Synopsis
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 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 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.
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?
**Releases August 4th, 2020**
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Review
I read Megan Goldin’s first book, The Escape Room, and wondered if she would be able to hold a reader with the gripping turn of events that is laid out in The Night Swim. She did it and had me on the edge of my seat with my heart racing and in my throat at times.
This book covers a very controversial topic, rape. These two quotes from the book capture how rape is looked at as a crime.
“When school kids are shot by a random shooter, nobody asks whether the victims should have taken more precautions. Nobody suggests that maybe the victims should have skipped school that day. Nobody ever blames the victims.”
“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 story weaves together two tragic crimes, one from 25 years ago and one from the present. Both are rape crimes and the manner in which the victims are treated is appalling. The crazy part is how these stories are tied together in a remote manner. I can’t say much to not spoil the book, but what I thought had happened and who was involved from 25 years ago was off the mark. I was quite surprised at the turn of events.
The author tells relates this tale from two points of view – Rachel and Hannah. Rachel has a true crime podcast and has decided to take this next season in a slightly different direction, she is going to follow an actual trial vs following up on a case that has convicted an innocent person. What she doesn’t expect is to receive letters from Hannah who is the younger sister of a young woman that died 25 years ago, also a victim of rape and potentially murder. We don’t actually meet Hannah until the end except through letters to Rachel retelling what she remembers from that time. It is Rachel’s investigation that helps to uncover the truth. For two similar crimes to happen in this small coastal town seems extraordinary. As the truth comes to light, there is more at play than just some teenage boys hurting Hannah’s sister.
I think I read this book in a day and had it not been for work I would have probably read it straight through until I finished it within a few hours. I was amazed at the emotions the author was able to draw from me as I read about these young women and what they endured.
If you enjoy thrillers then definitely pick up this book. I think this will be another hit for the author. We give it 5 paws up.
About the Author
Megan Goldin was a journalist before she became a writer. She reported from the Middle East for the Associated Press, Reuters, the (Australian) ABC, and other news outlets. She worked in Asia as a reporter and editor for Reuters and Yahoo!. She is the author of The Escape Room, which will be released in the U.S. and UK in 2019, and The Girl In Kellers Way.
