Three stars for The Night Swim by Megan Golden. I loved the topic of this book - an examination of what it actually means to allege sexual assault in our current environment. I just wish the topic had been handled with less of a “Gone Girl big twist”. The author winds together two different stories - the murder (?) of a teenage girl in the past and the trial of an accused rapist in the present. I found myself forgetting which timeline we were on and mixing components of each of these stories. An okay but ultimately forgettable read.

This was a great book! I really enjoyed the podcast aspect of it. The characters were very well developed, and the book kept me interested the entire time.

The perfect page turner that I needed to end the summer! If you’re like me, reading has been the best distraction of 2020 and The Night Swim did not disappoint.

Rachel’s very successful podcast needs a third season and she has found the perfect case. It’s an ongoing case, a rape trial, that she intends on following and reporting on on her Guilty or Not Guilty true crime podcast. On her way to Neapolis, a mysterious letter appears in the windshield of her car. It’s from Hannah, whose sister was murdered 25 years ago. She never got justice. Her death wasn’t even considered a murder and Hannah’s hoping Rachel will help her uncover the truth.

I have to start by saying that, if you are sensitive or triggered by rape, sexual assault and murder please be careful while reading this one. It has really graphic descriptions of rape, which are really hard to read.

Rachel is a very interesting main character. She has no connection to either of the victims but is still desperate for justice. Every now and then, we get a transcript of the podcast episodes which add so much to the book. I loved how the author was able to tell the story by combining the podcast, the letters and Rachel’s present story.

Throughout the book, we get some interesting discussions about rape and rape culture, how everybody agrees that murder is bad but there’s no such consensus with rape. It made me feel a lot of things, my heart was racing most of the time (especially during Hannah’s letters).

If you want a thought provoking and heart wrenching thriller, read this one.

This is a 4.5 star rounded to a 5 star. This is the second novel by this author that I have read. Where Escape Room was more a psychological thriller, this is more reminiscent of a thriller, with a twisted web that connects characters over time and space. Rachel, investigative reporter, is on the case this time using her popular podcast to cover the active rape trial of a young swimming superstar. Accused of raping a high school girl, the ensuing controversy has torn the small town of Neapolis apart, with each side declaring their fierce opinion. With a trial where every side has everything to lose, Rachel is in the middle covering this divisive trial. With her hands full, Rachel is contacted by a Hannah Stills, a young woman looking for answers in the 25 year old death of her sister Jenny Stills. Following her gut Rachel follows up on this stale accidental death not really knowing what kinds of ghosts will be scared out of the closet. I guess it is true that small towns always have the biggest secrets. These novels are always fun to read. There is a certain air of sadness to this one though, as there seems to be a lot of casualties. Even old secrets can exact a lot of damage. Review posted to Goodreads, Litsy, LibraryThing, Amazon, and Facebook.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and truly hope that the author keeps this story line going. While it wasn't a nail biter it kept me intrigued enough to finish it. This story follows Rachel who is a crime podcaster who is in town to follow a trial and is somewhat thrown into a 25 year old murder/mystery along the way. I went into this one blind as I had requested it quite a while ago and I just need to knock some books out of the park and I am glad I picked this one.

I loved the way this novel is written. Told from different point of views and in interview form. Very fast paced and realistic.

I find this author to be hit or miss for me, I'm afraid.... I realize I'm in the minority here and will keep plugging through their releases so as to not miss a hit. Thanks for the opportunity to review this!

I received an eARC of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4 stars! This book evokes many emotions in the reader...might possibly leave you speechless. Well written, highly recommend!

This wasn't as thrilling as her first novel, but wasn't a bad read. I had a hard time with the rape (trigger warning) so I wouldn't want to read it again.

I really liked this one. Surprisingly it was chosen as a BOTM pick and really thought they wouldn't choose this. Definitely worth the hype, loved the true crime podcast element. Wish there would have been a trigger warning.

As a fan of true crime podcasts, I was eager to read this book as the main character Rachel is covering a rape trail for her podcast. While covering this trial, Rachel finds a note on her car from someone named Hannah begging for help to solve the mystery surrounding her sister Jenny's death many years ago. The plot follows both of these storylines of the current rape trial and finding the truth behind Jenny's death. Really great storylines that handle the topic of rape well, especially the emotional aftermath for the victim. It also shows how the system is very difficult for rape victims to find justice. Well written, suspenseful and thought provoking.

Reminscent of the Brock Turner case but with a twist. I think most women felt a surge of rage at the outcome of that case and this almost feels like a small fictional redemption. I loved the podcast style of writing, I was immediately hooked!

I up so late reading Night Swim, I fell asleep reading it. You guys, I had a dream that I was in the book. Crazy, right? I’ve never experienced this before, but I think it was because I needed answers. I hope I’m not the only one that has dreamed about a book. 😂 Night Swim is definitely up in my top 5 favorite books of 2020. There were so many elements in this book that I loved. It reads like a podcast, which was really neat. I wish I would listen to it on audio. Also, there was courtroom drama, tons of lying, and secrets. I have no criticism, I thought it was fantastic. I hope theres a sequel soon. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading Night Swim, good luck trying to put it down.

I loved this book. Very suspenseful. Loved the podcast episodes and how they were part of what was happening in the plot of the story. I highly recommend this book if you like mysteries and in particular psychological thrillers. The action begins at the very beginning of the book and it left me wanting to read more. It was a quick read and that really appealed to me as it is hard finding time to read.

Suspenseful, complex, heartbreaking, well-written. I did get the two cases/victims mixed up at times. And (kinda conversely) I wish the cases connected a little more. But overall, this was a good read.

Thanks to the publisher for a free digital galley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Probably in the top 5 books I will read this year. Rachel has a true crime podcast that took off within the last year. She covers trials while they are happening giving her listeners the chance to feel like they are in the courtroom with her. When she comes to the small town of her the rape trial that will be the focus of her next season on her podcast, she gets pulled into a cold case murder that happened years ago in the same small town. Great book for all the true crime junkies and murderinos.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

Brief Summary: Rachel Krall is the voice behind the hit podcast Guilty Not Guilty. While covering a rape trial in the fictional town of Neapolis, she receives letters from the sister of a girl who drowned years ago insisting she was murdered. Rachel starts asking questions and bringing up the past. This is my first read by Megan Goldin.

Highlights: This is an SVU fan’s dream story! I loved the focus on rape and how it impacts victims lives. I was so engrossed in this story. I loved the twists, pacing and plot. I loved Rachel’s curiosity and how she dug up all the info that she did. I loved how the present and past collided.

Explanation of Rating: 5/5 One of the best books I’ve read this year. Please give us a season 4 of Guilty Not Guilty! This is a must read for my fellow-Law and Order SVU fans!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very dark and twisty. The subject of rape is front and center, so do not read if you find that subject triggering.

I loved The Escape Room, so I was really looking forward to Ms. Goldin's next book. This was an interesting read. A podcaster travels to a beachside town to cover a murder trial, and during the process of covering the trial, she's swept into an investigation of an accidental drowning that took place decades earlier. The subject matter is a little dificult, and the book left me feeling like a needed a light read afterward. But Megan Goldin definitely knows how to keep her readers turning pages.