Office politics have seen Detective Stilwell banished to Catalina Island from the LA County Sheriff's department.

But it's not the backwater it seems...

Bodies don't wrap themselves in plastic and dump themselves at the bottom of the harbour...

Brilliant

Michael Connelly remains at the top of his game because he never stands still and is constantly innovating and introducing wonderful new characters. From Bosch to Haller to Ballard and now Harry Stilwell - another hardboiled cop who works to the same ethos of Bosch - everybody counts or nobody counts.

Falling foul of office politics he is exiled to the boondocks of Catalina Island and soon finds himself involved in a murder investigation and dirty politics.

He keeps on going even when ordered to stand down and eventually prevails.

Another wonderful book that drew me in and captivated me from the beginning.

What a treat!!

Usually Michael Connelly novels are published in the autumn annually but this year there is a second book and it is Nightshade.

I have read all of the author’s previous books, whether that’s the Bosch/ Lincoln Lawyer ones or the stand-alones and Nightshade is another superb police procedural with great pacing and numerous twists and turns.

Hopefully, the new main character, Detective Stilwell, returns and we can look forward to 2 excellent books a year from a writer who is showing no signs of diminishing returns.

An excellent read.

Another excellent investigative novel by the best in the business..
After the retirement of Harry Bosch, I was wondering how Michael Connelly would take it forward, and if his stories would lose something. No fear of that. His latest hero is on the outs with his employers, fighting insurmountable obstacles in the way of his investigation, and relentless in closing the case. Existing fans won't be disappointed, and new fans will have a juicy investigation story to go at. Still up there at the top echelon of police/detectives, but with a focus on today's happenings rather than chasing cold cases. Thank you Mr Connelly.