The Night Swim by Megan Goldin is the story of Rachel Krall who covers a rape trial for her podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty. After her podcast helped freed an innocent man, she has become a household name and now the current season needs to be a smash. She arrives in the small town of Neapolis, North Carolina ahead of the trial of a local young man who has been accused of rape. At the same time, she is hounded by a fan who is from the same small town about the murder of her sister 25 years ago. Hannah, who was a young girl when her sister died, begs Rachel to find her sister’s killer. At first, Rachel brushes it off as she needs to focus on the new case. As she covers the case from victim blaming to the courtroom to the verdict, Rachel finds just how polarizing the topic of rape can be. Unlike the black and white view that murder is wrong, the subject of rape shows ugly shades of gray. While she tries to stay focused on the current case, she can’t help but be pulled into another case of Jenny Stills whose death was ruled an accidental drowning. However, the details don’t sit right with Rachel as she tries to find the truth. Was the victim raped that night? Will the perpetrator be punished? What is the connection to the death of Jenny Stills? Is there a connection?
After I read this book, I read some of the reviews, as I normally do, to see if my impressions match the impressions of other readers. And just like in the book, the topic of rape polarizes the reviews. I found The Night Swim to be a thought-provoking, dramatic story as it shines a light on the complicities of a rape case. How and when does consent need to be given and expressed? Why is a promiscuous man known as a stud, but a promiscuous woman is a slut? A few reviewers demanded that the story come with trigger warnings. I think the book’s description as a podcaster covering a rape case wasn’t warning enough. Overall, I liked Rachel with her dogged curiosity for the truth and justice. I liked that she didn’t just push the Jenny Stills case aside simply because it wasn’t the case she was covering. There was also a twist that I didn’t see coming. I thought I guess it but boy, was I wrong! I recommend reading it with care as the story deals with the important issue of rape and the details of the case are graphic. Ms. Goldin doesn’t pull any punches; she writes a rape case that is as real as it gets. As I read, one case seemed so cut and dry and the other one was not so straight forward. As the cases unfold, there’s more than what meets the eye. It opens the conversation of how rape cases are handled, investigated, and prosecuted. I recommend The Night Swim. The story grips you from the very beginning and keeps you hanging on until the very end.

The Night Swim
is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

I could not put this book down! It was fantastic. Yes, the subject matter was dark and uncomfortable to read but this was the perfect suspenseful, mystery/ thriller. I loved the podcast aspect of this book; it was so well done. The rave reviews that Sadie received for the YA genre that utilized podcasts in its’ story line, I would give 100 fold to this book! As soon as I finished the book, I wanted to listen to the podcast (non-existent) and see what the next season would be about (Megan Goldin, could you please write a follow up about Rachel and the next season of her podcast?)

Oh my goodness there is not enough good things I can say about this book. The book goes between two different story lines, one that is mainly told through letters. Rachel is a true crime podcaster who helps to solve crimes. She decides to make the trial of a girl raped as her season 3 crime and reports on the trial as it's occurring. While she's in town she starts getting mystery letters from a girl named Hannah who asks Rachel for help catching her sisters killer. Rachel soon finds herself uncovering truths that were buried for years and secrets that were never meant to be discovered. This book kept me intrigued from page 1 to the very end and I found myself sad when it ended.

I highly recommend this amazing book and I thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to give my unbiased review.

"Maybe I shouldn't tell you. Maybe I should just leave the past alone. Let it die with me."

The small seaside town of Neapolis is seeing more excitement than it is used to. Sure, there is a fair share of tourism as the summer crowds flock to the city's beautiful beaches, but this is something completely unprecedented. One of their own, a golden child of the community, has been accused of a heinous crime. As a collegiate swimming star destined for Olympic glory, Scott Blair was a beacon of pride for the local townspeople. The fact that his family is one of the wealthiest in the area was merely the cherry on top of their reverence for the young man. Now the notoriety that comes from being the hometown of a future Olympian has soured. Scott has been accused of rape. The alleged victim and her family, also residents of the city, are taking every legal action they can against Scott. With the trial set to being, a throng of national media has come to the town, bringing a shadow of negative attention to the normally sunny town.

Rachel Krall has arrived in Neapolis as just a small part of the massive press machine. A couple years ago she started a popular crime podcast called Guilty or Not Guilty. Her reporting helped a wrongly incarcerated man walk free and propelled her podcast to a huge following. Normally Rachel uses the show to take a deep dive into trials that have already happened. The luxury of hindsight often allows her to come to conclusions that the jury or prosecutors may have missed. For her latest season, however, Rachel has something completely different in mind. Rather than dissect the trials of the past, she will place her audience directly inside of an ongoing case. She chose the story of the rape in Neapolis because rape trials seem to be one of the few cases in the justice system where the victim faces as much scrutiny as the accused.

In transit to the trial, Rachel pauses at a rest stop. When she returns to her car, she sees a note tucked between her wiper blade and windshield. The letter is from someone named Hannah who states that she has reached out to Rachel several times asking for help. You see, Hannah's sister died many years ago, and her death was ruled an accidental drowning. Hannah thinks it was actually murder. She believes that if anyone can come to the truth surrounding her sister's death, it would be Rachel. Here's the problem though. Rachel purposefully doesn't do televised interviews or publish pictures of herself. Short of hearing her voice, no one would be able to identify Rachel. This makes Hannah's presence all the more troubling. How did she know who Rachel was and why has she latched onto Rachel as some sort of savior?

Last year I read Megan Goldin's The Escape Room, a novel that saw me gaining the new skill of multitasking walking while reading. This led to more trips and stumbles than I care to admit, so I quickly abandoned this foolish attempt to not miss out on any of the action in her book. Still, my enjoyment of that book had me ready to read whatever Goldin came up with next. That turned out to be The Night Swim, a decidedly different book that Goldin's publisher generously provided to me. This new novel is described by the publisher as "electrifying and propulsive" superlatives that are accurate, but not in the traditional thriller sense. Unlike her previous work, Goldin does not use a fast-moving plot to drive the momentum of her newest offering. Instead, she uses the development of her characters to provide the propulsion that her publisher promises. That's not to say that this character focus is a bad thing. In fact, I'd argue that the strong cast of this novel actually made me enjoy it more than The Escape Room.

"That's how trials work. It's medieval. It's not about getting to the truth. it's about who can put on a better show."

The trial setting gives The Night Swim echoes of those classic John Grisham thrillers. Like Grisham, Goldin peppers in a commentary on the justice system's questionable track record with sexual assault crimes and forces the reader to face the realities of our flawed legal structures. She doesn't hold back on the graphic descriptions of the crimes that were committed. These uncomfortable passages are difficult to read but vital in providing the context of each character's convictions. Beyond the questions surrounding the rape, the novel is haunted by the customs of small-town life. This is the kind of place where everybody knows everyone else. It one person has an opinion, it becomes a universal fact for the rest of the community. That small-town Americana permeates every page of The Night Swim adding another layer of depth to this already stellar novel. The Night Swim proves Goldin's versatility as a storyteller and marks another fantastic read from this masterful author.

The Night Swim will have you guessing how this story will end. I love true crime podcasts and enjoyed the storyline. I liked how Megan Goldin included episodes of the podcasts in the book. Her writing style is very realistic.

A Heart Stopping Thriller that Kept me Glued to My Seat!

When you hear the name Rachel Krall, it’s instantly recognizable. She is known for her Podcast “Guilty or Not Guilty” which is now in it’s 3rd Season and which will be its most controversial yet - focusing on the topic of sexual assault in the small town of Neapolis. Rachel is going to cover a rape trial as it unfolds. It’s he said, she said and it’s going to be a doozy.

To make matters even more dicey, while in town, Rachel begins receiving anonymous letters from someone claiming to be the sister of a girl who died 25 years prior. The sister, Hannah believes her sister Jenny was murdered though the official cause of death was drowning.

Rachel investigates both cases, chasing down angles wherever they may lead.

Can she find the truth before it’s too late?

Speaking from my experience as a former paralegal for 24 years, when it comes to the law, it is often the case that the attorney who puts forth the better argument wins, regardless of whose side the law is on. It was therefore thrilling to see how the lawsuit in this novel played out (no spoilers) - as it always is in legal thrillers. I found the characterizations to be brilliantly plotted, Rachel Krall’s podcast to deliver, the testimony in the courtroom to keep me engaged and Hannah’s letters quite gripping.

In short, “The Night Swim” by Megan Goldin expertly delved into extremely sensitive topics. Furthermore, this book was an intriguing pulse pounding thriller that took the bull by the horns and came out swinging. Bravo!

This was an excellent buddy read with Kaceey.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, Edelweiss and Megan Goldin for the arc.

Published on Goodreads on 8.2.20.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a enough mystery to keep me reading and the adding in the courtroom drama was interesting. I gave this one 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4.

Gripping and well written, this one blends mystery and suspense with intrigue and emotion. The subject matter is dark, but the author handles it well. The multiple vantage points add depth and draw you in. Rachel is an interesting character and I admired her determination. This emotional rollercoaster is full of tension. There are scenes that will break your heart while others make you feel like you are there in the room. I am immensely impressed by the writing in this story.

My first real, long-ish review for the many books I have been lucky enough to receive from Netgalley. Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, both of whom approved me for two separate versions of thus book, MOBI and audiobook. Because of that, both of my feedback will be roughly the same.

Megan Goldin, along with a trio of wonderful voice actors (Bailey Carr, January LaVoy and Samantha Desz), might as well have beamed this story directly into my brain for all I kept thinking about it. A proper courtroom mystery, reminiscent of some of my favorite television and films, I was consumed with the details of both cases, in no small part thanks to the three women narrating. Carr’s haunted reclaiming of the trauma that marred her childhood, Desz’s practical and observant third person voice drinking in the trial and LaVoy’s soft, masterful story-weaving as Rachel Krall, investigative podcast host extraordinaire, all make Goldin’s small, secret town come alive.

I found myself taking notes as I went along, noting suspicious people, developing theories, at least one of which was proven true by the end. For me, that’s the mark of a well written mystery, if the writer is skilled enough to leave enough tools and clues for their audience to take a stab at on their own.

Achingly relevant, The Night Swim is for crime fans everywhere and for anyone who hungers for justice to be served. I can’t wait to read more from Megan Goldin.

Again, thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the free copies of the book in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin has left me not only uncomfortable, but shaken, which in my mind means the book has been successful. The story deals with the rape of two different teenagers in an idyllic, remote beach community on the North Carolina coast, spaced 25 years apart.

Neapolis, NC is a small, remote beach community in North Carolina. Like many rural, small towns, everyone basically knows everyone, the business of a family or individual often turns into the gossip business of the town. Also often the case, certain families with members in prominent positions in the community have a perceived air of importance that can last for generations. The opposite is also true, families that are looked down upon, for whatever reasons, can be the outcasts of the society also for generations.

Rachael Krall is a journalist turned podcaster. She hosts a wildly popular true crime podcast that focuses on a specific crime and trial over the course of each season. After two impressive seasons Rachael is headed to Neapolis to cover a rape trial that has left the community devastated and also divided as the community picks sides. What Rachael doesn't know is that 25 years earlier, Neapolis was also the scene of the repeated raping of a teen by a group of her peers, ultimately resulting in her death. The night of her death also was the night that two teen boys in the community were killed and a third badly injured as their truck hit a tree and caught fire. Their deaths shook the community, while the death of Jenny Stills was relegated to a paragraph in the newspaper on an inside page.

On her drive to Neapolis, Rachael makes a stop to eat at a roadside truckstop/café. When she returns to her car she finds a note on her windshield addressed to her. The note is the first of many from Hannah, the younger sister of Jenny Stills who after 25 years is looking for justice in the death of her sister. Hannah is begging Rachael to dig into the town history to help root out the killer.

The story is well told using multiple POVs. There are a couple of chapters from Rachael's viewpoint, telling her story of covering the trial as well as time spent uncovering the ugly truth from 25 years ago. There is also a chapter with more information from Hannah. Each "segment" of the story concludes with an episode of the podcast. Juggling multiple points of view is a tricky task, and I've seen many authors attempt it with vastly differing results. Megan Goldin has done an excellent job with this, seamlessly transitioning between the three viewpoints. She has used it as a tool to keep the story moving along.

The underlying issue of rape was delicately handled which I appreciated. There is little need to delve into a graphic account of the act itself. In fact, leaving most of it to the imagination of the reader may be even more powerful and shocking than giving a detailed account. I feel that the story does a good job dealing with the emotions and toll that a violent act like rape has not only on the individual, but also on the family, and when they bravely come forward against their attacker, the rifts it can bring to a community. Also at the core of the story is the value of a family name, and to what lengths people will go to protect that name.

The book was very engaging and moved at a great pace, never feeling like it was lagging. Like peeling an onion, the narrative of the two crimes unfolded layer by layer. This is an easy read, great for a weekend. It is also a story that will leave its mark deep within your core and stick with you long after your have closed the book, which I believe to be purposeful on the part of the author. She has done her job masterfully.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, in exchange for my thoughts and review.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review. This was an outstanding mystery that took place in a small coastal town, Neapolis. Two violent crimes happened in Neapolis, 25 years apart. The story is about Rachel Krall , a popular podcaster, as she follows the trial of a wealthy, popular and famous young man accused of violently raping a young girl. While Rachel works to follow the trial, she receives mysterious notes and messages about a suspicious death of a young girl 25 years before that. Jenny Stills, a very strong swimmer, went swimming at night and drowned. Her sister, Hannah , is convinced that Jenny was brutally beaten and then thrown into the water. The chapters alternate between the current trial , Rachel ‘s podcasts of the trial and finding out the truth about the attack on Jenny. There are many twists and turns and surprises. I enjoyed this book.

This is far from a feel-good read. Two stories, two rapes- 25 years apart. It was powerful and heartbreaking. Despite the disturbing subject matter, the writing is well-crafted. This book is a mix of mystery and legal crime thriller. If you like this genre, I highly recommend reading this book.

A #MeToo legal drama with a decades old mystery as the backdrop, this compelling story pulled me immediately and I couldn’t stop reading it!

For fans of AGGGTM or Serial and other true crime podcasts, Rachel is like an adult Pip which I loved... equally spunky and occasionally reckless but with a passion for truth and justice.

While the ending wasn’t shocking, the legal drama throughout felt raw, true to life, emotional and gripping and that’s where the strength of this book lies.

My biggest gripe is the fact that it’s classified as a thriller which I think gives some unfulfilled expectations of the book. Maybe suspense would’ve been a better genre since no one is in any imminent danger until the very end.

Overall, really enjoyed this one despite the frustrating topic it deals with and I’ll continue to read anything Goldin writes.

“The Night Swim” by Megan Goldin is one smart, intense novel that I highly recommend checking out this summer.

Rachel has a podcast that brings her to a small town to cover a horrific crime while simultaneously being contacted by Hannah whose sister had possibly been murder 20 years prior. Rachel sets out to unearth the truth in both crimes. I found the writing and the different perspectives of Rachel’s journey so compelling and thought provoking as you go along with her to figure out what actually happened? Who is the victims? And whose reputation are we trying to protect? Novel out August 4th.

#thenightswim #megangoldin #arc #netgalley #julesbookshelf #goodreads #mustread

What an amazing summer read! Megan Goldin has written a book that grabs the reader from the start. A policeman arriving at the door with a little girl, Hannah, who has bleeding feet and has the duty to tell her mother that her older daughter, Jenny, has disowned.

Enter Rachel, twenty five years later. She is on her way to a small town In North Carolina to cover a rape trial. Rachel has a podcast and she is going to cover a rape trial of Scott Blair. The author does an excellent job of weaving these two stories together. As the reader, I felt like I was allowed to be Rachel’s shadow as she investigates both cases.

This book is fast-paced. I could see this book as a successful series following Rachel and her true crime podcasts. I did have a little trouble with the ending, I think it could use some work I had so many emotions as I was reading. I found myself talking outloud to the characters.. Overall, Night Swim is a satisfying read. Thank you St, Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Do you like listening to true crime podcasts? If so - I highly recommend listening to The Night Swim. Rachel Krall is starting the third season of her hit podcast Guilty or Not Guilty. This time she’s covering a rape trial in MD. When she arrives in town, she also starts receiving notes begging her to investigate a crime that took place in the town 25 years ago.

I really enjoyed this story and alternated between reading the ebook and audiobook. I have to say in this cast the audiobook really adds a lot to the reading experience. The podcast sections are produced to truly sound like podcast episodes - with the music at the start and ending and sound effects.

Highly recommend listening to this one if you’re interested in reading it! Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the free ebook and audiobook review copies.

This was a fabulous book--I read it in one setting because I could not put it down. The story is told from different vantage points and in different ways--Rachel's story which is the reality part of the story, Hannah's story which is in a series of letters, and Rachel's podcast which is the background of the other case and not until the end do all the pieces come together. I must say that I shocked by who the mystery rapist from 25 years ago--not who I suspected at all.. I don't know if it would be possible, but I would love to read (listen) to Rachel's next podcast!

The Night Swim


A delightfully written emotional read full of captivating
courtroom drama and mystery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Rachel Krall is the producer and host of the highly popular Guilty or Not Guilty true crime podcast. She is now headed to the coastal town of Neapolis North Carolina for the start of season three of her podcast. The town’s golden boy, Scott Blair, a college swimmer destined for the Olympics has been accused of raping Kelly Moore, the sixteen year-old granddaughter of the now retired police chief. The town is being torn apart by opinions about the case.

Hannah used to live in Neapolis when she was a young girl, and now she is back in town trying to get justice for her beloved older sister, Jenny. Twenty-five years ago the coroner ruled that Jenny drown by the jetty but Hannah knew that wasn’t the case. There was much more to the story than that. Hannah surreptitiously contacts Rachel asking her to help uncover the truth behind Jenny’s death. Rachel is reluctant to get involved, but is soon drawn into the mystery.


REVIEW
The Night Swim is a captivating, compelling and emotionally intense read.
Author Megan Goldin weaves a tale that is part courtroom drama, part mystery, The writing is smartly structured alternating between Hannah, Rachel and Rachel’s broadcast of the Guilty or Not Guilty podcast.

There is a wide array of well-developed characters in the story, from Rick the grumpy convenience store clerk to the elusive Hannah. I felt strongly connected to all of them, but I particularly admired Rachel’s character and her drive and determination to reveal the truth for both Jenny and Kelly. I would love to see more of Rachel and her podcast in future books.

The Night Swim is beautifully written and brilliantly plotted. But be forewarned....this book is about rape and can be difficult to read in a few places. Goldin does a nice job giving us just the right amount of details to understand the extent of traumatic and emotional experience. The podcast chapter describing the courtroom the day that Kelly testified was an noteworthy piece of writing because of Goldin’s stellar descriptions capturing the emotional intensity of the room.

Author Megan Goldin worked as a foreign correspondent for ABC and Reuters in Asia and the Middle East where she wrote about war, peace and international terrorism. She now lives in Melbourne,Australia with her three sons and is the bestselling author of The Escape Room (2019) .

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher St. Martin’s Press
Published August 4, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Thank you Netgalley, St-Martin’s Press and Megan Goldin.
This is one of the best stories of the year for me and will not forget this novel.
Two stories of rape set 25 years apart and you wonder throughout the whole book how these two stories come together.
This novel gets you frustrated, mad, sad and sickened to the core.
Well written, powerful story. A novel you cannot put down..
Megan Goldin, I cannot wait for your next novel.
Highly recommend 5 stars 🌟

Rachel Krall elected to follow a rape trial as the focus for her third season of a true-crime podcast. It comes down to "the he said, she said" between the golden boy training to be an Olympic swimmer and the girl that had left an impromptu party while intoxicated. In addition to this, Rachel received a letter from Hannah, whose sister had died in 1992 in that town. Hannah knows her sister was murdered after a summer of harassment, but it had been dismissed as a drowning and she had been shuffled into foster care after her mother died. Rachel now is tied to both cases and finds a connection between them that she didn’t expect.

With true crime being a popular topic for podcasts, this is a timely kind of novel. Even without that, we have the small town back and forth as the rape charges polarize the town. Then we move into the courtroom drama and the way that it can violate victims repeatedly, with no regard as to the victim’s state of mind. While I’m sure some of the characters are exaggerated a bit for the sake of the courtroom delivery, this is very much how rape victims feel if they actually testify. They’re judged by the townsfolk around them, have to explain everything in excruciating detail for the SANE examination, for their side of the prosecution, and then in the cross examination where their reputation and word is going to be ripped apart. This novel definitely shines a light on this aspect of our legal system, and why it’s a feat of supreme bravery to take a rapist to trial.

At the same time, the small-town mentality in Neopolis means that the old case of Jenny’s drowning was covered up and forgotten, her reputation smeared for months before her death. She was a victim several times over, and her younger sister Hannah was too ignorant and then too traumatized to prevent it from being ignored. The clues that were slowly uncovered as Rachel spoke with people and received letters from Hannah really drew me in, and I was just as eager as Rachel to discover the truth. It comes together with a slow and gradual pace, with the reader in the same boat as Rachel.

This is just as gripping a read as Megan’s novel The Escape Room and is fascinating despite the difficult subject matter. The actual rapes aren’t described in detail, but we certainly feel the devastation left in its wake.