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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.