London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe is a true crime book published in 2026.
Patrick Radden Keefe, the author of Empire of Pain, has written another great nonfiction book with London Falling.
His writing and investigation are so well done.
I read Empire of Pain and knew he would become a favorite nonfiction author of mine. I think I will read just about anything he writes.
He has also become one of my husband’s favorite authors. My husband has recommended Empire of Pain to so many people. He actually bought London Falling, but I picked it up to read before he had a chance to.
London Falling is a true crime book, but it is also a book of investigative reporting into London’s organized crime.
On November 29, 2019, Zac Brettler fell off the balcony of a luxury apartment building on the bank of the Thames River.
At first, everyone said it was suicide. As Zac’s parents learned more, though, they struggled to understand what really happened.
Was it suicide or was it murder?
Zac’s parents soon found out that Zach was living two lives. He was the son they knew, but he was also living a totally different life that was a lie.
Zach was telling people he was the son of a Russian oligarch. Living that lie led him into London’s dark criminal underworld.
Patrick Radden Keefe starts with the death of Zac, but then he takes a step back and shows you more about Zac’s life, his family’s life, and some of the history behind London’s crime world.
Then he zooms in for a closer look at the death and the people Zach was spending so much time with.
Patrick Radden Keefe does such a great job with both the background information and the events surrounding Zach’s death.
Zac became part of London’s dark and dangerous side. He associated with criminals who were involved in gangs, financial theft, the nightclub world, and more.
He was not only associated with them but had also lied to them. They thought he was the son of a rich oligarch who could finance their projects. In reality, Zac was the son of two fairly ordinary Londoners.
The lies Zach was living ultimately led to his death
I found the history of London’s crime world and the foreigners who live and “work” there interesting because I did not know much about it.
I also liked that this was a current event. Zach died in 2019. This is a London crime-today type of story, not a “this is how London used to be” story.
If I had one complaint about London Falling, it is that it does not wrap up neatly. However, that is not the author’s fault. Zach’s death is complicated, and as you read the book, you will understand why.
I also encourage you to read the epilogue and acknowledgments at the end of the book. They really help end the book well.
If you love a good true crime book, I think you might enjoy this one.
Have you read London Falling yet?