Compelling Tale

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The Night SwimThe Night Swim by Megan Goldin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Be prepared to lose sleep when reading “The Night Swim,” the latest thriller by Megan Goldin

Hannah’s sister, Jenny, died twenty-five years ago. While officials determined that Jenny had drowned, Hannah is convinced she was murdered and desires to seek justice for her sister. Real Crime podcast host, Rachel, discovers a note from Hannah on her dashboard: Hannah wants Rachel’s help. While hesitant to help Hannah, Rachel attends the trial of a famous swimmer who is accused of raping a teenage girl. Yet, at the same time, Rachel continues to receive notes from Hannah and becomes involved in both investigations, which intersect.

I had not read any of Megan Goldin’s’s earlier work so was not sure what to expect when asked to review “Night Swim.” The author did a masterful job blending the two plotlines together as well as keeping the voices of Rachel and Hannah distinct. Transcripts of Rachel’s podcasts and Hannah’s letters are intersected from chapters told from Rachel’s POV. I appreciate how the reader discovered information just as Rachel does. This was not an easy read, both because of the subject matter and how realistically the author portrays rape and its aftermath. As an attorney, I found the courtroom scenes especially grisly, but that did not keep me from consuming the book in a handful of sittings. Now I need to hit the library and read Ms. Goldin’s earlier work.

Special thanks to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an opportunity to review this novel.

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