The Night Swim

The Night Swim follows Rachel Krall, a true crime podcast host covering a rape trial in a small coastal town. While investigating the high-profile case of a swimming champion accused of sexual assault, Rachel receives mysterious notes about a decades-old death that was ruled an accidental drowning. Rachel finds herself simultaneously covering the present-day trial while being drawn into an amateur investigation of the cold case. The narrative alternates between Rachel's perspective, her podcast transcripts about the trial, and letters from a woman named Hannah who claims to know the truth about her sister's death 25 years ago. The story explores how two separate cases of violence against women, set decades apart, intersect and impact a small community. The town's reactions, the role of social media, and the complexities of the justice system frame both investigations. This dual-timeline thriller examines themes of truth, justice, and the ways society handles allegations of sexual assault. Through its parallel stories, the novel raises questions about how time and power dynamics influence the pursuit of justice.

Readers call The Night Swim a gripping crime novel that interweaves past and present cases through a true-crime podcast format. Many note the book's honest handling of sexual assault and trauma, though some found these themes difficult to read. Readers appreciated: - The dual timeline structure - Authentic portrayal of small-town dynamics - The podcast element adding realism - Complex female characters - Clear writing style Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Predictable plot twists - Some found the podcast transcripts disrupted flow - A few readers wanted more closure with certain characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (71,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (9,800+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.5/5 "Couldn't put it down but had to take breaks due to the heavy subject matter" - Goodreads reviewer "The podcast format adds authenticity but sometimes feels forced" - Amazon reviewer

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🎙️ Author Megan Goldin was inspired to write The Night Swim partly by her experience as a former journalist covering criminal trials and court cases. 📱 The podcast format used in the novel reflects the true-crime podcast boom that started with Serial in 2014, which revolutionized both podcasting and true crime storytelling. ⚖️ The book tackles the evolution of sexual assault cases in the justice system, contrasting how such cases were handled in the past versus present day through its dual timeline structure. 🌟 The Night Swim debuted on multiple bestseller lists and was selected as an Amazon Best Mystery & Thriller of 2020. 🎬 The novel's rights have been optioned for television, with plans to develop it into a series that maintains the podcast element of the story.