London Falling - Patrick Radden Keefe

[BuffysBigSister]

I've just finished London Falling, the latest book by Patrick Radden Keefe, an in-depth investigation of the death of a young man who falls from the balcony of a London block of flats into the Thames. I found it fascinating - it covers the impact of Russian oligarchs on the City, old time London gangsters, corruption at the Met and a bewildered family trying to figure out what happened to their son. Detailed research but so well told that its like reading a fictional thriller.
I have also read 2 of his previous books; Say Nothing about the Troubles (also a C4 TV series) and Empire of Pain about the Sackler family and the opioid crisis in the US. Both excellent books and worth a read.

I’m listening to this at the moment, narrated by him. It’s so interesting and compelling. My partner is reading Say Nothing and enjoying. (If that’s the correct word). PRK is an amazing journalist.

I have just finished it as well and was totally gripped. It is very well written and researched; so personal and so political. The bravery and honesty of the parents is incredible, I hope they have found some comfort in the whole story being laid bare.

Such a tragic story. One really feels for the parents.

After I read it, I read 'Empire of Pain' but I found that much less strong. I mean, still clearly meticulously researched, but it seemed to me to lack a bit of nuance by not acknowledging that some people taking a Sackler drug might have some element of responsibility, and that other people who were part of the family or even those who married in to it really didn't have anything to do with decisions made on the pharmaceutical side.

I loved London Falling but enjoyed Empire of Pain more I think. I read the latter just after I read Demon Copperhead and it made a great non fiction companion to that book.

This author is so talented. Say Nothing is amazing as well