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Book 21 of 2025! A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I would have given it five, but the beginning was a little slow.

Two girls, 25 yrs apart, one dead, one has been attacked. A podcaster who uses true crime as her subject gets involved in the present trial and the past mysterious death. She said, he said in a trial that is hard to sometimes read about but presented in a well written prose. Liked the ending that it tied up all the loose ends and made sense.

This novel centers on a true crime podcast host as she records her next season focusing on a controversial rape trial. She begins receiving notes from a girl who believes her sister was murdered years ago. The story alternates between the two mysteries. It‘s a compelling, plot-driven story, but it‘s also brutal and highlights sexual assault (if this kind of content is triggering, be mindful.) Great on audio! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

#Eyes 👀 🌊

#ItTakesAllKinds

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I was riveted, I could not put this one down. I was invested in both storylines, and the pacing was great. Would definitely recommend this one. Check trigger warnings if need be.

1-19-24: My 2nd finished book of 2024! Book 1 in a series about Rachel Krall, the host of Guilty or Not Guilty, a podcast. Rachel has just touched down in Neapolis to cover the rape trial of Scott Blair, golden boy swimmer, accused of raping Kelly Moore. While, covering this, she is contacted by Hannah, who is trying to uncover the secrets of her sister‘s death from 25 years earlier. The two storylines combine and I didn‘t see the end coming.

I love it when you pick up a book and from the start you have no idea where it‘s going. This was one of those books.

And it was such a tough read (HUGE trigger-warning for rape), but it was done in a way that after I caught my breath for a few minutes, I went right back to reading.

I loved having Rachel and Hannah be the narrators of the story and the blog posts.

Highly recommend this one!

*TW: Rape*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TWs: review mentions sexual assault.

This was a difficult book to read. Not because it's badly written but I found the subject matter harrowing. The narrative is told from Rachel's point of view but we also get Hannah's view of what happened all those years ago in the form of letters to Rachel. Both storylines look at the price that women & girls pay when it comes to sexual assault. (continued)

Yes I have Halloween-ized this book review photo !!!!
🤩🎃💀

This was a satisfying read OMG…about a true crime podcaster who follows murder trials, tries to help investigate a murder from 30+ years ago, and also tries to solve a sexual assault case. There were nice twists I did not see coming! I really appreciated the author‘s insights and stance on the trauma aspect 😞
Well done, Goldin👏🏻
#OutstandingOctoberReadathon Day 3
#RushAThon Day 16

This is a difficult read. The stories of both these young women gripped me and I felt like I couldn't read quickly enough as I hoped for justice for both of them (looong delayed in Jenny's case). I have the authors next book which I intend to read soon.

Starting this today. I'm having a very happy weekend. 😊

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@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks
@LitsyEvents
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Prompt: SWIM

THRILLER - MYSTERY

A WOW, INTENSE READ!! 

BE SURE TO READ IT!!

NIGHT SWIM is intense, disturbing at times, difficult to put down, and will have you biting your nails as you hope Rachel uncovers the real truth of the cold case and the rape case gets justice.

Amazing read with secrets kept for years!! Loved it!! P5/5

https://tinyurl.com/ms4j52k8

This takes the reader on a journey with Rachel, a podcaster, as she travels to Neapolis to report on a rape trial. When she gets there she begins receiving letters from the sister of a drowning victim who insists that her sister was murdered 25 years ago. Being a small town, the characters in the trial & the past intertwine & Rachel works to provide her listeners with the facts of the trial while trying to find the truth about Jenny.

#arc

An emotional and heartbreaking tale of sexual assault and the sad realities rape victims face when they decide to speak out. I loved the dual-timelines and podcast storyline as well. I‘m a sucker for crime casts! Super excited she‘s coming out with another Rachel Krall book this year and will be reading it! 4/5

This was like a long episode of Law and Order: SVU (a show that I love). A great thriller with a twist I didn‘t see coming, plus a (sadly) much needed spotlight placed on sexual assault victims and how they are treated (often with the alleged perpetrator not getting justice) by the public, by the justice system. It‘s a total disgrace. Got a decent #pantone2023 match, I think (#blueperennial), plus this is a #roll100 pick!

I‘m trying to get rid of books, but I found these gems at my LFL. 😅🤷🏻‍♀️

A WOW, INTENSE READ!!

BE SURE TO READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T!!

NIGHT SWIM is intense, disturbing at times, difficult to put down, and will have you biting your nails as you hope Rachel uncovers the real truth of the cold case and the rape case gets justice.

Amazing read with secrets kept for years!! Loved it!! 5/5

My book club‘s choice for January 2023!!

@megangoldinauthor
@stmartinspress

This does so well as an audio - there is a mix of current story, past story, and the main characters podcast episodes, and the switching around is great for audio.

I liked how the two stories are woven. I have been getting annoyed with works where stories that don't seem to relate are told together but everything in this messes so well. The writing is solid and the characters are not very deep but are not annoying either.

October 6 - The Daily Photo Challenge - Prompt: night

#scarathlondailyprompts #thenightswim #scarathlon22 #teammonstermash #scarathlon #adult #dailyphotochallenge

April wrap up! It was a good month for me 😊 hoping I can keep up my momentum, but I just broke my iPad this morning and need to figure that out now 😭😭😭 Top picks from April were The Night Swim, In Five Years, Instructions for Dancing, The Amendment, Skye Falling and The Hunting Wives. Can‘t wait to see what May brings 😃

Oh this was such a good listen! I really enjoyed it and the different narrators! I will definitely read more by this author. The podcast episodes had music along with them which I thought was an excellent touch! This really digs into both sides of the case and explores the he said/she said dynamic of rape cases. The mystery from the past was also intriguing as well. It had a good ending & I wouldn‘t mind another book featuring Rachel the reporter.

I love true crime so reading a book about a true crime podcaster following a live court case while investigating another crime was pretty interesting. It sounds complicated but was easy to follow. Loved the different storylines even though they were all intertwined. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a rollercoaster. The subject matter is extremely tough. But, the writing was excellent. The different perspectives and the mix of the podcast format and letters just made this story so captivating. I never once put the twist together. The ending shocked me and I thought it was so satisfying. This was honestly perfect from start to finish, in my opinion.

I found this to be a very engaging mystery. At first I was mostly connecting with the 2017 storyline, but the more the 1992 story hooked me as it rapidly unfolded near the end.

The story feels so raw and real that it was frustrating at times. The audio isn‘t easy to listen to because of how heavy and disturbing the subject matter is.

TW: sexual assault, victim shaming

So good that I times I want to stop the world from moving around me. Life has been busy for the last 5 days and will continue to be so for the next couple days but I will keep doing my best for #TeamSlaughter #Scarathlon @Clwojick #Readlikehellathon #wickedathon #spookoween

I am early for a meeting and it is a beautiful morning. Reading at the park it is. #Scarathlon2021 #TeamSlaughter #alwayscarryabook @Clwojick

5 ⭐
Trigger warning: Rape

I absolutely loved this book. It was interesting from the beginning to the end. I loved how we could read Hannah letters to Rachel and that we could read Rachel podcast.

This book follow two cases. One that Rachel is investigating to help Hannah and one that is on trial.

It's an important book to read. Everyone should read it.

Every year, when September comes, I start reading horror/mysteries/thrillers. I guess I'm a mood reader.

#BookSpinBingo #bookspin #doublespin

This book was so-so for me. Well written, but a bit underwhelming. Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Up next… This has been on my TBR for awhile. I thought I‘d give it a try. 😁❤️

Rachel has a podcast radio show and in her third season she will cover a trial about a rape case. She will interview both side, the accused and the victim: “Guilty or Not Guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box”. During this coverage Rachel will got involved in another case where she felt stalked at the beginning. What will happen in this other case? Are they connected? I listened also the audio. Didn‘t see all the twists. 4⭐️

TBH, I‘m not a thriller fan, and only read this because it‘s my irl book club‘s July selection. But even with that caveat, I feel comfortable saying the premise was unbelievable, the main character makes ridiculously stupid decisions, and the writing did nothing to redeem these faults. The only redeeming quote was the prosecutor‘s statement that these true crime podcasts (and I might add thrillers) are 👇🏻

The Night Swim was the perfect rainy summer day read. A true fantasy for us True Crime enthusiasts who dream of solving murders with a successful podcast. #thenightswim #summerread #murdermystery

This started out as kinda meh for me but ultimately ended up being a pick. I didn‘t love Hannah or the way she approached Rachel. However the story and issues it brings up are important and really well developed. I liked how the two main stories ended up being intertwined and even the resolution (while somewhat predictable) was satisfying. This was my #bookspin for June.

I loved this book! I loved her first book and this one was just as good! I will be a loyal reader of Megan Goldin from now on! I am so ready for a new book already. I just hate that it‘s taken me this long to read it, but I have a TBR pile forever long.

I finished this one last night. I enjoyed the story, especially the podcast aspect. I liked the dual stories that seemed to overlap each other. Definite trigger warning for rape. Shocking twist for me at the end. Wasn't an earth shattering read, but I did enjoy it.

First, it snowed here yesterday. A lot for April. ❄❄

Second, this book was really good. There was a lot going on. A rape trial, a podcast, and a 25 year old murder that needed solving. The characters were a little flat because of all that was going on. Overall I enjoyed it though.
The author is said to have taken the main story from the Brock Turner case. I would no recommend if the graphic rape of a 16 year old is triggering.

I liked the two for one stories in this mystery, crime novel. I think I read this would make a good series with the podcast twist. I would go for that.

I‘m taking full advantage of working from home today. It‘s gorgeous out and of course the days I take off are always rainy (like tomorrow). So I opted to take my lunch break outside, read, and enjoy a beer.

Rachel decides to put a new spin on her true crime podcast by covering an active trial. It‘s a hot button one, too: the rape of a teenage girl by an Olympic hopeful swimming star. It has all the blaming and side-taking you would expect, but Rachel also finds that a teenage girl died in the town years ago and it may have been a murder. This is a well-balanced thriller that I really enjoyed, thought with some tough themes.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin is a story that will make your blood boil! It‘s about a true crime podcaster and her quest for capturing stories of justice being served. When she travels to cover a very divisive and heated case, she ends up getting in way over her head with a second case from the area.

TW: Rape, sexual assault

https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-review-the-night-swim-by-megan-goldin/

This is about a podcaster who debarks from her norm of investigating - and solving - cold case murders to covering a rape trial. While there, a fan whose case she chose not to pursue baits her w/letters about the crime. The scenes shift between her podcast, the courtroom, the letters written to her, & her actions as she investigates the second case when she should be focusing on the first. There's plenty of suspense, but I didn't love it.