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lizzycooley's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jess_mango's review
4.0
Rachel Krall's true crime podcast Guilty or Not Guilty achieved a high level of popularity in its 1st season. Now, Rachel is headed to the small seaside town of Neapolis, NC to cover a rape trial for her 3rd season. A 16 year old girl has accused the local swimming phenom of rape. The accused had aspirations of being on the Olympic Swim Team. Many find it hard to believe that this local golden boy would do what he is accused of.
On her arrival in Neapolis, Rachel starts receiving correspondence from a woman named Hannah who is begging Rachel to investigate her sister Jenny's death that happened 25 years ago in the same small town. Jenny thinks her sister was murdered, but the official cause of death was that Jenny drowned while swimming alone at night.
This character-driven mystery's narrative alternates between Rachel's story, episodes of season 3 of the podcast and letters from Hannah. I enjoyed this story as it allowed us to follow two crimes at once. I also loved the inclusion of a true crime podcast. Also, it discusses, the challenges women face when accusing someone of rape. The main female characters were all believable to me.
I listened to an audio ARC from MacMillan Audio and the narration was very well done. The Podcast chapters actually felt like mini-podcasts. Hannah's chapters had a melancholy vibe and Rachel's chapter's were more straightforward. I highly recommend listening to this one on audio.
What to listen to while reading (or taking a break)
(sorry, I had to add the 1st two...they are the first songs that came to mind when I saw the title)
Nightswimming by R.E.M.
Night Swimming by Soccer Mommy
Til It Happens to You by Lady Gaga
Sullen Girl by Fiona Apple
Watering by Big Thief
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the advanced review copy!
On her arrival in Neapolis, Rachel starts receiving correspondence from a woman named Hannah who is begging Rachel to investigate her sister Jenny's death that happened 25 years ago in the same small town. Jenny thinks her sister was murdered, but the official cause of death was that Jenny drowned while swimming alone at night.
This character-driven mystery's narrative alternates between Rachel's story, episodes of season 3 of the podcast and letters from Hannah. I enjoyed this story as it allowed us to follow two crimes at once. I also loved the inclusion of a true crime podcast. Also, it discusses, the challenges women face when accusing someone of rape. The main female characters were all believable to me.
I listened to an audio ARC from MacMillan Audio and the narration was very well done. The Podcast chapters actually felt like mini-podcasts. Hannah's chapters had a melancholy vibe and Rachel's chapter's were more straightforward. I highly recommend listening to this one on audio.
What to listen to while reading (or taking a break)
(sorry, I had to add the 1st two...they are the first songs that came to mind when I saw the title)
Nightswimming by R.E.M.
Night Swimming by Soccer Mommy
Til It Happens to You by Lady Gaga
Sullen Girl by Fiona Apple
Watering by Big Thief
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the advanced review copy!
lunafairy023's review
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
alejaeger's review
5.0
Brilliant. Extremely heavy and necessary talk about victim blaming. I saw the plot twist coming but it was GREAT
shawnna_reads2's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
namitakhanna's review
5.0
Rachel Krall, a successful true crime podcast of Guilty or Not Guilty is on her way to Neapolis to cover the trial of Scott Blair who is accused of raping a 16 year old girl . When she stops for a coffee break she finds a note left for her on her car from Hannah who believes that her sister Jenny was murdered 25 years ago. Could there be a connection between the two cases of rape even though they are two decades apart ?
The Night Swim is a compulsive courtroom drama , told by different POV’s .It’s so hard to put this book down and is full of suspense and tension but there are trigger issues such as rape and sexual abuse. Cannot wait to read the next one by Megan Goldin!
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Night Swim is a compulsive courtroom drama , told by different POV’s .It’s so hard to put this book down and is full of suspense and tension but there are trigger issues such as rape and sexual abuse. Cannot wait to read the next one by Megan Goldin!
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
katyrain1's review
4.0
This book felt like a fresh take on the thriller. I will begin with the disclaimer that although it isn’t graphic, some of the events that happen are not for the faint of heart and are hard to read. The fact that the main narrator is neither a detective or person closely tied to the victims was a nice change from the usual.
The dialogue about rape culture, what it is like to be a woman and the double standards that women who come forward are subjected to was something that can’t easily be brought up in most books. The podcast portions really allowed commentary, which I appreciated!
The dialogue about rape culture, what it is like to be a woman and the double standards that women who come forward are subjected to was something that can’t easily be brought up in most books. The podcast portions really allowed commentary, which I appreciated!