I did a special feature on this book when it first came out. While it sounded good I wasn’t sure that it was one that I wanted to move up on my TBR list.
Then I started seeing a lot of other people on my Instagram talking about this one and was intrigued by some of their reviews. So I decided to take it to my book club and see what they thought.
We had fully planned on reading a different book for our September read, but this one sounded different and it also sounded like it that would generate a lot of great discussion for the book club.
Summary
In The Night Swim, a new thriller from Megan Goldin, author of the “gripping and unforgettable” (Harlen Coben) The Escape Room, a true-crime podcast host covering a controversial trial finds herself drawn deep into a small town’s dark past and a brutal crime that took place there years before.
Ever since 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 when she 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 three 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 25 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? (Summary from Goodreads)
Review
Ok I don’t say this very often, but if ever there was a book made for audiobooks this was it. If you are considering reading this one please please please consider doing the audiobook version because it was OUTSTANDING! This book features a podcast element and the audiobook really capitalized on that, making readers feel like they were listening to a real life crime podcast. The narrators were fantastic and really brought this one alive for me.
I was hooked on this one almost from the start. I read the excerpt when I did my feature but listening to it made it more exciting and special feeling. I couldn’t stop listening to this one. I found myself making excuses to run other errands that could easily have waited just to have a little more time to listen to this one.
The mystery and rape trial go hand in hand in this one and there is plenty to discuss with book clubs or friends. I cannot wait for our September meeting to talk about this one.
The rape trial is so relevant right now and it raised so many interesting questions and controversial points. The big theme in this book is that everyone can agree that murder is wrong—it says so in the bible right? But when it comes to rape it’s often a question on who is more believable. It really was a thought provoking story that will leave readers with things to think about.
The murder mystery was also interesting and I wasn’t quite sure who the killer was though it was clear many had motive. I loved unraveling and listening to this one so incredibly much I cannot say enough good things about this one. If you are at all into Law and Order SVU or podcasts like Serial, then this is the book you have been waiting for. Such a wonderful story!
The Lit Bitch 
The audiobook was SO GOOD!!! I agree with you, it was perfect for an audio narration. I sometimes feel more and more authors write books with audiobooks in mind. Stories include podcast segments, phones calls, interviews etc. Makes me excited for what’s to come. 😀
~ Corina | The Brown Eyed Bookworm
I’ve heard really good things about this book as well, I definitely need to add it to my pile.