The Night Swim is the latest in the new popular thriller genre of 'podcast thrillers'. It tells the story of Rachel, a woman who runs a true crime podcast and is hunting for her latest case. She decides to follow the trial of a young swimmer accused of rape but is distracted when she receives persistent notes from a woman desperate for her to solve the case of her dead sister. There are parallels between the cases and, as Rachel gets further sucked in, old secrets get revealed.
Being honest, it took me a little while to get into this book. I think I wasn't in the right mindframe when I first picked it up but, after a short break, I became absorbed by the story. This is one of those thrillers which thrives on simplicity and clarity, and it is all the stronger for it. The modern day case is told through the actual courtroom scenes so be aware of that going in if courtroom dramas aren't your speed. It's also intense in terms of the sexual assault and surrounding examinations (as one would expect) and I imagine this book would be massively triggering in that regard. The podcast element isn't a huge part of the plot, more of a framing device, so don't expect a Sadie-like structure either.
What this thriller does provide is an interesting look at how rape accusations are handled, as well as a fantastic secondary mystery to keep you gripped. The two stories running parallel really say a lot about feminist issues, and the story focused on the past has some good thriller moments to keep you hooked. I loved how the two cases related to each other and I think it was incredibly well done.
Overall, The Night Swim is a deeply sad, gripping and interesting thriller. Rachel was a great POV character and I would love to read more books about her podcast. It has a satisfying conclusion and a lot to say, whilst keeping the tone entertaining and thoughtful. Megan Goldin is definitely an author to check out.
Overall Rating:
No comments:
Post a Comment