The Night Swim by Megan Goldin, 4 Stars

Can I just say that one my favorite things about Megan Goldin’s The Night Swim, was that one of the narrators is the host of a true-crime podcast where you get to be the jury as she breaks down a case in real-time. Where is this podcast IRL? Because I’m already hooked!

Anyone else a podcast listener? I really like My Favorite Murder, but honestly, as it goes on I find myself more and more into the mini-sodes because they just get to it quicker. Then I’ve listened a bit to The Last Podcast on the Left and I loved Undisclosed, but that also didn’t really go anywhere.

I’m rambling. But it’s hard to find a good podcast. It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. And I get recommendations from people, but I think podcasts are like pizza, everyone has a different favorite. And of course, there’s no topping the ultimate podcast-the first season of Serial.

So, previous paragraph aside, if you have a favorite podcast, let me know, I’ll check it out. Anyhow, this is a book review blog, so here we go.

From the Publisher:

After 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 whenshe 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?

My Review:

I really liked The Night Swim, which is kind of horrible to say because the premise was terribly sad. But the book was compulsively readable, twists and turns unfolded at the perfect pace. What can I say. It was good. And of course, the added allure of the podcast. Which was kind of fun.

And would you believe, I didn’t make the connection until I was done with the book, that the author, Megan Goldin, also wrote The Escape Room, which I also loved. I think I maybe didn’t make the connection because the books are different, which just speaks to the strength of Goldin’s writing range.

In the night swim, we meet Rachel, an up and coming podcaster, who serves as one narrator. The other is a woman who lost her sister years ago and due to the injustices and corruption of a small town, her death was never investigated.

Throughout the book, we switch between the present day rape of K and the 25-year-old cold case possible murder of Jenny Stills. It was a really interesting way to learn both stories, and because of the small town, a lot of the players were the same, even 25 years later.

I would recommend The Night Swim to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. It’s somewhat similar in plot (but more literary) to Mystic River.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one releases August 4. Preorder your copy from your favorite independent bookseller (they need your support right now!)

Indiebound