Although Connelly will always be, in my mind, synonymous with LA detective Harry Bosch, his most recent creation -- Detective Stilwell -- is off to an intriguing start in this latest novel. Forced by departmental politics to police Catalina Island -- a small community outside of LA -- Stilwell's caseload seems low stakes, with a missing Marlin statue, and the usual crowd of drunks and local characters getting into disputes that seem a far cry away from the world of homicide that surrounds the likes of Bosch. But then a body's found wrapped in plastic and dumped in the harbour, and suddenly Stilwell's looking into a case that stretches much further than the coastline of his new community.

There's a lightness to this new series that feels different from the morally weighted world of Harry Bosch, although as ever, Connelly captures the inner lives of his cast with aplomb, and his dedication to showing how it feels to be on the job is as strong as ever. There's an air here that captures the feeling of the late, great Joseph Wambaugh and in particular his novel about harbour cops, "Floaters", especially in the way that the island community and its relationship to law enforcement is portrayed.

I don't know yet if Stilwell is quite as interesting as Bosch -- there are hints at threads in his life to be explored, but none feel yet as compelling as some of Bosch's early appearances -- but he certainly has the potential to gain further depth, although I would love to see more of life on Catalina Island and to gain an even stronger sense of its community as the series develops.

It's an intriguing start to a new series, and a highly readable mystery that readers are going to have a great time with. Whether it is going to be as strong a series as the Bosch or Lincoln Lawyer books is something we'll know more when Stilwell returns.

The new Michael Connelly is coming out in May! Nightshade introduces us to a whole new set of characters - the main one being DS Stilwell - all based on Catalina Island. It was a great setting and I enjoyed learning a bit about the island, and what goes on there. My main problem with this book was that there were so many characters, I felt like I didn’t really connect with anyone. Stilwell himself - we never learn his first name, how old he is, what he looks like. I just found that hard to get past. And even his girlfriend, Tash - he constantly referred to her by her full name which I found odd and made it sound like she was a business partner!

Normally with a Michael Connelly book - whether it’s a Lincoln Lawyer, Bosch or Renee Ballard - I’m hooked by the second or third chapter. With this, I wouldn’t have even guessed it was a Michael Connelly if I didn’t know. I was almost halfway through before I got into the story.

There was also a lot of maritime phrases that I didn’t understand which gave me a bit of a block. I mean, I’m from Hull, but even I’ve never heard of a marine layer, so it was a bit much for the first sentence of the book!

Anyway, the story! DS Stilwell has been transferred to Catalina Island after an investigation around him in his home department in LA. He’s the only detective on the island so it made for a good setting. We have two stories running concurrently - the investigation into the murder of a buffalo (which are protected animals in Catalina) - and then, a body is discovered under the water which leads to an investigation surrounding the intriguing Black Marlin members club.

We find out more about why Stilwell was forced out of LA, and how he doesn’t play by the rules! (Although mostly he came across as a bit of a micromanager!)

It really picked up in the second half, so I do think I’d give the characters another chance if it’s the start of a new series. But otherwise I’m looking forward to getting back to Ballard and Bosch!

Superb new story with a new policeman hero from the expert pen of Michael Connelly! The new detective is a police sergeant who was originally stationed in the force in Los Angeles as a homicide detective but because of office politics he has been transferred to to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, Here he is tasked with arresting drunks and petty thieves but he has settled into the routine of this posting. Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbour. Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, he starts doggedly working the case. 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.

This book has a very well thought out, dramatic but complex plot, with many twists and turns which make for a very vivid and fast moving story line. The author does not allow you to get too settled in reading the story before it moves off in a complete new direction. It was a very absorbing read with a real quality as a result of the in depth research he has made.

This very experienced author writes a very exciting story which had me really gripped until the very dramatic conclusion. I enjoyed reading this very much and will certainly look out for more books by him in the future. Strongly recommended

After being forced off the mainland by department politics, Detective Stilwell now leads the team on Catalina Island - dealing with crimes ranging from drunk and disorderlies to the mutilation of local buffalo. But when a boat is being cleaned and leads to a body that has had an anchor wrapped around it, Stilwell knows that while some bodies are buried, everything comes to light eventually. He investigates the case, but the boundaries that he oversteps may put those he loves and himself in much more serious danger.

This is the first book in a new series by Michael Connelly and it does not disappoint - the new characters that we're introduced to feel like they belong in the world of Bosch and Haller - a very easy 5* book.

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.