Department politics exiled Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell to a low-key post on Catalina Island. Now used to dealing with the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts in his new territory, Stilwell gets a report of a body found weighted down at the bottom of the harbor.
Jane Doe is only initially identifiable by a streak of purple dye in her hair. Stilwell is determined to work the case even though it means sharing the investigation with two extremely hostile LA homicide detectives he used to work with.
As Stilwell digs deeper, he begins to uncover closely guarded secrets and a dark inner core to the tranquil island that was supposed to be his escape from the big city.
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Sheriff's Detective Stilwell is a welcome addition to the Harry Bosch School of Policing. A former sheriff's dive team member, he's a good fit for the quieter pace of Catalina Island in Michael Connelly's Nightshade.
A new addition to the Connelly canon calls for a new setting, and I really enjoyed getting to know Catalina Island, which-- in Stilwell's world-- is known as "the Island of Misfit Toys" because police officers with blotches on their records are sent there if they can't be fired outright. Naturally, boating plays a big part in life on the island. Stilwell has gotten to know his fellow officers, their strengths and weaknesses, and he's in a relationship with a woman who's always lived on Catalina. Her very different perspective means that they don't always see eye-to-eye.
The investigations are what we've come to expect from Michael Connelly-- intriguing, engrossing, and filled with interesting factoids (like Prada's RFI chips). I'm definitely looking forward to learning more about Stilwell in the next book. Bring it on!
Nightshade by Michael Connelly
eISBN: 9780316588492
Little, Brown and Company © 2025
eBook, 352 pages
Police Procedural, #1 Detective Stilwell
Rating: A
Source: Net Galley
Catalina Island is a beautiful place, Cathy, and yes, Stillwell fits in there, no doubt about that. I'm glad you enjoyed this so well, but frankly, I'm not surprised. You basically can't go wrong with a Michael Connelly novel. I don't think I've ever been disappointed in one.
ReplyDeleteCathy, I'm so glad you shared your experience with Nightshade. I'm definitely going to read it - had planned to - but, nice to hear that it worked well for you. I've not been to Catalina Island and will enjoy learning about it as well as learning about Stilwell.
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