Patrick Radden Keefe tells the tale of a teen's double life : NPR
NPR • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Zac Brettler, a 19-year-old from a wealthy London family, died after jumping from a luxury apartment balcony in 2019, raising questions about whether it was suicide or an attempt to escape danger.
- Brettler led a double life, convincing gangster Dave Sharma he was the son of a Russian oligarch set to inherit $270 million, but Sharma discovered the deception shortly before Brettler's death.
- Patrick Radden Keefe's book "London Falling" explores Brettler's mysterious death and secret life, revealing London's role as a hub for money laundering and hidden wealth among the global elite.
- The story highlights themes of aspiration, deception, and the pressures faced by youth in affluent environments, drawing parallels between Brettler and other famous fictional conmen.
- Both Brettler and Sharma were imposters caught in London's mercenary culture, with their intertwined fates illustrating the dark underbelly of the city's glittering facade.
