Hi, readers! Today I'm super excited to be part of the blog tour for Megan Goldin's latest thriller, The Night Swim!
Rachel Krall's podcast has blown up. Now in its third season, Rachel has worked hard to make sure she delivers the kind of programming and content that her listeners crave. Which is why she's traveled to the tiny town of Neapolis.
Neapolis is the site of an upcoming court case that has literally split the town. A golden boy has been accused of rape and everyone has an opinion. Rachel strives to be impartial, sharing the facts as they're presented, but when she's approached by a woman who all but begs for help in solving her sister's murder, Rachel finds that being impartial is becoming more and more difficult.
The murder in question is over two decades old and has nothing to do with the current trial, but similarities between the victims are impossible to overlook. And that case from so long ago is starting to haunt Rachel. As she splits her time and focus between the two cases, she begins to realize that Neapolis is hiding some very dark secrets!
I will admit that I had high expectations of The Night Swim, given how much I enjoyed Goldin's debut, The Escape Room. And I'm happy to say that this book did not disappoint!
Rachel is on her way to Neapolis when the book begins. She's on her own, thanks to an accident that has left her producer, Pete, hospitalized. Being alone isn't really a concern except that Rachel's podcast has grown more and more popular with each season. But it's her voice people recognize, not her face.
At least that's what she thought.
Before she's even arrived, Rachel has been spotted by someone. A woman calling herself Hannah has left Rachel a note on her windshield. In the note, the woman asks for Rachel's help, claiming it's the third time she's done so. She's desperate, that much is clear to Rachel. But Rachel has a job to do—a trial to attend and a podcast to put together. She doesn't really have time to investigate a second crime.
Plus, she's used to people asking for her help. And she's only got so much she can give.
Still, something about the letter intrigues her. She finds herself drawn into the case in spite of her reservations. And as it turns out, there's something to the case after all.
The small town setting is perfect for the kind of dramatic story that Goldin has built. And interspersed between chapters of Rachel's investigation and her attending the court case she's actually in town for, are episodes of the podcast and Hannah's letters.
Weaving together so many different threads can be a precarious thing and it doesn't always work, but Goldin manages it quite well. I never felt pulled out of the story or anxious to get back to any one part. I thought the whole thing worked and flowed so well together that the narrative moved along at a great pace.
I also had the chance to bounce back and forth between the audio book and the physical book, which was fortunate because it meant that I never really had to put the story aside (which I was in loathe of having to do!). The audio is particularly well produced, featuring three different voice narrators—Bailey Carr, January LaVoy, and Samantha Desz.
Considering the book revolves around a podcast, I would highly suggest the audio version! You can listen to a sample over on Libro.fm.
The Night Swim is out now and is an excellent thriller that especially hits home during summer.
Huge thanks to the publisher for inviting me to take part in the tour!
For more on Megan Goldin and her work you can visit her website here. You can also like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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