London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe review - a compulsive tale of money, lies and avoidable tragedy

Key Points:

• In November 2019, 19-year-old Zac Brettler died after falling from a balcony opposite MI6 headquarters in London; his death remains mysterious with unclear cause between accident, suicide, or foul play.
• Brettler, known for fabricating a glamorous Russian oligarch persona, was involved with two men that night: Verinder Sharma, a violent gangland figure owning the apartment, and Akbar Shamji, a cryptocurrency trader; neither was charged due to lack of evidence.
• Patrick Radden Keefe’s narrative nonfiction book "London Falling" explores Brettler’s life, highlighting themes of deception, criminal entrapment, and the corrupting influence of speculative wealth in London’s oligarchic circles.
• Brettler came from a middle-class Anglo-Jewish family with a complex history of secrets and fabrications, which parallels his own fantasy-driven identity and tragic downfall.
• Despite police investigation, questions remain about the circumstances of Brettler’s death, with his parents rejecting suicide and Keefe suggesting missed evidence, while Brettler’s bank account held only £4 at his death.