The Wright 3

Blue Balliett is the author of several bestselling, acclaimed mystery novels, including Chasing Vermeer (a Book Sense Book of the Year and an Edgar Award winner), The Wright 3, The Calder Game, and The Danger Box. She writes in the laundry room of her home in Chicago, Illinois, and you can find her online at www.blueballiettbooks.com.

Brett Helquist was born in Ganado, Arizona, and grew up in Orem, Utah. He entered Brigham Young University as an engineering major, but soon realized this was not the right choice for him. Having decided to take time off from college, he headed to Taiwan where he stumbled into a job illustrating English textbooks, which he enjoyed. There, a friend introduced him to an illustration student, also from Brigham Young University. This introduction inspired Brett to eventually switch majors. After spending a year in Taiwan, he went back to BYU and transferred to the illustration department. In 1993 he received a fine arts degree in illustration.

What is art? Balliett's newest book asks listeners to ponder that question and whether Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House is art. While Petra, Calder, and Tommy work to answer that question and to save the house from destruction, they slowly build a friendship, and a team. Ellen Reilly's reading is solid; her narrator is clear and builds the pace from the startling beginning through the mysterious happenings. Her character voices are distinct; although her male voices tend to sound forced, her female voices sound real. An occasional change in the production's balance doesn't distract but does break the flow of the narrative. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine