The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

"Maybe I shouldn't tell you. Maybe I should just leave the past alone. Let it die with me."

The small seaside town of Neapolis is seeing more excitement than it is used to. Sure, there is a fair share of tourism as the summer crowds flock to the city's beautiful beaches, but this is something completely unprecedented. One of their own, a golden child of the community, has been accused of a heinous crime. As a collegiate swimming star destined for Olympic glory, Scott Blair was a beacon of pride for the local townspeople. The fact that his family is one of the wealthiest in the area was merely the cherry on top of their reverence for the young man. Now the notoriety that comes from being the hometown of a future Olympian has soured. Scott has been accused of rape. The alleged victim and her family, also residents of the city, are taking every legal action they can against Scott. With the trial set to being, a throng of national media has come to the town, bringing a shadow of negative attention to the normally sunny town.

Rachel Krall has arrived in Neapolis as just a small part of the massive press machine. A couple years ago she started a popular crime podcast called Guilty or Not Guilty. Her reporting helped a wrongly incarcerated man walk free and propelled her podcast to a huge following. Normally Rachel uses the show to take a deep dive into trials that have already happened. The luxury of hindsight often allows her to come to conclusions that the jury or prosecutors may have missed. For her latest season, however, Rachel has something completely different in mind. Rather than dissect the trials of the past, she will place her audience directly inside of an ongoing case. She chose the story of the rape in Neapolis because rape trials seem to be one of the few cases in the justice system where the victim faces as much scrutiny as the accused.

In transit to the trial, Rachel pauses at a rest stop. When she returns to her car, she sees a note tucked between her wiper blade and windshield. The letter is from someone named Hannah who states that she has reached out to Rachel several times asking for help. You see, Hannah's sister died many years ago, and her death was ruled an accidental drowning. Hannah thinks it was actually murder. She believes that if anyone can come to the truth surrounding her sister's death, it would be Rachel. Here's the problem though. Rachel purposefully doesn't do televised interviews or publish pictures of herself. Short of hearing her voice, no one would be able to identify Rachel. This makes Hannah's presence all the more troubling. How did she know who Rachel was and why has she latched onto Rachel as some sort of savior?

Last year I read Megan Goldin's The Escape Room, a novel that saw me gaining the new skill of multitasking walking while reading. This led to more trips and stumbles than I care to admit, so I quickly abandoned this foolish attempt to not miss out on any of the action in her book. Still, my enjoyment of that book had me ready to read whatever Goldin came up with next. That turned out to be The Night Swim, a decidedly different book that Goldin's publisher generously provided to me. This new novel is described by the publisher as "electrifying and propulsive" superlatives that are accurate, but not in the traditional thriller sense. Unlike her previous work, Goldin does not use a fast-moving plot to drive the momentum of her newest offering. Instead, she uses the development of her characters to provide the propulsion that her publisher promises. That's not to say that this character focus is a bad thing. In fact, I'd argue that the strong cast of this novel actually made me enjoy it more than The Escape Room.

"That's how trials work. It's medieval. It's not about getting to the truth. it's about who can put on a better show."

The trial setting gives The Night Swim echoes of those classic John Grisham thrillers. Like Grisham, Goldin peppers in a commentary on the justice system's questionable track record with sexual assault crimes and forces the reader to face the realities of our flawed legal structures. She doesn't hold back on the graphic descriptions of the crimes that were committed. These uncomfortable passages are difficult to read but vital in providing the context of each character's convictions. Beyond the questions surrounding the rape, the novel is haunted by the customs of small-town life. This is the kind of place where everybody knows everyone else. If one person has an opinion, it becomes a universal fact for the rest of the community. That small-town Americana permeates every page of The Night Swim adding another layer of depth to this already stellar novel. The Night Swim proves Goldin's versatility as a storyteller and marks another fantastic read from this masterful author.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 35)

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 6, 2020 and is filed under ,,,,,,,,,. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.

28 Responses to “The Night Swim by Megan Goldin”

  1. I'm definitely gonna check this one out. Sounds like a lot is going on here. Hugs, RO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was a lot happening, but Goldin really managed it all beautifully.

      Delete
  2. I just got this one in the mail yesterday from Book of the Month. I don't know when I'll have time to read it, but hopefully soon! So glad to hear you enjoyed it.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so excited for you to read it. Great pick!

      Delete
  3. Having just finished My Dark Vanessa I'm going to have to wait awhile before I read this one; I need light and happy at the moment. But this one does sound really good! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, you need something very different for the time being haha.

      Delete
  4. Sounds like the author gets the reader fired up in many ways. Glad to hear the author produced another hit for you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were so many threads to this one, but she handled it all beautifully.

      Delete
  5. This sounds like such a powerful story and I cam imagine it was tough to read at times. Seems like Golden is proving to be quite versatile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She is such a great writer. This one really made me a fan.

      Delete
  6. I had trouble with The Escape Room because most of the characters were so unlikable, but this sounds totally up my alley. I love character development and courtroom justice, and all that it entails. I think rape cases are particularly hard to prosecute or defend because it basically comes down to "he said, she said" unless there's provable force. Especially, if it involves known parties. I definitely wouldn't want to be a juror on a case like it, because how can you tell who's telling the truth? Wonderful review, Ethan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you about the characters in The Escape Room. This one makes it much easier to root for the good characters. She really dives into the difficulty of prosecuting a rape trial and the entire system in general.

      Delete
  7. It's definitely a messed up system and it seems like the author managed to write a compelling story from it.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is. I'm glad a book like this could shed some light on an injustice that is all too common.

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. Yeah, having someone following you is very unnerving.

      Delete
  9. Decidedly creepy that the gal left a note for her like that at the rest stop.
    Oh my yes, Grisham sure opened my eyes to the legal system. I've come to enjoy courtroom drama. I'll have to check this one out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you like those early Grisham books, you'll really enjoy this one!

      Delete
  10. Ok, you've convinced me to try this author...but not walking and reading. What were you thinking?? 😂 Audiobooks are for walking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've learned audiobooks are the much safer alternative hahaha

      Delete
  11. Walking and reading...never tried it, lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't recommend you try that, but I do recommend you try this book!

      Delete
  12. Oh my, this sounds fascinating, and the character-focus so promising. There's also something sinister about how the note that was left for Hannah -- it does not bode well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't that creepy? I would be freaking out if I found a note like that, especially if I had taken efforts to make sure people didn't recognize me!

      Delete
  13. There are only so many authors that can write those gruesome, detailed crime scenes. Karin Slaughter for one! I'm a sucker for it, I think it's necessary to get the angst and urge in a book.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Walking and reading a book at the same time is not a skill I've mastered (unless the book is an audiobook). I walked into a light pole as a kid because I was reading my book and not watching where I was going. LOL.

    I like a fast-paced thriller, but I actually don't mind a slow-burning one as long as it's still engaging. Sounds like this one does it right. The comparison to classic Grisham novels is also appealing. Now I want to read this one even more than I did before!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't recommend the read and walking thing. I haven't mastered it either lol. I think you'll really enjoy this one!

      Delete

Powered by Blogger.