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.

Rachel Krall is the host of a popular true-crime podcast. For the next season of her podcast, she heads to the small town of Neapolis to cover the story of a star athlete accused a raping a teenage girl. Her podcast and the novel itself recount the difficulties of being a victim of rape and the stigma and accusations that go along with reporting the crime.

While in Neapolis, Rachel is also asked to investigate the death of Jenny Stills by Jenny's younger sister Hannah through a series of mysterious letters. Rachel is drawn into the story of Jenny and her death, which was deemed accidental even though evidence points to murder.

The author recounts the horrific consequences of rape, both for victims that report the crime and victims that don't report it. The onus is always on the victim of the rape to prove that there was no consent and that she is not a "slut" or "asking for it". The current trial that Rachel covers and her investigation into what happened to Jenny Stills years ago converge to illustrate that there has not been much change in the attitude toward girls that are raped.

Both storylines are resolved satisfyingly and realistically. This novel will lead book clubs into interesting discussions about how society and the criminal justice system treats both victims of rape and those accused of rape.

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time.

The story is about Hannah who was a very young girl when her sister was raped and murdered. For years she has kept the details of that awful night to herself. Now, on the 25th anniversary she has decided to confront and hopefully, to reveal the responsible party. Rachel, who hosts a true crime podcast is going to be in Neapolis, where all of this happened, covering the trial of a medaled swimmer who has allegedly raped a high school student. Hannah wants Rachel's help and this is the perfect chance for her to get it.

The author is able to alternate between Hannah, Rachel and the content of Rachel's podcast in a manner that makes it very easy for the reader to follow. She also kept things moving along and introduced elements of surprise throughout the whole book and ended it with a very satisfying conclusion. I very much appreciated the lack of foul language and and the lack of explicit sexual assault details. As an animal lover, I especially loved the last line of the book.

I was given an advance copy of this book by NetGalley for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I was weary going into this, as I read a previous book by this author and wasn't impressed as others were. This one however had me sucked in from the very first page.

This is a fantastic thriller/ mystery that keeps you guessing throughout. Highly recommended.

Trigger warning: Rape

This is an excellent book! It is about two rapes that occur about 25 years apart. It has literally left me speechless! It was fast-paced and held my interest from the first page to the last. I couldn't put it down. Everything in this book comes together so well--the writing, the plot, the characters--it's just one of those novels that couldn't get any better. I look forward to reading other books by this author, and I hope they are as good as this one. Don't miss this one!

After reading The Escape Room I was so excited to get a copy of this book because Megan Goldin is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. While the alternating storylines were slightly confusing I loved the way it all kind of melded together in the end. That both K and Jenny were able to get their stories told, and also that another gross miscarriage of justice was uncovered made this book a definite 5 star read for me. This book is so well written with such wonderfully developed characters that you can’t help but get drawn into the story. Can’t wait to recommend this to my friends that like to read!

This is a stunning story about two cases, twenty-five years apart in the same small town. Rachel Krall, whose voice is well known for her podcasts about true crime and trials, has arrived in Neapolis to begin the third year of her program following a rape trial. She thought her face was anonymous, but she begins to get letters from the sister of a girl who supposedly drowned there twenty five years ago. The sister does not believe she drowned, and asks Rachel to look into the death. While following the trial Rachel finds time to make inquiries about the 25 year old death. The circumstances of the two deaths are very similar. This book speaks of the age-old horrible and repulsive views people have of rape, and which party is to blame. This emotional story will stay with me for some time, and I would recommend it to anyone. I have also read this author’s book, The Escape Room, which is equally as good. I’ll be watching very closely for her next book! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars to this unflinchingly raw look at two rapes set 25 years apart and their devastating aftermaths in a small town. Both stories were equally interesting (and gut-wrenching) and were weaved together well. Rachel's podcast provided a unique storytelling element that is very relevant to today. I would definitely recommend and am looking forward to reading more from this very promising author.

Rachel is a crime blogger who isn’t used to someone recognizing her face. While she is considered a household name, it’s her name and voice that are recognizable. She is shocked to find a note that asks her for help finding out who killed Jenny (Hannah, the note writer’s sister). This is during a large trail she’s covering for a small town. I would consider it pretty relevant to today’s climate, a story of a “good boy” accused of raping a girl in the town. The cold case about Jenny and the case being covered in the present seem to have quite a few parallels. Town and general media blame the victim while not wanting to ruin “good, athletic boys’ lives. There are parallels in both cases. The author writes Rachel in a way that she’s very modern. There are definitely similarities to a highly publicized case. Not only with her job but her way of thinking. I think this will and the subject matter of this book will appeal to a variety of people.