This book ticked off a lot of boxes for me. Thriller, check. Suspense, check. Crime, check.
The blurb had hooked me and I excitedly went in.

Rachel is a podcaster and she’s covering a rape trial in a small town called Napolis. While there, she starts to receive letters asking for her help. Something bad happened in the past and only Rachel can help. What a ride! I was intrigued right from the beginning. The story switches back in forth between current and past events. Usually that can take away from a story but in this case, it only helped build that suspense. YES! There were some emotional scenes that had me tearing up, along with some twists I didn’t see coming. I really love when that happens. The author did a great job on both the characters and the story. I did like Rachel and my heart went out to a couple of other characters. Everything was well written and I was engaged the whole way.

This was a highly enjoyable and wonderful read! I will look for more books by this author. I give this 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars.

The Night Swim was a captivating suspense with a unique presentation. Each chapter was a different view point. At times written as a podcast narrator, at times written as a letter, and other as first person narration. The difference in the chapters kept me so interested that I read it completely through in one day, with barely a break for lunch. This was a difficult subject chapter, with some intense and traumatic scenes. Readers should be aware of a strong trigger warning: rape. I loved the alternating between following a current case, both through the podcast investigation/reporting and the trial, but also an older accidental death being opened as a rape/murder amateur investigation. The book did such a great job of showing the intricacies and trauma involved with a rape trial. Looking forward to more books from this author

Rachel Krall is preparing for her next season of her podcast. Unlike other seasons when Rachel did her podcast about previous cases, she has decided to follow an ongoing rape trial. She starts receiving letters about a previous case in the same town and the sender is begging her to investigate her sister's death from years earlier. Rachel soon finds herself following both cases. Perhaps she can be of assistance to this desperate girl who insists there is more to her sister's drowning. She is convinced that only Rachel can help her find the truth.

This was a quick moving, engaging read. I didn't find it quite as exciting as The Escape Room, but it was still a great read. Highly recommended. 3.5 Stars.

I received this ARC through Netgalley.com. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to St. Martin's Press, and to Megan Goldin for this opportunity.

I went into reading this book thinking it would be a typical thriller, same type of story I've read a million times. Boy, was I wrong! I really enjoyed how the story was partially told through the main character, Rachel's podcast. As a crime podcast fan, I had never read a book that told some of its story through a podcast. It was a unique perspective. I also loved that there were 2 parallel cases, one from the past, and one from the present, with some connections that become uncovered as the story moves along. It took me longer than usual to read this book because I've been busy. Often when this happens, I find I struggle to get back into the story after a few days of not reading. That wasn't the case for this book. The story moved along pretty quickly, but I felt as though I was on Rachel's (and the secondary character, Hannah's) journey with them. I got sucked into the story, was invested in the characters and had to find out how it all ended. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and would highly recommend it!

Great author. Read The Escape Room, which was her first book. Great suspense and hooked from first page

A bit of a tough read due to a very sensitive topic of rape, this book by Goldin showcases her ability to switch between two timelines connected by crime and tragedy. Her protagonist, a well-known public figure, is surrounded by tragedy, both in her long ago past, as well as her present job and present situation. Rachel Krall is a famous crime podcaster who finds herself looking for he truth when a local teen is accused of a brutal crime. With similarities between this crime and the crime that took her sister 25 years ago, she is determined to right past wrongs by getting to the bottom of this current crime.

This is the second book I have read by Goldin and the second time I have been sucked into her well-crafted stories. She has a poet's touch and her writing checks all the boxes of a future best-seller. She is someone to watch for sure.

Review Copy

Wow! I loved this super fast read that was ripped straight from today's headlines. Not only was it well written and timely, but it was clear that the author spent a lot of time on research, which is something far too many writers just can't seem to be bothered to do. I can't tell you how appreciated that is.

The story is a simple one. An investigative reporter turned true crime podcaster covers a rape trial. There's plenty of plot twists so mystery should have a lot to keep themselves occupied. Aned in the end, all threads are tied off. I really appreciated that as well.

St. Martin's Press is publishing this novel that thriller lover will definitely want to check into.

I went into this book a little blind. I didn’t even read the synopsis on NetGalley I based my opinion solely on the cover and title. Overall I thought this book was alright. It altered chapters between Rachel Krall, her podcast (Guilty or Not Guilty), and Hannah Stills. As someone who loves listening to podcasts, I found those to be very interesting. Granite it is just a repeat of information since the reader finds out the news before she uploads an episode. I still loved it. As for Hannah’s chapters I wasn’t much of a fan. In the beginning the random notes were interesting and had you invested in what Hannah had to say. But after a while like Rachel I was over it, and got tired of them. The synopsis makes it seem like this 25 year old case was going to be a big role in this story but it really only took place in Hannah’s chapters which felt quick. Each chapter was filled with a lot of information/backstory that you needed in order to figure out why Rachel was brought into the equation in the first place. The connections between Jenny and Kelly’s cases were quite obvious in my opinion. For example: Reading it I thought I was reading about Kelly’s night before she was raped, but it was actually Jenny’s night before she died. So those connections were really easy for me to point out. Same with the plot twist, while I will admit I didn’t guess it to a “T” I was pretty close, and the story itself felt a little slow at times. On a positive note during Kelly’s trial I loved how the author took you through the trial by incorporating the doctor's evidence, her psych evaluation, as well as everyone's testimony. It reminded me of watching an episode of Law & Order. This was really hard to read at times, but the set up really painted a picture of what she went through that night. Even after that night, it showcased how socitey actually treats rape victim. While I wasn’t a huge fan, this book involves a difficult subject matter that is quite relevant right now, and I think the execution was done very well.

This was an intriguing mystery, and I did like the podcast setup. However, after absolutely devouring the author's first novel, The Escape Room, The Night Swim didn't seem to pack the same punch. I found the character of Hannah to be really whiny - she was writing letter about her past, but as an adult, but that part just didn't work for me. I will say I was shocked by the end, which is a good thing with a thriller. Small sidebar, "Neapolis" the fictional name of the town where the story was set didn't work for me - I kept picturing Batman and Robin or another superhero lurking down by the dock where a lot of the action took place.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. In town to podcast a rape trial, she gets drawn into an older mystery from the same town. You just know the two might be connected some how. Is she herself in danger? Can she figure out who is leaving her notes and who, or if, the sister was murdered? Difficult to read at times, not due to the writing but due to the topic, the pages kept turning and the two cases kept developing with twists and turns. Worth the read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.

Wow. This book had so many elements I would usually steer clear of. But the author’s previous book sucked me in so quickly, I thought I’d give it a try.

I do have to say first, though, that there should be trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. Maybe when it is published. It does get graphic at times.

But while I usually avoid anything to do with rape, and generally do not enjoy procedural novels, this book was too good to not read. I was riveted. I was also horrified, saddened and angry. And I think that’s exactly what the point of this book was. This is the second book I’ve read written with snippets of a podcast. I love that idea, it is so fresh and new, and it adds an element to the book. Overall, this was a strong read, both emotionally and in plot. I highly recommend it.

One million thank you’s to St Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the ARC!! I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters, the pacing and the writing so very much. I would, however, caution anyone who is sensitive/triggered by rape, sexual assault and/or violence towards women to be aware although it is not overly graphic.

A true journalist/podcaster investigates an alleged small town rape case for the 3rd season of her massively popular true crime podcast. As she starts digging, more secrets begin to surface, and it seems like the influential families in the area have been using their connections to keep things buried. The premise was compelling and I really enjoyed the courtroom scenes. The pace of the novel is quite quick, and I felt oddly detached from the narrator but I'm wondering if Goldin is just leaving room for a sequel. True crime meets mystery in this one and there is a satisfying and logical ending. If you like stories with alternating timelines and small town secrets, then I think this might be a hit for you.

"This is Rachel Krall of Guilty or Not Guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box."

Get prepared for an emotional psychological mystery that isn't easy to read and will leave you deep in thought for a very long time. Two rapes 25 years apart ... two very different teenage girls ... raped and severally beaten by several boys multiple times that destroy their reputations and lives. Everyone blames the girls. One girl ends up dead -- and the second girl finds the courage to speak out about what happened to her.

Rachel Krall is a true crime podcast with a huge audience that listens to her show. People know her voice sultry voice. When she finds a note on her windshield wiper while heading to the small town of Neapolis to cover the rape trial of the second girl, she becomes alarmed. The note asks her to investigate the first girl's older sister's death from twenty-five years back in the same town. With not much to go on, Rachel sets out to discover what happened to both girls. Rachel soon finds out that she is up against popular entitled high school boys, police, families with money, and the entire town. It will be an uphill battle to find answers. So many prefer the past stay that way and they have reasons why. The courtroom drama scenes were really intense. The witnesses called all had different versions of what happened.

Megan Goldin did an amazing job pulling two mysteries together. A solid book about reputations, money, futures of students. A MUST READ that covers a very sensitive subject!

I haven't listened to any true-crime podcasts, but just might do so after The Night Swim.

Though The Night Swim is classified as a thriller, it felt more like a cozy mystery turned dark. The characters are the sort you'd expect to see in a book set in a sleepy coastal town. There are not many big twists; however, the mystery is peeled away in satisfying layers that reveal a lot about the past.

I liked The Night Swim and hope to see Rachel's podcasts-on-the-go become a series!

She said, He said .... consider the crime of Rape. Murder is a no brainer ... everyone considers it heinous, but unfortunately rape appears to be divisive. Frequently the victim is blamed. Only the most courageous of women embark on this tortuous journey. The onus is always on the victim to prove there was no consent ... however it is extremely difficult to prove given the usual lack of a witness. Megan Goldin provides a compelling and riveting narrative while exploring the multifaceted nature of the crime. Two storylines unfold as podcast star Rachel Krall ventures to small town Neapolis to cover a rape trial ... a high school teenage girl accuses star athlete Scott Blair of rape. The town is divided .... who to believe? Scott the star athlete and swimmer from a prominent and wealthy family or the girl who is neither revered or from a family of means .... in fact, the town holds her origins to be suspect being the product of a single mother.
Rachel's podcast is highly acclaimed having been credited with bringing new evidence to light, resulting in true justice being served. On her way to Neapolis, she stops at a remote diner and upon returning to her car finds an envelope mysteriously placed under the wiper blades. An obvious fan of her podcast pleads for her help in investigating the death of her sister in this very town .... twenty-five years ago. Hannah Stills was only 10 years-old when her 16 year-old sister Jenny supposedly drown. She cannot forget the true circumstances that led up to her death .... highly suggestive of murder.
The trial is highlighted by the theatrics of two charismatic lawyers ... prosecuted by Mitchell Alkins, intimidating and filled with wrath and defended by Dale Quinn, boyishly handsome, charming and "born with a silver tongue" Both utilizing every trick in the book to obtain the sympathy of the jury. Megan Goldin seamlessly weaves the two storylines .... floridly unravelling the plight of rape. And, simultaneously investigating a possible rape - murder cold case. The tension and suspense inexorably mount to an emotional and soul searching denouement.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )

I'm putting The Night Swim in the "can't put it down" category. I started reading it one evening and didn't stop until I finished that night. Full disclosure...this is a book about rape. It goes back and forth between a podcast covering a rape trial, and an unofficial investigation the podcast host is conducting into an old, unsolved death in the same town. I didn't feel the characters were strongly developed and there were some definite MacGuffins, but it was fine as this story is driven firmly by the fast pace of the plot and the unraveling of the two crimes.

Typically I avoid books about rape, not finding the subject matter entertaining. I felt the topic was handled very well here. It was intense, and didn't shy away from descriptions, yet at the same time I never felt it was gratuitous or simply done for shock value. There are some valid and necessary questions posed about how society views rape and tends to blame the victim.

Thought provoking and intense, and a very quick read. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

True Crime Podcasts are all the rage at the moment. And Rachel Krall has become an overnight success with hers after helping to set an innocent man free. She receives tons of mail and e-mails begging for her help solving cases and while her voice is distinctive and recognizable, her face is not. Not everyone is a fan and she takes care to keep herself safe.

On her way to cover a rape trial in Neapolis, she finds an envelope under her windshield at an out of the way diner. Creepy. But it seems to be just someone going that extra step to ask for help.

In the meantime, she discovers the town is quite divided and secretive. The accused rapist is a swimmer on the way to Olympic greatness with a family who is very shady. The girl, the granddaughter of the former police chief.

Rachel is determined Season Three of her podcast will be a success and is determined to dig in and do her homework before the trial begins. But the mysterious letters keep appearing. In her locked hotel room, her car and Rachel is intrigued. 

Hannah Stills is begging for Rachel to help find who killed her 16-year-old sister twenty-five years ago. Officials say she drowned. But there is no police report or autopsy report. Hannah was only ten years old when this happened and her mother died soon after. But she never forgot what she saw and heard. Or the threats.

When Rachel begins to ask questions she is met with silence. But when she uncovers similarities in the old case and the new one, she digs in to find justice for both girls and in the process may not have worry about Season 3!

Small towns have a way of protecting the rich and connected and demonizing anyone different. What these men did was horrific and unforgivable and the sad part is they may get away with it a second time.

Always a thrill ride with Goldin! I absolutely loved it!

NetGalley/ August 4th, 2020 by St. Martin's Press

Thanks to Netgalley and to St. Martin's press for the preview copy.
This was one of the best of this genre that I have read in a while. The topic- rape- may as well have been ripped from the headlines, although unfortunately it is not a new issue. The storyline of the podcaster reporting on the trial was well crafted, as was the behind the scenes rape and murder of 25 years past. I did not see the ending coming, at all.

I would love to see a sequel to this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read "The Night Swim" I just finished The Night Swim by Megan Goldin and I am so literally stunned right now. This is a compelling story, heartbreaking and emotionally wrecking yet so brilliantly told that I couldn’t put it down. Two crimes, two stories – one in the present, one in the past but both equally traumatic and far reaching in its victims.
I was hooked! The story wastes no time getting going, and it doesn’t let up from page one.