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A review by rouselle
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
4.0
Rachel Krall's true crime podcast is kicking off its third season with the coverage of a high-profile rape case in the small town of Neapolis. This is a departure from the first two seasons where she tackled a wrongful conviction and an unsolvable cold case.
Now, she is covering a rape trial as it happens, putting her podcast listeners in the jury box.
Because of the sensitive and dangerous nature of her podcasts, Rachel and her producer Pete go to extra lengths to maintain her anonymity. Fans and listeners only know her by voice, but only a select few know what she looks like.
So when Rachel makes an unplanned stop at a gas station on the way to Neapolis, the note on her windshield instantly puts her on edge.
The note is from Hannah, a listener of her podcast, begging her to investigate the death of her sister, Jenny Stills, which happened 25 years ago in Neapolis.
Before it became a vacation spot and retirement town, Neapolis was the kind of place where everybody knew everybody. Surely there are people who still remember Jenny Stills and what happened the night she died. Maybe the person responsible for her death never even left town.
Now, 25 years later, a teenage girl is accusing the richest and most popular guy in town of rape.
As the rape trial heats up and Hannah’s letters keep coming, Rachel finds herself digging for answers that will help the prosecution, as well as shed light on Jenny’s death. As time passes, she is more convinced that there’s foul play in Jenny’s drowning, and that someone went to great lengths to make the evidence go away.
Two rapes. One town. Twenty five years apart. Is there something, or someone, that connects these two?
The Night Swim is a propulsive story that grabs your attention right from the start. It seamlessly blends two stories happening in two time periods while keeping you connected to the events and invested in the main characters.
I think the author's storytelling was very impactful, smart, and sensitive, especially because the book tackles the heavy topic of rape culture. I just felt this inexplicable sadness while I was reading it. It felt like I was sitting right there in the courthouse, listening to the victim recount her rape. It's that immersive.
Because of its disturbing content and some graphic descriptions, this book can be a trigger to some. It’s left me shaken and angry. However tough and rough it was, I think it’s also a must-read because it gives you an idea of what happens at rape trials. What kind of physical, emotional, and psychological trauma rape victims experience after the rape, whether they sit on the witness stand or not.
Let’s not forget that this is a mystery thriller, so that twist in the end is also quite unexpected! If you’re up for an emotional, hard-hitting, and compelling story, make sure to read this. It’s the first book of Megan Goldin that I’ve read, and I’m very impressed. I’ll definitely check out her other books!
Now, she is covering a rape trial as it happens, putting her podcast listeners in the jury box.
Because of the sensitive and dangerous nature of her podcasts, Rachel and her producer Pete go to extra lengths to maintain her anonymity. Fans and listeners only know her by voice, but only a select few know what she looks like.
So when Rachel makes an unplanned stop at a gas station on the way to Neapolis, the note on her windshield instantly puts her on edge.
The note is from Hannah, a listener of her podcast, begging her to investigate the death of her sister, Jenny Stills, which happened 25 years ago in Neapolis.
Before it became a vacation spot and retirement town, Neapolis was the kind of place where everybody knew everybody. Surely there are people who still remember Jenny Stills and what happened the night she died. Maybe the person responsible for her death never even left town.
Now, 25 years later, a teenage girl is accusing the richest and most popular guy in town of rape.
As the rape trial heats up and Hannah’s letters keep coming, Rachel finds herself digging for answers that will help the prosecution, as well as shed light on Jenny’s death. As time passes, she is more convinced that there’s foul play in Jenny’s drowning, and that someone went to great lengths to make the evidence go away.
Two rapes. One town. Twenty five years apart. Is there something, or someone, that connects these two?
The Night Swim is a propulsive story that grabs your attention right from the start. It seamlessly blends two stories happening in two time periods while keeping you connected to the events and invested in the main characters.
I think the author's storytelling was very impactful, smart, and sensitive, especially because the book tackles the heavy topic of rape culture. I just felt this inexplicable sadness while I was reading it. It felt like I was sitting right there in the courthouse, listening to the victim recount her rape. It's that immersive.
Because of its disturbing content and some graphic descriptions, this book can be a trigger to some. It’s left me shaken and angry. However tough and rough it was, I think it’s also a must-read because it gives you an idea of what happens at rape trials. What kind of physical, emotional, and psychological trauma rape victims experience after the rape, whether they sit on the witness stand or not.
Let’s not forget that this is a mystery thriller, so that twist in the end is also quite unexpected! If you’re up for an emotional, hard-hitting, and compelling story, make sure to read this. It’s the first book of Megan Goldin that I’ve read, and I’m very impressed. I’ll definitely check out her other books!