London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden KeefeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
(4
½ stars) Zac Brettler is a 19-year-old living in London, and in 2019 he
plunged to his death off a luxury high rise apartment into the Thames
River below. His family was shocked by his suicide, but even more
surprised when they discovered that he was leading a secret double life.
He claimed to be Zac Ismailov whose father was a Russian oligarch worth
billions. He became friends and was doing business with various
wheelers and dealers in the London business scene, a world financial
hub.
Zac’s parents questioned whether it was suicide or murder, potentially caused by the gangsters and criminal underworld of London that he was associating with. Despite his parents pressuring Scotland Yard to investigate their son’s death, nothing seemed to be getting done. At times Scotland Yard seemed like the Keystone Cops.
Once again Patrick Radden Keefe has written a fascinating narrative non-fiction account of Zac’s actions and his parents’ attempt to uncover the truth. He is at the top of his game with incredibly well-research investigative reporting. This book was a tense account of Zac’s downfall, along with his parents’ repeated attempts to make those guilty accountable for their actions. I was immediately drawn into this family tragedy which told the emotional story of Zac’s death and its impact on his parents and older brother. It’s a tough book to read, but incredibly compelling.
Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.
Zac’s parents questioned whether it was suicide or murder, potentially caused by the gangsters and criminal underworld of London that he was associating with. Despite his parents pressuring Scotland Yard to investigate their son’s death, nothing seemed to be getting done. At times Scotland Yard seemed like the Keystone Cops.
Once again Patrick Radden Keefe has written a fascinating narrative non-fiction account of Zac’s actions and his parents’ attempt to uncover the truth. He is at the top of his game with incredibly well-research investigative reporting. This book was a tense account of Zac’s downfall, along with his parents’ repeated attempts to make those guilty accountable for their actions. I was immediately drawn into this family tragedy which told the emotional story of Zac’s death and its impact on his parents and older brother. It’s a tough book to read, but incredibly compelling.
Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.
View all my reviews
