London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

Not a Book Report

I enjoy reflecting on the movies, TV, books and other media that I consume. I’m notoriously sentimental. This series documents the books that I read. These aren’t reviews or recommendations. Just a list. For me. Mostly so that I can page through what I read, where I was, and when.

Why did I read it?

I had read magazine articles from Patrick Radden Keefe, including articles about him. Yale Law? Investigative journalist? Famous author? Banana Republic model? All true things. And bonus points that his writing is amazing.

I was in Paris this past weekend where the English language bookstores are much better than Lisbon. I walked over to one of them and began browsing. I saw this book, recognized the author, and added it to a small stack that I purchased.

What is it?

Publisher Summary

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

Patrick Radden Keefe follows Zac’s parents on a dark journey to find out what brought him to the balcony that night – and how a teenager’s life of make-believe drew him into the city’s terrifying underworld.

How did I read it?

Notes - No Spoilers

• Holy smoke.
• I loved it. I couldn’t stop reading it. I asked my wife if we could bring books to dinner so that I could keep reading it.
• I think I said “no effing way” out loud a dozen times.