London Falling cover art

London Falling

A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City, and a Family’s Search for Truth

Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

$8.99/mo after trial ends. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

London Falling

By: Patrick Radden Keefe
Narrated by: Patrick Radden Keefe
Try for $0.00

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.18

Buy Now for $25.18

Summary

'From the Baillie Gifford Prize-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing comes a stunning story of wealth, violence and deceit at the heart of a glittering city.

'A new book by Keefe means drop everything and close the blinds; you'll be turning pages for hours' Los Angeles Times

'Patrick Radden Keefe [is] one of the top narrative nonfiction authors of his generation' TIME


In 2019, a London teenager, Zac Brettler, mysteriously fell to his death from a luxury apartment building on the banks of the Thames. When his grieving parents began their desperate quest to understand how their son had died, they made a terrible discovery: Zac had been leading a fantasy life, posing as the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch.

In his inimitably gripping and forensic prose, Baillie Gifford Prize winner and New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe follows Zac's parents on a dark journey to find out what brought Zac to the balcony that night - and how a teenager's world of make-believe drew him into the city's terrifying underworld.

London Falling is at once a devastating family tragedy, a riveting story of greed, power and deception, and an indictment of the culture that has transformed London into a haven for the malignant forces that have come to influence us all.'

True Crime Exciting England Inspiring
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
All stars
Most relevant
Another fine entry from Patrick Radden Keefe, who is thankfully also blessed with perfectly measured radio tones to match his meticulous craftsmanship. I was concerned early on with the circuitous nature of some of the background chapters but as with all of his work, they inform the central tragedy in rich and surprising ways. Incisive, thorough yet entirely humane, perhaps one of PRK's most touching pieces yet.

Outstanding investigative journalism

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Although disconcerting to hear an American accent sharing this text, it became clear why the author wanted to narrate it - and I applaud Patrick for doing so. It demonstrates his commitment to the family involved. I value the details provided on the main persons involved, and the invisible strings woven through to highlight connections.

Wow.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Kept me listening all the way through. Enjoyed the story and the way it was told. A whole other world exists next to the ordinary.

Easy to listen to

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What an incredible book. Incredible research and interweaving of the history and story of gangsters and crime with the short life of a young man desperate to find his place and identity in the world. A fascinating listen with incredible detail and a wide range is sources. Highly recommend this book. Truly wonderful. Zac’s parents must be so grateful that the full extent all of and who he was involved with leading up to his death are exposed to the light in such a thorough way through this book.

Outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very sad, but time will bring answers. Thank you for sharing and choosing life. .........

A view into the horror of some underworld situations

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.