Be prepared to lose sleep when reading “The Night Swim,” the latest thriller by Megan Goldin

Hannah’s sister, Jenny, died twenty-five years ago. While officials determined that Jenny had drowned, Hannah is convinced she was murdered and desires to seek justice for her sister. Real Crime podcast host, Rachel, discovers a note from Hannah on her dashboard: Hannah wants Rachel’s help. While hesitant to help Hannah, Rachel attends the trial of a famous swimmer who is accused of raping a teenage girl. Yet, at the same time, Rachel continues to receive notes from Hannah and becomes involved in both investigations, which intersect.

I had not read any of Megan Goldin’s’s earlier work so was not sure what to expect when asked to review “Night Swim.” The author did a masterful job blending the two plotlines together as well as keeping the voices of Rachel and Hannah distinct. Transcripts of Rachel’s podcasts and Hannah’s letters are intersected from chapters told from Rachel’s POV. I appreciate how the reader discovered information just as Rachel does. This was not an easy read, both because of the subject matter and how realistically the author portrays rape and its aftermath. As an attorney, I found the courtroom scenes especially grisly, but that did not keep me from consuming the book in a handful of sittings. Now I need to hit the library and read Ms. Goldin’s earlier work.

Special thanks to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an opportunity to review this novel.

Fantastic book. I think Megan Goldin is a great author and I really enjoyed reading The Night Swim and The Escape Room before that. In this case as was the case with The Escape Room, the story is unique but The Night Swim explores a lot of the things wrong in our society-including bullying, violence to women, child abuse, and privacy matters. I would recommend to anyone who likes good contemporary lit that explores people and the mask they wear out in public versus how they are in private. In addition, the main characters Rachel and Hannah are fleshed out and felt real to me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

What a story. Whew.

Rachel is the host of a popular true crime podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty. Typically Rachel works through cold cases, but to up the ante in it’s third season she has chosen to cover a case as it goes to trial – a rape of a teen girl in a small town. While in town, anonymous letters make their way to her asking for help finding out the truth about the death of another teenage girl 25 years ago – the town believes that it was a case of drowning, but the truth might be a little harder to swallow. As Rachel continues reporting for the podcast (we get snippets of the dialogue!), she is compelled to find justice for Jenny as well.

The parallels between the two victims – Jenny and Kelly – are heartbreaking.

Highly recommend – I may have taken an extended lunch break at work to finish!!!

Trigger warnings for this book: Rape, sexual assault

I enjoyed the premise of this book from the beginning-- Rachel is an upcoming and coming podcaster who is covering a highly publicized trial in a small town where a teen has accused an up and coming swim star of rape.

A secondary mystery throughout the story is Rachel's quest to solve another murder mystery in the town, which is brought to light by the murder victim's sister, Hannah.

I liked Rachel; her dogged pursuit of the truth, her tenacity and her hesitation in pursuing the death of Hannah's sister.

As someone from a small town, I felt the dynamics that were portrayed of the town were very realistic and almost a character unto itself (e.g. everyone is connect to each other, people's past is common knowledge amongst locals, etc.).

The plot kept me guessing until the end and the shocking twist at the end was totally enjoyable!

This book features an intriguing dual-timeline parallel plot within an interesting frame of a podcast transcript to advance the narrative. I found this to be a quick read, but I definitely felt like there was a dearth of depth to the characters that reduced my investment in their stories. This lack of investment also rendered some of the other characters a little unbelievable since we couldn't really understand their motivations. Had this book spent more time with the characters to build depth, it could have easily been a five star book.

Thank you to NetGalley and StMartins Press for my review copy!
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The Escape Room by Megan Goldin was one of my favorite books of 2019, so I was very eager to read her follow-up, The Night Swim. While this book didn't have the exact page-turning thriller vibe that her first did, it was a very well-done courtroom/podcast mash-up that made for a captivating read.

Rachel Krall takes on true crime in her wildly popular true crime podcast, and for season two she heads to small town Neapolis for the rape trial of the town's golden boy and Olympics-bound swim star. While there, she begins receiving notes and emails from a woman named Hannah, who begs for her help in uncovering the mystery of her sister's death 25 years prior.

Alternating between podcast episodes and real life, between the present-day rape trial and the mystery of Jenny Stills from more than two decades prior, Goldin crafts another great story. She is becoming a "must author" for me.

This book is mind blowingly amazing! Despite being a deeply emotional thriller The Night Swim also feels very relevant and now. Rachel Krall is a podcaster best known for her voice and social media presence, albeit mostly private, with very few pictures of herself in circulation. So when she receives a note on her car from a fan, it not only spooks her but sets her off on a path to the truth, of both past and present. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my personal review.

What a cracking read. My second book by Megan Goldin, I really enjoyed the first - The Escape Room and if anything this one exceeds it.

Our main character is Rachel Krall, a true crime pod caster and a very successful one at that. She has done two seasons of her podcast, both legacy cases reopening the evidence to see if there was a misjustice done.

For her third she decides to mix it up and cover live a rape trial. A 16 year old girl is accusing a boy of raping her. Set in a small town, the boy is from a wealthy family and one of the countries best up and coming swimmers. A hero to a lot in the town. The town is divided on who they believe.

The story also includes a legacy case as Rachel is contacted very early on in the story by a woman called Hannah. She claims her sister, who died in the same small town 25 years ago was raped and murdered and not, as the official cause of death says , accidental drowning.

This was an intense and fantastic read. Very heavy subject matter, the book is a mixture of mystery/thriller, court room drama and social commentary. It balances all three perfectly.

I was drawn in from the opening chapters and every time I wasnt reading thee book I was thinking about it and what might happen. I couldnt wait to pick it up again.

I think Megan Goldin has written an absolute cracker here. So much in the story without it ever being confusing, probably the perfect length read, beautifully written characters and never came across as preachy.

I loved loved loved this one. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley, St Martins Press and Megan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished the Night Swim and I had to write my review right away. I came in with high expectations for this book, yet it still surprised me. I expected a good solid mystery, but I didn't realize I would be completely sucked in by this story. It's a quiet book, slowly dropping information with a symmetry between two cases, one unsolved from the past, and one being tried in the present. The parallels keep coming up and making more and sense as the end approaches. You feel completely immersed as if you are right there, trying to figure out the mystery with Rachel, who is researching both cases one for her podcast, one for other reasons. I recommend the audio version of the book if possible as it brings the book a step further as we experience being the audience of Rachel's court podcast, following along. Because it feels so real, this was a tough read, the trial chapters offering a gut wrenching view of the toll of a rape on the victim, the family, and a community. The ending left me breathless, yet it made sense. Excellent book.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault, Rape

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 04 August 2020)

SYNOPSIS | Rachel hosts a true crime podcast and her newest season is covering a controversial rape trial in a small town called Neapolis. Whilst there, she receives a number of mysterious letters asking for her help in uncovering a potential crime which was covered up as an accidental drowning which occurred 25 years earlier.

WHAT I LIKED:
- true crime podcast element
- discusses rape culture & victim blaming
- alternate timelines
- slow burn

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I don't usually find many topics triggering, but some of the situations which led to the rape scenes hit a little bit too close to home for me. If you find sexual assault or rape triggering then I urge you to assess whether this is something you want to read.

Could not get into this book.Gave up about one third of the way through. Flat characters, wish washy plot and just not interesting.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin #jaylammreviews

Rachel has found fame since starting her podcast "Guilty or Not Guilty" She helped to free an innocent man after her first season and now with season 3 beginning she is researching a rape trial. When she relocates to the small town where the alleged rape occurred she starts receiving letters from a woman, Hannah, who wants help with finding her sister's murderers..a murder that took place 25 years ago. As the reader, we find ourselves in the middle of two unsolved cases.. the recent rape investigation that Rachel is researching, and the long forgotten death of Jenny Stills. 

Wow I loved this thriller! This felt like such an original idea. True crime podcasts are all the rage right now so this felt so real and timely. The audio book was fantastic! We alternate to the story in real time and Rachel's podcast. Because we get to hear the podcast, it really brings life to the story. There was even music when the podcast was starting and ending to help the reader differentiate between the podcast and the rest of the story. It felt like I was really listening to a true crime podcast. 

This is a definite must read if you love true crime and thrillers. I could not put it down!

Rachel Krall’s true crime podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty, has become a popular household name online. Her first two seasons have gone exceedingly well and she picks a high profile rape case in a small town where the local golden boy on track to become an Olympian stands trial. The town is divided over believing him or his accuser. When Rachel is beginning her journey for the new season in town she starts receiving letters from a listener named Hannah who is desperate for Rachel’s help in her sister’s death from 25 years earlier in the same town. Hannah does not believe her sister accidentally drowned as reported but instead was murdered. The past and present collide as Rachel dives deeper to uncover the truth in both cases.

This book was very tough to read and I would give high trigger warnings for it. The author’s emotional appeal writing about each of the cases did move me and I think the courtroom sections held my attention. Hannah and Jenny’s relationship was something I connected to having an older sister and the protective bond among some sibling relationships. I really liked the podcast perspective as I listen to them in my free time and I could connect with that factor. This book reminded me in part of a real life case but may not have been intended. The author seems to have researched about the rape proceedings and aspects. For instance the rape kit explanation seemed very well described and the victim’s stand on trial was heartbreaking.

I would personally classify this as a slow burn courtroom drama/murder mystery as it’s not a fast paced thriller. I think the writing style was easy to read. I felt the plot was predictable and somewhat underdeveloped at points; for example some of the twists and the town strangers willingness to give a random person so much information. It read like a beach read to me with a topic that was a bit heavy handed for the format. The story is broken into Hannah and Rachels’ perspectives. I wish we had seen Rachel developed more as she just felt like a narrator and not a main character. Hannah’s chapters packed much emotionally but a large plot point felt problematic as her desperation for attention/help and avoidance of meetings got too repetitive for me.

Overall this was a different book than I expected, but I think there are important issues that need to be talked about and displayed in popular media.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will release on August 4th.

Swimming in the ocean at night is hazardous, and it also sets the perfect tone for this thriller that I literally couldn't put down. The Night Swim gripped me from page one and quickly entangled me in this complex story of wrongs done, lies told, and coverups accomplished.

What I Loved

I loved the uniqueness of the book format. Rachel Krall hosts a popular true-crime podcast, and the story includes the written transcript of her currents seasons installments. I enjoyed the mix of mediums that breaks up the story while still propelling it forward. The podcast transcripts are spot-on, sounding much more conversational than the rest of the story and adding little bursts of 1st person narration. Hannah's letters also served a similar function but in her distinctive voice and are a great contrast to the podcast – the podcasts being for public consumption while the letters are for Rachel's eyes only.

The story is in third-person limited narration, which works great to showcase the first-person interludes of the podcasts and letters. I usually love an excellent first-person unreliable narrator in my psychological thrillers. However, with this story's format, I can't imagine the narration being any other way and still being as effective as it is. It sets up the perfect foil for those first-person components.

I also loved the mystery within the mystery that is intricately and deceptively interconnected. They both kept me guessing throughout the story without any lull in the suspense. For as much as I know through Hannah's letters and the podcast interviews, I quickly realized that there is a great deal that I don't know, and this makes the pages turn quickly to fulfill that desire to find out.

The Night Swim is a story about injustices. Injustice in a society that doesn't treat rape with the same ferocity that it treats murder. Injustice in the criminal system that metaphorically rapes victims of rape by putting them through humiliating scrutiny and making them relive the crime on the stand. Rape is such a profoundly personal crime, by its very nature, and this reality creates a situation that is ripe with injustice.

The main character, Rachel Krall, is my favorite character in the story. She took her career as a crime reporter and turned it into the first true-crime podcast where she has helped solve cases that have gone unsolved or solved incorrectly. She is strong and confident, not afraid to muddy the waters if it means that the truth will become crystal clear. I loved her compassion and determination, and a series where she continues to be the main character doing what she's doing would rapidly rise to my must-preorder list.

To Read or Not to Read

The Night Swim is an excellent psychological thriller for people new to the genre without disappointing those readers who already love the style. It is an exciting read with intricacies and layers that will have me talking about and reflecting on it for weeks to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Night Swim is a dark, unsettling psychological thriller examining two cases 25 years apart. Goldin exemplifies what a rape trial looks like- the jury games, victim shaming/blaming, the storyline of “do we want to ruin this promising young mans life”. She handles it with sensitivity and an honest portrayal.

The Night Swim is more than just a psychological thriller. It’s a relevant and timely look at our society. It was thought provoking and emotional. While this book is fast paced and sucks you in, it’s not an easy read. It’s a heavy read and it’s not for everyone- this book may be triggering for many. However, it is well done and handles the subject matter appropriately.

Having read and loved The Escape Room last summer, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Megan Goldin’s latest book. While I was expecting similarities to her former, The Night Swim couldn’t be more different. The latest novel touches on some very sensitive issues, the biggest one being rape. Despite the sensitivity of the topic, the novel is very well-written and engaging.

The Night Swim is a multilayered novel told using multiple timelines. Rachel Krall has a successful true crime podcast. Entering into her third season, she chooses to cover the trial of a swimmer bound for Olympic glory, who is being accused of raping a teenage girl. While under the pressure to produce a successful podcast, Rachel begins receiving mysterious letters asking her to investigate the tragic death of Jenny Stills, a girl who died twenty-five years ago. Jenny’s death has been listed as an accidental drowning. However, her sister, Hannah, believes she was murdered. Rachel begins to dig into the details surrounding Jenny’s death and becomes immersed in discovering the truth.

Although there were scenes that were unsettling and hard to read, I found the majority of this novel to be filled with intrigue and suspense. Rachel was very driven and determined, and I respected her as the main character. I enjoyed how the story was told using three different formats— from Rachel’s point of view as she researched both cases, Rachel’s podcast episodes, and Hannah’s letters to Rachel informing her of Jenny’s story. This helped break up the heavy parts of the book, as well as build up the anticipation of the story.

Another job well done by Megan Goldin!

Oooh, this is good, you guys! This is very, very good!

Rachel Krall is the voice behind a true crime podcast. She has traveled to the town of Neapolis to cover a devastating rape trial. The golden boy of the town has been accused of raping a high school student. Rachel throws herself into interviewing, investigating, attending and reporting on the trial. But someone else is vying for her attention. Someone is following Rachel, leaving her letters and asking for her help in solving the tragic death of a sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills drowned. Did she? Or was there more to the story?

Have I mentioned how much I love cold cases? Twenty-five years is a long time. Potential witnesses have moved away, maybe even died. Paperwork could have gone missing or been destroyed. And when you do find someone willing to talk about events from back then, how reliable is their memory? As it is, nobody seems to have been that bothered about what happened to Jenny and when Rachel starts asking questions, she realises it's remarkably hard to find someone who's willing to answer.

Meanwhile, there's the rape trial. His word against hers. A town divided by opinion. Did he or did he not? And all those horrible, prejudicial statements one encounters when something like this happens. Why would a young man with dreams of swimming at the Olympics, who seemingly has it all, risk everything to force himself on a young girl when he could have whomever he wants? If something happened, it must have been consensual and the girl just changed her mind afterwards. Or if it did happen, surely the girl asked for it? Asked ... for ... it. Ugh.

There is a lot to get angry about in The Night Swim. There is a lot to be incredibly sad about as well. This isn't an easy story to read and at times, I felt awfully uncomfortable. But boy, is it gripping and compelling. Once I started reading, I just couldn't stop and I flew through the pages as if my life depended on it. I thoroughly enjoyed the switching back and forth between trying to find out the truth about what happened to Jenny through her sister's letters to Rachel and the present day rape trial, also accompanied by Rachel's podcasts episodes.

Right or wrong, I made up my mind about the trial quite early on. The cold case, however, I couldn't figure out at all. I sometimes felt the clues were right there but the overall picture evaded me and I was totally fine with that because the ultimate reveal would obviously have been way less shocking and gasp-worthy if I had.

Considering the subject matter, it seems somewhat wrong to say I "enjoyed" this book but I did. It had me utterly engrossed from start to finish. Despite hearing many good things I somehow managed to miss Goldin's debut, The Escape Room, but after reading this one I'll definitely be correcting the errors of my ways. Looks like this is an author to watch, guys, and The Night Swim undoubtedly deserves a spot on your to-be-read lists!

Interesting premise and play between the true crime podcast world and the justice system. Reminded me a bit of a Sadie for adults. I felt that characters were a little one dimensional, though

Don't read this book for its mystery. Do go in expecting certain parts to be wholly gutting—and brace yourself for some pretty visceral feelings.

Rachel Krall hosts a widely popular true crime podcast going into its third season. This time, she's headed to the sleepy coastal town of Neapolis to cover a brutally divisive rape trial. Rachel will play conduit to her listeners, putting them in the figurative jury box: is Scott Blair, golden boy and future Olympian, guilty of raping Kelly Moore?

Then, Rachel receives a mysterious letter that sends her twenty-five years into the past. Who was Jenny Stills, the local girl whose name became synonymous with slut, the one who drowned? As she investigates, the two cases—Kelly in the present day, Jenny all those years ago—dovetail in the most unexpected of ways.

These events set the stage for a devastating examination of privilege, slut-shaming, victim-blaming, and sexual violence. The book alternates between letters detailing the last few months of Jenny's life, Rachel's podcast episodes, and Rachel's POV as she attends the trial and throws herself into finding out more about Jenny Stills.

As a mystery/thriller, The Night Swim is pretty underwhelming. I was surprised to realize at the end that Rachel was practically still a stranger to me; she narrates the story with a (presumed) objectivity that left her distant to me, too. We don't learn much about her life prior to this case. And in terms of Jenny's death—if you read carefully, it’s pretty apparent fairly early on who the culprit is. This person is the only one who (view spoiler).

But my GOD, this book absolutely succeeded in stirring up vicious feelings in me. My heart hurt so bad. I was physically sick at parts. And throughout it all, I was filled with so. much. outrage at the sheer injustice.

The dramatization of Kelly Moore’s rape trial really affected me, but so did the letters that Hannah—Jenny's sister—sent Rachel. It was really hard to read about the beautiful and mundane moments she shared with her sister before their lives were gutted by the abominable actions of vile and violent men. It was even harder to read Hannah's guilt at only understanding her sister's trauma years later.

CONCLUSION: While not a compelling mystery, The Night Swim ultimately articulates the pain and resilience of rape survivors—and their loved ones—with thoughtfulness and brutal intensity.

"Ever since her true-crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall has become a household name - and the last hope for people seeking justice. But she’s used to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help.

The new season of Rachel's podcast has brought her to a small town being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. A local golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season 3 a success, Rachel throws herself into her investigation - but the mysterious letters keep coming. Someone is following her, and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insist she was murdered - and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody in town wants to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases - and a revelation that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved.

Electrifying and propulsive, The Night Swim asks: What is the price of a reputation? Can a small town ever right the wrongs of its past? And what really happened to Jenny?"

Here for the true-crime podcast!