I listened to the audiobook recording of The Night Swim, and highly recommend the format for this story. I have spent hundreds of hours listening to podcasts over the years, and I am really enjoying the newer concept of using them to enhance the narrative of novels.

In The Night Swim, we follow Rachel Krall as she dives into her newest season of the fictional hit podcast Guilty, or Not Guilty. With the overwhelming success of the murder cases she has presented prior, Rachel takes a different approach to true crime and uses her platform to shine light on the controversial topic of rape in a small North Carolina town. While the case seems all too familiar, with a lot of inspiration clearly being taken from the Brock Turner trials of 2016, Megan Goldin is able to weave in another mystery that goes deep into the town's past and uncovers long buried secrets amongst its more elite citizens.

The audio production of the podcast portions of the novel were brilliantly done, with a huge nod to Serial and other popular shows, the effects were perfect. I truly wish Guilty or Not Guilty was real, and that I could dive into more seasons immediately.

Overall, I feel like the story kept me on my toes, and I truly enjoyed the twists and turns along the way. Very solid 4.320/5

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen and review!

Thank you Netgalley for this audiobook of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin.

This is a murder mystery that is two fold. The first is a current mystery that is being covered by a very popular podcast (think Serial). The second is a drowning that was swept right under the rug and remembered by no one except the sister. As the podcast host gets closer to the current case, she also slowly begins to uncover what happened to the drowning victim all those years ago.

First off, audio is definitely the way to consume this book. I LOVE when audiobooks incorporate either music, sound effects and more cast members. This audiobook does all of that. It brings the story to life so much more.

But it's not hard to do when you're already working with a great story, which this is. It smacks on a lot of current topics, so it was very relatable and appropriate to today's climate. The pace was great, and I really enjoyed the characters. A great summer read.

I absolutely loved The Night Swim! It was bingeworthy and so much better than I was expecting!!

The audiobook narration was incredible and truly enhanced the story as well, especially how the chapters that were Episodes of the Podcast were done! There were 3 narrators for this audiobook and each helped the story come to life. I had previously listened to many other books that were done by January Lavoy, and her part in this one was as good as all the others.

This is a perfect book for anyone that is interested in True Crime or even True Crime Podcasts. There is a lot of graphic details as far as the rape and sexual assault crimes in the book, but it was all necessary to the story and none of it bothered me. It was a perfect mix of mystery, suspense, and thriller, all topped off with a courtroom drama. I was obsessed with the dual perspectives and timelines as the story from the past unfolded and the truth was revealed about Jenny.

The story was paced perfectly and I was hooked from the first chapters. I had my thoughts on what was going to happen, but it wasn't till the very end that I figured out the shocking conclusion!

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and St.Martin's Press for my copy of this Audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I will be recommending this on to all my thriller and true crime loving friends, or just anyone who will listen!

I loved listening to this book. I don't think I would have gotten the same experience with the podcast portion of the book if I had been reading it. Great story. I am excited to share this book with my friends.

I love the complexity of The Night Swim! It's two mysteries in one -- one from the past, and one from the here and now -- and they are woven together in such a compelling way. I usually love to slowly savor a well-written book, but this one had me listening non-stop for almost two days, because I simply couldn't wait to find out what happened in the courtroom for the rape case, how Rachel's podcast would portray it, what Hannah would reveal of her sister's death long ago, all of it!

While this book may not be for everyone, since it contains some pretty triggering scenes regarding rape and abuse, I do think this would be an excellent women's book club offering. There are so many themes worth discussing: rape, guilt, survivor's guilt, privilege, plenty of gender issues with regard to law and reputation, the treatment of whistleblowers. I found myself enraged, frustrated, sad, and exhausted as I followed the characters through their struggles, their tragedies and sometimes their hard-won triumphs. It would be cathartic to discuss with a group of book club members, to see how their own life experiences colored their acceptance of this novel.

I received a copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A fresh take on a tricky subject, well-written though it moves a little slowly for my taste. The narrator was engaging and I enjoyed the Rachel and podcast sections. The Hannah ones were slightly less appealing to listen to, but well done.

Call it a mystery, a thriller, a suspense, or just call it great! This right here is why I both read the aforementioned genres and listen to audibooks. Both have been done especially well with The Night Swim.
Centered around season two of a crime podcast called Guily or Not Guilty where the listener is placed into the jury box. Rachel Krall, the on-air talent for the podcast, is in a North Carolina town to gather info ahead of the trial of the local golden boy who is accused of rape. Into the mix Rachel receives mysterious notes regarding the murder of another local girl, Jenny Stills, from 25 years earlier.
Told in alternating voices and time frames with complete clarity, the reader/listener is kept up to speed with both the current case and the details of the old case. Interspersed between Rachel and the mystery person is the podcast letting the listeners know what is happening daily in the courtroom.
I want more of Rachel Krall and Guilty or Not Guilty and keeping my fingers crossed for a book 2.

I received an audio version from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Though Goldin's debut, The Escape Room, was just okay for me, this book sounded quite intriguing and I was excited for the chance to read it. The story grabbed my attention from the start, and I liked the shifting POVs. That said, I connected more to Rachel's story than Hannah's, maybe because Hannah was telling the story more or less from the perspective of a child, which isn't always my cup of tea. I will say, about two thirds of the way through, the story began to drag a bit, and I started to guess how it would end. I read a lot of crime fiction as well as write it, so I have to admit, it takes something to surprise me when it comes to mysteries, but that doesn't always take away from my enjoyment of a book. So while my guesses were proven right, I did think The Night Swim was clever and covered some timely topics as well. I'd recommend it to fans of authors like Mary Kubica or Lisa Jewell, or if you're looking for an entertaining and not too, too creepy mystery.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A compelling, timely, and at times heartbreaking novel about two brutal crimes and the secrets one town is keeping.

THE NIGHT SWIM is a truly captivating read. It is a gritty and unfiltered look at a rape trial in a small town through the eyes of a true-crime podcaster. However, what brings the story to the next level is how the author weaves into the narrative a past tragedy with the introduction of Hannah, the sister of a dead girl from twenty-five years ago in the same town as the trial. The push and pull between the narrators as well as the parallels between the two victims add to the tension and the intrigue.

When I say that this book was addictive, I mean it. I was instantly pulled in through the use of a true-crime podcast. It is something over the years that I have truly loved as a tool to explore a crime. Goldin, with eloquence, candor, and reverence to the subject matter, pulls in her readers by carefully laying out the landscape of not one but two crimes. The stories of the two girls within these pages is not an easy one read. They illustrate the worst of human behavior and toll it takes on the victims. To be honest, there were tough moments to read about within these pages. Yet, I didn’t once feel that the author was exploiting a delicate and polarizing subject. This combined with the psychological nature of the book and an unraveling mystery made Goldin’s sophomore novel a must-read for me.

This is the second book by the author that I have read and they just keep getting better. THE NIGHT SWIM is an absolutely gripping tale showing the underbelly of human nature, but still managing to have heart and the belief in justice.

**Narration Note: The audio version of this book was engaging. The narrators, Bailey Carr, January LaVoy, and Samantha Desz, added to the tension while giving a voice to the characters.**

4 1/2 stars Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: extensive discussions of rape and murder

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin is an excellent book that truly shines in audiobook format. The book centers around Rachel, a journalist with a true crime podcast, whose new season follows a controversial rape trial. At the same time Rachel is being drawn into a death that occurred 25 years ago by Hannah, the sister of the girl who died. The death was called a drowning but Hannah thinks it was murder and wants Rachel's help to find the murderer.

The audiobook transfers between three different types of narration/narrator. We get viewpoints from both Rachel and Hannah. In addition the third viewpoint actually is in excerpts from the podcast itself with Rachel narrating.

I loved how the narration weaved between the different narrators and formats. You slowly find yourself drawn in by both stories and wondering what really occurred.

The book also makes a powerful statement as to just how difficult the US system of justice makes it to prosecute rapists. How in the pursuit of justice the victim finds herself repeatedly victimized by both the public and lawyers.

So long story short, I really loved this book and highly recommend it.

Rachel Krall is a popular true crime podcaster. Her gig has brought her to Neapolis, a small town with big secrets. Rachel plans to cover a day by day account of a sexual assault case. As Rachel gets acclimated in the city, she starts to learn more about the people who live there and the history they keep. One such history is the tragic drowning of a teenage girl, Jenny, which happened 25 years ago. Everyone seems to believe the drowning was accidental, except for the one person who knows the truth and wants to bring the truth to the surface. Torn between finding out what happened to Jenny so long ago, and following along with the current court happenings, Rachel finds herself determined to find out the truths, on all accounts.

I very much enjoyed this book. I thought it was well paced with a number of well timed turns of events to keep a reader invested and asking questions. The timeliness of this novel almost makes a reader (or listener) forget that this is a fiction novel and not a true account of what is currently happening. With the increase in true crime podcasts and the #MeToo movement, this novel is made to feel very real.

I was able to listen to this book as an audiobook and I loved the listening experience that it offered. For each of the podcast chapters, there was intro and outro music that gave the illusion that a listener was experiencing the real podcast. I thought this was such a neat addition to the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, Megan Goldin, and Macmillan Publishers for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wonderful story. The pacing was just right. The author's style of mixing current story line with her podcast 'review' of the trial, as well as the story from the past worked well. Although it's been said this is an unexpected twist, some readers will likely see it coming, like I did.

I LOVED this book. It felt like reading a season of Serial. The story hooked me right from the start. The readers had great voices and I highly recommend

I particularly enjoy an audiobook that features more than one narrator. This was an enjoyable listen from the standpoint that it showcased a dual timeline of two young women who were brutally raped 25 years apart. Each narrator did an excellent job of drawing me into the story and the True Crime podcast really helped to break up the timelines.

I can only imagine from a writing standpoint that it had to be difficult to keep up with the details of two crimes 25 years apart, a podcast, and a courtroom drama! I felt the author did a good job with this. I did at times find the podcast to be a bit repetitive of some of the details already known to the reader.

I would definitely recommend this mystery to folks who aren’t triggered by violence and rape of young women. It didn’t deter me from the story because it also addressed some important topics such as what sexual assault is and how women will sometimes not address it as such but rather blame themselves or other situational circumstances.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Oh yes! That was a winner in my audiobook life! I absolutely loved “The Night Swim!” It was twisty, intense, and unnerving. The narrator was superb, and she quickly brought the character to become a wise, brave, and trusted voice! All the stars for this one, about a murder trial which might be connected with a crime that occurred 25 years earlier. Just excellent!

The Night Swim
By Megan Goldin
Audiobook Narrated by Bailey Carr, January LaVoy, & Samantha Desz
MacMillan Audio

I was excited to give this thriller a try on audio. I have heard great things about The Night Swim, and I enjoyed the audio from the start.

The production of the audiobook was really nice. They stylized the transitions between speakers and settings and it worked very well.

The contemporary story itself was great. Note- potential emotional triggers include themes of rape, sexual assault, murder, and failed justice.

I loved that one of the main characters was a true crime podcaster, a pet interest of mine. The other characters are sympathetic and layered.

Tension builds early on and as things unfold, and the intensity remained consistent until the end. The courtroom scenes provide detailed information about violent acts that might be too much for some. However, triggers aside, this book is very accessible and surely will do well with lovers of thriller books, in both physical and audio book versions. It is definitely one of the best thrillers I have ever read.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed it!

#NetGalley
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#MacMillanAudio
#MeganGoldin
#BaileyCarr
#JanuaryLaVoy
#SamanthaDesz
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This is a dual perspective thriller with a podcast element added to it. I really enjoyed this even more than I did her first book. This one tackled so many issues involving rape culture and small town dynamics. I really enjoyed the way that the story unfolded and I honestly didn't figure out the mystery until right before the reveal happened which was good. I liked how there was a present day trial going on and then there was a mystery that the small town was covering up and getting to figure out both at the same time. Each was given equal attention so, I never felt like one was wasted.

I recommend this to people who enjoy thrillers and can handle the content. There are some really intense parts throughout.

I listened to this on audio and I really enjoyed the narrators. The added podcast element interspersed throughout was a nice touch and made the book even more enjoyable. If possible I definitely would recommend the audio for this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for providing me with an ALC of The Night Swim in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warnings: Rape, Sexual Assault

I strongly strongly recommend that if you're able to: pick up the audiobook of The Night Swim! Chapters alternate between Rachel (a podcaster who's pretty good at solving crime), Hannah (the sister of a girl who disappeared 25 years ago & is convinced it was a murder), and here's the kicker: chapters that are episodes of Rachel's podcast, "Guilty or Not Guilty," complete with intro and outro music. We love a performance in this house.

This is Guilty or Not Guilty. The podcast that puts you in the jury box.


For the first 20% of the read, I wasn't truly feelin' it. My only thoughts were wow, Hannah's weird. But then! Hannah starts to give anecdotes of when she was younger & Rachel starts witnessing the present-day trial, and wow, I ended up zooming through the rest of this book.

One of my favorite portions was the actual trial. Rachel often observes the tics and nuances of the jurors, defendant, and prosecutors. I loved that Rachel was so observant and able to pick up on so much based on body language alone. I wish I could be half as cool as Rachel.

Rape culture is a huge topic in The Night Swim & wow, it does get heavy. We see varying opinions about the trial from residents in the town: from those crying about how false accusations can ruin this man's future and how he has a lot going for him to always believe the woman to how was he suppose to know she didn't consent when she was drunk to just a bunch of things we hear IRL all of the time.

There's one quote that truly wraps it up:

To tell you the truth, I don't get how we can almost unanimously agree that murder is wrong, yet when it comes to rape some people still see shades of gray.


I'm going to be honest, reading a book that's mostly about rape and how outsiders of the situation view is very hard to stomach. However, I do find that this commentary is very important & I truly think that this is something a lot of people should read. Maybe someone will pick up a lesson or two on how not to be a shit while reading this thriller, who knows.

I think The Night Swim is a perfect book for lovers of true crime, because the podcast elements weaved within the pages makes it actually feel like you're following a real life crime. Also, of course, perfect for fans of thrillers. However, if rape or sexual assault are triggers for you, I urge that you are careful with picking this book up.

Such a good book! This kept me intrigued the entire time! Two stories told at the same time tied to the same town- to one podcaster. I’ve never read a book told through the perspective of someone podcasting. I loved hearing the podcast pieces especially told through the audiobook. I think listening to this story really added a piece for the “reader.” I loved the narrators tone and format. This book kept my curiosity up, especially as someone who enjoys real-life style mysteries. It kept my interest all the way until the very end. I wish this podcast was real! I’d definitely recommend this book to girlfriends & I’d read this author again!

Synopsis: Rachel and her courtroom podcast are a hit. As she is entering season 3 of her podcast series, she takes on higher profile rape case. She is often recognized by her voice, but when she leaves a grocery store to find a note addressed to her on her car windshield, she is left feeling very unsettled. Throughout the investigation for her podcast, she receives multiple letters addressed to her from the same person, the person that won't stop until her sister's killer is found. Hannah's sister Jenny drowned 25 years ago, but Hannah is convinced it was murder and she is begging Rachel to help her prove it. Eventually Rachel gives in and is now investigating two crimes, one in the present, and one in the past and the similarities are quite eery.

4.5/5. Thank you @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the ARC for my honest review in return. This book was excellent. I listened via audio and I found this the perfect way for me to read this book. While I am not typically a podcast listener, this book did have me wanting to listen to some true crime podcasts! Rachel was a strong, hardworking, character. She went with gut instinct and that helped her tremendously. Hannah had gone through so much in her life, it is not without understanding that she portrays herself in a scared, small, manner. The topics in this book include rape and murder so I do believe a trigger warning is a necessity. This book is filled with crime, courtroom drama, suspense, and thrill. I recommend highly recommend this book and you can grab your copy today.