Nightshade

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Will Damron

Introducing Detective Stilwell: a cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina Island.

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.

Propulsive and atmospheric, Nightshade launches a brand new character into the Connelly universe, and proves without question that Michael Connelly is “the undisputed master of the modern crime novel” (Real Book Spy).

©2025 Michael Connelly (P)2025 Little, Brown & Company

A new Connelly detective…

New detective seemingly without character depth of prior Connelly detectives…two storyline cases interesting…performance unremarkable.

Slow moving story

while I a procedural detective story, this one moved painfully slow. I am hopeful that once the series moves on and we know the characters, it will move quicker.

Finally a new “read” 😁

I have listened to all of the Bosch, Halley, and Ballard books. I was happy to find another MC book I could listen to.

New characters, new settings, solid story.

I didn’t have anything I didn’t like, and it held my attention. I listened to it almost nonstop.

Loved that it was set on Catalina.

To Bosch like in the main character type. Other Sheriffs under played in role and personality.

Bosch on water

I enjoyed the new character introduction. Having been a Bosch and Ballard fan, Stillwell had the edginess of Bosch but, with a water background.

Great writing!

Characters were well developed and I could see Catalina Island. Connelly is the best! I hope he keeps it up.

Sorry, but this book was disappointing

Perhaps I've been spoiled by the many Harry Bosch novels I've enjoyed through the years (especially those performed by Titus Welliver), but it was hard to make myself finish this book. I'm hoping Michael Connelly hasn't gone the way of so many of my favorite authors as he's gotten older (or busier?) and contracted out much of the writing or use of his name. Perhaps my failure to enjoy this book is more of a reflection on my inability to identify with the young protagonists as I have gotten older, but I probably won't try another book in the Detective Stillwell series.

New character but as interesting as Bosch!

Great location for new series. So much possibility for storylines. Excited to see what happens next on Catalina Island.

4 stars

It's Connelly, but not Bosch so not as good. Narrator is decent but not outstanding. Story is decent but not outstanding.
I think instead of getting another without Bosch I'll listen to one of the Bosch books again, preferably with Len Cariou
narrating.