did, go into this expecting an in-depth true crime story about that horrible event. You might find yourself badly disappointed.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Despite the clickbait title, this is more of a light biography of the architect rather than a detective, thriller, or murder shocker. Indeed, the actual murder covers about 5% of the story and is over fairly fast since it is a very open and shut case. Instead, the book focuses on Wright's life, his lurid lovers/wives, and some of his accomplishments.

The book is chronological with a strong focus on the women who dominated Wright's life. From an overbearing mother, a flighty first wife, the love of his life intellect who was murdered, the mentally unstable second wife, and then the more stable but little discussed last wife. Really, we see Wright mostly from their perspective since so much of the book is how they either tried to win over or injure Wright in some way. The author does give opinions of their motivations but it is obvious that the author feels women were the confounding parameter of the architect's life. The book can often feel very misogynistic as a result.

There are some discussions of Wright's own character failings. Also a few discussions of the buildings though the architecture is glossed over or only superficially touched (e.g., FallingWater merited a couple of paragraphs of Wright sketching out the house in 2 hours after procrastinating/Louis Sullivan's influence is absent). Perhaps the lack of architecture is necessary here since the author likely has little expertise in the area. But it did make the book more about a henpecked man than a master architect.

In all, the read is easy but can feel very superficial. I can't say I got a better understanding of the man, his influences, why his work was so original. I would have preferred the author visited his works and talked to the docents to really get an understanding of the man and his works rather than just his disastrous relationships. And I guess I despise sensationalist titles. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Carole Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shocking crime that involved the noted architect

Most people know Frank Lloyd Wright as an iconic architect, one whose vision often clashed with the traditional concepts of his time. What many, myself included, might not have known is that his life was full of personal struggles and public scandal, and it is those parts of his life on which this book focuses. From his childhood with parents who were not a good match and especially his relationship with his mother, a forceful personality, his early career and his own unfortunate choice of wife to his scandalous love affair with Mamah, the woman married to one of his clients who left her husband for Wright, the home he built to share with Mamah which was known as Taliesin and the murders that subsequently took place there, Wright's life was not a dry, academic one by any stretch of the imagination.
This is a true crime story set within a biographical framework, detailing Wright's personal life and how it informed his craft. Those looking for a deep study of architecture will not find it here; instead, this is an informative look at the man, meaningful relationships he had and other outside influences on his career over the years. Given the title and synopsis of the book, I was expecting the true crime element to be the major thrust of the book and was a bit disappointed that it was not. That said, I did find the biographical parts of the book to be interesting, and the eventual exploration of the murders at Taliesin was eye-opening....I literally had no idea that Wright had experienced such a brutal tragedy. In short, those looking for an in-depth dive into Wright's architecture or a book devoted solely to the salacious crime might be disappointed with what author Casey Sherman has written, but those who want a concise biographical tale that has imbedded in it a scandal and a horrible crime will find in this the blend they are after. Readers of Erik Larson, David Grann and Simon Winchester may find this of appeal. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me access to this interesting read in exchange for my honest review.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

At the top of my list of things to buy after I win $20 million in the lottery is the purchase of the David and Gladys Wright House. I worked at an architectural firm and was fortunate to snag a spot on a private tour. This place oozes calm, serenity and peace by blending nature and people and space. Still, I knew only the basics about Frank Lloyd Wright, that he was a genius, influencing architecture for years to come, and he was a tortured soul who tragically lost his true love.

Casey Sherman also wrote Helltown: The Untold Story of Serial Murder on Cape Cod, which I didn’t enjoy. I was thinking of passing on this one, but I am so glad I didn’t! This was so much more than just a gritty true crime story. It is FLW’s biography, exhaustively researched from a variety of sources, including FLW’s own journals and memoirs.

Such a public scandal! FLW started an affair with Mamah Borthwick while they were both married to others. Newspapers couldn’t stop reporting and the public couldn’t stop reading. Finally, the soulmates FLW and Mamah are together, happy at last at Taliesin, when Mamah, her two children and four others are massacred. “As the African proverb went, Somewhere, the sky touched the earth, and that place is the end. Frank had reached his dark horizon.” Yet as he does so many times in his life, FLW picks up the pieces of his life and continues on. You really need to read the book to see how tumultuous and turbulent his life was. Yes, he brought a lot on himself, but what a crazy life! He was a visionary, ahead of the times, who clearly saw himself transcending the norms of architecture and morality, creating his own values.

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite historical fiction books is Loving Frank (2007) where I first learned of the tragedy at Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. So I was extremely excited to get this ARC (thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS) to dig deeper into the 1914 murder and Frank Lloyd Wright.

While a short book, this is an excellent and accurate historical account of Frank Lloyd Wright’s life with the tragedy of the death of Martha “Mamah” Borthwick (Cheney) and her two children. That event also killed several of the builders finishing up work on Wright’s house - which is located in a beautiful and idyllic setting - and was burnt. The whole murder was horrific and no motive was ever found.

Mamah was probably Wright’s greatest love- he called her his soulmate) but as man of little emotional expression he never showed it and moved on, though rebuilding it and being buried there along side Mamah in 1959.

The book follows Wright from his birth in Wisconsin to his death in Tailiesin in Arizona. Wright was quite the lothario. His affair with Mamah ran to visits to Japan and Germany where Mamah made contact with Swedish feminist and thinker, Ellen Key, whom she admired. The most fascinating I learned was how his structure, the Imperial Palace Hotel, was the only building to survive a terrible earthquake in 1923. Wright had a controversial career because of his affairs but he remains our greatest architect. (As an aside, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the refurbished Meyer May House in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and can certainly appreciate his aesthetics.).

I highly recommend this book. The pacing and detail is excellent. The story itself is hauntingly beautiful.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has long been fascinated by Frank Lloyd Wright—both his architectural genius and his often chaotic personal life—I thoroughly enjoyed The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright by Casey Sherman. Wright was undoubtedly brilliant, but he could also be incredibly reckless, and this book does an excellent job of exploring that complexity. I received an ARC from NetGalley.

The story focuses heavily on Wright’s relationship with his first wife, Kitty, their children, and his controversial affair with his married neighbor, Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Despite the scandal, it’s clear that Mamah was the love of Wright’s life. The public battle that followed their relationship was relentless, fueled by a sensationalist press and, at times, by Wright and Kitty themselves.

The most heartbreaking portion of the book recounts the horrific murders at Taliesin. The deaths of Mamah, her children, and four workers are devastating to read about, especially knowing they were real people caught up in an unimaginable tragedy.

If I had one criticism, it’s that the book doesn’t spend much time exploring Julian Carlton, the killer, or his wife, Gertrude. However, that may simply reflect the lack of historical information available about them. Sherman appears to have worked with the sources that exist, and the result is still a compelling and engaging read.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating look at one of America’s most celebrated architects and one of the darkest chapters in his life. Readers interested in Frank Lloyd Wright, architectural history, or true crime with historical significance will likely find much to appreciate here.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m from Wisconsin, and we proudly claim famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright as our own. He really was an artist, even though he usually built the house he wanted and not the house his clients asked for. The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright is a biography of the man, including the horrific tragedy that happened to his family. I thought the title was a bit misleading, implying that it’s more of a true crime book when in reality it’s just a biography. About 15-20% of the book concentrates on the tragedy; I won’t say too much because I did not know anything about what devastation he suffered until I was an adult.

Wright was a genius as an architect, with an ego to match, and he was a really shitty man to the women in his life. While this was true of many men at the time, not many of them did it so publicly. There was a lot of gossip because Wright so brazenly left his wife and lived openly with his lover. That was something you just did not do back in the day. But he didn’t care. He loved freely regardless of what was acceptable at the time, so he gets some credit. But tossing off his old love for a new love was a pretty crappy move.

If you’re not familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, this gives the details of some of his more famous architectural works, like the Johnson Headquarters or Falling Waters. I’m glad I got the chance to dive deep into Wright’s life and his lasting legacy as one of the United States’ most celebrated architects.

[Carly Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise by Casey Sherman did not live up to the title. Although the book begins with the harrowing scene of the murders, as a reader, you don’t get the full picture of what’s happened. This glimpse of what’s to come is then followed with a general biography of Frank Lloyd Wright, mainly focusing on his tumultuous romantic relationships with four different women. About three quarters of the way through, we finally get to read about the devastating murders that took place and some of the aftermath. I was definitely disappointed in this read. I would have either liked the author to truly go into the depths of the murders, murderer, why and the aftermath or had a more complete depiction of Wright’s accomplishments as someone who is considered the United State’s most successful architect. However, what I received as a reader was a soap opera-like telling of Wright’s many love affairs, his marriage, and what seemed to be his desire to find a true love while having the inability to fully commit himself. The author should have titled this book with something entirely more accurate, as it is, it’s a leading title that does not pull through. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Valleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright is a non-fiction true crime book that explores the 1914 mass murder at architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Wisconsin home, Taliesin. It details Wright’s affair with Martha "Mamah" Borthwick Cheney (the wife of a client), which became one of America's first celebrity sex scandals. The book tells of the murder of Mamah and six other people, which took place in August 1914 while Wright was away in Chicago. A handyman not only murdered seven people, he also burned the Taliesin estate down.

I'm a big fan of everything Frank Lloyd Wright has designed so I was thrilled to have been chosen to read The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright. I was familiar with some of the story about the mass murder but I had hoped to learn more. I wish that the book had gone into more depth about the murderer and the people that had been murdered. (Maybe that information isn't known? Maybe the title of the book should be changed?)

Rather than a book about the murders, it seemed to concentrate more about FLW being a terrible person. It's true that his morals could be rather lacking. It's also true that FLW tended to stroll through life rarely paying his bills. But, there was so much good about the man that could have been written! FLW was not only incredibly talented, but he also helped many people. Maybe the criticisms didn't need to be repeated quite so often.

My thanks to #Source Books for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright has an expected publication date of May 26, 2026.

#FrankLloydWright #Taliesin #NonFiction

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The genius of the master architect Frank Lloyd Wright is matched only by his bad luck/poor judgement concerning the women in his life. He, as many creative figures are, driven by ego and the need for constant admiration finds him bored with his first wife and children once his career takes off. It is Mamah, the wife of one of his clients, who captures his full attention and heart. Sadly, his current wife won't divorce him, his lover is also married with children and society openly looks down on his indiscretion . He builds a hideaway in rural Wisconsin where they live happily until a tragic killing spree by their butler occurs killing Mamah, two of her children and several others. Wright is devastated until he meets his last wife causing yet another scandal. I enjoyed learning about Wright's architectural beginnings and influences more than how he emotionally mistreated his family and the scandalous affairs. As with Casey Sherman's other books the reader gains an understanding of the times and culture as well as the main event setting the story on a solid foundation before decorating the rooms. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Suzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I had expected based on the title and synopsis. The book is really a biography and not much of a true crime novel. In fact, the actual writing of the crime is a fraction of the whole book. I did learn a lot that I didn't know about Frank Lloyd Wright, but I didn't learn enough about the murder that the book is allegedly written about. What I knew about Frank was from documentaries that were more about his architectural design than his private life. Often, time is not kind to people, but I would have to say that in the history of Frank Lloyd Wright, time has been very kind, as most of the scandal from his private life is not spoken of. What I would have liked to know about the murders may not be answerable, but it would have been nice to see if some of my questions were even looked at.
Would I recommend this book? Yes and no. If you want a true view of Frank Lloyd Wright's life, then yes, this would be good for you. I would say no if you have an idealized mindset of the man and you don't want to tarnish that, as once you read some of his scandals, you will not see him in the same light (which might be justified).
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Nonfiction for an ARC of this book. This review is my personal opinion.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love architecture. I particularly love the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. I recently saw the Martin House in Buffalo NY and look forward to visiting more Wright masterpieces. It is only recently that I learned of that tragedy and tumult of his personal life.

When I saw this book on Netgalley I desperately wanted to read it. Everything I've ever read about Mr. Wright concentrated on his genius. I was curious how the great man survived the tragedy in Wisconsin.

I'm happy to say this book gave me the right balance. The narrative started with Mr. Wright's background and first marriage to his meeting of Mrs. Cheney. After an in depth explanation of the tragedy, the book explored the second and third marriages. The author added the right amount of context to the story for the reader to understand Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect and man without it being bogged down with too many details.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. I would love to learn Wright's first and second wives' point of view. This book was hard on Catherine (Kitty) and even harder on Miriam.

I received this book free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Steven Conger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, and having friends from Oak Park, I was very familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectural genius. I was not as familiar with his personal life or the tragedy that took place at Taliesin in Wisconsin.

The murder story, what little is really known, is a very small part of the book. The truth is, nobody knows for certain why Julian Carlton murdered Mamah Borthwick, her two children and four other people. So if you are looking for some new angle on the mystery, you will not find it here.

What you will find is a long, and at times tedious history of Frank Lloyd Wright and his loves. Most recent authors paint Wright as a womanizer and philanderer, but Casey Sherman seems almost sympathetic to him and his failed attempts at love. You also learn a little bit about some of the buildings he designed, particularly Taliesin, Taliesin West, the Guggenheim, and the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. But there are better histories of those buildings and Wright's genius than this.

The book was interesting, but not one I would pick up again. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy for my unbiased review.

[Sharon M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest nonfiction book by Casey Sherman. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

We all know about the iconic buildings that Frank Lloyd Wright made, but this book explores his private life. He had a stormy marriage and an infamous affair with another woman, igniting one of the country's first celebrity scandals. Then scandal turned to horror when there was a fire at Taliesin, the home Wright built as a monument to love.

Once again, Sherman has thoroughly researched his subject and we learn all the details of Wright's life. I was fascinated with so much of it, especially how the press hounded the family even back then. Of course, societal morals were very different then, and Wright's actions were seen as completely scandalous. I did feel bad for his children, because they appeared to be just peripheral figures in his orbit. The title of this book is somewhat misleading - the murders at his house were certainly impactful but the book spends very little time on them. A good read!

[Amanda Newland-Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating true story, and the connection between one of America’s most celebrated architects and one of the most shocking crimes of the early twentieth century immediately drew me in. Casey Sherman clearly did extensive research, and the historical details help bring the era and the people involved to life.
I particularly appreciated the way the book placed the murders within the broader context of Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal and professional life. It offered insight into both the tragedy itself and its lasting impact.
Where the book lost me somewhat was in its pacing. Some sections felt overly detailed while others moved so quickly that I wanted more depth and analysis. At times the narrative felt more like a chronological retelling than a cohesive true crime story.
I also would have liked a deeper exploration of the investigation and the unanswered questions surrounding the case. Given how compelling the subject matter is, I found myself wanting a more critical examination rather than simply a recounting of events.
Overall, this is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Frank Lloyd Wright, architectural history, or lesser-known historical crimes. While it didn’t fully live up to its intriguing premise for me, it introduced an important and tragic story that deserves to be remembered.

This book is best suited for readers who enjoy narrative history more than fast-paced investigative true crime in my opinion

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The scandal. The genius. The murder that shocked America." Sounds intriguing, but doesn't quite deliver. Heavy on the scandal - it seems like Frank Lloyd Wright kept the tabloids busy back in the day. A good helping of genius - we get highlights of the decades long career of one of the most well known architects of all time. The murder and fire kick off the book but it's more of a blip than a central theme. True crime lite.

Sherman has a bibliography / notes section that comprise 20% of the text. That's a lot of research from multiple sources: diaries, journals, biographies, newspaper reports, documented interviews. With this wealth of source material, it was confusing that the focus of the book was on Wright's messy marriages, his ego, and his copious money problems. Tabloid fodder.

The salaciousness of it all made this a page turner, but a different title and description could have served this book better instead of pulling a bait & switch.

My thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS (non-fiction) | Sourcebooks for the Advance Reader Copy. (pub. date 5/26/2026)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My review: I have read a few books on FLW, his life, his career, and the murders. So while I knew about the Mamah years of his life, I learned a lot about what the legalities of the times did to Frank and Mamah. The after effects of the murders, and subsequent relationships was also a focus here. FLW seemed to be surrounded by drama in his personal life, that didn't end when Mamah, her children, and the employees were tragically murdered. The aspect of newspapers and the push into people's private lives that the Wrights and the Cheneys had to endure can definitely be compared to media today as well.
The books goes into a lot of detail about FLW's many projects and his work and travels. Some of that was new to me and I ended up looking up more info and photos of some of the buildings he designed.
Overall, a good source of information on this topic and Frank's life.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advance digital copy to review. These opinions are my own.