It’s always a treat when an established author gives us a new character in a new setting. Veteran crime writer Michael Connelly sets his latest book on Catalina, a resort island just off the Los Angeles coast. It’s an island so small cars are not needed and everyone tootles about in golf carts.
His new character, Detective Stilwell (no first name given, he goes by Stil), has been demoted from homicide in LAPD to sheriff and living a far more laidback life until murder comes to the island.
The mystery is good, the plotting tight and the characters interesting. There are a few hints that it is set in the same universe as Bosch, Ballad and Haller so maybe we will see one of them popping up on the island in future. Fans will love this new addition to the family.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

A new detective series from the master of crime fiction. The book is superbly written. I particularly enjoyed the setting which is on a isolated island. Getting to know Stilwell was a pleasant natural experience and I love his expertise and skills. I was desperate for him to succeed in solving the crime. The mystery had me eagerly anticipating the unraveling.

Actual rating 3.5.

I’ve been a Michael Connelly fan for a long time, but whilst I enjoyed this one I must admit it was nowhere near the level of the Bosch or Lincoln Lawyer series for me. Stilwell and the Catalina Island setting are interesting enough, but the story itself just felt like something I’d read before and didn’t captivate me, although I liked the ending. I ended up listening to the audiobook, which was well narrated if a bit stiff!

Oh, I do love Michael Connelly. This is a whole new world he's giving us and, I must confess, I stopped reading after a few pages to look at Google Maps and try to understand some of the geography involved. His other novels are easier to picture when LA is so well known but I'd never heard of this island so felt I needed more before I could lose myself in the book.
Once I did, I raced through it. I read at such a pace, I didn't sleep - I was completely and entirely immersed. I love the new characters, I love the tension, I love the sense of isolation and independence with a detective who is working so differently to Michael Connelly's other characters.
Full five stars - although I would like a map - and I look forward to the next one.

A new series and a new lead detective, Stilwell having recently been transferred to Catalina island, is adjusting to a quieter life compared to LA. When a young woman is found dead, Stilwell struggles to let go and allow the mainland detectives to investigate. Through circumstances, and an overlap between cases, Stilwell finds himself in the middle of it all. Determined to find out the woman’s identity and who murdered her, Stilwell goes against orders, and other detectives.

A great first book, it will be interesting to see if the series continues.

4 Stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for a advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first book in a brand new series from the master of crime fiction.

As I have come to expect from this great author he has again created a strong character with a high moral compass. The plot was fast paced and kept the tension high all the way through. I absolutely loved this book and look forward to reading more.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been “exiled” to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland. But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found weighed down at the bottom of the harbor—a Jane Doe identifiable at first only by a streak of purple dye in her hair. At the same time, a report of poaching on a protected reserve turns into a case fraught with violence and danger as Stilwell digs into the shady past of an island bigwig.

Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, Stilwell doggedly works both cases. Though hampered by an old beef with an ex-colleague determined to thwart him at every turn, he is convinced he is the only one who can bring justice to the woman known as “Nightshade.” Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.

Nightshade, is the latest novel by Michael Connelly and also the first book in a new series. This series focus’s on LA County Sheriff Detective Stilwell and is set on the island of Catalina. Stilwell was exiled to the island following being taken off an homicide case.

Stilwell receives a report of a female Jane Doe who has been discovered by a diver off the coast of the island. He immediately wants to step up and solve the case but faces dealing with seniors on the mainland who are keen to have the case assigned to them.

Detective Stilwell is a very complex character and I am sure will only get better once Michael Connelly adds depth to the character in follow up stories. Stilwell was moved from homicide to sleepy Catalina due to internal politics but is definitely capable of dealing with bigger crimes than the ones expected on the island. The Jane Doe discovered submerged in the harbour offers Stilwell a bigger challenge. Her only distinguishing feature is a streak of purple in her hair. Meanwhile a poaching complaint on a nearby nature reserve quickly escalates into something much darker. The two case appear unrelated, but Stilwell’s instincts say otherwise.

I am really looking forward to reading further books in this series as Stilwell is flawed, demoted yet still determined to make a difference. This is a character that has excellent potential for future books. As usual the writing is first class, great storytelling, excellent characters and an intriguing plot.

This is an absorbing thriller and I found it impossible to put down. I love Michael Connelly novels and he never fails to deliver.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since picking up a copy of City of Bones at WH Smiths in Glasgow Central Station, I’ve been hooked on Michael Connelly books, and he’s one of the increasing number of writers on my Must Buy list. 

Nightshade introduces us to Detective Sergeant Stilwell. Stilwell has a strong sense of Right and Wrong, and wants to see justice done. This has caused problems in a previous assignment, with partners and colleagues that would rather do what’s easy than what’s right. 

And so Stilwell finds himself posted to run the show on Catalina Island. It’s been a while since Connelly has taken us there, back in the days of Terry McCaleb. 

There’s a feeling that there’s more to learn about Stilwell. We don’t even learn his first name, and like a calm ocean, there may be deep and dangerous undercurrents. 

If the exile posting to Catalina was supposed to be a punishment, it’s allowed Stilwell to find a level of peace. He does his job, and is in a new relationship, and may even be happy away from the mainland action. That is until a body is found, wrapped and anchored. 

While the case is to be handled by mainland detectives - naturally, the ones Stilwell previously butted heads with - Stilwell finds himself unable to let go of the case when a theft report inadvertently leads him to discover who the murder victim was. While the body may have washed towards Catalina, all the clues point to the perpetrator being on the island, and in hunting down the killer, bigger crimes come to light. 

It always feels strange to read a Connelly novel without Bosch, but the author excels at creating leading characters we want to follow, and I feel there’s a lot more for us to learn about Stilwell.

Just stating it here, Harry Bosch will always be my detect6hero and nobody else can compare..
However, since Michael Connelly writes such damn fine dete6fiction, Im6happy to move onto a new character (well, as long as Harry returns).
Having become accustomed to Los Angeles, I found the new location tricky to acclimatise to as it was so unfamiliar but a lot of Googling helped with that.
Detective Stillwwll is one of the good guys.
Thanks to Netgalley.

In true Michael Connelly style this story rips along, filled with tension, misdirection and suspense. I enjoyed the island setting, Catalina, where Detective Stilwell has been exiled following police politics on the mainland. I also particularly enjoyed the fraught relationship between him and his ex-colleagues, particularly when they’re flung together to solve a murder on the island. Connelly explores the often fraught, but also sometimes advantageous, relationship between the police and the media, as well as the consequences of being in a relationship with a dedicated detective. Nightshade also delves into the privileged world of an exclusive club, gangsters, ruthless murderers, blackmail and corruption. A great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for my copy of Nightshade by Michael Connelly.
Detective Stilwell is the only detective on the small island of Catalina.
Used to a quiet time, everything changes when a young woman’s body is found.
Although the investigation is being run from Los Angeles on the mainland, he can’t help getting involved.
As the book goes on we learn more about how Stilwell ended up on the Island.
It’s a good start to what I hope will be a great series.

Detective Stillwell transfered 'not his choice' to Calina island by office politics. Michael Conolly make this island come to life. The chracters are well drawn. As you'd expect fromm this author there's plenty of twists and red herrings. I've not read this author for a long time but I'm glad I tried this book, I couldn't put it down. Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Detective Stillwell is the highest ranking officer on the Island of Catalina. It wasn't a position he applied for, he was just sent over there after disgracing himself on the mainland. The same applies for the other officers there. He actually quite likes it, he has a new relationship, the island life suits him and there isn't the same amount of crime as in his previous role. That is until a body is discovered in the bay. Stillwell has to once again deal with the people who got him sent there. As the investigation continues, other crimes that rock the bedrock of the island come to light and Stillwell's new life is threatened.
This is a very readable book from Mr Connelly.

As a long-time Michael Connelly fan—someone who’s followed Harry Bosch through every gritty back alley and courtroom showdown, and eagerly devoured every twist with the Lincoln Lawyer—I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Nightshade. And let me tell you, it delivers. This isn’t just a great standalone thriller. It’s the promising first step in what could (and should!) be Connelly’s next iconic series.

The novel introduces us to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell, a man freshly ‘exiled’ from the homicide division on the mainland thanks to internal politics and cantankerous colleagues. His punishment? A sleepy posting on Catalina Island. Sounds idyllic, right? Stilwell doesn’t think so. He’s brooding, sharp-edged, and clearly doesn’t play well with bureaucrats—exactly the kind of flawed, compelling character Connelly does best.

But what starts as a backwater gig quickly spirals into something far more sinister. When a body is discovered wrapped in plastic at the bottom of Avalon Harbor, Stilwell goes full pitbull. Despite the jurisdictional mess and the island’s reluctance to admit anything bad ever happens there, he refuses to let go of the case. That’s where the tension ratchets up: the politics that pushed him to Catalina haven’t left him alone, and now they’re entangling him in a murder that nobody wants solved.

Connelly does what he’s always done brilliantly: he makes the setting a character in itself. Catalina, with its sleepy charm and veneer of touristy calm, hides rot beneath the surface. There’s a creeping unease as Stilwell digs deeper—rumours, secrets, people who seem just a little too helpful. The pace is tight and measured, with the kind of meticulous police work that feels authentic, gritty, and never overdone. Stilwell himself is a fantastic new lead—hardened but not cold, disillusioned but still burning with that need for justice.

The writing is classic Connelly: lean, direct, and emotionally grounded. Dialogue is crisp, and the procedural elements are spot-on. Fans of Bosch will feel right at home, but this isn’t a retread. Stilwell brings a fresh perspective, especially in how he navigates a community that sees itself as separate from the mainland’s problems.

Could this be the beginning of a new series? Absolutely. Stilwell has the complexity and edge to anchor multiple books. And Catalina—both isolated and claustrophobic—feels like a goldmine of dark stories waiting to be uncovered.

Verdict: Nightshade is an atmospheric, pulse-pounding winner. If this is Stilwell’s first outing, I’ll be first in line for the next.

Finished just in time for publication day and what a ride it was!

A new series from Michael Connelly, which is very odd because Bosch is just the dream character for me and I feel like a Connelly world without him can't be true!

This book had a lot to live up to and I'm pleased to say it delivered. We have the usual writing style from Connelly, and the perfect characterizations of pretty much every one in the book. The landscape/setting was dreamy (bar the murders and seedy underbelly) and I loved the new scenery.

Looking forward to the next in this series, and also hoping this won't spell the end of Bosch! :)

I am a big fan of this author so, when he starts a new series, am I going to jump in with both feet...? Heck yeah I am! So I did. And it was, mostly, good.
Set on the small island of Catalina, a place where "difficult" cops go to be "exiled", we meet Sheriff's Detective Stilwell who has managed to establish himself after being "sent" there after some shenanigans. Interesting shenanigans, but I will leave you to find out the details, suffice to say he is one of the good guys...
Anyway, after getting a bit bogged down initially with a whole bunch of boating stuff which did take me a while to get to grips with, coupled with a load (no exaggeration) of characters all introduced at once, there's a body found weighed down by an anchor. He is already investigating a case of poaching but, as this appears to be foul play, he knows he has to hand it off to the mainland Detectives which, in itself, is another issue for him. Lucky for him, as he is called to investigate another case, this time theft.
Suffice to say, things get messy, well, they are bound to when a posh yacht club is concerned, and bigwigs are not to be upset... But, as already mentioned, Stilwell is one of the good guys so he won't let a bit of politics get in the way of finding the truth and bringing justice for all...
Now I did like this book. We did get off to a shaky side and, tbh, the speed the characters appeared and the assumption I followed the boating stuff did make me feel like this might be either an already ongoing series, or a spin off, or I had missed an introductory short story somewhere. I don't thin I did, but, like I said, it was a bit messy for me initially but, as I do have a great track record, it was enough for me to plough my way through and, once it all settled down, things went mostly swimmingly thereafter.
Outwith the crimes, we also have his personal and work lives - both of which are in balance and complemented rather than distracted from the main. The fact (now established) that this is a series opener allows the author a proportion of setup - characters and setting and this is commensurate with such.
And the crimes sure did keep me on my toes throughout, as they meandered around and about each other, spitting me out at the end wholly satisfied.
All in all, notwithstanding the already mentioned issues, this was a good solid series opener, which I guess did its job as it has left me wondering what is next for Stilwell...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY! 🎉✨📚
As a dedicated fan of Michael Connelly, I eagerly anticipate each new release, and “Nightshade” certainly did not disappoint! It marks the intriguing start of a brand-new series, introducing us to a fresh protagonist rather than the familiar faces we've come to know and love.

Enter County Sheriff Detective Stilwell, affectionately dubbed 'Stil.' After facing challenges on the mainland, he finds himself assigned to picturesque Catalina Island, a move that initially leaves him feeling uncertain. However, it doesn’t take long for him to fall head over heels for the island's charm and the promise of a new life, complete with a budding romance. But when things start to look up, tragedy strikes—a young woman's body is found, weighted down in the harbour.

What follows is a gripping investigation that forces Stil to confront his past as he collaborates with mainland colleagues with whom he has a tumultuous history. As he digs deeper, the dark undercurrents of the island begin to surface, revealing a side completely at odds with its serene facade.

True to Connelly’s masterful style, the narrative unfolds steadily, initially laying the groundwork for establishing this new series. But make no mistake—the journey is as dark, gritty and captivating as ever, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. Stilwell is a richly developed character who is fiercely independent and unwavering in pursuing the truth, no matter the personal cost. Watching him adapt to his new surroundings and their impact on those around him is truly fascinating.

The island plays a vital role, almost like a character in its own right, adding depth and atmosphere to the storyline. Connelly also disperses clever nods to his previous works, rooting this tale within the broader timeline and setting the stage for thrilling future crossovers. With this new character leading the charge, Connelly proves once again that he is a powerhouse in the procedural thriller genre, and it’s exhilarating to add another must-read novel to his impressive collection! I will anxiously be awaiting the next book in the series.
I highly recommend this for fans of procedural thrillers and character-driven plot-driven storylines.

Fans of Michael Connelly can stop worrying; this latest crime fiction outing from the author ticks all the Connelly boxes: well drawn characters; a plot that has depth and breadth so that the reader has to explore various possibilities before being guided to a credible resolution; momentum that builds steadily towards the eventual denouement; and a geographical setting that is well described. So, as expected, this is another Connelly book that is hard to put down.
If there was any slight disappointment there was a vague sense that one of the lead character’s investigations had been left somewhat incomplete, leading this reader to wonder if there was more to come from Detective Sergeant Stilwell. Overall, though, a solid and engaging novel, as we have come to expect from Michael Connelly.

Detective Stilwell works for the Los Angeles County Sheriff on the small island of Catalina, just off the coast of L.A.
He’s been exiled for his own good, and now his main job is dealing with petty crime and the odd drunk. That is until the body of a young girl is discovered wrapped in plastic. He is told not to get involved in the investigation, but he can’t help himself and starts to look into it.
After a short time he starts to find out more about the island than he thought possible, and it’s not the quiet haven it’s made out to be, and this murder might be the catalyst to reveal all its dark secrets.
Detective Stilwell is a wonderful new character to add to the impressive collection of characters written by this author, and this first book in the series is just simply outstanding.
It has a main character that is dogged and determined to find the truth no matter what, and it’s set in a unique and wonderful place.
When it comes to writing crime fiction, I personally think Michael Connelly is the best in the business and Nightshade is a perfect example of his writing prowess.

I have always found Michael Connolly writes a great story and have enjoyed his Bosh series throughly. So I was really excited to be allowed by NetGalley to review his new series. It is exactly what I expected from a brilliant writer at the top of his game, even though it was the first book in the series Mr Connelly developed the world in which it takes place fully, you fell like you know the characters and Catalina right from the start. The story line develops in an engaging way with an excellent pace, lots of threads pull you through the book to a satisfying end leaving you satisfied but looking for the next instalment. Highly recommended to you, this will be another enjoyable series by a master storyteller at the top of his game!