Plagued by Fire

Arthur Morey's attentive and likable performance is the best thing about this distinctly odd audiobook. His voice is appealing, he is skillful when drama is required, and accurate and respectful even when the text will strike some as risible. Hendrickson starts with the oft-told and horrifying story of the slaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright's mistress, her children, and workers at Taliesin by a deranged servant, then repeatedly returns to this tragedy with the zeal of a tabloid fabulist, layering in wild surmises. Is this meant to be a true-crime story? A panegyric for Wright groupies? Serious biography? Architectural criticism? Social history? Hendrickson repeatedly conflates coincidence with significance, and treats wild speculation as persuasive fact. If it is also weirdly entertaining at times, thank Morey. B.G. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine