Rachel Krall hosts the ultra-popular true crime podcast Guilty or Not Guilty.  For season three, she travels to the small coastal town of Neapolis to cover a rape trial - the town's 18-year-old star athlete has been accused of raping a high school student. After a pitstop en route, Rachel discovers a note on her windshield addressed to her.  This in itself is more than a little unnerving, but even more disturbing is what she finds in the letter itself from listener Hannah.  Twenty-five years ago, in the same little town of Neapolis, Hannah's older sister died a tragic and unexpected death.  A drowning, it was said...but Hannah knows better, and now she's begging Rachel to solve the case of what happened all those years ago.  Past and present collide as Rachel delves into the evils of Neapolis in The Night Swim. ⁣
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⁣This book took a little time for me to get into, but once I did, I was can't-put-it down fully invested. I really liked how it involved two narrators and two cases that shared parallels.  Through Rachel, we experience the present-day rape trial, and through Hannah's letters, we go back in time and slowly learn what happened to her sister.  For anyone who is a fellow HSP, I will say that there were times I struggled with the narrative. Hearing details of rape and brutality and seeing the effects upon their victims was heartrending. It's also the mark of a good writer that I felt these emotions so acutely. As far as the whodunnit in the book, I did figure it out pretty early on, but I don't feel like it was obvious, so it should come as a surprise for many readers.  This was a gripping read.  If you like podcasts, a true crime feel, courtroom dramas, and thrillers, this book should definitely be on your radar.⁣

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣

The Night Swim is a solid mystery that also touches on important and timely issues of violence against women. I thought Goldin's writing was fascinating without veering into sensationalist territory. The story moves along briskly, but keeps its message and intent well in sight. The tone is sensitive, but still allows enough room for the characters to eveolve.

This book kept me hooked from the first page. Although the story is emotional disturbing, it’s very well written and the descriptions are detailed, allowing the reader to feel the characters pain. The characters are also well developed and the story is very intense. I’d definitely recommend this book and will look forward to other books from this author.

The Night Swim opens with podcaster Rachel Krall driving to a small town on the Atlantic coast to report on a rape trial. While pausing at a rest along the way, someone slips a note under her windshield. It is from a woman named Hannah, a fan of Rachel’s previous podcasts, asking Rachel to investigate the rape and murder of her older sister that took place in the same town some twenty years ago. So we get two mysteries in one book — what could be better? For me it was a great escape read. A place to forget about the real life dramas that are unfolding in our world on a daily basis.

I enjoyed the way the book is structured, with some chapters written from Hannah’s POV, interspersed with transcripts of Rachel’s podcast and chapters from Rachel’s POV as the trial unfolds. Rachel plays a key role in both the unfolding of the trial and in investigating what happened to Hannah’s older sister. Although I sometimes had issues with some of the ways the plot unfolded, I was more than willing to suspend disbelief because it was such an enjoyable read, capped of with very satisfying endings in both cases. Definitely recommend for people looking to escape into an engaging read.

Rachel Krall has a very successful true crime podcast. She takes her podcast to the vacation town of Neapolis, where the town’s Golden Boy, Olympic swimming hopeful Scott has been accused of raping teenager “K”
On the way to Neapolis, she receives a letter from a fan asking her to look into the drowning death of 16 year old Jenny. Hannah, her sister believes Jenny was murdered.
This multi POV story takes us from past to present seamlessly in both Rachel and Hannah’s voices. We also get to “hear” the third season of Guilty or Not Guilty, Rachel’s podcast. This was a genius decision by the author because it fills in a lot of the rape trial’s gaps.
I saw a couple of the swerves (I’m not going to call them plot twists since they didn’t really change the story at all) coming, but they were well played out.
I really loved this book and will give it 4.5/5 stars.
Please be warned that some of the rape discussions can be quite graphic and may be traumatizing to a survivor.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I am speechless.

I should wait to write my review but I have to say The Night Swim is a book that should not be missed.

Two rapes, one at trial, one never acknowledged.

You will cry , you will cheer , you will be bewildered.

A compelling story with twists and turns , didn't see the ending coming.

This book will stay with me for a very long time.

Thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me the honor of reading The Night Swim

Wow! I did not know what to expect from the description of the novel, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. As Rachel documents the current trial about a young woman's rape, she begins to discover the story of another woman (from the same town) who was raped and murdered decades prior. Both sexual assaults are covered in mystery and cover ups. I adored Rachel and how critical the author was on how the law is not kind to survivors. Indeed, the author takes care in recognizing the trauma of reliving the violence and the difficulty of breaking the silence to end the violence. Such a great read.

Loved both storylines. Definitely got me fired up for the two female victims. Kept me engaged but with no cheesy, over the top twists that everyone else seems to be trying these days. Just a good little mystery.

This is a great suspense novel with a surprise ending. Rachel is a blog writer who covers crimes. This is her 3rd season and she is going to cover a rape trial. Hannah is a woman who writes to Rachel asking for her help in uncovering her sister’s death 25 years ago. The novel narrative between both protagonists with Rachel investigating Hannah’s story while reporting on the rape case and Hannah remembering her life and the life of her sister. The endings of both stories are surprisingly joined. This novel would be great for those fans of the suspense genre. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rachel is featured in a sequel. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Rachel Krall, the host of a popular true crime podcast, gets more than she expected she begins to investigate a rape trial in a small town. A mysterious woman named Hannah is stalking Rachel, leaving her notes begging her to investigate the death of Hannah's sister twenty-five years ago. Could that cold case be connected to the current trial?

Captivating from start to finish, Goldin has penned a likely bestseller. The coverage of the rape trial gives the feel of a good legal thriller, keeping you wondering how the jury will decide. Add in the cold case, and you'll be guessing how the two cases connect. I was impressed with the ending, and predict people will be talking about this August book release.

I really liked this book. It was tastefully written which I’m sure was tough considering the story line. The characters were fantastic and I was sad when I finished this book. The story is based around a podcaster who covers true crime. She is sought out by an individual to help solve a decades old murder that was classified as a drowning. There were some heart wrenching moments in this book but it was also suspenseful and very fast paced. A plus, must read.
Trigger warning - story line revolves around pretty violent rape stories.

This is a book that you just will NOT forget!
Rachel Krall makes true crime podcasts that allow the listeners to feel as if they are in a courtroom listening to the different witnesses and assisting in the verdict of different trials.
She is good, real good, and has actually had cases overturned with evidence she has found and questions that she has asked and then had answered. NO stone is left unturned!
In a small town, a trial to decide guilty or not-guilty of raping a young girl is about to begin and Rachel is on her way to this location in preparation for the courtroom case.
On the way, a letter is discovered on her car windshield begging for help on an occurrence that happened twenty-five years ago. A teenage girl was found dead in town and her younger sister wants the truth about her sister Jenny. What really happened? Did she really drown?
Can Rachel find out while she is in town?
This novel is amazingly detailed and I was almost believing that I was in the courtroom.
It is a tough read at times about a sensitive subject.
Definitely a ten star book! Truly great!

I loved The Escape Room, so glad I was able to get this ARC. Rachel has a true crime podcast and goes to a small town in NC to cover the trial of a rape. When she gets there, she finds out there was another rape 25 years earlier that has similarities. A really great thriller, but major trigger warnings for graphic descriptions.

4.5 stars

I’ve read Megan’s previous two books and was keen to get my hands on The Night Swim.

The Night Swim is a gripping, yet harrowing book on a very topical subject. I’ve noticed other readers commented that they couldn’t put it down, but for me, binge-reading was impossible. This is in no way damning as to the quality of the story or writing. Indeed, it is testament to the author’s ability to evoke an emotional response, without it feeling like crass manipulation.

I won’t elaborate on the plot as that can be discerned by reading others’ reviews or the book synopsis. Suffice to say, the book does tackle rape and sexual assault and while it is not done in a gratuitous manner, I still found myself feeling unsettled, discomfited and angry.

As to the mystery element of the story, while there were parts I worked out along the way, I was wrong about the major reveal.

This is a book that will stay with me for quite some time and considering the subject matter, perhaps that is at it should be.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Night Swim is the story of a Rachel, a blogger/reporter covering a contemporary crime while also investigating a 25 year old murder. The story follows the popular "back and forth" format between the well defined characters. The book is well written, and quite suspenseful - I couldn't wait to read the outcome of the two events, and was surprised by both! The book is satisfying and enjoyable to read. I would like to have given it 4.5 stars if I could - it was just a tad long.

Thank you, NetGalley for letting me read this book!

I just finished The Night Swim by Megan Goldin and I am so literally stunned right now. To say this is one of the best books I’ve read would be an understatement. 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.

The Night Swim is told in dual narrative, one from true crime podcaster, Rachel, traveling to the small seaside town of Neapolis to cover the rape trial of the town’s golden boy and Hannah, the younger sister of Jenny Stills, murdered, she believes, 25 years ago. Ms. Goldin intertwined the two stories impeccably, leaving no stone unturned all while keeping the tension high and the suspense at nail-biting level.

The characters are amazingly well-layered and beautifully flawed. I was captivated in their telling of the story with all it’s brutality that shines a light on stories that need to be told; the message that it carries is a powerful one and one that will continue to divide people of all ages and genders.

The plot! Oh my! Small town secrets! I live in a small tourist town so a lot of what the author described hit home to me! There’s a lot of truth there, it’s fiction yes, but truth as well. What lengths will some go to in order to protect their reputation? Those of someone they love? Just how far does the ‘Good Ole’ Boy’ club go? Rachel digs deep and puts herself in some perilous situations to get to the truth and isn’t easily intimidated.

The Night Swim is an outstanding book and I have high hopes that this could be a series and if it is, it’s one that I will not only faithfully read but will look forward to.

The Escape Room had been written by this author and I had enjoyed it, I was looking forward to her next work. The Night Swim is her second novel, though it doesn’t quite match the intensity of the first book, it is an enjoyable read. The story revolves around Rachel Krall, a true crime investigator who had solved cold case files in the past and created a podcast about them. For her next podcast she travelling to a small town in North Carolina where a popular young man has been accused of rape. Along the way someone leaves a note on her car begging her to investigate a rape/murder that had taken place 25 years ago, but that had been shoved under the carpet by the powers that be and no one was ever charged. The book is told in two viewpoints, Rachel and Hannah, who is the sister of the girl that had been raped/murdered 25 years ago. Rachel does not want to look into the old case, but ends up doing some investigating which leads her to investigate the entire situation. Hannah communicates with Rachel through notes/letters, they don’t meet in person until near the end. Through the notes Hannah shares the details that led up to her sister’s rape/murder. The details of both rapes are quite intense and disturbing. This was a very good book with a satisfying end to both issues. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is my first 5 star read in a long time. Megan Goldin clearly did her research about everything from criminal rape trials, to SANE exams, to societies habit of victim-blaming survivors of sexual assault but not victims in other crimes. I thought this story was full of so many elements of crime and the entire plot tied together beautifully. I can not wait to buy this when it is published on August 4, 2020.

I thought this book was great! I love that it’s about a podcaster and I thought the general storytelling was really interesting. It is a unique and fresh take on crime fiction. Devoured this in a couple afternoons. I was surprised where I should be and always interested in what was next. Can’t ask for too much more in a mystery :)

The Night Swim shows us what happens when a small town gets turned upside down by rape and murder, twice. Rachel Krall is a true crime podcaster with a large following. She arrives in an ocean-side town of Neapolis and is immediately caught up in the trial where she "puts the listeners in the jury box." After mysterious notes appear in unexpected places, Rachel delves deeper into a mysterious death twenty-five years ago. This book will keep you guessing till the very end!