In The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright, veteran true-crime author Casey Sherman takes readers deep into the architect’s personal relationships, professional triumphs, and the brutal murders that devastated his Wisconsin estate, Taliesin.

The book blends biography, history, and true crime, tracing Wright’s rise from a talented Midwestern draftsman to a world-renowned architect while also revisiting the shocking events that unfolded at Taliesin in the early 20th century.

Frank Lloyd Wright An Architect with Big Ambitions

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Born in Wisconsin, Frank Lloyd Wright would go on to revolutionize architecture through his development of the Prairie Style, a design philosophy emphasizing horizontal lines, natural materials, and harmony with the surrounding landscape.

After a brief time in college, Wright moved to Chicago, where he quickly gained experience working for respected architects including Lyman Silsbee and later the legendary Louis Sullivan.

These early experiences helped shape Wright’s architectural vision and launched a career that would eventually produce some of the most famous buildings in the United States.

More information about Wright's architectural legacy can be found at Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

A Controversial Love Affair

Sherman’s book also focuses heavily on Wright’s relationship with Mamah Borthwick Cheney, a woman who would become both his great love and the center of a major public scandal.

At the time they met, both Wright and Mamah were married with children. Despite social norms of the era, the pair began a relationship that eventually led them to leave their spouses.

The affair attracted intense media attention, with newspapers across the country covering the scandal in great detail. Wright’s wife, Catherine “Kitty” Wright, and Mamah’s husband, Edwin Cheney, became unwilling participants in a public drama that captivated readers.

Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney Build Talisan

Eventually, Wright and Mamah traveled through Europe and Japan before settling in southern Wisconsin.

There, Wright built what would become one of the most famous properties of his life: Taliesin.

The estate remains one of the architect’s most significant creations and is preserved today as a historic landmark.

Learn more about Taliesin at Taliesin Preservation.

A New Life for Frank Lloyd Wright

Taliesin, meaning “shining brow” in Welsh, was intended to serve as a sanctuary for Wright and Mamah away from the scrutiny of city life.

During this period, Wright continued securing prestigious commissions while Mamah pursued her own intellectual interests, including translating works by Swedish feminist writer Ellen Key.

Professionally, Wright’s reputation continued to grow through projects such as Midway Gardens and the famed Imperial Hotel.

Yet beneath the success, tragedy was approaching.

The Taliesin Murders

In August 1914, Taliesin became the scene of one of the most shocking crimes in American architectural history.

According to historical accounts detailed in Sherman’s book, a worker named Julian Carlton launched a violent attack on residents and guests at the estate.

Armed with a hatchet, Carlton killed Mamah, her two children, and several others before setting parts of Taliesin on fire.

In total, seven people lost their lives in the attack.

At the time of the murders, Wright was away in Chicago working on architectural projects. He rushed back to Wisconsin after learning of the tragedy.

The devastating event forever altered the course of his personal life.

The Insanity of Julian Carlton

Sherman’s book explores the troubled background of Julian Carlton, who had been hired alongside his wife, Gertrude, to work at Taliesin.

Reports from the time suggested Carlton displayed increasingly unstable behavior before the attacks. His wife reportedly feared him and fled following the murders.

Carlton was captured and jailed but never stood trial. Historical accounts indicate he died several weeks later after refusing food while in custody.

The exact motivations behind the massacre remain the subject of debate among historians.

Frank Lloyd Wright After Tragedy

Despite the immense loss, Wright continued his architectural work and eventually rebuilt Taliesin.

Over the following decades, he completed some of the most celebrated projects of his career, including the iconic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

He also established Taliesin West, which served as his winter home and architectural school.

Wright married twice more and remained professionally active until his death in 1959 at the age of 91.

Today, many of his buildings are recognized as architectural masterpieces and continue to attract visitors from around the world.

Information about the Guggenheim Museum is available at Guggenheim Museum.

True-Crime and An American Legend

Casey Sherman’s The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright offers readers a detailed look at the intersection of genius, scandal, love, and violence.

Sherman researched newspaper reports, personal letters, historical records, and Wright’s own writings. This book explores perhaps one of the most dramatic chapters in the architect’s extraordinary life.

For readers interested in architecture, history, or true crime, it presents a compelling portrait of a visionary whose life was shaped not only by groundbreaking designs but also by unimaginable personal tragedy.

Relevant Links

• Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
• Taliesin Preservation
• Guggenheim Museum
• Taliesin West