However, by the time of publication two of the three defendants were out of business, and to further publicize their names would not have helped other homebuyers. Also, even though one is fully protected by the First Amendment in writing about a matter of public record, we certainly did not wish to deal with these people in any legal sense ever again, no matter how remote the possibility. Second, every word in the books about our case is true. By the people who read them, very well. Crumbling Dreams was also favorably reviewed, but not as extensively as Crooked House .
Shoddy construction is only half the story here.
The American system of justice is also taken to task. . . And They Built a Crooked House is an incredible but not uncommon story. People in the construction industry can regale listeners with stories of similar atrocities. . . On a more personal note, several acquaintances who read Crooked House told me it made them cry. So we published the book ourselves.