Episode · The Book Review · 2026-08-28
Books mentioned on Book Club: Let’s Talk About ‘London Falling’
At the center of Patrick Radden Keefe’s new book, “London Falling,” is a mystery: In 2019, a young man named Zac Brettler disappeared, and a few days later his body was found in the Thames River.
MJ Franklin recommended Days of Love and Rage by Anand Gopal, Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, and Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow, and read London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe for a book club. Jennifer Szalai recommended Putin's People by Catherine Belton and Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv, and discussed Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe and others and Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. Sadie Stein recommended Reunion by Fred Uhlman.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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London Falling
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe is a true-crime narrative and investigative work by the acclaimed New Yorker reporter.
Book club“And this week we are talking about Patrick Rat and Keith's latest book, London Falling.”
Where to get it
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Empire of Pain
Patrick Radden Keefe's Empire of Pain is a meticulously researched history tracing the Sackler dynasty, Purdue Pharma, and their central role in driving the devastating opioid epidemic.
Discussed“most recently Empire of Pain which is a book about the Sackler family which is the family behind Purdue Pharma which manufactured Oxycontton and of course as we know now played quite a role in the opioid epidemic.”
Where to get it
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Say Nothing
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe is a true story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland that investigates political violence, justice, and the heavy personal cost of what individuals kill and die for.
Discussed“there's another book say nothing which I've also reviewed, which is at the heart of it. There's the story of a young mother who was kidnapped in front of her family in the 1970s in Belfast”
Where to get it
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Reunion
Reunion by Fred Uhlman is a poignant and tightly crafted novella that explores the tragic friendship between two schoolboys in Germany as the Nazi party rises to power.
Recommended“Um, but to go in a slightly different direction, I I thought a few times about this novella, Reunion by Fredman.”
Where to get it
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Putin's People
Putin's People by Catherine Belton is a sweeping investigative non-fiction work that traces the rise of Vladimir Putin and the inner circle of former KGB operatives who seized control of Russia's economy and political apparatus.
Recommended“So, there's a uh non-fiction book. It's not specifically about London, but it's called Putin's People by Katherine Belton.”
Where to get it
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Strangers to Ourselves
Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv is a critically acclaimed exploration of mental illness and personal identity that examines real-life case studies.
Recommended“she really talks about the ways in which The stories that we tell ourselves, the stories that other people tell us about who we are, shape our understanding of who we are”
Where to get it
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Days of Love and Rage
Days of Love and Rage is a work of narrative reportage by Anand Gopal that offers a detailed portrait of the Syrian revolution.
Recommended“This is Days of Love and Rage by Nan Goal, also a New Yorker writer. This is a portrait of the Syrian revolution”
Where to get it
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Bad Blood
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou is an immersive investigative non-fiction book that uncovers the massive corporate fraud behind Elizabeth Holmes and her blood-testing startup, Theranos.
Recommended“One is Bad Blood by John Keroo, which is an investigation into Theronos, the scam blood testing company that Elizabeth Holmes founded.”
Where to get it
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Catch and Kill
Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow is a deeply reported investigative account detailing the efforts to uncover widespread sexual abuse and subsequent cover-ups in media and entertainment.
Recommended“And then the other is Catch and Kill by Ronan Pharaoh.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I've read Say Nothing, Empire of Pain, and I actually profiled him for the times when Empire of Pain came out.”
“I've read Say Nothing, Empire of Pain, and I actually profiled him for the times when Empire of Pain came out.”
“I read Say Nothing. I read London Falling, and now I'm reading Empire of Pain.”
“I read Say Nothing. I read London Falling, and now I'm reading Empire of Pain.”
“I read Say Nothing. I read London Falling, and now I'm reading Empire of Pain.”