Book Review: The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

Book: 105/150

Rating: 4.5/5

Rachel Krall, host of a true crime podcast series, is now a household name after her first two season blew up. For season three she is covering a rape trial taking place in a small community; she has some anonymity because people don't recognize her face as much as her voice. But, once she gets there, she is being followed by someone who wants her to dig up a case that happened over 25 years ago. While Jenny Stills' death was declared accidental, the person writing Rachel letters is convinced she was murdered. The rape case in present day sounds all too familiar: an Olympic bound swimmer who is beloved by the town and the anonymous girl who accused him of raping her. Even though they are 25 years apart, both mysteries seem to have a lot more to tie them together than one may think....

I really enjoyed this thriller that had a behind the scenes element of an investigative true crime podcast. You get two mysteries here: what happened to Jenny Stills 25 years ago? And the present day mystery and trial that Rachel is following: did Scott Blair rape Kelley Moore?

The writing was really engaging and at no point did I want to put this book down. It is gripping... and when I realized how things were coming together at the end I loved how the mystery 25 years ago tied in to the present day. Goldin realistically demonstrated how a rape accusation and trial can shake a small town to it's core, and captured both sides of the "he said she said" debate on both sides. More importantly, she carefully showcased the traumatic damaging affects that a sexual assault can have on a victim.

I'd love to see this as a series as I enjoyed the main character Rachel but think she could have been fleshed out a bit more.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.