I was hoping the idea of mixing the true crime podcast with a current court case might be interesting and it was to a point but the sections detailing the podcast were flat and didn’t add any interest
It was a very quick read but I skimmed through all the graphic rape details so that could be why. I also thought the link between the crimes was too tenuous to be a real thing.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rachel Krall runs an extremely popular true-crime podcast and is on the hunt for a compelling story for season 3. She travels to the small coastal town of Neapolis to cover an active rape trial in real time. The victim is a 16 year old girl, the defendant is a popular 18 year old man with Olympic swimming aspirations, and the case has torn the small town apart. While covering the trial, Rachel begins to receive mysterious letters from a woman named Hannah. Hannah claims that her sister Jenny, who committed suicide in Neapolis almost 25 years prior, was actually murdered. Rachel is drawn to Jenny’s case while reporting on the trial, and soon discovers that the town of Neapolis may be keeping secrets. Secrets that, if brought to light, may rewrite history.

Ooooh this is exactly the book I wanted to read right now. I love a good mystery! Everything about this story was very topical, from the true crime podcast element to the very Brock Turner-esc rape trial. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and flew through it in two sittings. This novel is two stories in one, and they are wrapped together by the end of the book. I will say that I have seen this book advertised as a thriller... it’s definitely not a thriller IMO and those expecting a true thriller may be disappointed. I would consider this book a mystery/somewhat crime procedural, with a podcast protagonist rather than a traditional detective/cop. My one critique is that I thought the characters arrived at major plot resolution a bit too cleanly, which made it a little unbelievable. However, I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it to those looking for a mystery! Thank you @stmartinspress @netgalley and @megangoldinauthor for my advanced reader’s copy! The Night Swim is out now! 🏊‍♀️

Trigger warning: rape and sexual assault on minors

“This is Guilty or Not Guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box.”

⚠️ Okay so, I’m not giving any spoilers here because it’s the entire premise of the story. But, if rape and sexual assault is a trigger for you I would seriously not recommend this one. The entire book is focused on two separate sexual assault/rape situations.

Now, that being said. This is such a good book! If you love true crime podcasts and shows like Law and Order SVU, you will be super into this book! It is so well written-I sped through it wanting answers. I adore an intersecting story line and this one does it seamlessly. It kept me guessing until the end about what really happened 25 years ago - and it will all tear your heart out.
The plot definitely gives off Brock Turner vibes with everyone more concerned with the image and future of a golden boy swimmer than the victim of rape. But the most important thing that Ms. Goldin manages to do through fiction is address the public humiliation and revictimization that rape survivors must endure. “The victim is treated like a human crime scene” and are violated for a second time in court.

I know this got super long, but I have so much to say. I worked as a SANE (sexual assault nurse examiner) nurse and this topic is a big passion of mine. The graphic descriptions of the rape kit process and common injuries that occur to victims were spot on. I appreciate the obvious research that the author put into this story. I have experienced first hand the exact same struggles with the judicial process, I’ve been attacked on the stand regarding my examination findings, and it breaks my heart for these victims.

A HUGE thank you to @stmartinspress and @megangoldin for gifting me a copy of this one in exchange for my review.

⁣
I read Know My Name earlier this year and this book talking about an Olympic swimmer raping a student and this book reminded me how strong Chanel Miller is in sharing her story.

This book is told in 3 perspective: Rachel’s podcast as she covers the trial, Rachel’s research and what happens to her while talking to different parties for the trial and Rachel’s search for a 25 year old case of Jenny Stills. This story kept me interested from the beginning and I wanted to know what really happened the night of the rape and also what happened 25 years ago. This book brought up so many good points as how rape victims are subject to so much emotional scars after the assault and how difficult it is to stand trial and how it impacts the family. ⁣
⁣
Thank you to @stmartinpress and @netgalley for a copy of the ebook. I really enjoyed this one. ⁣

The Night Swim: A Novel By Megan Goldin
The week of August, 4th brings readers two Adult Thrillers that tackle women's issues in page-turning fashion. First, Megan Goldin's The Night Swim A Novel delves into rape, classism, and the perceptions that society tags onto people. Second, The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan takes on the Pharmaceutical Industry, infertility, and wealth in an insane Adult Psychological Thriller that I will be reviewing shortly. In both instances, the issues at the crux of the stories never drag down the plot or become preachy.
Unlike The First To Lie, The Night Swim leans more to the Detective/Women's Sleuth genre, riding the true-crime podcast trend. That is just a matter of preference, in sub-genre. Megan Goldin writes The Night Swim from two points of view, Rachel, the host of Guilty or Not Guilty, Hannah (we'll talk more about her later), and then episodes of Guilty or Not Guilty are interspersed in between. Megan
Goldin's format keeps The Night Swim moving at a fast clip, along with keeping readers on their toes. You don't feel like you have solid ground under your feet, which creates more suspense throughout the novel.
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The Night Swim: A Novel By Megan Goldin: Our First Adult Thriller Buddy Read
<Sentimental Moment> Becky and are having our first Adult Thriller moment! But not our last as I'm so excited to report that we will buddy read Ruth Ware's next thriller One By One!!! And thank the book fairies because I can't do that alone, again. BAH! Here is Becky's review of The Night Swim, which is both fantastic, concise <ahem unlike mine> and has a synopsis, should you need one. We also agreed on well, everything?
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The Night Swim: Social Themes
Megan Goldin's The Night Swim A Novel excels where many Adult Thrillers, whether they fall under detective, psychological thrillers, or other sub-genres, is in its handling of social themes. As with The Split by S.J. Bolton, Goldin doesn't just use them as plot devices. Instead, Goldin gets into the nitty-gritty of each and explores their ramifications thoughtfully, fearlessly, and purposefully. Furthermore, the themes Goldin has chosen to approach in The Night Swim are relevant, sensitive, and complicated. So, let's break them down, eh?
Rape- what is so impressive about the way Megan Goldin handles not just the physical act of rape (and yes, please keep this in mind if you choose to read The Night Swim) is how she handles the aftermath. She depicts both the victim and the accused, throughout the trial, very honestly. It leaves the reader to contemplate what happens if the accused is innocent. If the victim was raped but unintentionally implicates the wrong person, what is the cascading cost to that person's life? To both lives? The victim then does not know who raped them, and the defendant has to live with that accusation for the rest of their life.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a Hardcopy ARC and St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an Advance Audiobook for an honest review.
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The burden of proof lives and dies with the victim. The horrors a victim must jump through to build a case, let alone convict the accused, are depicted in devastating detail. I do not care how many times you have heard the term "rape kit" (unless you have experienced it or otherwise administered one), reading the details of what goes into what it entails was disturbing.
The body of a sexual assault victim is a crime scene, "said Nurse Rice. "It's my job to... methodically collecting evidence in a way that preserves the chain of custody and reduces cross-contamination."
Nurse Rice explained how the victim's clothes were put into evidence bags... "...examine every inch of the victim, from the tip of her head to her toes. We document each bruise, scratch, and abrasion. We remove any foreign pubic hairs, semen, fibers. Anything we find. And we take swabs and samples of the victim's own pubic hairs for comparison purposes.
"If the victim agrees... we use a camera called a colposcope to photograph internal injuries. Lacerations on the genitals. Anything that might be evidence of a sexual assault."
I wish I could say that was all, but there is more to it. From there, the victim also has to relive the entire experience by testifying on the stand. If she doesn't, there isn't a case. Meanwhile, the defendant shows up every day. It is the constant reliving of a nightmare for months if not longer that will already haunt you for a lifetime.
Classism and reputations are also addressed in The Night Swim. Megan Goldin does a fantastic job connecting how your social status correlates to perception and the worth of your life. When cases such as these rip families, towns, and even the country apart. Often, the social status, the perceived social activities of the victim, and the power of the defendant's family can choose the outcome of the case more readily than its reality. The Night Swim interweaves this truth within the crime committed 25-years ago and present-day, flawlessly.
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The Night Swim A Novel: Structure
Megan Goldin rides the trend of true crime podcasts, giving her main character, Rachel, Guilty, or Not Guilty. While this is a trend for the sub-genre, it is my first experience with true crime podcasts. Sprinkling podcast episodes throughout the book might be typical. I loved how Goldin utilized it. Having Rachel's actual point of view, interactions, and inner-dialogue/conflicts and then seeing how that filtered through to her podcast was insightful.
The wrench that Goldin brilliantly adds to the piece is social media. I love how twitter blows up on Rachel and her podcast. Again, it is another way of showing both sides of the trial, before the truth comes to light. No matter what or who you decide to believe, Rachel sticks to providing a balanced story on her podcast. Neither those who think the victim nor those who think the defendant will let her get away with it. Hearing the ugliness, we all know exists on social media, played out, is jarring and done realistically.
Along with Rachel's point of view and the podcasts, we have Hannah's point of view. Hannah begins writing letters to Rachel while she is in Hannah's hometown, covering a rape case. Twenty-five years ago, her sister Jenny died, after she went swimming at night by a jetty and hit her head.
The police ruled Jenny's death an accident, but Hannah insists she witnessed everything that happened that night. And Rachel is the only one that can help her bring the truth to light.
When you bring all of this together, it is a bullet train of mystery, action, and suspense.
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The Night Swim A Novel: No Spoilers- The End... Meh
Becky and I agreed that this is where The Night Swim lost its steam. It was anti-climatic and predictable in yes, the actual predictable way. It wasn't predictable in the good way, where we had tidbits that we could pick up on but anti-climactic, could have been much better predictable.
There were so many ways that I wanted The Night Swim to do and be better. Megan Goldin attacked so many social themes with bravery that I wanted the end to be brave. With two massive crimes, you have the chance to do so much. I will not say more than that because of spoilers.
Also, the odd thing? Goldin did leave A LOT of clues and exciting things that I connected the dots on throughout the town's 25-year history. Things that Becky and I discussed and got us excited. If those things had been a part of the ending? That would have been awesome. That would have been the right kind of predictable. None of that had anything to do with anything. And that had us kind of like... well what was the point of any of it?
It was a shame that all these social themes never became preach, never took anything away from the suspense or entertainment of the story throughout the plot, but then had the ending just fall flat. But I think it is still worth the read, as many will probably enjoy it, even the end. And again, the social themes are worth it, in itself.
Plus, with such a likable main character and the ending? I am wondering if this might be the set-up to a series. And I would read the next installment.

This was a fantastic thriller. Alternating between a crime in the present and a crime in the past. I was hooked from the beginning. A well written mystery with strong characters, I highly recommend. The ending didn’t disappoint.

I was hooked on this book from the very first page, and loved every bit of it. Hannah Stills is convinces her sister, Jenny, was murdered 25 years ago. Everyone else claims Jenny drowned. Hannah teaches out to Rachel Krall, a journalists who hosts a podcast “Guilty or Not Guilty”. Rachel is in town to cover a rape trial. Scott Blair, rich boy and competitive swimmer, is accused of raping Kelly Moore.
As Rachel learns cv more about the trial, she is drawn deeper into the mystery of Jenny’s death. Things don’t seem to add up.
There are many parallels and overlapping stories between the two cases. While I was not surprised at the ending, I still enjoyed this tense story. This book reminded me a bit of the Channel Miller/ Brock Turner case, as he was a swimmer who took advantage of a drunk girl. I loved how the book used the podcast form.
Thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss for the ARC.
#TheNightSwim #MeganGoldin #Macmillan #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #Edelweiss

This book was an interesting read for me because I don’t read a lot of books with a podcast element however I really enjoyed this one. This one will take you on a journey following a current court case and you get to decide for yourself how you would vote if you were on the jury. You also get to follow the podcaster Rachel as the follows a cold case. This is quite a journey on both cases and I enjoyed it.

This is a very well written, with the sensitivity the subject of rape deserves, novel that leaves you shaken and thoughtful in its wake.
Rachel is the host of the popular Guilty or Not Guilty true crime podcast. She's come to the small seaside town of Neapolis to cover the trial of the local Golden boy who's been accused of raping a sixteen year old girl. While on the way there, Rachel finds a note stuck on her windshield from a girl named Hannah who's sister was possibly murdered twenty-five years earlier in the same town and is pleading for Rachel's help in uncovering the truth.
Part courtroom drama, part mystery, this compelling story is told from the POV's of the two women and the transcripts of the podcast. The timelines are the present and twenty-five years ago. This intricate tale weaves a web so compelling that it's hard to put down once you've started. Expertly crafted, the two storylines come together with a twist I didn't see coming. Rachel's character is very well developed, intelligent and personable, while Hannah's is told through her memories and letters. Although the subject matter may be triggering to some, I found it easy reading and well paced. I only have high praise for this one and recommend it to those who enjoy a well told mystery.

Thriller that will keep you on guessing. The Night Swim centers around Rachel a famous true crime podcaster who goes to the small town of Neapolis to cover a major rape trial. The accused rapist is a rich kid from town who was on track to become an Olympic swimmer. The rate victim is the former police chiefs granddaughter. As soon as Rachel gets close to town she receives a letter from someone named Hannah with information regarding Hannah’s sister Jenny’s death 20 years prior. The death has always been deemed a accidental drowning, but Hannah knows that was not the case. With pressure to make this season of her podcast a success Rachel is set on putting her all into the case, but as she continues to receive more letters from Hannah she is pulled into trying to find out what really happened to Jenny. Rachel soon learns there are things people don’t want her to find out, and the desire to keep small time secrets hidden is at play in Neopolis. Ultimately Rachel can’t help but try to solve Jenny’s death, while also trying to make sure her podcast goes off without a hitch. The story shifts between the past and the present.This book will keep you at the edge of your seat wondering if the cast of characters are who they really seem.
Thank you @stmartinspress for this ARC. (less)

Wow! This book just blew me away! I was just expecting something different, I’m not sure what. Maybe more of an always running from the killer kind of story, but this was something totally different, and I loved it!

The main character runs an extremely popular podcast series where she covers crimes and has solved one for her past two seasons. This year, she decides she’s going to cover a live trial of a rape case and update her followers daily so they can feel like they are a part of the jury. Just before arriving in town, she receives a mysterious letter on her windshield that leads her down a path to 25 year old death that she can’t let go. She finds herself balancing the current case with this old case that no one seems to want to talk about.

The characters created by Megan Goldin make this book so hard to put down. The main character Rachel is so smart and headstrong, and I just loved her so much! I enjoyed how she balanced the old and new cases, always following her gut instincts. She is just a main character that I really want to read more about! All the supporting characters created mystery and big personalities. It made the overall story just perfect!

Overall, I really absolutely loved this book! I loved the dual storyline and the choices the author made in when and where information was revealed. It was all masterfully pieced together, creating the perfect story. I REALLY hope that Megan Goldin creates a series out of this!

Content Warnings:
The current case as well as the previous case that are being investigated are rape cases. There are detailed accounts of what the victims went through during and in the aftermath.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend The Night Swim to any reader that enjoys a strong female lead, a mystery, and some legal/courtroom drama!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This novel is a slow paced one with dual mysteries. Rachel has a successful investigative crime podcast. She investigates a rape case, submitting her daily insights from interviewing people and then sitting in on the trial. She has also been receiving notes from Hannah, a woman who claims her sister was murdered twenty-five years ago. The death of the young sister had been ruled accidental but Hannah wants Rachel to look into it and find the person she is convinced murdered her sister. Hannah remains out of sight and Rachel tries to find out more about her and eventually force a face to face meeting.

The narrative varies from Rachel's inquiries to the texts of the podcasts to the communications from Hannah. As the plot progresses, Goldin does a good job of keeping readers wondering if the current case is really rape or a false accusation. There is the same kind of wondering about the true circumstances of the death of Hannah's sister.

While this novel is a bit slow going, it is an interesting study on character and how our opinions about a person can change, depending on who is conveying opinions. It is also a reminder of the power of wealthy people or politically powerful people in affecting the outcome of a possible crime. It is also a challenge to stand up for the truth. The pace might have been slow but it did keep my interest, reading to the end.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

If you are a fan of true crime podcasts, and I know many people are, then this book is for you! Rachel, the host of a popular true crime podcast, is in the town of Neapolis for a rape trial that will be the subject of her highly anticipated third season. The book covers the trial and all the emotions and nuances that come with it, but while Rachel is there she is contacted by a fan who wants her to help Rachel solve her sister's decades-old murder.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the advance electronic readers copy.

Trigger Warnings: Rape, sexual assault, abuse

In a perfect world, justice would be black and white. You either did the crime, or you didn’t. A jury either finds you guilty or not guilty but as evidenced in this book, that doesn’t always work. Justice has shades of gray and people who do bad things sometimes go free while people who are innocent are sometimes punished.

The Night Swim tells the story of Rachel, a criminal journalist who goes to a small town in order to produce her 3rd season of her podcast covering a rape trial. You would think that a rape trial would be an easy one with the rapist getting maximum sentencing and the victim getting justice for the crimes against her but.. nope, rape cases are described as being in shades of gray. Women are put at fault for instigating rapes; for “leading the man on”, for being drunk and “basically consenting” while the man.. well, his “poor” life will be ruined cause “boys will be boys”.
This story left me in shock for days as I was reading it because in the end not only is one rape case solved, but two with each turning more and more insidious as the chapters went by.

A definite must read, it was unputdownable from the moment I started!

This was an interesting read. I loved the podcast entries to see how she was telling the story. I got a little confused at times when she was talking about the trial, the current case, and a past case, trying to keep names straight. Rachel was very good at getting information to solve the crimes. I enjoyed her bravery as well as her straightforward attitude. Overall, this was a good book, and I recommend this story.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

The premise of this book -- a podcaster drawn to a coastal town to cover a rape trial -- is both timely and personally appealing to me. I've seen lots of books about traditional journalists, but never any about podcasting (as it's a relatively new medium that's grown in popularity in the past couple of years). There's also plenty of mystery novels about murders, but very few about rapes.

"The Night Swim" is a slow-burn suspense story that unfolds through podcast host Rachel Krall's personal experiences throughout the trial of a champion swimmer charged with raping a high school student, "transcripts" of each podcast episode, and letters and emails from a mysterious listener who has her own haunting tale to tell about the death of her sister. Rachel knows she needs to focus on the trial, but the under-reported story of Jenny Stills' drowning in 1992 keeps nagging at her.

This is easily one of my favorite mystery/suspense reads of 2020. It's relevant in its subject matter, and challenges the reader with the question, "What does consent look like?" Megan Goldin did an excellent job of creating complex characters that I actually cared about. The story flowed well and kept me guessing until the end.

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Megan Goldin, and @netgalley for my gifted copy of The Night Swim! This book follows Rachel, the host of a popular true crime podcast as she covers a rape and sexual assault trial, and ends up following a second, much older murder case that was brought to her attention by the victim’s sister, Hannah.

Fans of anything true crime will want to get their hands on this one. If you’re a fan of Serial and Dear John, you’ll enjoy The Night Swim. Goldin does a great job of making you feel like you’re sitting in the courtroom with Rachel as she covers the trial and listens to testimony. I loved the chapters that were transcripts of the podcast - it fell into the plot seamlessly, and made me fall in love with the book even more. Goldin interwove both cases seamlessly through the podcast, in addition to through the plot. Hannah’s viewpoint comes up from time to time, and the transition is smooth and seamless.

The Night Swim is available now, and as usual, I’m always happy to help you find a small bookstore to buy it from.

TW: rape, sexual assault, death of a loved one

4.5/5 stars!

Rachel Krall is the host of a popular true crime podcast. For season three she has chosen to cover a live trial, which brings her to the town of Neapolis. This small town is at odds over a devastating rape case. The town’s golden boy with Olympic swimming potential has been accused of raping a high school student. Rachel has committed herself to not only providing daily trial updates, but also interviewing and investigating persons and facts surrounding the case. What she doesn’t expect to find are mysterious letters about a young girl who died decades earlier left on her car. It seems someone else needs Rachel’s help. With two cases at hand, Rachel finds herself on the hunt for answers that may just entwine the two cases together.

When I first heard the premise for THE NIGHT SWIM I knew it was calling my name. Anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with crime fiction and true crime, so a book that combines elements of both is pretty much ideal. What I found was not only a fantastic read, but a book that also had me on the edge of my seat and the hunt for clues of my own, while providing an intense emotional response.

THE NIGHT SWIM is broken down into three narrators, allowing the reader to hear from Rachel, listen to her podcast, and also learn the story of Hannah, our mystery woman who has reached out to Rachel for help. While Hannah’s sections and the podcast excerpts work to build individual storylines, it is Rachel’s narrative that binds the two together. The reader has the opportunity to have a bird’s eye view into the past and the present with Hannah and the podcast, while working to investigate both crimes alongside Rachel. I love this breakdown and felt that Goldin wisely kept the focus heavily on Rachel’s sections to drive the story forward.

The pacing of THE NIGHT SWIM is certainly a bit on the slower side, but I felt that it worked with the plot. This book centers heavily on the topics of rape and sexual assault and the pacing aids Goldin’s choice not to briskly skirt these issues, but highlight how important they are in society. I truly appreciate Goldin’s focus on how society, specifically in America, puts the onus of a rape conviction on the victim. It is up to the person who has already gone through an impense level of trauma to then relive it all over again on the stand.

THE NIGHT SWIM is an emotional and gritty look into rape and how society often shames victims. It is a work of crime fiction that is timely and important for readers to consume and understand the emotions associated with this heinous crime. It is high time that as a society we stop shaming rape victims and it’s books like THE NIGHT SWIM that have the ability to shine that light. While this book has all the great elements of crime fiction I know and love, the emotional response that it drew from me was unlike most books in this genre. I highly recommend placing this book on your TBR!

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!

Rachel Krall’s true-crime podcast is extremely popular, but she manages to keep a low profile. She travels to the town of Neapolis, North Carolina to cover a controversial rape case for the next season of her show. Rachel is unnerved when she finds a note on her car from someone asking for help in solving her sister’s unsolved murder case. Rachel tries to balance making her show and investigating a decades old death without becoming too personally involved in either unsettling case.

This book is very different from the author’s first book. Both are suspenseful in their own ways, but this book is more a well-paced mystery than a thriller. I really like the format of this book. It alternates between the points-of-view of Rachel and Hannah (the young woman seeking Rachel’s help) and transcripts from Rachel’s podcast. Much of the coverage of the current case is through courtroom scenes. Most of the flashback scenes are told by witnesses speaking to Rachel so they come alive as well. This is a strong point of the book which is engaging and intense. However, the subject matter is very disturbing so the author’s talent in making things so realistic also makes some of it hard to read. I was equally interested in both the current and the cold case, but sometimes I would get the two confused as I was reading. Bullying, judging others, and blaming the victim are just some of the topics touched upon in this book. I was surprised by the ending and liked that Rachel was able to put most of the clues together, but was still shocked when all of the facts were revealed. There are many heartbreaking scenes in the book, but it still manages to end on a hopeful note.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin’s Press. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

4.5⭐
Summary
“This is Rachel Krall on Guilty or Not Guilty, the podcast that puts YOU in the jury box.”

Rachel's podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty, became an overnight sensation when she found evidence to set an innocent man free. With pressure to make season 3 the best yet, Rachel heads to small town Neapolis to cover a devastating rape trial that has rocked the city. The town is divided when the local golden boy, and potential Olympic swimmer, is arrested for the rape of a high school student. On top of the trial, Rachel begins to receive frightening letters from a woman named Hannah begging her for help.
"The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved."

Overview
➸ POV: 1st Person, Rachel's POV, Hannah's letters, and Guilty or Not Guilty Podcast segments

➸ Rachel Krall: Host of the true crime podcast Guilty or not Guilty, Covering a rape trial in Nepalis

➸ Hannah Stills: Writes letters to Rachel, Sister Jenny was killed at 16, Adopted and left Nepalis after her family passed away

➸ Content Warnings: Murder, Rape, Victim Blaming, Graphic & detailed depictions of sexual assault, Cancer, Suicide, Death, Adoption, Sexism, Drunk driving

My Thoughts
Wow.... This book completely blew me away. I had heard amazing things about this author and the podcast element to this story intrigued me. I had no idea this would become a new favorite mystery/thriller!

First of all, if you are able to access it, I cannot recommend the audiobook enough. This has multiple narrators as well as music for the podcast portions. The audio for this worked so well for this story and really brought it to life. I was completely immersed in this story and finished all 10 hours in 2 sittings.

“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.”


This book is extremely heavy. This deals with so many difficult topics and really highlights the horrors of rape culture and victim blaming. There were definitely many moments that were difficult to read and stomach. So make sure to check out TWs before going into this one! It does not shy away from graphic details. But I also learned a lot about trials and how damaging they can be for victims. Not only was this an amazing thriller, but it has an extremely poignant and important message as well.

I loved watching these two threads unfold and come together. While I didn't find the final reveal to be especially surprising, it was so well written and paced that it honestly didn't matter. I was still blown away by the execution. I loved the format - between Rachel's POV, Hannah's epistolary chapters, and the podcast elements. It was such a unique and effect style. And it brought a lot to the story! Nothing ever felt info dumpy because we were learning everything right along with the characters.

Overall this mystery blew me away. It was an immersive and chilling read that I won't soon forget. I highly recommend checking this out immediately!