Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

A slow burn, genre-bending thriller in the same vein as Sadie, Miracle Creek, and Beartown, all at once. This story features two parallel divisive mysteries in a seaside-town in North Carolina.

This book made me so unbelievably angry and sad, but satisfied and disheartened all at once? That being said, this book was enthralling. I ended up finishing it in just one sitting! Not only could I not put it down, I needed to be delivered some justice for our main character.

I wouldn't even refer to this as a thriller, because the character development, setting, and overall writing style was too good. I would say the first half is a hard-hitting contemporary mystery and the second half is a legal thriller? If that makes sense? That being said, don't go into this book expecting some unbelievable characters and a psychological thriller-type twist (I'm looking at you Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen fans).

TW: rape, sexual assault, drug use, abuse

This book was stunning and will stay with me a long time. I ran through a course of emotions while reading it and felt exhausted after. I highly recommend.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great book, I really enjoyed it! I look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

*My thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley from gifting me with this ARC in exchange for a fair review*

The Night Swim is a brutal, heart-wrenching tale about a current rape trial overtaking the small town of Neapolis, and an old death that was never fully solved there 25 years earlier. Here we follow crime Podcaster Rachel Krall as she covers the case of a 16-year-old girl who claims to have been brutally raped by the town's golden son. It's her word against his, the town is divided, and Rachel is set out to get all the facts of the trial out there for the world to come to their own conclusion about. Meanwhile, she is contacted by a woman named Hannah, who is asking her to help her uncover the truth about her sister Jenny, who died under mysterious circumstances years ago. The town claimed it was an accident. Hannah believes it was murder. As both cases start to unfold for Rachel, she can't help but wonder if there is a connection between past and present.

I wasn't sure about this book at first. We had two interchanging POV's: Rachel's in third person, and Hannah's in first. Rachel's POV was dry, almost clipped. I didn't feel like I knew her at all. Hannah's "letters" appeared to me like a purple-prose writer attempting her hand at writing a book rather than writing a letter to a stranger but around the 15% mark, there was a noticeable shift. Suddenly, Rachel's prompt, to the point manner made sense and carried her investigative scenes quickly. I devoured every clue she came across, took note of every person she weaseled her way in with, trying to see what connected. Hannah's accounts loosened up as well; her descriptions becoming so necessary with all their apparent over-detail, and also entirely painful as we closed in on how her sister had been treated.

Neapolis itself is immersive. It felt like a small town. It felt like old secrets and hidden agendas. The author truly created an enclosed, suffocating feeling at times and it drove the story forward in subtle movements that I enjoyed. By the time we finally arrived at the trial, I was just as breathless with anticipation to hear the evidence.

I was devastated. This book tore the breath from my lungs. It made me rage and cry and demand retribution for the victim. The trial was not only a horrifying account of what that little girl had gone through but also a glimpse into the corruption and politics of our justice system. It placed a blunt magnifying glass on our culture of blaming women for their rape instead of punishing their rapist. Of how we often don't believe them. Of how it is so much easier to say that she made it up, that she wanted fame, that she knew what she was getting into. And it makes you ask yourself why anyone, let alone a child would put themselves through the torture of a trial, and the lead up to it, and the aftermath—for a lie? The fact is, that most people wouldn't come out of it unscathed. They wouldn't.

There were a few small things that bothered me. Threads I thought should have been followed through with were dropped off, missed opportunities by the author in terms of suspects or connections with certain persons, but in the end they aren't enough to get deeply into as the book holds up despite them and not enough to get into spoilers. The Night Swim is certainly not for the faint of heart, and I urge you to understand that while the descriptions of the attacks are not graphic it is all very intense and can be emotionally taxing. However it was a thrilling read, and one that I will likely pick up again. Even if it hurts.

I’m a HUGE fan of podcasts that focus on murders, trials, serial killers and all types of deadly crimes so this book was right up my alley. I enjoyed the podcasts break between the chapters and the development of the story.

I can honestly say I was shocked by the outcome of the mystery that unfolded and I’m normally able to predict stories way before the ending.

This book heavily delves into rape so I can see this being a trigger for some readers. So please use discretion before picking this one up.

Thank you to the publishers for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. It had a great story line, great perspectives of both people and an awesome twist I didn't see coming!

Thank you again for letting me read this, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This book is fantastic. It is perfect for fans of true crime podcasts. It could hear the "podcast" playing in my head. It kept me interested the whole time and the format was digestible and intriguing. I wanted to keep reading. I liked how the 2 stories of girls were layered together into one. Rachel was a great, strong narrator. I could see this becoming a series following Rachel's podcast.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins press, and the Author Megan Goldin for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
This book had sounded intriguing, so that's why I requested a read and all I can say is WOW!!!
I absolutely loved it. I felt like I was with Rachel throughout the book.
I loved everything about it, the 2 main protagonists- Rachel and Hannah the town it took place in and especially the way it was written. I almost wish there was a real Rachel who's podcast I could listen to.
This was my first read from Megan and I immediately added her other two books to my TBR list.

Podcast thrillers are somewhat of a popular trend in thrillers lately and I have to say I'm loving this style of storytelling. The Night Swim is part legal thriller with a podcast aspect - a perfect combination to keep me on the edge of my seat!

I must admit, I am not really the type to pick up a novel like The Night Swim. One of my greatest reasons being the whole small-town rape trials tend to have a Lifetime Movie Network feel. They also have been done so many times that if you’ve read one of them, you’ve read them all. Now don’t get me wrong, the elements, scenarios, and scenes may differ, but the theme remains the same. For this reason, I was very hesitant to request this novel. Yet, Megan Goldin wrote a story last year that I described as “fun as hell”. Given how I felt about her previous novel, I went ahead and made the request. And I am not disappointed.

I won’t describe the story. As I mentioned, this story is incredibly familiar. I’m not meaning to give any spoilers, but this novel does not stray away from what you’ve read before. It simply doesn’t. There are elements such as the podcast and an extracurricular disappearance/murders that provide the novel an edge. And I will admit it does the novel a service and adds to the reader’s enjoyment. But again, you’ve read this story once (Beartown) or if you’ve watched any LMN Original Movie, you’ve in turn read The Night Swim.

While it wasn’t anything new or profound, I actually consumed the story like an alcoholic on a bender just after being released from a stint in jail. Started it in the AM and was done before my early ass bedtime. While my notes on lacking originality seem negative, I still found myself unable to put this story down. This speaks volumes to me. Clearly, it was enjoyable otherwise I would not have had the patience to consume it as I did. To me, this means that Goldin is fucking talented. I came into this story with an attitude of it being overdone but still caring about the author. Picked up the novel getting exactly what I expected, and I wasn’t even disappointed. I don’t know how that happened, but Goldin can perform this voodoo black magic on me anytime.

So, is it similar to those Lifetime Movie Network Originals that you watched with your mom on Saturday and Sunday growing up? Yes.

But is it fucking addicting and somehow exciting? Yes.

I’ve learned a very valuable lesson from Goldin. Request Megan Goldin’s books even when you truly aren’t interested. The bitch has some surprises up that sleeve.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this novel.

First Megan Goldin book I've read and I enjoyed it, but I felt everything fell together a little too easily//perfectly.
It was twisty with a good story that kept me reading, but things were just a bit too convenient in the end.
Loved the premise: Rachel is podcast journalist currently staying in a small, coastal town while covering a rape trial. Hannah is trying to prove her sister was murder in the same small town two decades before.
While the story is quite good, having lived my young life in a small town....some things were slightly off.

Bottom line: This one will be easy to recommend, just twisty enough to keep readers interested and guessing until the end. Just a little too convenient of an ending for my taste.
Actual stars: 3.75.

I'm surprised this was written by the same author as The Escape Room. Even though both books are thrillers, The Escape Room was pure entertainment--a high-concept roller coaster ride that required the reader to suspend disbelief. The Night Swim is much more serious in tone, and it capitalizes on the #metoo movement to shine a spotlight on the injustices of rape.

Rachel Krall is a famous podcaster, known for her true crime show Guilty or Not Guilty. In preparation for the podcast's third season, Rachel follows a rape trial where the accused is a small Southern town's golden child--a contender for the Olympics and an all-around good citizen. The victim is the granddaughter of the town's police chief. At the same time as the trial, Rachel begins to receive anonymous notes from a woman begging for her help. The notes pull Rachel into investigating another rape case that occurred twenty-five years earlier.

I applaud the book for dealing with a serious theme that needs to be talked about. It might make some readers uncomfortable, much like the Netflix limited series Unbelievable did, but it's an important topic that needs to be discussed. The book isn't perfect, but it is thought-provoking and deserves to be read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Two suspected rapes, one ending in death, are the core of this story. But, the real story is the, as usual, the people. From the accuser to the accused, all have a story to tell, as do their parents and friends. Tight, tense, and enthralling.

This book is gritty and raw. At times its hard to read. Rachel Krall is the voice of the true crime podcast "Guilty or Not Guilty" . This season focuses on a rape trial in the small town of Neapolis, North Carolina. The emotional and physical scars it can leave. How a small town can be totally divided by judging both parties involved.
On the drive to get there she gets a letter asking her to investigate a 25 year old mystery similar to the one that is happening now. You get two stories in one past and present. I did end up liking this book. The mystery comes together in the end but I will definitely be more careful next time. This is not an easy read and if rape is a trigger for you pass on this one.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGally and the St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review

This book was really intriguing to me. It was like 2 mysteries in one. I found it to be a bit slow burning but kept my attention throughout. The ending kind of surprised me - and I can't say I completely understood the very end of this book - I may need to think about it a bit more. I really love this author's writing and can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin, 2.5*.
I had high hopes for The Night Swim by Megan Goldin after enjoying her first novel, The Escape Room. This was despite the fact that title lacked in any “pick-me-up” appeal. Unfortunately, despite making every attempt to like this book, I struggled with the way in which the violent subject matter was handled. I hoped for a twist or something unexpectedly spectacular to happen at the 50% point to make the gruesome reading worthwhile. However, all I got was more of the unremittingly brutal, sad and harrowing depictions of assault and rape on young teenage women, at least one of whom was underage. I was disappointed.

The protagonist, Rachel Krall, runs a popular podcast, ‘Guilty or Not Guilty’. Reading her posts, I couldn’t see how her podcasts or website would exceed the value or interest of any news websites. She is out to follow the trial of Kelly Moore’s allegation of rape case in the North Carolina city of Neapolis.

Hannah Stills, whose account starts the book, lived in the same city as a child. In the parallel storyline, she recounts the murder of her elder sister, Jenny, 25 years prior. What we never discover is how Hannah uncovered Rachel’s identity to stalk her and post letters on her windscreen and elsewhere.

The Night Swim trawls through all the gruesome details of the cold case murder of 16-year-old Jenny Stills, which the police of the time unfortunately failed to investigate then buried. The main story also details the rape trial of Kelly Moore, against Scott Blair, for the protagonist’s podcast.

In the last few pages, there was what was posed as a twist. It was really an unsuspected culprit. Not a twist at all. It didn’t pique my flagging attention, as no clues had been given as to the perpetrators, and no red herrings were set up.

This, around 80% of the way through, sums up my feelings of the reading experience of The Night Swim: “I don’t understand people’s fascination with other people’s tragedies. It’s modern-day rubbernecking. Ghoulish. Podcasts like yours feed that obsession.” Other people’s tragedies are not an obsession of mine, especially when it comes to distressing accounts of rape.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Megan Goldin for the chance to review The Night Swim.

This review also appears in NetGalley, https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-night-swim-by-megan-goldin.html, Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3228919957. It will appear in Amazon.com when the book is published.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC provided.

The true crime podcast host is trying to boost her listeners by covering a trial while it is ongoing. While she is trying to keep up with the ongoing trial, there is another mystery involving Jenny from 25 years ago that requires her attention.

There are many twists and turns and it kept me completely involved. Another hit for Megan Goldin.

Rape cases are always difficult to hear/read about regardless of whether they happen in real life, or in books. I think this book had such a strong impact on me because it reminded me a lot of the Brock Turner case. Whether that was the intention or not, the similarities were unmistakable.

Aside from the difficultly of the topic, I really enjoyed this book! I’ve been really into true crime podcasts lately, (check out @crazyeyespodcast 🤓) so I had been looking forward to reading this. I loved the setting of this book & that it took place in a small town where everyone knew everyone. Although Rachel was working on two different cases while in Neapolis, it didn’t make the story confusing, & the author did a great job of connecting both cases. The story kept me guessing throughout the whole book and the ending left me shocked, surprised & wanting more.

Rachel Krall is the host of the popular podcast Guilty or Not Guilty: the podcast that puts you in the jury box. The upcoming season of the podcast brings her to the town of Neapolis to cover a rape trial. While there she begins to receive messages from Hannah Stills urging her to help shed light on the death of her sister Jenny, which took place decades before.

The Night Swim is a gripping novel that masterfully ties these two cases together and will have readers guessing how they are connected. With twists that I didn't see coming, it kept me intrigued until the last page. A must read for thriller lovers!

This is my first book from Megan Goldin. I love a good book that you can jump right in and get to know all the characters and the details of what going on are just enough to feel like you are actually there. I like how this book is set up and tells you the transition between who's talking and what is taking place. Also this isn't a light read for the topics involved. There are triggers of rape and abuse. The trial part might be hard for some to read. Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others from her.