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Organized Crime

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

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London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
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London Falling was completely unexpected. I had never read any of Keefe’s work, so I was skeptical of his ability to tell an interesting story when the conclusion (the untimely death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler) was already revealed in the book’s description. My skepticism was unfounded. Keefe peeled back the layers of this convoluted story with meticulous attention to detail and a hearty helping of contextualizing history. I did not expect to learn about the construction of the Ugandan Railway and the fall of the USSR, but I’m glad I did. This was a sad yet fascinating exploration into the London underworld, and I am glad that Keefe was able to tell Zac’s story.

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, (List Price: $35, Doubleday, 9780385548533, April 2026)

Reviewed by Savannah Woodall, The Book Loft in Fernandina Beach, Florida

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London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

, ,
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

This book captured my attention very quickly, and I powered through the first six or so hours of audio. It tells the story of a young man who pretends to be a Russian oligarch, which somehow leads to his demise. While it was intriguing at first, the story began to move in circles, so I was not as invested as time went on. Still, it was an overall good read of true crime – a wild story one would not imagine could be true.

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, (List Price: $35, Doubleday, 9780385548533, April 2026)

Reviewed by Marinna, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, AR

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London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

, ,
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

The depth and care that Patrick Radden Keefe puts into researching a story is evident in this new must-read for any parent, history buff, or true crime fan. London Falling is a touching look at a family’s heartbreak where not much is as it seems.

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, (List Price: $35, Doubleday, 9780385548533, April 2026)

Reviewed by Kelley, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, NC

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London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

, ,
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

A teenager’s death is the impetus for a revelatory investigation into London’s underworld and the Russian oligarchy in Patrick Radden Keefe’s masterful new work, London Falling. Until he plummeted from a fifth-floor balcony into the River Thames, 19-year-old Zac Brettler’s parents were oblivious to his secret double life: obsessed with wealth and power, the privileged young man had been masquerading as the son of a Russian billionaire and had fallen in with two corrupt businessmen, one a notorious gangster. As the investigation into Zac’s death dragged on, they were no closer to finding answers as to how their son died – or if he was murdered. A chance connection led Keefe to their story, and his reporting is impeccably researched, brilliantly plotted and eye-opening: a compelling exposé of the dark underbelly of the UK’s glittering capital city, and a teenager in its thrall.

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, (List Price: $35, Doubleday, 9780385548533, April 2026)

Reviewed by Jude, Square Books in Oxford, MS

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Among the Bros by Max Marshall

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Among the Bros by Max Marshall
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An amazing true crime story involving a group of people who seemingly felt they were untouchable, privileged fraternity brothers at a traditional Southern university. I live in a college town, and the stories of drug use among students were terrifying… if I had kids, I’d sit them down immediately and talk to them about this!

Among the Bros by Max Marshall, (List Price: $18.99, Harper Perennial, 9780063099548, February 2025)

Reviewed by Jamie Fiocco, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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