Oh, man, this book is compelling. I kept trying to call in sick so I could finish reading, but my Toddler refused to accept that.

Anyway, I loved it. The mystery within a mystery, the way the podcast is intertwined with the testimony and the dialogue - all of it. I enjoyed The Escape Room, but The Night Swim was even better. I found myself hoping that Rachel gets another book, because I'd love to see her again.

My only (minor) complaint is that at times it felt like the author was intentionally withholding information. I like to figure things out for myself when I'm reading. If I know some guy with gray eyes is important to the story, darn it, I want the main character to be looking into everyone's eyes. (I also wish I'd had a paperback so I could more easily flip back to look at stuff, but that''s a person problem.)

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book was amazing!! It was easy to read with excellent character development and alternating chapter perspectives. This story teaches how stupid teenagers can ruin the lives of so many before ever realizing they’ve done something wrong. The lies and manipulations they, and their families, will go through to save them from the punishment they deserve is outrageous! Excellent story telling of these incredible crimes and trial make this a 5 star book for sure!!

This book captured my attention at the very beginning and didn't let up from there. Rachael Krall is the host of a true crime podcast. For her third season, she decides to take her listeners into the jury box. The trial she chooses is a rape trial taking place in a small coastal town in North Carolina. Before she even reaches her destination, Rachael is contacted by woman who needs her help to find justice for her sister who died 25 years before in the same town. Thus begins the story of two women and two crimes. The chapters move back and forth between the present and the future and through multiple characters. Each chapter draws the reader in a little more and a little more and a little more. There are plenty of surprises with more than a couple that may make the reader gasp audibly. Or maybe that was just me.

The subject matter at the heart of this book - rape - is something that should never be taken lightly. This book does an excellent job of treading lightly, yet truthfully and compassionately. Still, it could be triggering for some readers.

All in all, this was a fantastic read. A solid 4.5/5 stars.

Megan Goldin received acclaim for her last novel Escape Room (2019) and is now releasing another mystery thriller: The Night Swim this summer. This time, Goldin capitalizes on the surging popularity of true crime podcasts and our insatiable consumption of media relating to notorious unsolved cases. She also uses her book to address the woeful lack of progress in our judicial system has made in the handling and prosecution of rape cases. The Night Swim introduces main protagonist Rachel Krall, a podcaster who has developed a large following due to her personalized layman’s approach to investigative journalism. The reader meets Krall as she is embarking on the third season of her show, this time focusing on a controversial rape case coming to trial in the small coastal town of Neapolis. The accused is a wunderkind swimmer with a promising future whose Olympic hopes are shared by the town. The victim is a younger girl whose necessary anonymity means that her version of events has been occluded in order to preserve her case. Despite the immersive experience of the impending trial, Krall is distracted by another case that has piqued her interest. Upon entering the town, she receives numerous cryptic notes left in places where she would have not expected to be recognized. The elusive fan begs Rachel to delve into a 25-year-old mystery regarding her sister, whose death she believes was a murder—not a suicide as it was assumed to be and thereby dismissed by the authorities at the time. Although seemingly unrelated, the cases are revealed to be overlapping reflections of each other. Goldin does an admirable job of character development and tight plotting, and the issues she addresses are done in an entertaining but respectful way. Through Rachel, the author can demonstrate the unfortunate truth that not much has changed in the way that victims of rape are treated and highlights the unbearable costs they bear when coming forward. Despite attempts at reform, credibility and the burden of proof can be insurmountable for women seeking justice in a system that is still swayed by gender bias, wealth and privilege. Although Rachel attempts to remain objective, her position is apparent, and she is increasingly drawn into exposing the corruption she discovers in both the past and present. The Night Swim is a fast-paced, interwoven tale that will satisfy both the traditional mystery-lover and the socially conscious reader as well.

Thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

After the first season of her true crime podcast, and setting an innocent man free, Rachel is quickly the newest sensation! She has gone to lengths to keep her identity a secret, but on her way to the trial for the newest season Rachel finds a note under the windshield of her car. Hannah is convinced her sister didn’t just drown, but was murdered 25 years ago. While investigating for the new season, the letters keep showing up. Can Rachel help solve a new crime and an old this time?

The Escape Room was my very first physical arc that I received from @stmartinspress from emailing and asking for it. And I LOVED it!! Naturally I was stoked to see that Megan Goldin had another book coming out! I emailed St Martins the second I saw it! Let me tell you, Megan did not disappoint! This one had me flipping pages trying to figure out what happened to Jenny, while also praying that K got the justice she deserved. I loved the podcast element of the story, and Rachel was such a badass throughout the book. I certainly would not have taken some of the risks she did! If you loved The Escape Room I highly recommend grabbing this one when it comes out on August 4th!

A captivating suspense novel that had a lot more depth than I was anticipating. A current trial and its characters get intertwined with a rape and murder that occurred several years prior. The Night Swim maintained a good pace that kept my attention until the end.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin.

Rachel Krall is heading to the small town of Neapolis to cover a rape trial. Rachel hosts a podcast “Guilty or Not Guilty” which is in its third season. Rachel will be covering this trial to allow the audience to be “virtually’’ in the jury box. On her journey to Neapolis, Rachel finds a note after pulling in at a rest stop. The note is from Hannah, a woman who grew up in Neapolis. Hannah’s sister, Jenny, died while she was a young girl. Supposedly she drowned. But Hannah remembers it differently. And she wants Rachel’s help to prove that Jenny did not drown; but was murdered. While covering the trial, Rachel becomes familiar with all the players in this small town. She soon discovers that many of their lives have been intertwined since childhood. She continues to receive letters from Hannah who shares the story of her childhood and Jenny’s death. As Rachel covers the current day trial of a young girl’s rape, that story will be told as well and the reader will discover that these two cases aren’t all that different from one another.

Will Rachel ever meet Hannah? Will Rachel discover the truth? Will the victims in this story receive justice?

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin is a fast paced suspense thriller with lots of twists. It's honestly one of the best books that I have read in a long time. This one earns 5 stars. The Night Swim is due out on August 4, 2020

The Night Swim hooked me right off the bat. Based in Neapolis, a small town in North Carolina, an up and coming swimmer is accused of raping a 16 year old girl one weekend when he returned home from college. Rachel, is the host of a popular crime podcast and is reporting on the rape trial. In the midst of reporting on the trial, she’s also drawn to another crime, that happened 25 years ago in the same town. An anonymous listener reached out to her requesting help to solve the crime. The 2 crimes unfold throughout the book. The author got really gritty and raw. My favorite parts of the book were the court room scenes. I thought she did a great job portraying what it’s like for a rape victim to have to relive the trauma and bring their case to court. This was definitely a fast paced read and I liked how the author intertwined the stories.

Interesting twist on the a legal thriller in a small town. The build up was slow, but the ending was well done and satisfying. The sensitive topic of rape was handled very well and the characters were engaging. Definitely a great sophomore effort from Goldin, after The Escape Room.

Wow!! This story was intriguing. It’sa story that keeps you thinking, wondering, and guessing where the author is taking you.

I spent the middle third of the book completely gobsmacked, irritated, frustrated, disgusted, and angry, I even had to vent to a couple of friends about it and also recommended they read it as they’re true crime podcast listeners.

Be warned and be prepared to be angry. If you don’t get angry, I worry about your soul. Just kidding, but seriously though, this is a very tough and controversial topic, especially to write about it in this capacity.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin!
I really loved this book. I couldn't put it down once I got about 40% through and read the last half of the book in one afternoon. This page turner has the main narrator running a true crime podcast and sitting in on a trial bringing her listeners into the jury box. This is definitely not light material as the trial she's following is a graphic rape trial. While in town, she receives letters from a local girl who's sister was murdered 25 years ago but her death was written off as an accident. There are tons of twists in this book and I seriously couldn't get enough. Definite trigger warnings to be aware concerning rape, but if you enjoy a good court room mystery tied into a small town past of lies, this one is for you.

Thank. you for the advanced e-ARC win exchange for my honest review. I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins press for my widget of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin.

The story follows Rachel who has a famous crime podcast. Her job is to give an unbiased opinion of crimes during a trial. She comes to a small town in North Carolina to cover a rape trial. The case in question involves the town’s golden boy who is on the verge of going to the Olympics for swimming. The town is divided between the golden boy and the victim.

While she is there someone is leaving her notes asking for help about a unsolved murder that also happened in the town years before. Rachel find out the person leaving the notes is a young woman named Hannah whose sister supposedly died night swimming. Hannah knows that is a lie and she wants justice.

The story alternates between Rachel and Hannah’s views which made the story so interesting. It wasn’t confusing at all. I thought it made the connection between the two stories flow more consistently. I was invested in both characters.

Even though I thought the ending kind of anti climatic I still thought it a fantastic thriller. It didn’t go like I thought it would. I will definitely be reading more Megan Goldin.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Night Swim has two alternating narrators, Rachel, a podcaster covering a rape trial in a small town, and Hannah. Hannah lived in the town as a child and she reaches out to Rachel for help discovering who may have murdered her sister Jenny more than 20 years earlier. Hannah's sections of the tail are told through emails and letters that she leaves for Rachel.

As the two stories intertwine, the mystery of Jenny's death makes this book a page-turner. It was very difficult to put the book down once I got to the last 15%. I think that the device of alternating narrators works well and I was invested in the fate of all of the characters. The only reason I'm not rating this 5 stars is that it's heavy reading at times due to the nature of the content in the rape trial. I'll give it 4.5 stars.

I’m not sure how to convey my feelings after reading this book. My emotions were all over the place and without giving any spoilers, I’ll just say that this one will cause you to reflect on your own perceptions of events that could very easily take place in today’s world. Terrific writing told between two dialogues of very similar events that took place 25 years apart. Dealing with the turmoil of a courtroom trial of an alleged rape of a 16 year old girl, brings back haunting memories for a now grown woman, who’s own sister experienced the same crime and ultimate death, the author successfully takes the reader through a series of events, emotions, and outcomes. Even though the subject matter is difficult, I could not put it down.
Thank you to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for an advanced copy of this title.

I loved the premise of this book where the narrator is a podcaster who is covering a current sexual assault trial (think Brock Turner) while getting notes to investigate a mysterious drowning from 25 years earlier. Goldin does an excellent job at weaving the two cases together. My main criticism is similar to The Escape Room where the ending is someone literally telling the reader what happened.

Rachel is a popular true crime podcaster on her way to cover a controversial trial in a small town. The town’s golden boy and Olympic swimming hopeful, Scott, is accused of attacking a local girl. Scott’s family is powerful and has connections (in fact, he seems to practically own the town). Both sides have hired talented attorneys. Will the young accuser stand a chance for justice to be served?

And speaking of justice, the rape is not the only unpunished crime. During the trial Rachel receives mysterious notes discussing another murder and promising that the murderer of an older crime will be present in the courtroom. But every time Rachel tries to locate the writer, she seems to disappear. Rachel is a brilliant investigator, and wants to see justice done. But has she taken on more than she can handle?

I knew when I saw a new book by Megan Goldin that this would be a good one! The Night Swim combines podcasts, crime, human interest and mystery in an intriguing and page-turning book. If that’s not enough, she manages to weave in the serious topic of rape, challenges for the victims, and the courage that victims show when they come forward to prosecute their rapists. It was definitely a good read that I couldn’t put down, and would be particularly enjoyed by readers of true crime or mystery.

You don't want to miss this one!

This is my first read by Megan Goldin but it definitely won't be my last. I'm ready to start on her debut novel, The Escape Room, the second I finish this review! I couldn't wait to get back to this gem of a novel every time I was forced to put it down. The idea of a true crime podcast host arriving in a small seaside town to cover the sensational trial of a local prominent youth accused of rape hit the mark. Add to that the mystery of what truly happened to another young girl decades ago in the close-knit town ratchets up the "how will this end" head scratching. Podcaster Rachel Krall spends her time away from court covering the ongoing trial desperate to locate and meet the author of cryptic messages about a young woman found dead in the same town twenty years ago. The sister and author of the messages doesn't believe that the cause of death was accidental and is asking Rachel to help discover what really happened the fateful night that Jenny's life was lost.
This is one of my favorite reads of the year! Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the above review and recommendation is solely my own.

The Night Swim
By: Megan Goldin
4.5 stars

Two crimes- or was one an accidental drowning? That’s what the police and coroner said, but something seems off....

How do you investigate two crimes simultaneously, 25 years apart? One is getting attention and recognition from a podcaster with a national cult following. The other? Barely a blip in the history of this secretive community. Why? Two narrators, both invested in seeking justice. Are the two crimes connected? What secrets are lurking in the dark spots where the tourists don’t tread? Are people protecting a killer? A rapist? Who can you trust?!?!

This book was so good! I read it quickly and only solved the mystery RIGHT before the big reveal! Highly recommended!

#Netgalley
#Thenightswim
#Murdermystery
#Whodunnit
#Megangoldin

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for my ARC, which I received in exchange for my honest review. This book is incredible, It's one of those rare books that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. The Night Swim is a poignant thriller told in dual timelines by two narrators.

Rachel Krall is the force behind a true crime podcast who uses her skills as an investigative journalist to cover various high profile cases. Using a unique combination of interviews, investigation and courtroom observation, Rachel is committed to virtually placing her listeners in the jury box. Rachel's latest case takes her to the small coastal town of Neapolis where secrets never die and reputations earned in childhood can never be escaped. Rachel is in town to cover a sensational rape trial where a golden boy championship swimmer is on trial for the rape of the granddaughter of the town's former Chief of Police.

Rachel's visit to Neapolis is just the break that Hannah Stills has waited 25 years for. Hannah closely follows Rachel's podcast and is convinced that Rachel is just the person to help her finally get justice for her beloved older sister who was raped and murdered. While the official story on Jenny Still's death is that she drowned, her little sister Hannah knows the truth and is determined to bring those responsible to justice.

Although they take place 25 years apart, the stories of Jenny and Kelly are tragically similar. They reveal that even in the wake of the Me Too Movement, we have not made much progress with respect to the manner in which rape is viewed by society. Each young woman is vilified and judged by the most powerful families in the town for the violence that is perpetrated upon them. The stark reality is that every decision a woman makes from accepting a ride or enjoying an underage drink will no doubt be used against her to justify the actions of the men who choose to violate her.

Rachel and Hannah are both strong and determined women who doggedly pursue justice regardless of the consequences. Both of their voices rang clear and true to me and I thoroughly enjoyed both characters. It is the long dead Jenny Stills who captured my heart though. Her story as told through the eyes of her baby sister is so gut wrenching that I had to blink back tears several times. While there is no indication that the book is based on an actual case every woman knows the sad fact that it might as well be. It's the story of every woman, and it left me shaken honestly.

The Night Swim is not an easy read but it is a terrific one. The book has a fantastic ending with a clear and hopeful message; a nightingale will only sing when she is free. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of this book. Better yet, pick up a copy for every man in your life.