The Night Swim: A Novel

Megan Goldin

Aug 2020 · St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

“A blistering plot and crisp writing make The Night Swim an unputdownable read.” –Sarah Pekkanen, bestselling author of The Wife Between Us

In The Night Swim, a new thriller from Megan Goldin, author of the “gripping and unforgettable” (Harlan Coben) The Escape Room, a true crime podcast host covering a controversial trial finds herself drawn deep into a small town’s dark past and a brutal crime that took place there years before.

Ever since her true-crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall has become a household name—and the last hope for 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 new season of Rachel's podcast has brought her to a small town being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. A local golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season 3 a success, Rachel throws herself into her investigation—but the mysterious letters keep coming. 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 insist she was murdered—and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody in town wants to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases—and a revelation 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?

Ratings and reviews

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

Megan Goldin received acclaim for her last novel Escape Room (2019) and is now releasing another mystery thriller: The Night Swim this summer. This time, Goldin capitalizes on the surging popularity of true crime podcasts and our insatiable consumption of media relating to notorious unsolved cases. She also uses her book to address the woeful lack of progress in our judicial system has made in the handling and prosecution of rape cases. The Night Swim introduces main protagonist Rachel Krall, a podcaster who has developed a large following due to her personalized layman’s approach to investigative journalism. The reader meets Krall as she is embarking on the third season of her show, this time focusing on a controversial rape case coming to trial in the small coastal town of Neapolis. The accused is a wunderkind swimmer with a promising future whose Olympic hopes are shared by the town. The victim is a younger girl whose necessary anonymity means that her version of events has been occluded in order to preserve her case. Despite the immersive experience of the impending trial, Krall is distracted by another case that has piqued her interest. Upon entering the town, she receives numerous cryptic notes left in places where she would have not expected to be recognized. The elusive fan begs Rachel to delve into a 25-year-old mystery regarding her sister, whose death she believes was a murder—not a suicide as it was assumed to be and thereby dismissed by the authorities at the time. Although seemingly unrelated, the cases are revealed to be overlapping reflections of each other. Goldin does an admirable job of character development and tight plotting, and the issues she addresses are done in an entertaining but respectful way. Through Rachel, the author can demonstrate the unfortunate truth that not much has changed in the way that victims of rape are treated and highlights the unbearable costs they bear when coming forward. Despite attempts at reform, credibility and the burden of proof can be insurmountable for women seeking justice in a system that is still swayed by gender bias, wealth and privilege. Although Rachel attempts to remain objective, her position is apparent, and she is increasingly drawn into exposing the corruption she discovers in both the past and present. The Night Swim is a fast-paced, interwoven tale that will satisfy both the traditional mystery-lover and the socially conscious reader as well. Thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This!! This is one of those books you want to yank on your reader friends' arms and say, "You've got to read this book!" The Night Swim by Megan Goldin is a well-written, smooth read. The characters are phenomenal. Rachel is an investigative reporter that does podcasts of trials, this time she's doing a podcast of a trial as it's happening. An old event from the town keeps intruding on Rachel's attention. This story is loaded with drama, humor, suspense and twists and turns you don't expect. This book grabbed my attention on the first page and kept me glued to my Kindle until the last. I loved this book and look forward to reading more from Megan Goldin in the future. The Night Swim is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger. A six star read! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the author

MEGAN GOLDIN worked as a correspondent for Reuters and other media outlets where she covered war, peace, international terrorism and financial meltdowns in the Middle East and Asia. She is now based in Melbourne, Australia where she raises three sons and is a foster mum to Labrador puppies learning to be guide dogs. The Escape Room was her debut novel.