Reviews with content warning for Death - The Night Swim

This book surprised me with the excellent layout and handling of the story. I had not rushed to read this due to the premise as I shy away from sexual assault/rape storylines and legal thrillers. The true crime podcast angle was enjoyable and added to the novel when I feared it would distract. While the subject matter was tough, there were some necessary insights that are relevant to discussion today.

Content Warnings

erinhanso's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious 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? No

3.75

Content Warnings

porchrailreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I wanted to finish #TheNightSwim in August so September could be entirely devoted to Science Fiction and finding that one book that really stands out in the genre. Alas, things did not go according to plan. Work got in the way.
.
A little later than expected, but completed nonetheless.
.
The Night Swim by #MeganGoldin is almost two stories in one. On the one hand, we have Rachel, an investigative reporter and host of a true crime podcast, covering a sexual abuse case in the coastal North Carolinian town of Neapolis. On the other, we have Hannah, still mourning the death of her older sister nearly a quarter of a century later, seeking to find justice. Interspersed is Rachel’s podcast coverage of the trial.
.
In verbose and occasionally grandiose prose we learn the events of two seemingly unrelated but interconnected crimes. While the writing was a bit much, the message was incredibly profound and important. Conversations of sexual assault are difficult to have and there are ridiculous shades of gray. Victims bear the burden of proof and endure tremendous ridicule and trauma when coming forward. Society as a whole blames the victim for the crime while seldom confronting the perpetrator. It’s always “she should have…” instead of “he shouldn’t have…”
.
I have three gripes with this book. The first I’ve already alluded to. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. It was too much in parts while simultaneously not being enough of what matters.
.
Second, the cat and mouse game between Hannah and Rachel was unnecessary and detracted from Hannah’s story. Also, we never fully get resolution over the fact that Hannah straight up stalked Rachel for weeks.
.
Lastly, Goldin painstakingly tries to assert that Rachel will be unbiased in her reporting and coverage of the trial but the reality is she’s anything but. The excerpts of the podcast included in the book are entirely biased and paint the defendant as guilty prior to the reading of the verdict. Rachel is no Sarah Koening and ‘Guilty or Not Guilty’ is no ‘Serial.’
.
All in all, it’s a decent read though it has several triggers: rape, sexual assault, and the legal distinction between the two; abuse; neglect; death and dying; terminal illness; underaged drinking; trauma.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Content Warnings

More...