THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES No.1 BESTSELLER'A defining book of our time' - The Times'The master of the non-fiction narrative' - The Sunday Times'A masterpiece' - The Observer'Compulsive' - The Guardian'Breathtaking' - Jon Ronson'Completely engrossing' - Louis Theroux'Phenomenal' - Emily Maitlis'More addictive than any box set' - Sathnam SangheraFrom the Baillie Gifford Prize-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing comes a riveting story of wealth, violence and deceit at the heart of a glittering city.In 2019, a London teenager, Zac Brettler, fell to his death from a luxury apartment building on the banks of the Thames. On a desperate quest to understand how their son had died, his grieving parents made a terrible discovery: Zac had been leading a fantasy life, posing as the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch.Patrick Radden Keefe follows Zac’s parents on a dark journey to find out what brought him to the balcony that night – and how a teenager’s life of make-believe drew him into the city’s terrifying underworld.
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Deep
“This deep American voice brings a commanding presence, perfect for the professional and serious tone required for intricate true crime narration. Its measured delivery ensures clarity for complex investigative journalism.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Professional
“Jim's British baritone exudes a professional and trustworthy quality, aligning well with the authoritative yet somber undertone needed for this tragic subject matter. The accent adds a subtle authenticity for a London-based story.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Chris Atlas offers a calm, clear, and globally adaptable voice, suitable for a narrator who needs to convey serious information without being overly dramatic. His neutral international accent is a strong asset for broad appeal.”
Male · Young · Narration · Educational · Documentary · Calm · +3 more
“The Narrator voice from Fish Audio provides a deep and authoritative quality with a calm, measured pace, ideal for the professional and serious nature of this true crime audiobook. Its educational tone fits investigative journalism.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Serious
“Jake's deep, smooth, and dramatic voice can effectively convey the intense and serious aspects of the narrative, drawing listeners into the tragic events with a compelling presence.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
Zac Brettler
protagonist
A young London teenager whose voice might carry a mix of youthful ambition, vulnerability, and a hidden complexity due to his secret life and tragic end.
1
Stephen - Well spoken narrator.
Editor’s Pick
Stephen - Well spoken narrator.
Editor’s PickElevenLabsprofessional
ElevenLabsprofessional
British · Young · Male · Narrative Story · Professional
“Stephen's well-spoken British voice, despite being professional, carries a youthful warmth that can portray Zac's ambition and hidden complexity, fitting for a young London teenager.”
British · Young · Male · Narrative Story · Intense
“William's young adult British male voice has an intense quality that could hint at Zac's secret life and vulnerability, while still maintaining a youthful sound. His smooth tone allows for nuanced emotional expression.”
Male · Young · Character-Voice · Soft · Warm · Measured · +14 more
“This young British voice is soft, warm, and measured, which could perfectly capture Zac's vulnerability and the underlying sadness of his tragic end. The relaxed pacing can convey a sense of mystery.”
“Niko's calm, articulate British voice, though slightly older (late 30s-early 40s), could portray Zac's hidden complexity with a thoughtful and measured delivery, suggesting maturity beyond his years.”
Male · Young · Medium · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · +56 more
“Gus offers a young male voice with a calm, conversational tone. This could represent Zac's everyday persona, making the eventual reveal of his secret life more impactful through contrast.”
A grieving yet determined parent, driven by a desperate quest for truth. His voice should convey deep sadness mixed with an unyielding resolve.
1
Andy - British, calm, warm & kind
Editor’s Pick
Andy - British, calm, warm & kind
Editor’s PickElevenLabsprofessional
ElevenLabsprofessional
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Andy's British, calm, warm, and kind voice can convey the deep sadness of a grieving parent, while his resonant quality suggests an underlying determination to seek the truth. The middle-aged tone fits a father figure.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Bob Velvet's smooth, deep British voice offers a calm yet serious presence, suitable for a father consumed by grief but driven by resolve. His measured delivery would underscore the gravity of his quest.”
Irish · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Stephen's calm, versatile Irish voice, while not British, carries a warmth and measured tone that could effectively convey a grieving father's serious and determined nature. The middle-aged quality is appropriate for the role.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Calm · Professional · +3 more
“Kevin Costner's calm and professional voice, with its deep, warm tone, would suit a father grappling with profound sadness yet maintaining an unyielding resolve. His storytelling quality could enhance the emotional weight.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Raspy · Serious · +3 more
“Sleep history presents a deep, mature male voice with a serious and mysterious tone, which could embody the father's somber quest for truth and the hidden complexities of his son's life. The slow, measured delivery adds to the dramatic weight.”
A voice embodying the power, ruthlessness, and veiled threat of London's criminal underworld, perhaps with a subtle foreign influence.
1
Dave
Editor’s Pick
Dave
Editor’s PickElevenLabsprofessional
ElevenLabsprofessional
British · Middle Aged · Male · Characters Animation · Confident
“Dave's gritty and cheeky North London Essex hybrid accent immediately places him in the British underworld, while his unique character and confident delivery embody ruthlessness and veiled threat.”
Alok K – Deep, Suspenseful & Intense for Thrillers & Stories
Editor’s Pick
Alok K – Deep, Suspenseful & Intense for Thrillers & Stories
Editor’s PickElevenLabsprofessional
ElevenLabsprofessional
Indian · Young · Male · Narrative Story · Intense
“Alok K's deep, suspenseful, and intense delivery is perfect for an underworld figure, conveying power and menace with a slow-burn narrative style. His Indian accent provides the 'subtle foreign influence' requested.”
Female · Male · Young · Middle-Aged · Old · Character-Voice · +11 more
“The prototype v2 offers a commanding and intense male voice with a raspy, mature tone, ideal for a dramatic antagonist. This voice can project power and ruthlessness effectively, fitting the character's dark nature.”
Male · Old · Narration · Deep · Character-Voice · Raspy · +6 more
“Hxh Narrator's deep and authoritative voice, with a distinct raspy texture and serious tone, lends itself well to a powerful, threatening underworld figure. The dramatic delivery enhances the antagonist's presence.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Raspy · Warm · +3 more
“Shemar Moore's deep, raspy, and warm voice, delivered with a slow, measured confidence, could create a mysterious and subtly threatening underworld figure. The intimate tone could make his menace more insidious.”