How a London teen died after pretending to be Russian oligarch
Summary
Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his book *London Falling*, detailing the mysterious 2019 death of 19-year-old Zach Brettler in London. The episode explores how Zach lived a double life pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch, influenced by London’s influx of wealth and toxic social circles. Keefe examines the inadequate police investigation and the grieving parents’ quest to uncover the truth about their son’s hidden identity and demise.
Topics discussed
Intro: Dawson Creek violence and podcast promo
Zach Brettler's mysterious death and double life
How Patrick Radden Keefe discovered the story
Zach's transformation at Mill Hill school
Parents' struggle with Zach's changing values
London's shift from manufacturing to finance
Why Zach pretended to be an oligarch's son
The charlatans: Akbar Shamji and Verinder Sharma
Police investigation and lack of public record
Pattern of uninvestigated deaths in London
The mystery of knowing your own children
Unresolved questions and the nature of truth
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