Intelligence Squared London Falling: Patrick Radden Keefe on How Money, Power and Corruption Shape Our City, with Emily Maitlis (Part One)
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May 10, 2026 
Patrick Radden Keefe, an award-winning investigative journalist and bestselling author, discusses his book London Falling and the mysterious death of a teenager by the Thames. He explores how money, status and corruption intersect in modern London. The conversation touches on parenthood, social climbing, risky cons and how wealth reshapes identities and opportunities.
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Book Became A Story About Parenthood
- Investigative focus shifted into parenthood as a central theme.
- Patrick Radden Keefe discovered conversations with Rochelle and Matthew turned a mystery into a study of parental relationship with a stranger.
School Switch Marked A Turning Point For Zach
- Missing a school place felt like a pivotal inflection in Zach's life according to his family.
- Keefe recounts how not getting into UCS and going to Mill Hill exposed Zach to oligarch kids and prompted identity shifts.
Wealthy Peers And Algorithms Amplified Desire
- Exposure to ultrawealthy peers and social media compounded adolescent insecurity.
- Keefe links Mill Hill classmates' extreme wealth plus Instagram's algorithmic feeds to Zach's escalating fascination with luxury.
