Podcast appearances and mentions of london falling

In today's ep we're assigning reading syllabi to some of our favorite celebrities and telling them what we think they should be reading! And if you didn't already guess, we took the assignment VERY seriously.   Becca's Celebs Glen Powell - Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, The Guncle by Steven Rowley, The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown Tree Paine - The Boys' Club by Erica Katz, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan  Anne Hathaway - All Fours by Miranda July, Famesick by Lena Dunham, The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland, Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino   Olivia's Celebs  Alicia Carmody - Strangers by Belle Burden, The Alice Network by Kate Quinn, Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, Little Women by  Louisa May Alcott Noah Kahan -  The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, Good Material by Dolly Alderton Pedro Pascal - Shark Heart by Emily Habeck, John of John by Douglas Stuart,  Bonus Travis Kelce Pick - Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano    July's Book Club Pick - The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff    Summer of Sol Bonus Book Club Picks 8/20 - One and Only by Maurene Goo 9/17 - The Parisian Heist by Jo Piazza   What we read this week Olivia -  The Children by Melissa Albert, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe Becca - Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan, Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle (out Oct 6)   Obsessions Becca - MapTap.gg   Sponsors Skims - Shop our favorites at SKIMS.com. Let them know we sent selecting "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Caraway Home - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP or use code BOP at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our BFF Group! Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!   Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

Philippa sits down with the brilliant Jo Spain — 13 bestselling thrillers already published, translated into 17 languages, TV writer and producer — to talk about her extraordinary new novel Never to Be Found, which sparked a bidding war from some of the biggest names in television before it was even published.

Een raadselachtige dood, ontstelde ouders op zoek naar de toedracht, een ongekend spannend verhaal vol onthullingen over oligarchen en de Londense onderwereld. Uitgegeven door Nieuw Amsterdam Spreker: Frans van Deursen

Jane's back in Times Towers, but she's just missed Fi, who's off jet-setting for the week. Jane and Eve chat about flat feet, bedside tables, and powerful forehands. Plus, Robbie Millen, literary editor of The Times and The Sunday Times, stops by to share his book picks for the week. He recommends: The Family Man by James Lasdun, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, Waterland by Graham Swift, Murder in Paris '68 by Edward Chisholm, The Great Dictator by Matthew Sweet You can buy tickets for Fringe by the Sea: https://www.fringebythesea.com/off-air-with-jane-fi-and-special-guest-jan-ravens/Our next book club pick will be a collection of short stories! 'Interpreter of Maladies' is by Jhumpa Lahiri. You can check out our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffAirWithJaneAndFiOur new playlist 'Coiled Spring' is up and running: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tmoCpbp42ae7R1UY8ofzaOur most asked about book is called 'The Later Years' by Peter Thornton.If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producer: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wéi zu London d‘Läich vun engem 19-järege Jong an der Themse fonnt gouf, huet d‘Police no enger kuerzer Enquête den Dossier zougemaach. D‘Eltere vum Bouf hunn dunn op eegen Initiativ no Äntwerte gesicht. Den Investigativ-Journalist Patrick Radden Keefe huet si dobäi begleet a Schockéierendes opgedeckt. "London Falling" ass ee Buch iwwer Influenz, Gäiz, an eng Stad, déi Milliardäre mat oppenen Äerm empfänkt, egal wat de Präis ass. D‘Claire Barthelemy huet d‘Buch gelies.

A British teen falls to his death from an apartment in London. Was it an accident? Suicide? Murder? His grieving parents seek answers. WSHU's Book Critic Joan Baum read The New Yorker Staff Writer Patrick Radden Keefe's latest work, London Falling. Here's her review.

A special episode of A Good Read, recorded live at the Hay Festival. The books are:London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, chosen by psychotherapist and artist Philippa Perry All Quiet on the Orient Express by Magnus Mills, chosen by presenter and writer Stuart Maconie Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie, chosen by presenter Harriett GilbertProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Maggie Ayre Join us over on Instagram @agoodreadbbcPhoto credit: Pal Hansen

Join Bina007 and Michal/Inkasrain as they discuss the wildly successful new true crime / state of the nation book London Falling by New Yorker investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe. [MP3] Download or play this episode directly[Archive] View this episode's page … Continue reading →

“Narrative remains a pretty unbeatable delivery device for information.” — Patrick Radden Keefe Has London really fallen? That's the question Patrick Radden Keefe — staff writer at The New Yorker and bestselling author of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing — addressed in his new book, London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth. One thing for sure is that Keefe himself hasn't fallen. He's been surprised by the book's success. “I thought the antibodies would get up because I'm an interloper,” the American confesses about writing about Britain. Antibodies or not, the book has been a #1 bestseller in both the UK and US. And we can look forward to an A24 and Brightstar TV adaptation soon. On London, the story is murkier. London Falling begins on November 29, 2019, when nineteen-year-old Zac Brettler falls to his death from a luxury apartment above the Thames. Every parent's ultimate nightmare. As it happens, I've known Zac's dad, Matthew, for many years. But what appeared to be a tragic accident or a suicide turned out to be something far more sinister — a story of double lives, dirty money, a dishonest businessman named Akbar Shamji, and a terrifyingly violent gangster known as Indian Dave. Lurking behind the Brettler death is what Keefe presents as the greatest deceit of all — London's cruel descent into what he sees as the moneyed miasma of post-Thatcherite neo-liberalism. London is, in Keefe's compelling narrative, the most invisible of cities — where power lies with criminals like Indian Dave, where the police are at best bystanders, and where a teenage fantasist from a comfortable middle-class family can become fatally entangled in a fallen world he barely understood. Five Takeaways •       Zac Brettler: The Double Life That Led to His Death: Zac Brettler was nineteen years old. He fell — or was pushed, or was forced to jump — from a luxury apartment balcony above the Thames on November 29, 2019. He had been living a double life: to London's criminal underworld, he was Zac Ismailov, the son of a Russian oligarch, heir to a great fortune. He had even fabricated bank statements showing a personal account holding $1 million. Under this guise, he became entangled with Akbar Shamji, a slippery businessman, and a man known as Indian Dave, a violent extortionist. Keefe's reporting suggests Zac jumped to escape from one of these men. Scotland Yard's passivity in investigating the case is, in Keefe's word, bizarre. •       London as a Twenty-Four-Hour Laundromat for Dirty Money: Keefe's portrait of London is the book's macro argument: a global city that has been hollowed out by decades of financial deregulation, whose financial sector is stacked with professional facilitators eager to help protect or conceal a dubious fortune, where posh mansions and private nightclubs serve as the visible surface of a hidden economy of criminal money. Zac Brettler was not rich. He was a boy from a comfortably off family who became fixated on the glitzy, mercenary, aspirational culture embodied by foreign billionaires who had bought mansions and football clubs in his city. London, in Keefe's telling, did this to him. •       The Brettlers' Consent: A Long Haul With the Family: Keefe had written 15,000 words for The New Yorker when he knew there was a book. He went to Matthew and Rochelle Brettler and their surviving son Joe and told them: I will only do this with your blessing. They read the finished piece, talked amongst themselves, and came back with a yes. Keefe's method: he is an open book; he invites sources to read his previous work. It took him an LSE graduate who became one of the most trusted journalists in the world to persuade a devastated family to trust him with their son's story. They made the right decision. •       Narrative as Delivery Device: Keefe's Method: Keefe on why he writes the way he writes: everyone has a phone in their pocket making claims on their attention. Narrative — true stories about real people, told with enough seductive propulsive energy — remains the most powerful way to convey information, to make someone who would not otherwise read nonfiction want to keep turning pages. He is looking, always, for inherently dramatic stories. London Falling is that: a whodunit, a parental love story, a portrait of a corrupted city, and a thriller, all in one book. The New York Times described the whole book as one of the best of 2026 so far. •       The Television Adaptation: A24, Brightstar, and the Lessons of Say Nothing: A24 and Brightstar are producing the television adaptation of London Falling. Five production companies had to audition for the Brettlers over Zoom. The family is involved. Keefe knows from Say Nothing — which took five years from book to screen and won awards as an FX series — that this cannot go on autopilot. The aim: something sophisticated, sensitive, and just to the family's story. The first word on the Mill Hill School website is “integrity.” Whether that word will survive contact with a television adaptation remains to be seen. About the Guest Patrick Radden Keefe is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth (Doubleday, April 7, 2026; #1 New York Times bestseller), Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty (winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize), Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (National Book Critics Circle Award; named one of the twenty best books of the 21st century by the New York Times), Rogues, and Chatter. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Magazine Award, and the Orwell Prize. He served as executive producer on the award-winning FX series Say Nothing and is the creator and host of the podcast Wind of Change. References: •       London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday, April 7, 2026). •       Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe — referenced at the opening. •       Say Nothing (FX series, executive produced by Keefe) — referenced in the closing section. •       Andrew O'Hagan, Caledonian Road — referenced as covering similar London territory in fiction. •       A24 and Brightstar — the production companies making the London Falling television adaptatio...

In Episode 228, Sarah, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide), and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) take stock of the reading year so far, discussing the books, publishing trends, and industry chatter that have defined the first half of 2026. They dive into the biggest publishing stories of the year, the rise of "cozy everything," the continued influence of self-publishing and book-to-screen success stories, and whether it's possible to tap a Book of the Year before the second half of the publishing calendar arrives. Then, they share their Top 5 Books of 2026 So Far and a few disappointing reads that didn't quite live up to expectations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights How our 2026 reading has been so far How 2026 compares to this point in 2025  Each person's current Book of the Year pick Whether it's too early to crown a Book of the Year Midyear reading stats and surprise wins Each of our Top 5 books of 2026 so far Their biggest disappointments of the year so far Top 5 Books of 2026 So Far Sarah No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (Mar 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:42] A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36]  Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:44]  London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (Apr 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:55] The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:55] Catherine The Poet Empress by Shen Tao (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:11] A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36]  Land by Maggie O'Farrell (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:55] Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (Mar 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:42] Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:09] Chrissie A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36]  Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:44]  The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:44] Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (Mar 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:10]  Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire, 1) by Veronica Roth (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:55] Other Books Mentioned The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [41:31]  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2020) [42:14]  The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) [53:03]  Dune (Dune, 1) by Frank Herbert (1965) [59:38]  Some Disappointing Books So Far Sarah Kin by Tayari Jones (Feb 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:33]  Go Gentle by Maria Semple (Apr 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:00:55] Leave Your Mess At Home by Tolani Akinola (Apr 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:35] Catherine The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:03] The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (May 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:31] Chrissie Artifacts by Natalie Lemle (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:03:39] Hell's Heart by Alexis Hall (Mar 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:04:13] Fatherland by Victoria Shorr (Mar 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:04:54] Other Books Mentioned Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (2012) [1:01:01]  Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville (1851) [1:04:19]  Books From the Opening Discussion Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, 3) by Rebecca Yarros (2025) [2:39]  Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [3:18]  Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, 1) by Matt Dinniman (2024)* [3:22]  Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) [4:34]  Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (2025)* [4:41]  The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [5:03]  The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (2024) [5:57]  Game Changer (Game Changers: Heated Rivalry, 1) by Rachel Reid (2024) [6:09]  KPop Demon Hunters (Junior Novelization) by Jessica Yoon (Mar 31) [6:13]  KPop Demon Hunters (Screen Comic Boxed Set) by Netflix (Nov 3, 2026) [6:13]  The Martian by Andy Weir (2014)* [6:48]  The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) [11:17]  Trad Wife by Michelle Brandon (Aug 4, 2026) [16:57]  Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer (Feb 10) [16:59]  Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik (Mar 3) [17:02]  The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (Apr 7) [17:29] Good People by Patmeena Sabit (Feb 3) [17:35]  So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder (Feb 17) [17:40]  No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes (Mar 10) [18:00]  Upward Bound by Woody Brown (Mar 31) [18:33] This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman (Feb 10) [18:35]   The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman (Feb 24) [18:38]  Brawler by Lauren Groff (Feb 24) [18:43]  My Dear You by Rachel Khong (Apr 7) [18:46]  All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (Mar 10) [19:16] The Shippers by Katherine Center (May 19) [19:18]   American Fantasy by Emma Straub (Apr 7) [19:32]  Man Overboard by Kathleen Rooney (Jul 7, 2026) [19:37]  Swept Away by Beth O'Leary (2025) [19:47]  The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Vol. 1) by Beth Brower (2019) [22:45]  *Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition. These titles were originally self-published. Additional Links The New Yorker | Glowworms by Ann Patchett  (Sep 29, 2025)

The Buddies take a detour from sword and sorcery for their first nonfiction read in a while with Patrick Radden Keefe's "London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City, and a Family's Search for Truth." By the way, it's ‘London Falling' and not ‘London is Falling' the Gerard Butler action movie, although the Buddies may have stated that as the title on multiple occasions. The Buddies got to talking about whether Zac Brettler deserves our sympathy or was just a 19-year-old con man who got in over his head, how the British government basically rolled out the red carpet for Russian oligarchs and then acted surprised when people started dying, and whether this whole story could have been wrapped up with a simple Google search. This one got a bit contentious (sorry we're used to arguing about fiction, not real people). So, brush up on your shell company law, don your investigative hat, and join us we jump into the underground world of London (unfortunately we're not talking Knockturn Alley from Harry Potter).  Intro (0:00-2:38)Stock Up/Down (2:39-49:27)Love/Hate (50:30-59:44)Conclusion (59:45-1:02:42) NEXT BOOK: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This week on the SL Man Podcast, Harvey is joined by tennis legend Tim Henman and SLMan contributor, Hector Lopez-Valido for a conversation ahead of Wimbledon.Tim reflects on the moments that shaped his career – from watching Björn Borg on Centre Court as a six-year-old to beating Roger Federer at Wimbledon and becoming one of Britain's most beloved sporting figures. He shares stories from inside the locker room, reveals what life on the ATP Tour is really like and explains why camaraderie is what he misses most about professional tennis.The trio also discuss the evolution of the game, the unique atmosphere of Wimbledon, Tim's role with the Laver Cup and the players he considers the greatest of all time. Plus, they talk London life, pub ownership, Lime bikes, favourite books and restaurants and there's even a quick-fire round covering everything from Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams to Melbourne, backgammon and darts.Get SheerLuxe Straight To Your Inbox, Daily | http://sheerluxe.com/signup PANELTim Henman |The Laver Cup | https://lavercup.com/Harvey James |@harvjam |  https://www.instagram.com/harvjam/?hl=enLacoste Linen Blend Polo | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66327474MOSS Tweed Trousers | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66332659ALOHAS Brown Leather Sneakers | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66332853Hector Lopez-Valido | @hecchatswhips | https://www.instagram.com/hecchatswhips/?hl=enUniversal Works Waistcoat | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66330559Uniqlo Crew Neck T-Shirt | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66330739Maison Margiela Replica Sneakers | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66333413Nico II Sunglasses | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66333657THINGS WE'RE LOVINGClarkson's Farm | https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0OT6JCWNTHGSU7KAL5EBV7UJ5PFowl | https://fowlrestaurant.com/Serrica Ref. 7505-1 | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66331301Wordle | https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.htmlOlivier At The Chequers | https://www.olivieratthechequers.co.uk/‘London Falling' By Patrick Radden Keefe | https://go.shopmy.us/p-66334738Merienda Bakery | https://www.merienda.uk/Rafa | https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81785900

What draws an award-winning writer to the darkest corners of human behaviour? Patrick Radden-Keefe is a New York Times bestselling author and staff writer at The New Yorker. He is known for his acclaimed books, including Empire of Pain and Say Nothing - the latter was adapted into a BAFTA and Emmy-nominated drama series. Radden Keefe's latest book, London Falling, investigates the life and untimely death of Zac Brettler, a North London teenager drawn into the criminal underworld. In this conversation, Patrick reflects on why he is so fascinated by “the bad guys”, how the extraordinary story behind London Falling unfolded and his unconventional writing process. Patrick also talks about the years of rejection that preceded his success and how it has shaped him. I hope you enjoy this conversation with one of the world's finest narrative journalists (oh, and Patrick). JUST KIDDING. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 03:25 Why He Writes Bad Guys 05:12 London Falling Origin Story 08:01 Reinvention and Secret Lives 10:06 Holocaust Legacy and Lying 14:58 Carrying Grief and First Failure 31:47 Parents Read First Drafts 33:13 Family Themes And Fixations 34:22 Chasing The New Yorker Dream 36:49 Rejection Resentment And Drive 41:14 What To Leave Out 43:28 Research Outline 48:13 Screenplays That Never Get Made 50:51 Growth Outside Comfort Zone

The new book “London Falling” tells the true story of Zac Brettler, a 19-year-old Londoner who falls to his death in the Thames after living a double life pretending to be the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. We speak with bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe about mystery, money and police inaction as he searched for answers about Zac's death.

Philippa reviews four very different books — from Tintin to Elizabeth Strout — before sitting down with TV wine expert and debut crime novelist Olly Smith to talk about his joyful new book Death by Noir, and the sub-genre he's invented: wine crime.

In November 2019, nineteen-year-old Zac Brettler went missing. When his parents began looking for him, they discovered that Zac had been living a double life. Patrick Radden Keefe's book is London Falling. Say hello on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts. Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, invitations to virtual events, special merch deals, and more. We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery. Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop. Episode transcripts are posted on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RHLSTP Book Club #183 - Bad Deeds - Richard talks to novelist and former QI Elf Andrew Hunter Murray about his funny page-turner Bad Deeds. They chat about him no longer being like John Wyndham, how to break into BAFTA, how Richard broke into Buckingham Palace and the much repeated truth about what Michael Fagan got up to in the Queen's bedroom, giving up on a novel after 30,000 words, planning plots, writing in Costa, the parallels with this book and the brilliant London Falling and why breaking into posh houses is acceptable behaviour.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/bad-deeds-andrew-hunter-murray/8ac69edc4570ebc2SUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO)Recorded at the Podcast Room Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As you may have heard in last week's episode, the Culture Gabfest is hanging up its microphones after 18 years of cultural commentary. But before our final episode, we've still got much to discuss!On this special guest-packed show, Steve, Dana, and Nadira Goffe have the power! That is the power to get into it with VSFOP Jamelle Bouie about Masters of the Universe, the latest attempt by Mattel to launch their own cinematic universe. They assess the state of IP-driven superhero movies and whether this newest entry—starring Nicholas Galitzine, as the buff, loin cloth-wearing He-Man, and Jared Leto, as the slightly lascivious Skeletor—is more than brand management.Next, they turn to the wild, surreal revenge thriller Is God Is, written and directed by Aleshea Harris based on her stageplay. They talk about how this tale of twin sisters seeking vengeance fits into the growing pantheon of Black horror as well as the ancient canon of revenge tragedies.Finally, and for the final time, it's time to talk about Taylor Swift. In the wake of her newest release, the song “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, the gang assembles one more time to take up the long-simmering Tay debate. Jody Rosen and Julia jump on the call/enter the Thunderdome for this, of course. In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel pours one out for the recently shuttered Hampshire College and reflects on the changing landscape of the liberal arts.EndorsementsDana: The interactive, Jazz-playing, transit-obsessed, single purpose website Train Jazz. (Hat tip once more to Rusty Foster's Today in Tabs.)Nadira: The Black Film Archive which showcases Black films made from 1898 to 1999 currently streaming. Also, the year 2016 in music. Jody: For some Gabfest replacement therapy, watching academic lectures on YouTube such as the lectures of art historian John Walsh at Yale Art Galleries—including ones on Vincent Van Gogh and Dutch masters— and cultural historian Eric Lott on Racial Masquerade in America and Philippe Petit's legendary tightrope walk between the Twin Towers. Julia: Patrick Radden Keefe's new book London Falling and the song "Come Tomorrow" by Patti Scialfa.Steve: Following up on last week's endorsement, Steve can confirm that Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee is, in fact, good. Also recommended: Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald. --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 227, Sarah talks with book industry analyst Brenna Connor about the behind-the-scenes world of book sales, bestseller lists, and publishing trends. Brenna shares insight into how sales data is gathered and used across the publishing industry, from tracking pre-orders and audiobooks to measuring the impact of celebrity book clubs and award recognition. They also discuss what makes a book commercially "successful," what current reading trends are revealing about 2026 so far, and what Brenna is watching for in the second half of the year. Plus, Brenna shares her own book recommendations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Why tracking book sales is far more complicated than most readers realize — including what Circana can and can't actually measure. A behind-the-scenes look at bestseller lists and the role Circana data plays in lists like the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly. The famously secretive methodology behind the New York Times Bestseller List. The impact celebrity book clubs and reading lists from Reese, Oprah, and Obama have on book sales. What current sales data is revealing about 2026 reading trends — and how the economy may be shaping book buying habits. Brenna shares the books she recommends — and the trends she's watching for the rest of the year. Brenna's Book Recommendations Two OLD Books She Loves The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:13] Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:00]   Other Books Mentioned The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [40:22] Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) [40:23]   Two NEW Books She Loves Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane (November 3, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:07] Joyride by Susan Orlean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:01] Other Books Mentioned Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (2019) [45:12] The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (2023) [45:14]  The Library Book by Susan Orlean (2018) [46:12]  One Book She DIDN'T Love Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:29] Other Books Mentioned The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (2019) [47:51] These Precious Days by Ann Patchett (2021) [47:57]  Whistler by Ann Patchett (2026) [48:55]  One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Life Out of Order (The Time Traveler's Wife, 2) by Audrey Niffenegger (October 6, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:25] Other Books Mentioned The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003) [49:37]  Books From the Discussion Untitled (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 6) by Sarah J. Maas (October 27, 2026) [9:38] Untitled (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 7) by Sarah J. Maas (January 12, 2027) [9:38] Strangers by Belle Burden (2026) [11:54]  Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) [15:35]  The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (2023) [15:45] Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) [15:53] The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [25:52]   No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (2026) [31:38]  London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (2026) [31:53]  Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [33:35] Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, 1) by Matt Dinniman (2024)* [33:40]  Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026) [36:58]  Life Out of Order (The Time Traveler's Wife, 2) by Audrey Niffenegger (October 6, 2026) [37:00]  Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (2025)* [38:39]  *Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition. These titles were originally self-published. Other Links Publishing Confidential, on Substack | "A Tale of Three Bestseller Lists" by Kathleen Schmidt

As you may have heard in last week's episode, the Culture Gabfest is hanging up its microphones after 18 years of cultural commentary. But before our final episode, we've still got much to discuss!On this special guest-packed show, Steve, Dana, and Nadira Goffe have the power! That is the power to get into it with VSFOP Jamelle Bouie about Masters of the Universe, the latest attempt by Mattel to launch their own cinematic universe. They assess the state of IP-driven superhero movies and whether this newest entry—starring Nicholas Galitzine, as the buff, loin cloth-wearing He-Man, and Jared Leto, as the slightly lascivious Skeletor—is more than brand management.Next, they turn to the wild, surreal revenge thriller Is God Is, written and directed by Aleshea Harris based on her stageplay. They talk about how this tale of twin sisters seeking vengeance fits into the growing pantheon of Black horror as well as the ancient canon of revenge tragedies.Finally, and for the final time, it's time to talk about Taylor Swift. In the wake of her newest release, the song “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, the gang assembles one more time to take up the long-simmering Tay debate. Jody Rosen and Julia jump on the call/enter the Thunderdome for this, of course. In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel pours one out for the recently shuttered Hampshire College and reflects on the changing landscape of the liberal arts.EndorsementsDana: The interactive, Jazz-playing, transit-obsessed, single purpose website Train Jazz. (Hat tip once more to Rusty Foster's Today in Tabs.)Nadira: The Black Film Archive which showcases Black films made from 1898 to 1999 currently streaming. Also, the year 2016 in music. Jody: For some Gabfest replacement therapy, watching academic lectures on YouTube such as the lectures of art historian John Walsh at Yale Art Galleries—including ones on Vincent Van Gogh and Dutch masters— and cultural historian Eric Lott on Racial Masquerade in America and Philippe Petit's legendary tightrope walk between the Twin Towers. Julia: Patrick Radden Keefe's new book London Falling and the song "Come Tomorrow" by Patti Scialfa.Steve: Following up on last week's endorsement, Steve can confirm that Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee is, in fact, good. Also recommended: Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald. --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna and Geoff discuss the 2026 Stella Prize winner, CANNON by Lee Lai and the 2026 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction shortlist.  We also react to the Guardian list of 100 best books of all time. Is there a difference between your 10 favourite novels and your top 10 best books of all time?   Our book of the week is LONDON FALLING by Patrick Radden Keefe.  This is Keefe's latest book, after his widely acclaimed EMPIRE OF PAIN. It explores the death of 19 year old Zac Brettler, who had been posing as a Russian oligarch's son and became entangled with the London underworld.  LONDON FALLING was a Most Anticipated book of 2026 and is a New York Times Best Book of the Year So Far.   There are twists and turns aplenty and much to discuss: Were the Met police incompetent or was there more to it? If your teenager has £850,000 in their bank account, is this a red flag? What did we think of the ending? Coming up: JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart Follow us! Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras  Substack: Books On The Go Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

A teenager hurtles from the balcony of a luxury apartment complex into the Thames. That unexplained death animates the newest book from one of America's great nonfiction writers, Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick joins Harry to unspool the story's web of shady characters, complacent police, and desperate parents. The two delve into the transformation of London into a playground for the extremely and unscrupulously wealthy—like Russian oligarchs—that made the fatal fall possible and draw out the way Trump is overseeing a similar shift in the United States. And Harry digs into Patrick's approach to writing, including how his law degree informs his precise, almost prosecutorial reporting. Mentioned in this episode: London Falling: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704979/london-falling-by-patrick-radden-keefe/  Patrick's reporting: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/patrick-radden-keefe Patrick's story about Trump, Mark Burnett, and the Apprentice: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/07/how-mark-burnett-resurrected-donald-trump-as-an-icon-of-american-success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for another wrap up episode, tune in to find out what what they got up to and read in May, including Patrick Radden Keefe's new book, London Falling which is mind blowing!Books Mentioned in this episode:London Falling by Patrick Radden KeefeBook Reccos Website, Shop & newsletter: Don't forget to check out our website and checkout the Book Reccos shop to purchase your very own Book Reccos Reading Journal! And whilst you're there sign up to our newsletter to receive a monthly email from us to fill you in on our favourite reccos of the month. Head to www.bookreccos.com Get in Touch: Instagram: @bookreccos Email: hello@bookreccos.comWebsite: www.bookreccos.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICorroborators! Happy Friday and welcome back to Everything Is Content- your one stop podcast shop for everything pop culture and beyond.This week- and trigger warning for discussion of sexual violence and abuse- we're discussing BBC Panorama's harrowing new documentary ‘The Dark Side of Married at First Sight' in which former MAFs UK contestant Shona Manderson alleges that her on-screen partner had sex with her without a condom against her wishes. She alleges the team took her to get the morning after pill, but that nothing else was done. The show has pulled all of its episodes from the internet while discussions continue to rage on about how reality TV can't seem to stop failing its subjects. We share our takes as (former) fans of the show.Next up we're talking about Harry Styles' new tour- which has been criticised after some attendees reported having little to no visibility of their fav as he happily scampered around his enormous walkway stage set-up. Has the singer prioritised his Strava over his set design? We investigate.Then we mull over Jacob Elordi's love life after the actor was spotted out and about with model and the inventor of tequila, Kendall Jenner. The internet has separated into two camps in response to the possible pairing- people saying "huh??" and people saying "duh...". Plus: Everything In Conversation with... Kylie?Also (and we're sorry) we chat about Elon Musk's latest MORONIC OUTBURST after the friendless loser suggested that Oscar winning actress and generational beauty Lupita Nyong'o was somehow badly cast as the fictional generational beauty Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. We insult Elon Musk's pathetic existence discuss with consideration for all sides.And finally we revisit the topic of internet fakery and advertising creep after a new piece in Vulture by Lane Brown suggested that just about everything we see online nowadays has been placed there to sell us something. From the piece: "On social media, popular opinion is being formed, measured, and manipulated all at once, and every signal the platforms produce... can now be fabricated by unseen actors with hidden agendas." In other words... is it time to log off?This week Ruchira was loving Legends on Netflix and Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash, Oenone was loving Sister Europe by Nell Zink and Beth was loving SNL UK and London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. Thank you SO much for listening, commenting, agreeing, disagreeing, sharing us on socials or leaving us a review. It means the world and really does help us keep making the show. See you Wednesday! O, R, B x----------BBC iPlayer - The Dark Side of Married at First Sight / PanoramaVanity Fair - Why Can't Elon Musk Shut Up About Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey?Forbes - Musk Boosts Misinformation About ‘The Odyssey' In Days-Long Crusade Against Christopher Nolan MovieVulture - The Feed Is Fake by Lane Brown Waterstones - The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna and Geoff react to the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner, ANGEL DOWN by Daniel Kraus, a World War 1 novel written in one sentence. We also discuss Dwight Garner's New York Times article about the lack of book critics and our views on book influencers and reviews that make news, such as the Harper's review of To Paradise by Hana Yanagihara.   Our book of the week is TRANSCRIPTION by Ben Lerner. This novel about a writer who writes an article about his mentor from his memory of their interview after dropping his phone in a sink tackles issues such as phone addiction, parenting and eating disorders. It was a Telegraph 'most anticipated book of 2026' and a New York Times 'book everyone will be talking about'. Recommended for book clubs.   We had to ask: Why did he not put his phone in a bowl of rice? Is this a book about tech addiction? How does it differ from an Ian McEwan novel? How many unreliable narrators do we have here? Read-alikes: AUDITION by Katie Kitamura LEAVING THE ATOCHA STATION by Ben Lerner   Coming up: LONDON FALLING by Patrick Radden Keefe Follow us! Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras  Substack: Books On The Go Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

In Sydney before his Australian book tour, investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe speaks to Reged Ahmad about his Australian roots and his new book, London Falling, which examines the mysterious death of a teenager who posed as a Russian billionaire and his family's search for truth about the end of their son's life

This week, Brooke is back from across the pond with a suitcase full of tea—and we aren't just talking about Breakfast Blend.  From a power romance to the high-tech clinic that looks like a spaceship, we're covering the best of London before diving into the absolute chaos of the Silicon Valley "breakup" texts and the Met Gala moment that is already winning Halloween. The London Rundown • The Power Couple We Didn't Know We Needed: Brooke recounts her London sightings and pitches the ultimate cross-over romance: Kara Swisher and Idris Elba. • Healthcare from the Year 3000: A deep dive into Neko Health, the futuristic, preventative health clinic cofounded by Spotify's Daniel Ek. Brooke describes the experience of being scanned by "The Pod" and why this is the shift from reactive to proactive care we've been waiting for. • Must-Read: Why everyone is currently obsessed with "London Falling" by Patrick Radden Keefe. It's a gripping, true-crime-meets-high-society investigation into the dark underbelly of the city's billionaire culture.   Tech & Viral Trends • The OpenAI "Breakup" Texts: We dissect the viral memes born from the leaked text messages between Sam Altman and Mira Murati. From Sam's "still don't want me?" energy to the internet's comparison of the exchange to a toxic Hinge match, we look at the most fun reactions to the OpenAI trial documents.   • Mayor Spencer? Spencer Pratt is back in the spotlight, and this time it's political. We look at his mayoral campaign and the viral videos that have everyone wondering if the King of Crystals is actually coming for City Hall.   The Met Gala Call-Out • Move Over, Gowns: Forget the 10-foot trains; the actual star of the Met Gala was the "Red Flats Queen." We discuss why she is the moment.  Links & Resources Mentioned: • Read: London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City by Patrick Radden Keefe.  • Visit: Neko Health – The future of preventative diagnostics.    This week's PCM: https://popculturemondays.com/2026/05/11/ai-text-drama-panny-vibes-la-mayoral-race-puerto-rico-trend-and-memes/

Patrick Radden Keefe is an award winning writer known for his ability to tell complex stories in ways that are compelling and revealing. Author of the bestsellers Empire of Pain—a shocking exposé of the Sackler family and their involvement in the opioid crisis—and Say Nothing, his award-winning account of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the murder of Jean McConville by the IRA, Keefe has built a global reputation for meticulous reporting, moral clarity, and gripping storytelling.In May 2026 he joined Emily Maitlis live on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the investigation that has led to his new book London Falling. At its centre is a teenager who mysteriously fell to his death from a Thames-side luxury apartment in London, and his grieving family's determination to get to the truth of what really happened. Keefe also discussed the broader themes of how money laundering, crime and corruption function today in London's underbelly. --- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the small hours of a November morning in 2019, a security camera at London's MI6 building captured a figure falling five storeys from an apartment building and into the Thames. But there was so much more to the young man's life that could inform what really happened to him.

Journalist, author and podcaster Patrick Radden Keefe is renowned for writing stories about crime and corruption that expose deeper societal truths. His latest book, “London Falling,” explores the mysterious circumstances around the death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler. While London police ruled Zac's death a suicide, his parents soon learn he'd been living a double life as the fake son of a Russian oligarch and gotten entangled in the city's criminal underworld.   Kara and Patrick talk about the book, how London changed after it became a hotspot for foreign money laundering, and how he gains the trust of sources who might not otherwise talk to journalists. They also get updates on some of Patrick's previous stories and talk about where he draws the line when it comes to using AI in his work.  Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patrick Radden Keefe is an award winning writer known for his ability to tell complex stories in ways that are compelling and revealing. Author of the bestsellers Empire of Pain—a shocking exposé of the Sackler family and their involvement in the opioid crisis—and Say Nothing, his award-winning account of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the murder of Jean McConville by the IRA, Keefe has built a global reputation for meticulous reporting, moral clarity, and gripping storytelling.In May 2026 he joined Emily Maitlis live on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the investigation that has led to his new book London Falling. At its centre is a teenager who mysteriously fell to his death from a Thames-side luxury apartment in London, and his grieving family's determination to get to the truth of what really happened. Keefe also discussed the broader themes of how money laundering, crime and corruption function today in London's underbelly. --- This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“If criticism isn't going to be written by one human mind, what else is it for? Criticism done by AI means nothing.” — Bethanne Patrick Is London really falling? Perhaps. This week on Keen On America, everything seems to be falling. There are young men falling from riverside apartments. Girlhood is falling to the commodification of appearance. Book reviewing is falling to AI. Mary Todd Lincoln fell through history as a shrill and inconvenient widow. And just three days ago, Yale historian Ian Shapiro argued that democracy itself has fallen — from the euphoric heights of 1989 to today's nadir of illiberal populism. One person who never falls is our unfailingly literate friend Bethanne Patrick — book critic at the Los Angeles Times, founder of #FridayReads, and the best-read lady in America. And her May list of recommended reads is full of books about falling. Take, for example, the New York Times bestselling London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe — a true crime whodunnit about Zac Brettler, a nineteen-year-old who reinvented himself as the son of a Kazakh oligarch and fell to his death from a Thames-side luxury apartment. Then there's Girls by Freya India on Gen Z and the commodification of girlhood; Make Believe by Mac Barnett, the Children's Laureate, on storytelling as an art of raising kids; I Am Not a Robot by Joanna Stern on AI as useful tool, not a civilizational menace; and An Inconvenient Widow by Lois Romano which rehabilitates the already fallen Mary Todd Lincoln. And then there's the fall of book reviewing itself. Where have all the critics gone? New York Times book critic Dwight Garner wrote its obituary this week. But Bethanne Patrick hasn't fallen. And, last I checked, London is still standing. Five Takeaways •       London Falling: The Oligarchs Were the Problem: Patrick Radden Keefe's new New York Times bestseller is about Zac Brettler, a nineteen-year-old London boy who reinvented himself as the son of a Kazakh oligarch and fell to his death from a Thames-side luxury apartment. Bethanne's reading: the most interesting element is not the Brettler family's grief — sympathetic as they are — but the portrait of a London transformed by money from overseas. Twenty years ago, the worry was economic immigrants. The people who really changed London were the oligarchs. Andrew is sceptical of the neoliberalism-as-villain thesis. Janan Ganesh: London has always been defined by capitalism. •       Girls: The Commodification of Girlhood:  by Freya India (born 1999) argues that Gen Z girls have always been girls — but technology has made the existing anxieties about appearance, body, and social status thousands of times worse. Face-tuning, influencers, targeted advertising, social media bullying. Bethanne's daughter — summa cum laude in economics — relaxes by watching reality shows about the commodification of female appearance. The book's parallel with London Falling: both are about young people who cannot escape the mirror of other people's wealth and image. •       Make Believe: Art for Children, Not Just Books: Mac Barnett, current Children's Laureate of the Library of Congress, argues in Make Believe that children don't just need books — they need art. Great literature, beauty, truth. The book echoes Robert Coles' The Call of Stories and pushes back against the passive consumption of screens. Bethanne's connection to London Falling: Zac Brettler was a brilliant storyteller. He might have been a writer or filmmaker. But stories have to move you toward caring about other people. They're not just about taking in — they're about give and take. •       I Am Not a Robot: AI as Tool, Not Menace: Joanna Stern, the Wall Street Journal's consumer tech columnist, spent a year using AI for almost everything. The book is a stunt memoir in the tradition of “my year of doing this” — but also genuinely useful. Her verdict: AI is a tool. It's not good or bad. She wrote every sentence herself but used AI for spell-checking, research, and editing. Meanwhile: the Authors Guild raised close to $900,000 at their annual gala, with David Baldacci giving an impassioned speech about AI and intellectual property. The Chicago Tribune published AI-generated summer reading recommendations that included a Louise Erdrich novel she never wrote. •       Where Have All the Book Reviewers Gone? A Dwight Garner piece in the New York Times cites a 1981 Donald Barthelme story predicting machines doing reviews. Now it's happening: the New York Times recently discovered a freelance reviewer had been using AI for several reviews. Google Gemini now summarises reviews before you see them. Bethanne Patrick, book critic at the Los Angeles Times, is one of a tiny handful of full-time book critics left. Her verdict: criticism done by a non-human entity misses the point. The point of criticism is judgment. Judgment requires a human mind. About the Guest Bethanne Patrick is a book critic at the Los Angeles Times, founder of #FridayReads, host of the Missing Pages podcast, and the author of Life B: Overcoming Double Depression (Counterpoint, 2023). She is also known as @TheBookMaven on social media. Books Discussed: •       London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday, April 7, 2026). •       Girls by Freya India (2026). •       Make Believe by Mac Barnett (2026). •       I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do Almost Everything by Joanna Stern (2026). •       An Inconvenient Widow: The Torment, Trial, and Triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln by Lois Romano (Simon & Schuster, 2026). About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-Ame...

Patrick Radden Keefe (London Falling, Empire of Pain, Say Nothing) is an award-winning investigative journalist, bestselling author, and staff writer for The New Yorker. Patrick joins Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in a deeply intellectual household, developing a childhood obsession with writing for The New Yorker, and navigating a winding academic path through Columbia, Cambridge, and Yale Law. Patrick and Dax talk about the years-long reporting process behind London Falling, how a chance encounter led him to the story of Zac Brettler, and the challenges of investigating a mysterious death tied to hidden identities and extreme wealth in modern London. Patrick explains how proximity to oligarch culture and social media can warp ambition, why digression can be the soul of storytelling, and how to hold empathy for people navigating unknowable circumstances.Sign up now in the app or at grubhub.com/plus/golddays to unlock exclusive Gold Days deals.Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://www.allstate.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patrick Radden Keefe, a staff writer at the New Yorker and the author of “Say Nothing” and “Empire of Pain,” sits down with Lawfare Associate Editor Peter Beck to discuss his most recent book, “London Falling.” The two talk about Radden Keefe's investigation of a London teenager's fatal plunge into the Thames, the United Kingdom's acquiescence to foreign influence, and his process in writing about the book.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might know him from his best-selling book “Say Nothing,” about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Patrick Radden Keefe, a staff writer at The New Yorker, writes nonfiction page-turners about crime and family secrets. Keefe's new book “London Falling” employs his signature story-telling magic to unravel the story of a 19-year-old kid who fell to his death from a luxury apartment building in London. This week on Say More, Keefe talks to Anna Kusmer about how this story tells a wider tale about how the mega-wealthy operate in the world's richest cities. They also discuss Keefe's Boston upbringing and his literary influences. Email us at saymore@globe.com.

You may think fraud is a financial issue. And you would be wrong! According to my guest, “Fraud is a culture issue with financial consequences.” And I tend to agree. Everything in an organization — good or bad — begins and ends with culture. When leaders look the other way (as illustrated by Tom Hardin's first fraudulent trade going unchallenged by his boss), a culture of permissiveness takes root.Kelly welcomes back Evie Wentink for her return appearance on Fraudish. Evie is a compliance professional with 20+ years of experience, founder of the Integrity Playbook program, and a passionate advocate for ethics and compliance in both enterprise and small business settings.

Our friend Donna joins us this week from Missouri as Pat is treking through Scotland. Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper

In the words of the Los Angeles Times, “A new book by (Patrick Radden) Keefe means drop everything and close the blinds; you'll be turning pages for hours.” Keefe is an award-winning investigative journalist, a staff writer at the New Yorker, the creator of a popular podcast, and the author of six books, including the bestsellers Rogues, Empire of Pain, and Say Nothing. “When I go out looking for a good story,” says Keefe, “I almost never find one. Instead, the really good ones tend to fall in my lap.” Say Nothing was prompted by reading an obituary. A wild-seeming rumor about the 90's heavy metal band The Scorpions led to the podcast Wind of Change, a sweeping tale of government secrets, Soviet spies, propaganda, and 90's power ballads. To call his research “meticulous” is an understatement. Keefe's book, Snakehead, required over 300 interviews to complete. Say Nothing found him speaking to thousands of sources. While writing about the opioid epidemic in EMPIRE OF PAIN, Keefe was blocked from speaking to the Sackler family, so instead, he amassed thousands of correspondences from personal emails to Bar Mitzvah announcements. Though Keefe's doggedness recalls the detective stories that inspired him early on, he is perhaps more hopeful than hardboiled. By approaching those forces that appear too vast to unravel, he proves that even institutions and systems that seem unassailable can, in fact, be broken down and examined—one interview, one receipt, one wedding invitation at a time. Like all the great whodunnits, his books contain breathtaking plot twists. Though he has, on at least one occasion, solved a murder mystery, Keefe is less interested in pointing to a perpetrator and more interested in holding up a mirror. The question at the heart of his work is one that pertains to everyone: What does it mean to be human? His newest book, London Falling, is an investigation into the mysterious death of 19-year-old Zach Brettler and its connection to both London's criminal underworld and its elite circles. The author Katherine Rundell says, “Nobody writes like Patrick Radden Keefe; nobody makes achieving something so powerfully complex and difficult look so easy. It's a form of intellectual generosity and, I think, a form of genius.” Patrick Radden Keefe is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of the New York Times bestsellers Rogues, Empire of Pain, and Say Nothing, which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, was selected as one of the ten best books of 2019 by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and The Wall Street Journal, and was named one of the top ten nonfiction books of the decade by Entertainment Weekly. His previous books are The Snakehead and Chatter. His work has been recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Magazine Award for Feature Writing and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. He is also the creator and host of the eight-part podcast Wind of Change.

Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his new book “London Falling” at Lincoln High School in PortlandLONG SYNOPSIS: In 2019, a 19-year-old man named Zac Brettler died after jumping off the balcony of a luxury apartment in London near the River Thames. Police never came to a conclusion about what led to Brettler’s death. But soon after, it was revealed that Brettler was living a double-life, filled with lies and organized crime in a city changed by extreme wealth. Patrick Radden Keefe dives into this story in his newest book, “London Falling,” focused on Brettler’s death and the people around him. He joins us in front of a live audience of students at Portland's Lincoln High School in Portland to share more on his newest book.

When Patrick Radden Keefe was living in London while shooting the TV adaptation of his book “Say Nothing,” he heard about a teen-ager who fell from a luxurious apartment tower in mysterious circumstances. As he looked into it, he learned that the boy, Zac Brettler, had assumed an alternate identity as the son of a Russian oligarch, and had connected with dangerous people—just as mysterious. His story in The New Yorker, “A Teen's Fatal Plunge into the London Underworld,” became the basis of his new book “London Falling.” “It's not crime, per se, that interests me,” Radden Keefe tells David Remnick, “but the intermingling of the licit and illicit worlds, and the ways in which people deviate from a kind of conventional morality by degrees—and then the stories that they tell themselves about doing that.” He shares recordings from Brettler's parents of conversations that they had as they sought to uncover what had happened to their son.   Further reading:  “London Falling,” by Patrick Radden Keefe “A Teen's Fatal Plunge Into the London Underworld,” by Patrick Radden Keefe     New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians. New Yorker Radio Hour listeners, we want to hear from you. We have a few questions about the show and how you listen to it. The survey takes about twenty minutes, and your feedback will help us make our podcast better. Take the survey here.

Today on the show, with the US-Iran ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday, the shaky ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and continued chaos in the Strait of Hormuz, Vali Nasr joins to discuss what might come next in the Middle East. Then, in a stunning defeat Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lost his reelection campaign after more than a decade in power. Fareed speaks with Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum about what this might mean for populism in Europe.  Finally, New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe joins the show to discuss his new book, “London Falling,” about a teenager's mysterious death in London, and the city's shadowy underworld that it revealed. GUESTS: Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum), Patrick Radden Keefe (@praddenkeefe)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes This week on MSB, Gundam Fighters never die they just fade away (in the arms of a beautiful woman). A new Ramba Ral shows Domon the fate of a Fighter (or maybe he's a new Duker Iq trying to revive the lost art of shooting and the guns of the middle ages? It's hard to keep track), a new Hamon Crowley proves Rain isn't the only gadgeteer on the sidelines of the Gundam Fight, Thom sees a robot that is cool, and Nina can't believe her ears. All this and more on Mobile Suit Breakdown. Ready? Go! Mobile Suit Breakdown is written, recorded, and produced within Lenapehoking, the ancestral and unceded homeland of the Lenape, or Delaware, people. Before European settlers forced them to move west, the Lenape lived in New York City, New Jersey, and portions of New York State, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut. Lenapehoking is still the homeland of the Lenape diaspora, which includes communities living in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Ontario. You can learn more about Lenapehoking, the Lenape people, and ongoing efforts to honor the relationship between the land and indigenous peoples by visiting the websites of the Delaware Tribe and the Manhattan-based Lenape Center. Listeners in the Americas and Oceania can learn more about the indigenous people of your area at https://native-land.ca/. We would like to thank The Lenape Center for guiding us in creating this living land acknowledgment. You can subscribe to Mobile Suit Breakdown for free! on fine Podcast services everywhere and on YouTube, visit our website GundamPodcast.com, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, or email your questions, comments, and complaints to gundampodcast@gmail.com. Mobile Suit Breakdown wouldn't exist without the support of our fans and Patrons! You can join our Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus episodes, extra out-takes, behind-the-scenes photos and video, MSB gear, and much more! The intro music is WASP by Misha Dioxin, the recap music Window by 1000 Handz, and the outro is Long Way Home by Spinning Ratio, all licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licenses. All music used in the podcast has been edited to fit the text. Mobile Suit Breakdown provides critical commentary and is protected by the Fair Use clause of the United States Copyright law. Gundam content is copyright and/or trademark of Sunrise Inc., Bandai, Sotsu Agency, or its original creator. Mobile Suit Breakdown is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu, or any of their subsidiaries, employees, or associates and makes no claim to own Gundam or any of the copyrights or trademarks related to it. Copyrighted content used in Mobile Suit Breakdown is used in accordance with the Fair Use clause of the United States Copyright law. Any queries should be directed to gundampodcast@gmail.comRead transcript

Eric Newman and Medaya Ocher are joined by investigative journalist and New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe, to discuss his new book, London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth. The book begins with the 2019 death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler in London, a tragedy that soon reveals a web of deception, wealth, and hidden influence. Keefe traces Zac's life and the shadowy figures around him, drawing a larger portrait of London reshaped by global capital and restless ambition. Medaya and Eric speak with Patrick about how he first became interested in the case, how he investigated it, and the broader questions it raises about globalization, masculinity, and the pursuit of wealth at any cost.

Patrick Radden Keefe joins “The Book Review” to discuss his new book, “London Falling,” which begins when a family loses a 19-year-old son, Zac Brettler, under mysterious circumstances. His parents eventually discover he had been living a secret life, posing as the son of a Russian oligarch. Speaking with the host Gilbert Cruz, Keefe describes the moment he first heard the story and how he immediately knew it would become his next major project. He talks about gaining the trust of the young man's parents, Matthew and Rachelle Brettler, and following the threads of their son's life into a world of wealth, influence and deception in London. The conversation also explores how the book moves beyond the night of Zac's death and into a broader story about ambition, reinvention and the uneasy question at its center: How well can we ever know the people closest to us? Books discussed on this episode: “Say Nothing,” by Patrick Radden Keefe “Seasons of Fury,” by Rozina Ali “The Emperor's Children,” by Claire Messud “Out of Sheer Rage,” by Geoff Dyer “Middlemarch,” by George Eliot “In Cold Blood,” by Truman Capote “The Power Broker,” by Robert A. Caro “Far From the Tree,” by Andrew Solomon “Chatter,” by Patrick Radden Keefe “The Last Samurai,” by Helen DeWitt Listen to and Follow ‘The Book Review' Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We Want to Hear From You We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review's podcast in general. You can send them to thebookreview@nytimes.com. Credits “The Book Review” podcast is hosted by Gilbert Cruz and produced by Amy Pearl and Sarah Diamond. The show is edited by Larissa Anderson and mixed by Pedro Rosado. Special thanks to MJ Franklin, Dahlia Haddad and Brooke Minters. Illustration by The New York Times; Photo: Erik Tanner for The New York Times Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Award-winning New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe is the author behind best sellers like "Say Nothing" and "Empire of Pain." His latest book, "London Falling," is a deep dive into the mysterious death of a teenager – and the secret life that came to light after he was gone. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This week, Liberty and Vanessa discuss London Falling, Against Breaking, American Fantasy, and more great books! Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Keep track of new releases with Book Riot's New Release Index, now included with an All Access membership. Click here to get started today! For a complete list of books discussed in this episode, visit our website https://bookriot.com/listen/new-releases-and-more-for-april-7-2026/. Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Radden Keefe is the author behind bestsellers like "Say Nothing" and "Empire of Pain." The New Yorker staff writer's latest book, "London Falling," is about the mysterious 2019 death of teenager Zac Brettler. The book details Brettler's secret life, posing as the son of a Russian oligarch, navigating London's dark underworld. Keefe sat down with Amna Nawaz on our podcast, Settle In. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Award-winning New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe is the author behind best sellers like "Say Nothing" and "Empire of Pain." His latest book, "London Falling," is a deep dive into the mysterious death of a teenager – and the secret life that came to light after he was gone. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jeff and Rebecca talk about a transitional moment in book sales, National Book Critics Circle Winners, National Black Bookstore Day, recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: NBCC winners April 7 is the first National Black Bookstore Day PRH profits dropped 4.7% in 2025 Print sales fell 3.1% in first quarter of 2026 First Pynchon, now it turns out we've been saying Thoreau wrong Harlequin to co-produce AI-generated microdramas A24 picks up London Falling for adaptation The Corrections series starring Meryl Streep lands at Netflix Peacock picks up Dungeon Crawler Carl Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping and 365-day returns. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick has a new book coming out April 7, a true story about Zac Brettler, a London teenager who died under mysterious circumstances in 2019. After Zac's death, his parents, Rachelle and Matthew, made a shocking discovery: Zac had been leading a secret double life, posing as the son of a Russian oligarch. "London Falling" is the story of two grieving parents who set out to investigate their own son's death, a journey that pulled them into a side of their city they had never known before, a murky underworld of power, money, danger, and deceit. This exclusive preview for "Wind of Change" listeners is the prologue from the Penguin Random House audiobook, read by Patrick. "London Falling" is available for pre-order wherever books are sold.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices