Cover Image: The Night Swim

The Night Swim

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Member Reviews

Excellent from start to finish. It really kept you engaged and waiting for more. The characters were well drawn, and the underlying imagery like the nightingale was brilliant.

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The first part of this book moved pretty slow, but it picked up towards the end and made for a solid thriller. Difficult subject matter (rape) made it hard to swallow in some points- so reader beware of the trigger warning.

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I loved this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more the whole time! I will definitely read more from this author. All of her books have kept me wanting more!

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Megan Goldin is one of my new favorite authors. The Night Swim was so good. I have since passed copies and recommended to my book club and friends.

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As an avid true crime lover, I absolutely devour anything about a crime podcast, and The Night Swim didn't disappoint. While this wasn't as thrilling as I hoped it would be, it is definitely suspenseful with a healthy dose of mystery. If you enjoy quick, engrossing reads, check out this one!

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This wasn't the best thriller but it kept me on the edge of my seat for most of it. I thought it was an interesting plot and kept me intrigued throughout.

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I kept seeing this book recommended and it absolutely lives up the hype. The story will stay with me for a long time and I'm still feeling a book hangover from it. The story is heartbreaking, but compelling, especially with the podcast angle. Can't wait to check out more from the author, five stars.

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Such a thrilling read! Purchased a copy for my home library. Thank you publishers & Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy.

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Quick, engrossing read following a podcaster who wants to know what really happened the night Jenny Stillsr died. I like that this book really showed the prep and the leg work that Rachel did to uncover the mystery. At the same time, it felt like clues fell too easily into her lap. A good suspense, but I think Megan Goldin can do more. 3.5 stars

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I liked the idea of a Podcaster helping to solve a crime. The two story lines and the past and present got a bit confusing for me. There were so many characters that it was hard for me to figure out who went with what story. It wasn't hard for me to figure out the bad guy.
It was a bit hard for me to keep the stories straight. I will read the next book by Goldin, but I enjoyed her first book more then this one.

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The Night Swim by Megan Goldin is a thriller but hit more like a crime fiction to me. But one with several very important messages.

Rachel Krall is the host of a popular and successful true-crime podcast. The new season is focusing on a rape trial in a small coastal town. At the same time, she has been receiving mysterious messages from the younger sister of a girl who was (possibly) murdered in the same town years ago.

This book was tough to read at times but mirrored so many of the issues in today’s world. Goldin isn’t shy about describing the scenes of the rape and surrounding circumstances.

I wouldn’t call this a nail-biting thriller, but rather a thought-provoking societal thriller. And a book I'd recommend for practically anyone.

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This book was a nearly perfect read for me – great writing, excellent pacing, interesting characters, stories I could really get invested in, and a huge payout at the end.

The premise involves a true-crime podcast writer (Rachel Krall) on her third season and the trial she’s about to attend. She aims to put her listeners “in the jury box” to make up their own minds about guilt or innocence. It’s an unfortunately classic tale of rape of a young woman and the young man who claims it was consensual. I felt the writer handled all of these details very well, they made me uncomfortable, but it wasn’t gratuitous violence.

The courtroom scenes are gripping and the anguish for the rape victim was apparent. However, the young man is a promising swimmer from a prominent family in town and this trial is a controversial one where minds seem to be made up before any evidence is presented. I was reminded how difficult it is to show incontrovertible evidence that convinces people – expert witnesses argue for both sides and the attorneys are very clever at what they do.

Along the way, Rachel is communicating with someone else about an earlier crime in the town. This dual storyline was compelling as well, and I eagerly read along to find out what deep secrets this town and its residents were keeping. There were a few surprises at the end and I found the power-packed conclusion mostly satisfying.

I highly recommend this one!

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I really enjoyed this book! I was most intrigued by Jenny's story and found that wanting more of her story kept me reading through the other parts. I liked the podcast element. Somehow, I found Hannah's character (mostly we know her from her telling Jenny's story that she remembers from being a child) more believable even though we mostly followed Rachel's point of view. I think I would have connected to Rachel more if we would have gotten more of her backstory...what drives her, how and why she started the podcast, etc.

Overall, this was a good time and probably the fastest I have read a book since my youngest son was born. I was that invested into finding what had happened to Jenny. I love when a book pulls you in and keeps you reading. Definitely looking forward to reading more from the author.

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RATING: 3.5 STARS
2020; St. Martin's Press

I am a slight fan of true crime podcasts, so seeing that in the synopsis I automatically am interested. I enjoyed Goldin's previous novel, so that was another notch towards requesting this book. It wasn't a bad book, but lacked the action-packed suspense that it seem to hint at. I tend to be gullible and believe what people say, and get a bit miffed when it turns out to be not true. But then again, books really depend on the reader and mood as well. I enjoyed this one, but preferred Escape Room more.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

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WOW what a read! This book kept my interest and would recommend it to anyone looking for a deep thriller.

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Let me start out this review by saying that The Night Swim is such a powerful read. I mean wow, Megan Goldin did a wonderful job with such a controversial topic and all I mainly want to say is bravo!

My favorite thing about The Night Swim is how half of it is written as a podcast episode, because if you didn’t already know I am a HUGE true crime podcast junkie. I listen to them weekly, so to read a book that has that type of vibe was so my cup of tea!

Rachel Krall is our podcast host, her new season is following a live trial in Neapolis. It’s a rape trial. An Olympic college swimmer is accused of raping a high school girl with a bright future ahead of her. While Rachel is on her way to Neapolis, she receives a mysterious note wedged in between her windshield wipers from the sister of a young girl who drowned in Neapolis twenty-five years earlier.

Hannah Stills doesn’t think her sisters death was an accidental drowning though and she needs Rachel’s help.

We are thrown into a rough story to get through. We are met with what society thinks is right and wrong when it comes to rape charges and sexual assault. I would be lying if I said The Night Swim wasn’t a tough read. It’s extremely tough, but there’s an important message in here and it makes you think about the way you view what you think is right and what’s wrong.

With that being said, I promise once you start The Night Swim, you will be hooked. Megan Goldin’s writing is fantastic, she will hook you and reel you in until it’s over. And when it is over, you will be thinking about it long after you’ve finished.

You will be captivated, and it’s so worth your time!

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Rachel is in town to follow a local rape trial for her real crime podcast. What she didn’t expect was being pulled in to a cold case in the same small town. With similarities to the current case, every once in awhile I would get parts of the two crimes mixed up. But while the current case felt very obvious (though it still provided some twists), the cold case offered more intrigue for the reader. Still, the current case kept the book moving along and I really liked the combination. I think it worked really well and kept me turning the page.

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Do you love true crime podcasts? What about crime shows? If so then you should read “The Night Swim”.
Rachel is the host of a popular crime podcast. She travels to Neopolis to follow a rape trial. Rachel starts to receive letters from from someone named Hannah asking for help to solve her sister’s murder that was ruled a drowning.
I really enjoyed this book. You really start to feel like you know the characters and become invested in how the story plays out. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

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An addictive read about a true crime podcast and it’s curious host, “ The Night Swim” is a twisty novel that is certain to keep readers engaged from start to finish.

Although a bit slow upon start-up, author Megan Goldin weaves a memorable story about some difficult subject matter (rape, murder), that sets up a collision for a small town past and present. A legal thriller mashed up with a mystery, true crime fans are certain to enjoy this one.

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This was an amazing book. It was fast paced and emotional. The story centers around a podcaster covering a rape trial. While the trial is going on, she is lured into researching a cold case, the murder of a 16 year old girl. This book brings to light the harsh reality of how rape victims are treated in court and in society as a whole. It can be a hard read emotionally, but I think it is good that it make you uncomfortable. It makes you think.

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