The Night Swim was a slow and compelling read that had a little bit too much tell and not enough show. The narrative was pretty monotonous at times, with paragraphs upon paragraphs of Rachel describing what was happening, but the mysteries were still interesting for the most part. The novel did have graphic descriptions of rape and rape-related injuries, so please be careful when reading if that is a trigger for you.

I honestly thought I was going to love the podcast/true crime reporter dynamic, but the way Goldin explored and developed that in the novel didn’t work for me. The format–just a straight up descriptive narrative–didn’t help with building up tension towards the K case. It was such a serious subject matter to tackle, which I do think Goldin explored well, but there was very little emotion to it.

The mystery surrounding Hannah and Jenny was really intriguing. The way it was slowly developed and mostly presented through Hannah’s POV was really well done. It kept things interesting when the plot dragged. This did mean Hannah wasn’t developed as a character, though, since she mostly spent the entire novel either recalling what happened to her sister or talking to Rachel through e-mails and letters.

The ending and how both cases were solved was really really good and well written. I was surprised by both reveals at the end and how they wrapped up the plot points. It was pretty satisfying all around and it made me feel like, despite the tedious narrative at times, this was still a well plotted and engrossing read.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting going in but wow I really enjoyed it! Chapters are pretty short, flowed well and I could have kept reading without realizing time passed. Plenty of court drama and I loved the pod cast aspect to it. There are a lot of sad moments and I was angry and really felt for the characters in this story. It makes me sad this these kinds of things happen everyday. I really hope this author continues with this main character and we get to see more seasons of her podcasts. That would be awesome.
Thank you Net Galley for and ARC of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin for my honest review!

The Night Swim will stay with me long after I have finished reading it. It’s well written and informative and played havoc with my emotions. Definitely worth reading.

I loved everything about this thriller - it has a podcast, two mysteries, multiple perspectives, and small-town drama. Megan Goldin followed up her hit The Escape Room with another hit in The Night Swim. Rachel is in a small town to cover a rape trial for the 3rd season of her hit true crime podcast. While she was there, she is contacted by the sister of a girl who died 25 years ago, asking her to look into her sister's "accidental" drowning. The two stories are woven together very well, with both being equally compelling!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This author is new to me but I really liked the premise. All I can say after reading it is “WOW!” I do almost all of my reading via audiobooks these days so the fact that I was willing to sacrifice multitasking to just read says a lot in and of itself. This book so grabbed me tha,t I read it in a single sitting, staying up later than normal so that I could finish it. Once I’d finished it, I headed up to bed where I woke my husband and babbled about it to him for a good ten minutes before letting him go to sleep again. The story successfully intertwines threads from the past with current events in a small coastal town in North Carolina. Rachel, who’s become a household name thanks to two successful seasons of her podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty, “the podcast that puts you in the jury box”, has chosen to take a new approach for season 3. Instead of revisiting an old or cold case, she’s going to follow a controversial upcoming trial from start to finish..

As she arrives in the coastal town that is both the scene of the crime and the location for the trial, she’s left a note by the sister of a 16 year old girl who died in that same coastal town 25 years ago, asking her to look into the death, which she insists is a murder. The author skillfully weaves these tales, the old and the new, together naturally, ending with a twist that I definitely did not see coming. The story is told through different perspectives, each one providing crucial information. We get Rachel’s perspective as she goes about her research, interviewing key players in the upcoming trial she’s covering, as well as information she’s trying to dig up on the death of Jenny Stills 25 years ago. Much of the information on Jenny comes from notes, letters, and emails from Hannah, Jenny’s younger sister, who was only 10 when her sister died. However, Hannah has information on what happened the night Jenny died, things she’s never spoken of in all these years. In fact, Hannah stopped speaking altogether after Jenny’s death. But now, as the 25th anniversary of her sister’s death approaches, Hannah is finally ready to share what she knows. And it’s Rachel she wants to tell and have fill in the missing pieces from all those years ago. The last perspective we get is from the podcast itself, as we have chapters labeled as podcast episodes once the trial begins.

All of these threads are skillfully woven together into a thoroughly engrossing story. The cast of characters from both past and present are interesting, although there are some stereotypes found. And although I was successful in guessing quite early some of what befell Jenny, I definitely didn’t figure it all out until everything was finally revealed in the story, with one heck of a plot twist I definitely didn’t see coming. Likewise, the current day trial was portrayed realistically and I was on tenterhooks about the verdict along with everyone who was following either the podcast or the trial. Kudos to the author for creating such an amazing story that kept me engaged from beginning to end, unable to put the book down until I’d finished it. This might have been my first book by Megan Goldin but it won’t be the last.

One word... Wow! This was the perfect read for me during this crazy quarantine time. I’ve been on a roll of DNF books and struggling to get into a book that will capture my attention. This was it!! I read this book in less than a day. I could not pull myself away from the story. I loved the dual stories and time lines. The author did an amazing job of weaving the stories and bringing them together at the end in a major twist! I thought I had this plot figured out multiple times and I was wrong every single time!! I will be buying a hardcover copy of this book for my bookshelf at home! Megan Goldin made a fan out of me! I will be reading everything I can get my hands of hers.

Another smart thriller featuring a podcast crime investigator. The plot is well-developed and the main character is engaging. The podcaster is covering one trial in the present but gets embroiled in a case that was covered up in the past in the same small town. I had a strong theory about what was happening, but I ended up wrong. I think the author seeds enough clues throughout to make it enjoyable to figure out.
* Trigger warnings for sexual assault.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author Megan Goldin for an advanced digital review copy. This book will be published August 4th, 2020.

The Night Swim is being promoted as a thriller, but I would label this one a mystery. It's not a fast-paced, edge of your seat kind of book. It's more of a slow reveal, "who-done-it." Which actually works better for this story.

I read Goldin's previous book, The Escape Room, and enjoyed it, so when I saw The Night Swim, I requested it right away. I couldn't resist the premise of a podcast host that covers crimes. This story is told from two third-person point of views: Rachel's and Hannah's. Rachel is the host of the podcast and Hannah is a fan. Hannah has been reaching out to Rachel to ask for her help in solving the rape and murder of her sister twenty-five years ago in Neopolis, where Rachel is currently headed to cover--for her third season of the podcast--the trial of the town's star athlete accused of rape. Hannah slowly tells her sister's story through letters and emails she sends to Rachel throughout the trial, and the two stories mirror each other, weaving in the past and present.

The author does a superb job handling such a delicate subject. She highlights the unbalanced handling of sexual assault and rape cases, how the burden of proof is placed on the victim. How the victim is subjected repeatedly to reliving their experience, and therefore traumatized even after the assault. It's a flaw in our judicial system, and I appreciated the attention she brought to it.

My favorite parts of the book are the trial scenes. I respected Rachel's thoughts throughout, her assessments of the lawyers, the witnesses, the jury. She made observations that I'd never thought about.

While I had most of the plot figured out by the ending, I still appreciated the delivery. There were a few things that I found unbelievable and that took me out of the story, but I was able to look past it for the most part. I wouldn't be surprised if this one becomes a series. It was a great summer read, and I look forward to more from Megan Goldin.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was heavy. It was a tough read. It focuses around the stories of two rapes, both in the small town of Neopolis, NC, but 25 years apart. One never made headlines, and the other is the subject of a widely reported public trial.

This book wasn't really as "thriller-y" as her debut, The Escape Room, but it dealt with similar themes - the depths and lows of human kind, and how trauma can cause such dark issues.

I would have given it five stars, because it was a really strong book that truly made you think about how rape is handled in the American justice system, how the female is usually made out to be a tramp, and the male is usually lauded as a stand up guy who is having his reputation trashed by a slut who changed her mind. Alas, the few twists that were there were either not set up enough or were really predictable, so it lost a star.

Overall, highly recommend both of her books thus far, and will look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

This is a slow burn, yet very engaging, legal crime fiction. I wouldn't call it a thriller, although there is suspense and towards the end I couldn't finish it fast enough. It intertwines two rape cases, one that is currently on trial and one that was never investigated. It's very well written in how the cases unravel and start to overlap, and it keeps you guessing, and questioning all of the characters, until the very end. A lot of times these types of books have a very rushed ending, in the hopes to shock the reader. But I found this ending to be very well paced and properly unveiled. Although my mind went there at one point, I can't say I properly guessed the ending and that is rare for me!
(Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy)

Book Info
Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: August 4th 2020 by St. Martin's Press
ISBN 125021968X (ISBN13: 9781250219688)
Edition Language English
Other Editions (5)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB


In this new thriller from the author of The Escape Room, a podcast host covering a controversial trial in a small town becomes obsessed with a brutal crime that took place there years before.

After the first season of her true crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall is now a household name―and the last hope for thousands of 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 small town of Neapolis is being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. The town’s golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping a high school student, the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season Three a success, Rachel throws herself into interviewing and investigating―but the mysterious letters keep showing up in unexpected places. 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 insists she was murdered―and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody seems to want to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases 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

My Thoughts


Awful, wonderful, devastating, inspiring and so on.

This was an I could not stop reading story.

A story that had the ability to both drew me in and whose plot points content repelled my sensibilities at same time the way they were handled kept me on board till the last page was turned.

For me this story engaged the reader both emotionally and logically from start to finish.

The subject of rape always hits hard emotionally for any woman, or female for that matter of any age. For all of us this violation is something we all fear from the time we understand what it means and we all hope to never experience it for ourselves.

The logical part of this reader however was able to most times overcome the emotional and follow along as both of these young womens circumstances were explored In depth over the course of the book.
The alternation between past and present was very seamless as it allowed several ongoing plot points to take place at the same time.

The fact that both past event and current prove to be quite similar is also handled in a manner that felt mostly comfortable to read about even when the worst actions against the teens were explained.

Not all of it but enough to keep reading past parts that caused discomfort for me anyway.

True crime podcaster Rachel Krall’s character was well crafted as were her observations during the rape trial itself.

I liked how Rachel handled her contributions, especially those nearer the story’s final reveal that her renowned investigative skills showed themselves to be excellent.

Her stunning ability to see beyond the obvious was something the author used to its full advantage for both rape victims.

Can honestly say that this may only be the second book have read written by author but will definitely not be the last one!

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Krall is a household name as a true crime podcaster who was able to set an innocent man free. As a new season is upon her, it brings her to a small town where the local jock is accused of rape. As she is investigating the events leading up to the night that the alleged rape happened, she starts getting notes on her car. She's concerned because while she may be known for her voice, how has someone figured out who she is.

As she continues to investigate the rape, these notes keep showing up...these notes reference a crime that happened 25 years ago about the murder of someone; that someone's sister is leaving the notes, who insists that it indeed was murder, not the drowning as it was ruled to be.

Can Rachel focus on the new season of the podcast while trying to solve a murder mystery of the past?

This was a quick but very good read. Trigger warning as there are re-counts of rape and abuse. Heartbreaking at times, but a well written story. Recommend.

A unique blending of past and present, “The Night Swim” takes the reader on a very compelling journey into two eerily similar crimes which took place in the small town of Neapolis, North Carolina, 25 years apart.

Peeling back the layers of each tragic case, true crime podcast host, Rachel Krall, is on the hunt for the truth, not just increased fan ratings. Right from the get-go, two mysteries start to unfold. In the present, it is delivered in the form of a high-profile rape trial that Rachel is covering, while also shining a spotlight on the pitfalls of our justice system, courtroom antics, and victim shaming.

Conveyed through a series of letters and emails to Rachel from the first victim’s emotionally unstable sister, the reader learns the horrific details that led up to her sister’s rape and murder 25 years earlier. Refusing to remain silent any longer, the young woman—Hannah—seeks Rachel’s help in bringing the truth behind her sister Jenny’s tragic death to light.

Boasting an intriguing premise and shocking revelations, I devoured this book from start to finish. If you enjoy a good courtroom drama and a highly intriguing mystery, then you won’t want to pass this one up!

A fast paced mystery centered around a trial and an unsolved case. It’s a page turner that kept me reading long into the night. It will make you think, and keep you guessing until the end.

This book follows two timelines: then and now. Twenty-five years ago a woman was found dead and her sister knows what happens but she never told anyone. In the present-day, we follow a woman named Rachel who has a true-crime podcast where she looks at previous murder cases and figures out if a person was guilty or not guilty. In the current season of the podcast, she's following an ongoing case in a small town where the golden boy was accused of rape. She's going to attend the trials and talk about it in every episode of the podcast. Rachel's story somehow ends up connected to the case of twenty-five years ago because both cases happened in the same town. Hannah knows her sister was murdered, It was a rape case that was covered up and was left as a cold case. She leaves Rachel letters to convince her to help solve her sister's murder.

This book was a fast-paced read even though the mystery has a slow build-up. I loved the podcast element. It was hard to read at times because of the details of rape and sexual assault. This book does a good job at depicting how rape victims are treated unfairly by the public and the legal system. I preferred Rachel's chapters more than Hannah's chapters because the present-day plotline with the podcast and the trail were much more interesting to me. I'd recommend it to mystery/thriller lovers but beware that rape is a major element of the plot.

This was a quick mystery that kept me wondering til the end. The book actually ends up being about two injustices instead of one. I enjoyed how the book tied everything together, but the ending did seem a little anticlimactic to me. I was able to figure out the plot pretty quickly but enjoyed the read and the trial through the eyes of the podcast.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you are a crazy obsessed true crime podcast listener like I am, then this book is for you!

It’s Crime Junkies Podcast meets Law and Order SVU, part thriller and part courtroom drama, and I couldn’t put it down!

It’s honestly been difficult for me to read a book with any sort of serious subjects considering our world right now has its own reality of serious problems, but I started it and it grabbed me from the start.

While it does deal with strong subjects including rape and abuse, it is also has very strong women heroines which I always appreciate!

The is a total 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book and I highly recommend!!!

Is this the book to read if you’re looking for a mindless, “fun” thriller, like you might assume based on the cover art and Goldin’s recent THE ESCAPE ROOM? No. It IS a good choice if you want something that will make you think (in particular about rape culture in America).

The publisher’s summary provides a nice overview of the plot without revealing too much, so I won’t rehash it here. What I will do is recommend that those who’ve read this and were moved by it RUN to get their hands on the exceptional memoir KNOW MY NAME by Chanel Miller (aka “Emily Doe” in the Stanford rape case). I couldn’t get it out of my mind while I was reading THE NIGHT SWIM, as so much of it seemed to be inspired by those true events.

The expected U.S. publication date of THE NIGHT SWIM is August 4, 2020. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the previous book I read by this author (The Escape Room) so I was excited to have a chance to read this new novel. There are two separate stories taking place, one present-day and one in the past, and the switching back and forth between the two was seamless. The characters and plot were both well written, and this is a definite five-star book for me that kept me glued to the pages until the end.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED THIS!! This is a must have book (if you haven’t already added this to your cart). I love podcasts and that was my favorite part of this book. But this was written so well and so interesting that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I was up till 3 am because I 👏🏻 JUST 👏🏻 COULDN’T 👏🏻 STOP! This is my top ten favorite this year. Do yourself a favor and preorder this book.