BOOK REVIEW: The Night Swim by Megan Goldin @stmartinspress @megangoldin #thenightswim #bookreview

As someone who loves true crime podcasts and loves when books feature a journalism or podcast element to an investigation or mystery, I knew I had to have Megan Goldin’s novel The Night Swim the moment I read the description. Frankly, I would have read anything Megan Goldin published next after how much I loved her previous book The Escape Room.

I think I might be not a traditional reader in that the more I am enjoying a book—particularly a thriller or mystery—the longer I want to take to read it so I can mull it over as I go. This was one I didn’t want to end! Where others say they couldn’t put this down and they devoured it in a day, I’m the type of reader who likes to spread the enjoyment out and I spent a whole week on The Night Swim. This is the highest compliment—I did not want it to end!

I am so excited for her upcoming thriller (coming this summer!) Stay Awake–but while you wait, pick up her previous work and get ready to find your new favorite author!

About the Book

After the first season of her true crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall is now a household name―and the last hope for thousands of people seeking justice. But she’s used to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help.

The small town of Neapolis is being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. The town’s golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping a high school student, the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season Three a success, Rachel throws herself into interviewing and investigating―but the mysterious letters keep showing up in unexpected places. Someone is following her, and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insists she was murdered―and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody seems to want to answer. 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.

Electrifying and propulsive, The Night Swim asks: What is the price of a reputation? Can a small town ever right the wrongs of its past? And what really happened to Jenny?

Reflection

While The Escape Room read more like a psychological thriller, The Night Swim is more of an investigative mystery delving into rape culture and the nature of crimes that are difficult to prosecute. Full of depth, The Night Swim blends important, timely topics with a whip smart mystery and suspense that ratchets up as the story unfolds until the very final page.

Podcaster Rachel Krall has found her niche podcasting about true crime cases. Coming off of a season that skyrocketed her into fame, Rachel is ready to turn from reopening an old case and proving a man’s innocence to something a bit more current. In the small town of Neapolis, a rape trial involving the town’s golden boy and the granddaughter of the chief of police is creating a community divided. Recent high school graduate and star swimmer Scott Blair is accused of raping high school student Kelly Moore. As is common in these sorts of cases, the prosecution and defense agree that sexual activity occurred between the two on the night in question, but they are in disagreement about whether it was consensual.

The town of Neapolis, North Carolina reminded me a bit of late 90s teen shows like Dawson’s Creek, meaning I loved the setting. Small towns are always full of secrets waiting to come out since everyone knows each other. I also liked how it was set around a harbor of sorts. The whole setting felt like it’s own character.

When Rachel arrives in Neapolis with the intent of covering the rape trial and putting her listeners in the jury box, she finds herself engaged in another cold case after a mysterious letter appears on her windshield. Rachel is surprised she’d be recognized, since podcasting is an audio medium. Someone is clearly following her. Soon the letters lead Rachel to a woman who wants Rachel to look into what happened to her sister two decades earlier. The cold case involves another rape and a drowning, bringing themes from Rachel’s current investigation to mind. The woman is convinced it was a murder, but the record closed the case as an accidental drowning.

As Rachel looks into both cases, some troubling connections emerge. The mystery itself is captivating and the story is crisp and well-defined. I didn’t feel there were any slow points or extra plot points that felt extraneous—Megan Goldin keeps her plots tight! At times it can be quite emotional, which is part of why this book is so captivating. I found it brave of Megan Goldin to dig into rape culture, which is a difficult subject to tackle.

An exceptional thriller!