“A blistering plot and crisp writing make The Night Swim an unputdownable read.” –Sarah Pekkanen, bestselling author of The Wife Between UsIn The Night Swim, a new thriller from Megan Goldin, author of the “gripping and unforgettable” (Harlan 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 … 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 3 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 twenty-five 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?
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Book Review
4.5 stars. This was a raw, real read. Two crimes that take place decades apart but in a small town. Could they be connected?
Rachel has an extremely popular true crime podcast, usually covering cases that are not current. The case she is covering this season, is a current one, she will be going to the hearing and then report how the trial is going. Telling the story from facts about what happened to K and the events leading up to and after the crime. She get thousands of emails asking for her help solving and getting more publicity for unsolved crimes, but when a note appears on her car asking for help. She is spooked but also very intrigued. Hannah needs help proving that her sister was murder and didn’t”t just drown. She wants everyone to know the truth of that night, but no will look deeper into it.
Let me tell you this book was fantastically written! I loved that it was told in part by Rachel podcast. Partly told in the letters that Hannah leaves for Rachel about her sister and some of things she remembers from that summer. Hannah just not ready to meet Rachel yet but she leaves clues that she know Rachel can’t not look into. She needs to know what happened and why her Hannah doesn’t believe her sister just drowned. It had all the things a true crime junkie would want in a story. The back story in how Rachel searches the town, looked for records, connections, and witnesses from both crimes. This book covers two cases of rape and sexual assault and what both parties go through during the investigation and trail. This may be triggering for some.
Thank you to @stmartinspress , @megangoldinauthor and @netgalley for my review copy.
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
Two women traumatized
Twenty-five years apart
One suffered and died long ago
One alive suffering every day
Two other women
Invested in the traumatized
Looking for answers
Looking for truth
This is more than one story with the lives of four women in two eras enduring a similar traumatic experience. The story is told in chapters that speak of the present as seen through the eyes of Rachel who will be presenting information for the followers of her true crime podcast and what she says in the podcast presentations are interspersed in the story in true time as if shared while she is speaking on her program. The other portion of the story is told in letters and notes written by a person that seems at first to be a stalker but then later proves to have a story she wants Rachel to hear and in hearing she hopes that Rachel will help her find the truth about her sister and perhaps in so doing find justice for Jenny. The trial is also experienced through the eyes of Rachel and I felt as if I were there hearing it beside her.
What I liked:
* Rachel: a tenacious, insightful, curious, intelligent woman who as a journalist looks for the truth and presents her story without bias…or would like to think she does. I would have enjoyed hearing a bit more of her backstory and wondered if perhaps she might star in a series of books in the future with each one about a podcast she is preparing for.
* Hannah: a woman with a childhood nobody should have lived through. I liked the way she was finally ready to find answers, seek justice, and perhaps find a type of closure so she can move on.
* K – the rape victim taking her rapist to trial. I was able to see through her experience the travesty rape victims face within the the court/court system
* Jenny – I think she was the star of this book even though she was long gone.
* The way the clues about the past (and the present) were revealed
* The unflinching look at bullying, rape, and other difficult topics in this book
* That the truth did finally come out before the end of the story
* The look at how people can see the same situation so differently
* That this left me caring, thinking, and wishing life could be different
* The nightingale…
What I did not like:
* Knowing that what is was written as fiction in this book is not fiction to those who have experienced what the women in this story did.
* Being reminded again that rape victims are put on trial almost more than their rapists
* Realizing once again that the courts are not always just or that justice is not always served within courts
Did I enjoy this book? Hmm…I did but it was unsettling in some ways and yet very very good
Would I read more by this author? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Megan Goldin gained an immediate fan after I read The Escape Room and she has once again blown me away with The Night Swim.
Rachel Krall is a true-crime podcast host who’s newest story is following a controversial rape in small-town Neapolis. Once she arrives, she starts receiving odd messages from the sister of another victim from a much older case from the area, begging for Rachel’s help to track down the real story behind her sister’s death. Drawn in by the mysterious details of the case, and eventually the similarities between the two local stories, Rachel can’t help but search for answers.
This story sucked me in from page one. I had a rollercoaster of emotions as I followed these two tragedies and I was heartbroken imaging any woman experiencing this. Emotional and thought-provoking, I could not put it down until I knew the truth. Amazing story and I’ll be back for more!
Thank you in advance to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing an advanced review copy. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.
Taking a break from my usual reads, and wanting to get this out of the way, I chose it as a “next in the TBR stack” read. The title and the haunting, mesmerizing cover was too good to pass up.
This is Megan Goldin’s second novel, but the first I’ve read by her. And, I wasn’t disappointed at all. I hardly wanted to put this suspenseful, riveting, emotional, thought provoking, sometimes terrifying read down.
It was a rather quick read with short chapters and a fast-paced writing. The writer keeps the story going and doesn’t muddle too long in one area. At times it was difficult to take notes as I was drawn into this tragic story.
This will have some trigger warnings, most of it deals with sexual assault and rape. As most of the book deals with a rape trial, there is quite a bit of detailed language regarding the rape. This might be troubling for those who have been
Usually titles of this nature do contain some foul language. This was relatively a clean read for the most part, which was surprising, but welcoming especially considering the subject material. The first “bad” word was the infamous “F-bomb” in chapter 36. That was only used once, and one “s-word” was used once in chapter 48.
Goldin uses both third and first person to tell the story. Rachel’s POV is told in third (3rd) person, Hannah’s is in first (1st), and Rachel’s podcast is what I would call a “narration”. The author’s writing is vivid, candid, and realistic. She certainly drives home the points she is trying to make.
Speaking of characters, Goldin keeps it simple on the “main” characters – there are not that many; and what do exist are well developed. The side characters serve their purpose without detracting from the story.
When she was 10, Hannah slightly witnessed the death of her sister Jenny (16). While it was deemed an accident, Hannah has long believed it was homicide; and this is where the story title comes from – it was believed Jenny went swimming alone at night and “drowned”.
Now, 25 years later, with another trial going on – Hannah seeks out Rachel to investigate. Rachel is a crime reporter with a podcast and is in town to cover the trial. Hannah drops off mysterious notes which disturbs and yet intrigues Rachel.
Rachel notes the polarizing difference the town takes when it comes to a rape trial. She points out the polarizing difference in murder vs. rape – murder is universally agreed to be wrong, rape is seems suffers from moral judgment. It seems more divisive, with parts of victim blaming with “if only the victim had done/not done” attitudes. This is usually never done with a murder victim.
The impact of rape is clear, and neither Rachel nor the author, shy away from it. The act leaves the victim left shattered. A trial meant to bring justice, but it sometimes has the opposite effect –> the elements of the trial create an unfair disparity where the victim is victimized twice; once by the act, and again in court. And, even more victimization occurs with accusations and rumors.
Through Rachel, the author reexamines victim testimony; the whole trial process; and cuts to heart of he said/she said. Some cases can be lost without the victim’s testimony which results in another time they are victimized.
While the defendant can talk to the media and give interviews to gain support; the victim cannot otherwise it jeopardizes the case. Thus shows the disparity in the entire deal.
In reporting on the case, Rachel comes across the polar opinions of listeners. Their take is she is not allowed to be objective –> either side with the victim or defendant. Thus remaining neutral and impartial is also the wrong side to take, despite it being how the justice system works.
Goldin is careful to respect the victim and only goes where the natural progression of a case would.
Rachel also points out that we are now changing or looking at how we now define sexual assault –> acts such as groping, squeezing a butt, rubbing genitals against someone, rubbing breasts, aggressive kissing. At times it seemed like there was some political commentary; red vs. blue.
During the trial, Rachel finally decides to look into Jenny’s case. At first there is little to go on, and she doesn’t meet Hannah until the last 1/3 to ¼ of the book. But, as Rachel progresses she sees things there that weren’t investigated the first time around.
It is through Hannah’s letters that most of Jenny’s story is told – how it started and how it ended. That story is compelling, haunting, and tragic as well. Even more so when the reader learns the modern day connection. It was something I didn’t even suspect, though wasn’t to surprised to learn.
There were a few issues with plot holes which were more to do with Jenny’s case, such as who were the two boys killed; along with wanting to know more about the Blair/Moore connection, seemed like there was something there.
Other than two instances of “questionable” language – this suspense doesn’t rely on multiple arcs, nor does it rely on flash. Goldin keeps it simple and real.
Fans of the author and genre might enjoy this read. It is definitely one that I was grateful to get an advanced copy of.
4 stars
What an amazing summer read! Megan Goldin has written a book that grabs the reader from the start. A policeman arriving at the door with a little girl, Hannah, who has bleeding feet and has the duty to tell her mother that her older daughter, Jenny, has disowned.
Enter Rachel, twenty five years later. She is on her way to a small town In North Carolina to cover a rape trial. Rachel has a podcast and she is going to cover a rape trial of Scott Blair. The author does an excellent job of weaving these two stories together. As the reader, I felt like I was allowed to be Rachel’s shadow as she investigates both cases.
This book is fast-paced. I could see this book as a successful series following Rachel and her true crime podcasts. I did have a little trouble with the ending, I think it could use some work I had so many emotions as I was reading. I found myself talking outloud to the characters.. Overall, Night Swim is a satisfying read. Thank you St, Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. The story pulled me in right away. The topic of how we perceive rape victims was illuminating. The book has more than one storyline going on. I liked both narrators. The switch of storylines was smooth. It was extremely interesting to learn both stories and how things have and haven’t changed over the years. I liked Rachel a lot. She was a great lead for this story. The book had some surprises and a good conclusion. I would love to read more by this author and even more that had Rachel as the lead. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was excited to receive an advance copy of The Night Swim and my excitement was more than warranted. It’s a great story, fast moving, smooth flowing, action-packed, and dangerous with a good, solid mystery that kept me guessing until the end. The story takes place in the small town of Neapolis, a happy tourist attraction but with a lot going on under the surface. Author Megan Goldin capably manages to combine a present day alleged crime of rape and a decades old “accident” with issues both then and now of reputation, harassment and abuse and neatly wraps it all in a true crime podcast setting, such a hot topic these days.
Rachel is the podcaster. She went to Neapolis just to cover the rape charge against the town’s golden boy. But Neopolis doesn’t feel safe. Rachel did not expect to be stalked by someone wanting truth and justice for the death of her sister twenty-five years ago, and there’s something not so nice beneath the sunny, bright exterior face the town shows to most visitors. She isn’t sure everyone she interviews is telling her the truth about today or back then. Goldin moves seamlessly between the present and past and expertly weaves threads through the events and characters of both and ties them up into a totally unexpected and totally satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of The Night Swim. All opinions are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it, and cannot wait for Megan Goldin’s next book.
Wow. What a great book. I needed this in my life right now. Rachel has a true crime podcast and she is covering a rape trial in NC. She tells the audience both sides of the story and they decide who is guilty. In the same town, a woman has been contacting her for some years about her sister’s death 25 years prior.
Hannah has been contacting Rachel in the hopes that she can get her sister’s case reopened and maybe Rachel can help dig up evidence of what happened. Her sister Jenny was found dead on the beach, but as an experienced swimmer, the facts just don’t add up. While covering the rape trial today, will Rachel be able to uncover secrets from the past?
This book shocked me, and there is not a lot that shocks me anymore. The book was written so well that I didn’t see what was coming until it was on top of me. I knew one of the twists, but I honestly expected something completely different. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a good thriller. Trigger warning: there is rape and some of it is graphic details.
The narrators did a fantastic job, this audiobook was very well done. Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and the author for an early audio copy of this book.
This is a book that I wasn’t sure about since it dealt with rape, but I’m so glad that I read it. For the third season of her podcast, Rachel’s show is going to focus on the crime while the trial is ongoing. Rachel starts finding notes from Hannah about a crime in the same North Carolina coastal town that happened twenty five years ago. At first, Rachel is a little spooked since she tries to stay anonymous, but she soon starts investigating. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. One of the things that I liked about the book is the effect of rape not only on the woman, but also on her family and her community. There is a line in the book that really spoke to me about how everyone sees murder as wrong, but with rape, some people still see with shades of grey. I am giving this book five stars because this book had me thinking about how lawyers operate and how much the onus of the truth is on the rape victim. This is a well written book that I will read again in the future.
This book was very interesting, quite different for a storyline. Actually there were two cases to solve. Rachel Krall does a true-crime podcast and is very adept at investigation. Her insight into the trial of a town’s college-aged, golden boy accused of raping a sixteen-year-old girl are fascinating. The extra investigation of a cold case was intriguing. This was a super read and I am sure fans of crime stories will really like it.
This book was very different from her debut novel, “The Escape Room” and for me that was a good thing. I was hoping that the author would surprise me with this one and she did just that.
Rachel Krall has become known for her two previous podcasts, she has thousands of followers. In the first two seasons she had worked on cold cases and was hugely successful in bringing new evidence to light which changed the previous convictions.
This time she is going to cover a live trial and as she says after each of her podcast episodes “this is Guilty or Not Guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box”. This season would test Rachel’s endurance as she planned to attend court every day. She has arrived in the city days early to see what further information about the trial that she can unearth.
On her way to Neopolis, North Carolina, she pulls off the highway into a restaurant and is shocked to find a note addressed to her on her windshield. She has worked hard to try to keep her photograph and “face” from the public’s eye, they only know her by her unique voice. However someone has found her and is begging for her help.
This person is Hannah, the sister of a young woman who died 25 years ago. Her death was ruled an accident, but Jenny knows differently. She has been following Rachel’s podcasts and knows she will be in her hometown of Neopolis. She is hoping desperately that Rachel will help to finally get the truth out about what happened to her sister, Jenny.
The trial is an ugly one. It involves a violent rape and the young woman, “K”, is willing to testify to what happened. Will she get the chance to do this? We are made to try to understand the trauma that K is going through, and how her parents feel about her testifying. She is the granddaughter of a previous town police chief and her family in well known in Neopolis.
Scott Blair, the accused, is somewhat of a local town hero. He is a great swimmer said to possibly be on his way to the Olympics. Many people have mixed feelings about whether this young man would be capable of the crimes he is accused of. Why would he sacrifice his career? Someone is lying in this case, which one?
While Rachel races to try to unearth more facts about the trial she is consistently receiving notes from Hanna. She feels herself drawn into Jenny’s case and so is working both cases at the same time.
In this novel Ms.Goldin has written a novel with well developed characters who we can feel for and dual mysteries to solve. Will they come together in some way in this uniquely plotted novel? I think you will be as surprised as I was at the outcome of this trial.
This second book is a winner. It is a propulsive read and sheds light on how rape trials are still conducted and how much a victim much go through in order to tell her story.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
“The Night Swim” is set to publish on August 4, 2020
The beginning was a bit confusing but ones you have become intrigued on what is going on currently and what happened 25 years ago you will have to finish the book. The story is very realistic and plays of in a small coastal town where everybody knows everybody. In the 25 years not much seems to have changed in the attitude towards rape victims. The female tends to get blamed. Some of the wealthy population of town feels they are entitled to do whatever, including rape and murder with no consequences. A number of lives got destroyed by the events of a quarter century ago. It is heartbreaking to see how rape victims are treated and shows that or legal system on this subject still leaves a lot to be desired. The mother that blames the girl for ruining the future of her son and doesn’t see anything wrong in what he did. After a very disturbing story I loved the ending with the nightingale showing no lose ends and a hint that live will become more normal for the main characters.
The Night Swim is one of those reads that captivates you from the start and stays with you long after you’ve (sadly) turned the last page. CAUTION, this book contains graphic descriptions of rape and abuse. If this is a trigger for you, do not even consider reading this book.
This is the story of two young girls (each 16) who were raped and abused multiple times twenty-five years apart in the same town. It is told by alternating among the first person view of Hannah Stills, the younger sister of Jenny, a third person narrative about Rachel Krall, famous host of the cultural sensation podcast Guilty or Not Guilty, and through the 3rd season of the podcast which for the first time features a live trial.
Hannah, age 10, begins telling about the last summer Jenny was alive. The girls live with their mother who is dying of cancer. Jenny has taken on the responsibility of caring for her mother, her younger sister, and the house. Money is a problem, and the family has been looked down on by the townspeople for generations. No one really cares what happens to the Stills family. When Jenny dies, it is quickly declared an accidental drowning. Her mother thinks otherwise, and asks that her daughter’s death be investigated. But it wasn’t.
Rachel has tried to protect her anonymity from the start of her career. Her voice may be known, but she has done all she, can to keep people from recognizing her. So she is quite surprised when someone starts leaving notes at her door, on her car, addressed to her, asking for her help. She is in Neapolis, NC to base the third season of her podcast on the upcoming trial that is the talk of the town. Wealthy, privileged, nationally known swimming sensation Scott Blair, 18, is accused of raping Kelly Moore. Though Rachel’s focus is on the trial and her podcast, she cannot ignore the continuing notes from a woman named Hannah who asks her help in getting her sister’s death twenty-five years ago declared as the murder it was. The more Rachel looks into what happened to both Kelly and Jenny, the more connections she finds between them.
The author’s writing is so descriptive that she easily makes the reader feel that they are present in each scene. She also seamlessly blends the two stories across the years that seperate them, and handles a difficult subject with great sensitivity. As one of her characters states “I want to make you think about how rape and the threat of rape affects the lives of women in a hundred different ways.”
Between the high and heart-rending emotions generated by what happened to Jenny and Kelly, how it affected them and those who love them, the courtroom drama of the trial, and the podcast episodes, this is a compelling though troubling read.
Add this to your TBR (to be read) pile now. You won’t want to miss this excellent book!
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Rachel is an investigative reporter who is covering a trial in Neapolis, North Carolina for her podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty. Hannah has reached out to Rachel to help her solve the murder of her sister 25 years ago. Each chapter is written either in 3rd person narration as Rachel goes through the town, to the trial and looks for clues as to what happened to Jenny, Hannah’s sister. Letters from Hannah, written to Rachel, left for her throughout her time in Neapolis. Or 3rd, you have the podcast that Rachel shares with her listeners. The trial that Rachel is covering is the rape of a 16-year old and the alleged attacker is a hometown 19-year old good ole boy who has dreams of being an Olympic swimmer. This reminds me of “Under Suspicion” series by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. I found myself forgetting that there were really 2 different stories going on, I would get sucked into 1 part of the story (say, the trial) and it would change to Hannah’s letters. I would definitely listen to Rachel’s podcast, in real life. I had a hard time putting this book down. This is due to be released on August 4, 2020. Thank you Megan Goldin, St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! Megan Goldin weaves an incredible plot line in this emotional story of heartbreak and seeking justice as 2 crimes, one present and one past, are investigated at the same time.
I greatly enjoyed the writing style of this story and how it is told. I was immersed in the story. I enjoyed Rachel’s podcast and investigative skills and how the present story unfolded through her podcast and the past story eerily through letters seeking Rachel’s help in a stalkerish manner. The stories weaved together seamlessly as clues are laid out the plot thickened.
Megan Goldin makes you think and feel deeply and see aspects from every angle. It’s thought provoking, hard to read at times, touches on the power people can hold over others, and how deeply lives are forever changed by such tragic events. It’s well written, raw, real, and will touch you deeply as justice is sought after. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished.
This was SO GOOD. I felt uneasy pretty much the whole time, and the storyline mix of the current trial that Rachel is covering, along with the slow discovery and reveal about what happened to another young girl years before was just so well done.
Rachel runs a podcast about crimes. The one she’s covering this week is about rape. The victim and the guy who did it, along with the whole town- Rachel covers what they go through and the process from all angles. It’s shocking and so sad to see what all a victim has to go through to hopefully get justice. But then people judge (the victim) them anyways.
And Hannah is a fan of Rachel’s and needs her help. It’s kind of creepy how Hannah almost seems like a stalker, but this town has buried secrets and they need to be brought to light.
Not really a whodunit, more of a what happened sort of story. And while what happened in the past is messed up, what’s happening in the current trial is equally upsetting. I was sucked in to the story and stayed up too late reading it.
In the small town of Neapolis, they are awaiting the trial of one of their golden boys, accused of raping a teenage girl, called K. Rachel Krall is covering the rape and trial in her true-crime podcast. While prepping for the trial, Rachel’s attention is drawn to a letter she receives from a girl named Hannah, who writes of the murder of her sister, Jenny, 25 years ago in the same small town. Police ruled the murder as a suicide when it seems to be anything but. Rachel is reluctant to investigate because of the way Hanna is dropping off the letters, but her curiosity wins out. Will either of these cases get the resolution they deserve?
This is under psychological thriller and psychological fiction on Amazon, but it’s more mystery than thriller. Told in alternating viewpoints and timelines, Goldin tells both Rachel and Hannah’s perspectives extremely well. Rachel is a fantastic character who is strong, thorough, and impartial in her reporting. I would love to see Goldin write Rachel’s character as part of a series.
The Night Swim is well-researched. It’s raw and honest, and sometimes it’s brutal, but a necessity to be true to both K and Jenny’s stories. We get a glimpse of the horrors of rape, what a woman must go through in reporting it, how they get vilified by their peers, and the traumatization of testifying. The two cases of the past and present are seamlessly weaved together in a heartbreaking, yet hopeful story that might be delicate for some readers. Yet is a must-read for men and women alike.
Wow, what an amazing story! The Night Swim was a definite page-turner. I was glued to the pages of this story, fully immersed in both the past and present story laid out on the pages. I loved the concept of the story, a former reporter who has become a celebrity for her True Crime podcast she has created. This season’s podcast will be covering a rape trial. While she’s covering it, she gets sucked into a story of a similar crime that happened 25 years ago.
Rachel was a tenacious reporter who was obviously passionate about uncovering the truth of a crime. She had a good head on her shoulders, even if she did do some stupid things sometimes in the name of gathering information.
Both cases were very compelling. The current case of a swimming superstar who has been accused of rape. It’s the classic case of he said/she said. Megan does an incredible job of delving into how society forms opinions on what a woman goes through when they’ve been assaulted. How the onus is unfairly put on the victim to prove that they were in fact, raped.
As interesting as the current day crime was, I was really fascinated with what happened in the past to Jenny Stills. Getting fed bits and pieces of the story by her younger sister was infuriating at times, because I needed to know!! It really ramped up my eagerness to discover what really happened, who was behind it, and how they had gotten away with for all this time. The twists and turns had me second guessing everything I thought I knew.
This was my first read by Megan and it definitely won’t be my last. I was so invested in this story! It is a very emotional story in that so many people’s lives were changed forever by the events that took place, past and present. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time to come!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
I had to read late into the night to see how this page-turner ended! What a read!
Rachel Krall has a True Crime podcast and came to the Atlantic coastal town of Neapolis for the rape trial of Olympic swimming hopeful and town Golden Boy Scott Blair. Scott is accused of raping Kelly Moore, granddaughter of the town’s police chief. Before Rachel get to Neapolis, she finds a note on the windshield of her car and once she gets to her hotel, she begins to get more notes. The notes are from a Hannah Stills whose sister Jenny died 25 years ago in a supposed drowning accident although Jenny was an excellent swimmer.
As the trial progresses and she receives more notes from Hannah, Rachel begins to see similarities between the two cases.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this super fantastic read that kept me up way past my bedtime. Megan Goldin really hit it out of the ball park again with this book.
I devoured this thriller/mystery and enjoyed it every bit as much as her previous The Escape Room.
This book is about two different rapes (trigger warning, does get fairly graphic) twenty-five years apart in a small coastal town in NC.
Rachel, a popular true-crime podcast personality is there to cover the current trial of the local golden boy accused of a brutal rape. While there, she begins receiving letters from Hannah claiming that her sister, Jenny, who drowned 25 years before was actually murdered. She needs Rachel’s help to seek justice.
This story is told in alternating chapters by Rachel and her actual podcast script.
Lots of suspects, great tension-building and several twists made this hard to put down, even though the subject matter was very disturbing.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.