The Night Swim

Rachel Krall hosts a true crime podcast ,Guilty or Not Guilty, that has become a sensation after exposing a miscarriage of justice and getting an innocent man set free. As a result she not only makes the podcast massively successful but is deluged with requests to look into other cases. She decides on a different tack for her new series,instead of re-investigating old cases she'll cover an active trial so that her listeners can follow the legal process as it happens and decide on their verdict after hearing the evidence in real time the same as the Jurors.
For this project she decides to follow a rape trial in the small town of Neapolis ,where a young sporting hero is the accused. Even as Rachel travels to the town she finds notes left for her by someone who is obviously following her asking her to investigate a much incident crime in the same town 25 years earlier.

That's the basis of "The Night Swim" by Megan Goldin, a quite stunning book that's part murder mystery,part courtroom drama and a tale of small town secrets, lies and cover-ups. As Rachel is drawn into events surrounding the trial and ,initially somewhat reluctantly, those of the past it becomes apparent that the two are linked.

The Night Swim is gritty and not a comfortable read in places as part of the storyline involves rape and sexual abuse but Megan Goldin uses it,without being "preachy" , via her characters to raise such important issues as the ordeal rape victims suffer during trials, the behaviour women used to be expected to tolerate as now being seen as the sexual assaults that unwanted touching really is and much,much more. I've read a few novels with "a message" where the author forgets that readers are also expecting the plot to continue and have their characters spouting political or social polemic to the point of the reader losing interest. Megan Goldin doesn't fall into that trap and her various messages are very much part of the narrative,giving the reader plenty to think about while not diverting from a very clever plot.

This is a great book,but please be aware of the explicit content and the subject matter as it may upset some people.

Thanks to Megan Goldin, Mirror Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

After reading Megan Goldin's pacey and intense 'The Escape Room', I was excited to read her new offering 'The Night Swim'. I am pleased to report Goldin absolutely delivers a thought-provoking and emotionally stirring narrative. Less of a psychological thriller, this novel is a fusion of crime, mystery and court-room drama, centred around a compelling story which raises some incredibly important issues.

Our protagonist Rachel is already well-known due to the first two seasons of her true-crime podcast. We join her story as she is back for season 3, this time reporting live from a rape trial in the small town of Neapolis. A future Olympic swimmer and local teenage hero is accused of rape in a highly contentious case being brought to trial, the citizens divided between praising the victim's bravery for reporting her horrendous experience and blaming her for lying and threatening this boy's bright future. To add intrigue, on Rachel's journey into town, a mysterious woman named Hannah starts leaving letters for her, begging her to solve the murder of her sister Jenny. Rachel is determined to uncover the secrecy and corruption of the town: who can be trusted? and what are these people hiding?

Goldin writes candidly and movingly about the experience of a rape victim when their case is brought to trial. Details ranging from the rape kit to the cross-examination of the victim shed a harsh light on the treatment of these vulnerable and traumatised people. Across the book, we also hear from the alleged-rapist's parents and friends, shining a light on the all too familiar narrative of the star-athlete threatened by the frivolous accusations and retrospective regret of sexual partners. Goldin does not shy away from her criticism of this prominent narrative of victim-blaming and the reader is left questioning their own prejudices and assumptions.

The narrative balances the voice of Rachel's present, her podcast and the letters of Hannah recounting her past. These are well plotted and the slow-burn mystery comes to a satisfying conclusion. The more of Hannah's story we hear, the more our heart breaks and we understand the reason for her desperate appeals to Rachel.

All in all, Goldin does not shy away from writing about heavy, emotional themes. Do not expect the fun thrill ride of 'The Escape Room'. This is a twisted mystery which will grip the reader but expect to be emotionally wrung out by the novel's close.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that is so hard to review because no matter how hard I try I’m never going to be able to do justice to just how brilliantly good it is. It’s a heartbreakingly sad story that filled me with so many many emotions, a lot of anger and frustration but most of all it was a book that made me think and that for me is what made this read so special, it captured me and wouldn’t let go and when it did I thought about what I had just read long and hard.
This will be a book that will stay with me for a long time and one that will remain one of my favourite reads. Superb story and writing and characters that jumped out of the page and lived with me, I loved the way the we had two stories running parallel well let’s just say I loved everything about it.
Many many thanks to Megan Goldin for excelling herself and writing a book with such a hard hitting subject matter and doing it in such a compelling and sympathetic way it deserves more than 5 stars I can’t praise it enough.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Mirror Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was haunting in a way I won't be forgetting anytime soon and tackled some really important topics and views.

Telling the story of 2 horrific rape cases 25 years apart in a small town The Night Swim is brutal in its depiction of rape and the aftermath on victims and their families.

Obvious trigger warnings in place for the subject and this story is at times incredibly difficult to read. However, what I really respected was the way that mixed techniques were used to give some level of detachment and therefore a level of relief for the reader when it came to the rapes themselves and witness testimony.

Told partially through direct narrative, letters, emails and transcripts of pod casts the mixture means that the more harrowing aspects of the storyline were told third hand rather than directly via the victims.

Overall a thought provoking book which confronts the reality of examination and cross examination of rape victims if a case gets to trial and questions if the justice system and burden of proof being on the victim is actually fair or right in modern society.

This has to be possibly THE BEST crime thriller I have read this year in terms of the style of writing which makes it an effortless read. I found myself sucked into the storyline, absorbed by author’s attention to detail so I couldn’t doubt its authenticity. If you are a lover of true crime podcasts then this is a MUST read. I used to be a huge fan of podcasts in general but because there are so many good books to satisfy the bibliophile in me I don’t have much time to listen anymore. However I do remember being completely addicted to season 1 of the Serial podcast; this fictional podcast thriller reminded me so much of time spent eagerly plugged into the latest episode.

WARNING: some readers may find the content and subject matter too distressing as the storyline centres around rape and sexual assault.

This is Rachel Krall on Guilty or not Guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box.
Rachel Krall is a true crime podcaster, investigating crimes that may prove to be miscarriages of justice and this is her strapline which ends each episode. Thanks to this popular podcast she has become a household name with legions of fans hooked on her every word. For her latest series Rachel is reporting first hand from the trial of a rape case that has divided the inhabitants of small town Neaopolis. She quickly discovers however that this trial isn’t going to be the only investigation to occupy her time and consume her every waking thought. An unknown stalker leaves a note under her car windshield begging for her assistance in unearthing the truth surrounding a tragic death that happened right here in Neapolis many years ago. With two cases to ‘solve’ and bring to the nations attention Rachel is supposed to remain impartial but as history reveals itself, that becomes a tall order.

The Blair case is all about consent and whether Scott Blair, champion swimmer destined for an Olympic career raped fellow party goer Kelly Moore, as she made her drunken way home. It’s all about the complexities of such an accusation with only two individuals accounts of what really happened. Who will you believe? Such a hotly debated topic and one that divides public opinion, I think the author shows remarkable sensitivity in portraying the experience of both defendant and victim. If the accused is found guilty his glittering career is over before it’s even begun and already the accusation of rape will haunt and taint him forever regardless of whether he is found guilty or not. As for the victim Kelly, her life too is already destroyed, she is a shell of her former self and I found the scenes of her on the witness stand heartbreaking. What the author is determined to convey is the sense of injustice at the fact the victim has to relive the crime all over again for the sake of judge and jury, simply a torturous experience for everyone involved. As the narrative so astutely observes, cases of rape are never black and white but all shades of grey. For the reader there is so much to process it’s difficult to order your thoughts without emotion taking over.

I found it so easy to imagine the Blair rape case was actually a true event rather than a piece of fiction. I could hear Rachel’s voice in my head as she relates the latest events from the courtroom so that I didn’t feel like a mere bystander in the proceedings. The judge, the jury together with prosecutor Mitch Alkins and defence attorney Quinn are transformed on the page from figments of the author’s imagination to real believable characters playing their roles in this unfolding drama. She has perfected the sense of theatre that lends itself to high profile cases, with both attorneys performing to their audience so that it becomes less a question of truth but a competition as to who can put on a better show. I loved the strapline to Rachel’s podcast that punctuates the narrative so you can’t forget you are supposed to be listening as opposed to reading! And yes I did feel like I was there in the jury box. This is just begging to be made into an audiobook!

I found both cases equally compelling but on reflection I think it’s hard to strike the right balance between both, with my preference weighted towards Jenny’s story. There are some harrowing scenes particularly in relation to the death of Jenny but pertinent to the ongoing Blair trial which you will discover. I knew that both these cases would be connected in some way and desperately wanted justice served on behalf of Jenny’s little sister Hannah. The way the author has interspersed details of the current trial with details from the letters/notes the mysterious Hannah leaves for Rachel keeps you absorbed to the exclusion of all else. I didn’t want to put this book down to go to work!! I was never sure if the elusive Hannah would always hide in the shadows or eventually make herself known to Rachel. This character lent a creepy menacing tone to proceedings so that I had to worry for Rachel’s personal safety the deeper she delved.

Obviously both cases are horrific. I veered from immense sadness at Jenny and Hannah’s life that hot summer years ago, left to their own devices due to their mother being seriously ill, to outrage and disgust at the ways in which some males view and treat the opposite sex. I can’t put into words how excruciating it is to read some of these words and know that the author has accurately captured the brutality and power and control men and boys can exert over their victims. The legacy of such actions means all individuals are forever tainted and there can be no winners. Reading this you can be left in no doubt that the right of a woman to say no is inviolable .

Whatever your opinion may be about such an emotive subject, the storytelling is gripping and clever and thought provoking and at no point could I decide or guess the outcomes. If I could give this book 10 stars I would.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

What to do when you feel a book is fantastic, but you feel that it isn't what it has been marketed to be. See, I wouldn't call it a thriller, or a suspense novel. I would call it a contemporary novel and an incredibly strong one at that.

Let me explain why. The Night Swim is about a very hard-hitting subject. It's about a rape trial in a small town, which is covered by our main protagonist Rachel who has a crime podcast. When she arrives in the town she finds a note on her car from Hannah asking her for her help. Her sister drowned 25 years ago in the same small town, and Hannah believes she was murdered. She wants Rachel's help in uncovering what happened and who has done it.
The story is told from the point-of-view of Rachel, while she investigates both the alleged crime of current times and the one from years ago. It's also told from the point-of-view of the podcast, and Hannah's letters about the past. It's a nice way to mix things up. It also gives the novel a bit of a faster pace.

As I stated in the opening paragraph, I didn't find the novel very mysterious. It did give me goosebumps just like Playing Nice by J.P Delaney last month. The subject matter really made me think. Goldin tackles the subject of the rape trial with confidence, and it shows she has done her research. The horror is in the slow burn and the subject-matter itself. I didn't think that the whole whodunnit added something valuable to the story.

I like that all main characters in the book are likeable, especially Rachel. She's a skilled investigative journalist and it's fun reading the story through her point-of-view. The fact that it takes place in a small town, adds to the drama of the story. People know each other, have opinions about each other and there are always plenty of secrets.

I haven't read Escape Room yet, but I've heard that Goldin also tackles a current subject in that novel. If she has done it as well as in The Night Swim, I will definitely pick it up soon as well.

Many thanks to the publisher Mirror Books and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy!

I loved this! It had my name all over it!
A great pace, formidable characters and huge potential for further books! I love the premise of a podcast fiction novel! True crime podcasts are amazing and this was executed perfectly.

A great book, particularly if you are interested in court room dramas and small town dramas. A great read. As good as Escape Room x

Wow. What a powerful and gripping book that has me thinking deeply. Rachel Krall is a successful podcaster with her ‘Guilty or Not Guilty’ episodes attracting many listeners. She’s in Neopolis for the rape trial of swim star Scott Blair who wealthy family allege ‘K’ is lying. Rachel also gets notes and messages from Hannah whose sister Jenny died twenty five years ago in Neopolis asking her for help to prove her sister was murdered. The story is told from the perspectives of Rachel and Hannah and interspersed with podcasts of the trial.

The dual storyline works extremely well and as Hannah’s, Jenny’s and K’s stories emerge it’s deeply shocking. This is a story of power and those who have more strength and power who take what they want when they want. Their danger and evil is disguised in sharp expensive suits, their coats are arrogant self assurance. They ruin the lives of those caught up in their so called ‘games’ and leave devastation in their wake and lack of justice for their victims. The trial of Scott is mesmerising, harrowing and emotional, provoking many thoughts about victims reliving their ordeal and how for many it’s just too darned hard. The story of Jenny is so tragic, she is treated so shockingly by the community revealing a lot about its attitudes. This is a story full of twists and turns, it provokes a gamut of emotions from vulnerability to burdensome and unnecessary guilt, cruelty and depravity but thankfully also those who are prepared to stand up and fight for victims. There are moments of acute tension and suspense especially towards the end which is very fitting.

Overall, although this is not an easy read in that it has rape at its core, it is also one of the most thoughtful and powerful novels on this subject I’ve read in a while. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Mirror Books for the ARC.

The Night Swim grabbed me from page one, kept me firmly entranced throughout and completely floored me with how brilliant the plot and writing is!

Firstly, I LOVED the premise of this novel – Rachel is an investigative reporter who fronts a true crime podcast – the kind of thing I love listening to, so this immediately appealed to me! It’s nice to have a change from crime novels fronted by police or your usual private investigators – Rachel offers a different perspective, and one which I welcomed. There are actually two distinct storylines to this novel – one which focuses on the trial that Rachel is covering in her podcast, and one she is asked to investigate from many years ago by a mysterious woman called Hannah. I loved both storylines – although there were many parts that made for very difficult reading in both, due to the nature of the crimes (rape and murder).

I also really warmed to Rachel as our narrator, and also the voice of poor Hannah as she relays what happened to her sister Jenny more than 20 years ago. The story jumps between the present day, in which we follow Rachel and is told from a third person perspective, and the storyline which tells what happened to Jenny is told from Hannah’s perspective. Finally we also see chapters which are transcripts from Rachel’s podcast, ‘Guilty or Not Guilty’, written in the first person. I loved the mix of voices and POVs.

I was completely gripped throughout and only wish The Night Swim was longer as I’d happily have read more. I haven’t read anything else by Goldin but am now adding her other novels to my TBR list straight away!

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys well written crime, true crime podcasts, or both!

The Night Swim is an emotional rollercoaster that grips you from the first page with it's original and fast-paced plot which keeps you on your toes trying to guess the next twist. Very easy to get absorbed in and read in one or two sittings.

The Night Swim is bestselling author Megan Goldin’s third thriller and undoubtedly her most gripping to date despite The Escape Room being a fantastic read. 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 recognised 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.

Well, this was an utterly absorbing and completely compulsive read from start to finish with a unique, well-constructed plot and enough going on amongst its pages to keep the reader ruminating on the dark and disturbing subject matter and the devastating impact the trial has both directly and indirectly on those involved as well as the wider community. The dual narrative switches seamlessly between past and present-day in order to flesh out both of the cases. At its heart, this is a book about those who get their kicks out of holding power over another and the whole narrative highlights the fact that if you're from a wealthy, well connected and locally lauded family background the justice system is less interested in you (wealth privilege) than if you were living in abject poverty and committed the same crime. Inequality at its most sickening.

It's propulsive; rocketing along at a fair old pace, 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? Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC.

This book was so gripping.

It was beautifully written for such a raw subject. The book had some good twisty little bits which made me want to keep reading to find out more “just one more chapter before bed”. I also loved that it switched between the narratives of the podcast, Rachel and Hannah.

I personally found the chapters during the live court case to be the best, but I also enjoyed Hannah’s letters and the way it was broken down.

I would also love a follow up to this to find out more about Mitch Alkins, and what case made him come back to the town.

But overall I would 100% recommend this book

TW: Cancer, Rape, Rape of a minor, Sexual Assault, Suicide, Murder
Knowing this is a podcast style book I knew it would be a great audiobook. I may go and listen if I ever get my hands on the audiobook.

Early on I wondered if having the podcast crime along with the death of Jenny would be a problem. But I was intrigued to how they would be connected by the end.

As the book progressed it made sense as to why both stories were present. Both stories tackled important topics that need attention brought to them. By the end both stories tied together nicely and made sense.

The way Megan wrote about how women are raised and expected to go the extra mile to protect themselves but the rapists are never blamed for what they chose to do to innocent people.

"You know, the usual stuff. Hold your keys between your fingers to use as a weapon. Keep your phone in your hand and dial nine-one-one if you’re being followed or feel afraid. If every woman who felt afraid called nine-one-one, the switchboard would melt. That is what women live with every day of our lives."

"So why is it that when women are attacked, the onus is on them? “If only she hadn’t walked home alone.” “If only she hadn’t cut through the park.” “If only she’d taken a cab."

This was a hard book to read at times. Especially when it came to the graphic detail of the rapes. Such a heart wrenching intense story.

The topic of rape will always be a tough read but we need to read them. Change the way victims are treated. They deserve better. I was frustrated throughout. All the victim blaming that we sadly see with every rape case. Something needs to change.

When it comes to the reveal of the killer I realised I wasn't trying to figure it out so I definitely didn't figure it out. But I'm OK with that. The end made sense and worked.

I would love another book with Rachel and her podcast. Maybe even a book based on season one of her podcast. That story sounds intriguing. Or even Mitch backstory. Either way I'm excited to read more by Megan Goldin.

There are so many quotes throughout this book that I highlighted. I'll leave you with one last one.

"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 year we mark a milestone. Twenty-five years since Jenny died. A Quarter of a century and nothing has changed. Her death is as raw as it was the day we buried her. The only difference is that I wont be silent anymore."

Rachel Krall is looking for a way to keep her podcast 'Guilty or not Guilty' fresh and she decides that there is no better way than to cover a current trial from start to finish, and not just any trial but that of a 16 year old girl accusing the town golden boy of rape. Rachel knows this will split opinion and, hopefully, boost her ratings. But on her way she find a mysterious letter on her car from someone called Hannah. Hannah is asking Rachel for help looking into the case of her sister Jenny 25 years ago. The Police claimed Jenny had accidently drowned but Hannah knows different. Rachel is initially worried that someone has recognised her face, the face she tries to keep out of the media, but once more letters start arriving she knows she has to at least try and give Hannah some closure. What Rachel doesn't realise is the past and the present may be more connected than she thought, what exactly happened to Jenny that night and how could it possibly try to the rape of a girl 25 years later.

This book hits hard. It doesn't shy away from the realities of rape (TW as it is discussed in detail) and the author manages to give us insight into some truly poignant topics; where people place the blame when it comes to rape, the grey area when it comes to false rape claims and the lengths people, in this book the police, will go to to cover up something they don't want found. As well as the rape itself, Goldin dives into what happens to the victim after, she gives us a dark look into how rape victims are treated, what happens during a rape exam (i'm honestly disgusted) and how the exam, and having to relive the rape in detail in a court of law can seen as being victimised twice.

I found myself getting angry at parts of this book, we hear it all the time in the media; 'well she shouldn't have been wearing that.' 'What did she expect walking at dark by herself?' 'She was the town bike, what did she expect.' And though these are the perspectives of some characters in the book, I feel the author deals with it brilliantly, we as the reader get invested in the outcome of both cases, we know something terrible happened and we, as well as Rachel wont rest until we get justice. As the reader I was left feeling exposed, in a way, throughout this book, I think because things like this happen in real life, and my reading has been more on the fantasy side recently. Realistic in the treatment of rape victims both now and in the past, when I say she hits hard I mean it. Both Susan and I were shocked at how deep she went into the trauma surrounding rape and the after effects it carries.

We get insight into both cases through three differing perspectives: Rachel gives us perspectives on both cases through her investigations into the events. We see her talking with people involved with both and the author gives us little crumbs of information of how they might be linked along the way. Her podcast 'guilty or not guilty' solely deals with Kelly's case (the present case) mainly giving us updates on the court proceedings, as well as asking the audience and through that the reader some hard hitting questions about who to believe, false accusations etc. The third format we receive information through are Hannah's letters. She writes to Rachel giving us insights to their lives at the time, her mothers illness and their inability to pay the bills. We also get information about the events leading up to the night that Jenny dies, including the night of, and the author paints a pretty bleak picture. Bringing all three of these formats together gave us as the reader a whole new perspective. Hannah hints that the person who killed her sister would still be in town, and potentially at the trail and we spend a good & of the book trying to work out who is who. I would say this is more detective style than traditional psychological thriller. The author definitely keeps the reader guessing, but leaves just enough hints through out that you can give it a good shot.

My one sticking point would be the ending was a little rushed and almost anti-climactic. Both Susan and I had guessed parts of it thanks to the bread crumbs left by the author, but I felt certain characters got an easy out and others weren't given the page time they truly deserved. Overall this was a fantastic read and one that has renewed my love for the genre.

This is an important read as well as a fabulous one. It's not easy subject matter, being about a heartbreaking tale of rape and the consequences of the act on individuals, their family and friends as well as the stigma that follows the victim. However, it's written in such a way that it never becomes too 'heavy'.

Rachel is a journalist who has had a successful podcast series and decides for her next series she will follow a rape trial 'the podcast that puts you in the jury box'.
Alongside this story is one of a murdered sister and Rachel is receiving strange notes and letters, all encouraging her to solve the cold case mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way the book went from podcast chapters, to ones about Jenny (the murdered young girl) and her sister, Hannah.
These are all characters that will stay with you, long after you've finished the book. I'm so hopeful this isn't the last we hear about Rachel, as I loved the character and she must have many more podcasts to work on?! Please!!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Mirror Books for the opportunity to preview this highly recommended read.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

I loved the flow of this book, we follow Rachel a successful podcast reporter who helps resolve crimes who have long since been left unresolved. For her third season she decides to follow a current case, the alleged rape of a young girl by the local swimming star. Whilst reporting on the case she receives letters from the mysterious Hannah, who claims a similar case happened 25 years earlier in the same town. Rachel investigates both in parallel, will they find out what really happened to Hannah’s sister all those years ago?

This book had me hooked! So many questions throughout, who is Hannah, what happened to Jenny? Who is telling the truth? This is definitely worth a read 💜

5/5 ⭐️
Recommend ✅
#thenightswim #megangoldin #netgalley #crime #mystery #thereisalwaystimeforbooks #booklover #review #bookdragon #reading #bookstagram

Night Swim is definitely one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read so far this year -one of those addictive, beautifully written novels that grips you at page one and doesn’t let go.

I’ve been listening to a lot of true crime podcasts recently, it’s a new obsession of mine, so the fact that there is one featured around the edges of this intriguing, atmospheric story certainly helped me enjoy it even more- but ultimately it was the characters and their experiences that made The Night Swim a must read.

At turns haunting, emotionally charged and scarily realistic this book takes some of the definitive socially relevant themes and throws the reader into a twisted and utterly believable narrative where the intricate entwining of past and present leads to a final and heart wrenching resolution. You can’t look away and Megan Goldin’s creative, involving prose holds you in thrall from first page to last.

Highly recommended.

Wow, wow, wow. What a devilishly blooming good read this book is. I’m stuck for words if I’m honest, I have so much I want to say but can’t because I don’t want to spoil anything for you but I’ll have a try.

Rachel hosts a podcast that investigates True crime, it’s popular and everyone knows Rachel’s voice but Rachel has tried her hardest to keep her face anonymous. When she heads to the small town of Neapolis to report on the trial of a rape case it seems that maybe Rachel hasn’t been as careful as she thought when notes mysteriously appear asking her for help.

The rape trial has thrown the town upside down, everyone has an opinion and Rachel throws herself into investigating but the letters she’s receiving are playing on her mind. Jenny Stills died 25 years ago in Neapolis, accidental drowning was the verdict but her sister Hannah doesn’t believe that’s the case and needs Rachel’s help to prove it.

I really wasn’t prepared for how invested I would become in this book, it was almost as if the author had cast a spell over me and no matter how many times I tried to put the book down I couldn’t. With two mysteries in this story I loved how the author managed to blend them together bringing the past and the present to life.

Rape is a difficult subject but it’s a blooming important one and as I was reading my heart was aching. The trauma that is endured during and after for the victims broke me, the repercussions that it has not only on the victims lives but their families too is so heart breaking.

The small town setting showed how reputations can be formed and how they stick and how money really does divide people. When everyone knows everyone, they all have an opinion on each other and Chinese whispers become a reality in some folks minds and they’re rarely forgotten.

The Night Swim is suspenseful and tense and along with the rape trial the investigation into Jenny Stills had me holding my breath. The reader is drip fed information throughout the book about both cases and I have to say I was just totally hooked. With its intricate layers and wonderful writing, The Night Swim has made it into my top books for this year.

"I don't get how we can unanimously agree that murder is wrong, yet when it comes to rape people still see shades of gray."

I don't always give trigger warnings but for this book I feel like I need to for sexual abuse.

This book is one that will stick with me for a while I think. It wasn't quite what I expected but damn was it good! After reading The Escape Room and loving it I jumped at the chance to read this and expected it to be another mystery thriller and it is but with so much more depth. Told by a podcaster covering a rape trial and in letters from the sister of a girl who died 25 years before this book delves into how much a conviction rests on the shoulders of the victim. How they have to relive their attack in court describing the ways they were hurt. How people can be so decisive over what happened and wether or not someone "deserved it". It's a harder read in some places but I absolutely recommend it to anyone that can handle it.

I’ve seen this book around so much in the last weeks that I had to read it to discover why everyone is talking so much about how great it is and I cannot tell you how happy I am that I chose to read it.
I literally couldn’t put it down, got myself invested from the first to the last page and all my theories were demolished one by one with each chapter 😅
I loved the writing and the character’s mix, how the author managed to tell us two stories in one and going at a great pace without missing a beat in this suspenseful book.
I highly recommend it for a great few hours and a powerful story.

Great book!! Haven’t wanted to put this one down!! I definitely recommend this one!!

Need to get a physical copy for my bookshelves

Thank you to Netgalley and Mirror Books on the arc of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin.

This is a 5 star read for me, I really enjoyed it and had me on the edge of my seat and wanted more and it made me page turn quick and so it was a quick read for me. This follows Rachel whom is a True Crime Podcast host which became an over night hit sensation which ultimately led to a innocent man being freed from prison. Set between two timelines and 2 cases which are a 25 year old murder which is unsolved and one is happening now in the present time about a rape.

This book isnt for people whom are faint hearted...! Love this book so so much I love it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really regret not reading The Night Swim sooner! I have a few titles waiting to read on my list but this should have been number one! I’m telling you to make this number one on your reading list...it’s incredible!

The writing is engaging and I found myself desperately wanting to solve this mystery (I didn’t lol). At times it may have seemed a little predictable but show me a book that isn’t!

Kudos for not having any silly romantic side plot!

Fantastic read! This is what a crime thriller is all about for me. A tense journey and a twisty ending. And with a nice chunk of courtroom drama in there, of course I was going to love it!

I received a free copy of this to read / review with @netgallery and @jellybooks and I was so excited as I had already seen a couple of great reviews on here about it and it sounded exactly like the kind of book I can devoured, I wasn’t wrong!

I was HOOKED. The book comes with trigger warning and centres around a rape trial. It had a dual narrative which I always love. Chapters were short but ALOT happens in them.

I found the twists and turns hard to guess - I am REALLY good at guessing.

It is obviously written around a very sensitive subject and this was handled so so well. It wasn’t easy to read at times but it really is so important that subjects like rape are discussed in a sensitive and educational manner.

I don’t want to go to in-depth into the story but I loved it. There were no annoying subplot romances (because for some reason all female leads seem to require one). There were two strong, interweaved storyline, both tackling difficult subjects. It felt very real, especially in the podcast generation.

I rarely give books 5 stars but this one certainly deserved them!

I really enjoyed this book!!A good thriller about a big court case in a small town. No spoilers but it kept me engaged throughout.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to review this book.
#thenightswim #netgalley

This is an author new to me and she really knows how to keep readers in the palm of her hand!

Rachel Krall became an overnight sensation thanks to her true crime podcast. Taking it to the next level, she travels to a small town where she has secured permission to attend court each day and record her podcast each evening for a rape trial which is dividing the population. Normally able to work in anonymity as, of course, it's her voice which is recognisable and not her face, Rachel is surprised to find a note on her windshield begging for her help. Someone knows who she is - should she be worried? As the notes continue and the trial gets underway, Rachel finds her attention divided; along with the case she's hearing about in court there also seems to be a historic case which is piquing her interest. Uncovering more details, she is concerned about the possibility of a connection between both cases.

Now, I'm a bit sceptical when it comes to blurb about books; I tend to take it all with a pinch of salt but the comments on this one are spot on. It is thrilling beyond measure! I especially love to tackle a completely different take on a situation and this is certainly that. Our experience of the crime in the trial comes through Rachel's presence in court, whilst both her and our knowledge of the cold case comes through the letters which she keeps finding in the strangest of places. There is never a dull moment in this one .. it races on with the story and I could hardly bear to put it down until I got to the nitty-gritty. The ending is unexpected and rather spectacular, as well as being so very, very satisfying. I honestly had no idea where this one was heading so my only choice was to go with the flow and it was a bit of a white water ride with excitement all the way! Highly recommended. I'm trying to be much stricter with my ratings this year, but there is absolutely no reason for this novel not to have the full five stars.