Nightshade
by Michael Connelly
Pub Date: May 20, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Introducing Detective Stilwell: a cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina Island.
It’s been a while since Connelly launched a brand-new character and series, and fans of his work know he excels at creating compelling, multi-dimensional characters and Sergeant Stilwell is no exception. Much like Detective Bosch, Stilwell operates by a strict personal code that compels him to push his investigations beyond the ordinary. The island setting is key, too: the physical distance between Stilwell and his superiors not only emphasizes his isolation but also ramps up the tension, keeping readers on edge.
One of the reasons why I love Connelly so much is that he continues to surprise me. Book after book I never quite have the solve pinned down and Nightshade is no exception. Like his detectives and their cases, the story unfolds unpredictably, and if you’re anything like me, you won’t want to put the book down until you’ve unraveled every twist.

Wow! Connelly has created another winning character, LA County Sheriff Detective Stillwell. We don't know yet as much about him as we do about Bosch, Haller and Ballard but we know enough to want to know more and read the next book in the series. The setting, rustic Catalina Island, is very different from the LA settings of the other characters, but, it is refreshing to be in another area. Yes, as always, there is a fast moving plot with realistic dialogue. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Michael Connelly does it again. As a big fan of his Harry Bosch, Renee Ballard, and The Lincoln Lawyer series, I was excited to read this new series by Michael Connelly. Set in beautiful Coronado Island, with the type of ostracized, rule breaking protagonist he is famous for, this is a fast paced, action packed, police procedural series. It grabbed me from the get go and I couldn't put it down. I literally read it in one day. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reader copy.

Connelly introduces us to an awesome new police detective hero Harry Stilwell, who much like Harry Bosch, gets himself in frequent trouble with the upper brass in pursuing justice but stands resolute in his quest for the truth.

Harry Stilwell has been transferred as punishment by his superiors to Santa Catalina Island off the coast from L.A.- an outpost to which the L.A. County Sheriff’s department exiles political troublemakers. In Harry’s case, in L.A. he continued to pursue and expose the true murderer in a murder involving police corruption after his superior deemed the case closed based on a conveniently blamed, but innocent suspect. And even with his department exile, Harry holds true to the high moral principles that drive his work.

Harry has actually overcome his exile resentment and come to love working in Catalina, partially due to interesting criminal cases unfolding and mostly his budding romance with Tash, a deputy in charge of the island’s harbor operations. Harry finds himself with two new cases on his hands, first with the felonious decapitating of a buffalo on Catalina’s nature preserve and then with the dead body of a young woman that gotten twisted in the chain of an anchor in the harbor.

Harry focuses on the murder investigation and the exclusive wealthy boat club where the missing woman worked, only to find the case swept out from under him and handed to a mainland team of police investigators to handle. This team includes the lazy and hostile investigator who got Harry exiled to Catalina to the first place. Harry doesn’t trust the team for good reason, and continues to pursue island-based leads that ultimately lead him to mainland based suspects. Harry risks even further disciplinary action by refusing to stop investigating, when the mainland ignores what really was going on and how an island-based crime boss may be in the thick of things.

Like the launch of Harry Bosch, hopefully we can eagerly anticipate many more Harry Stilwell adventures, where we learn more about his back story, root for his relationship with Tash and him staying on Catalina, and get him stubbornly holding out for justice in the cases that come his way and in his political power struggles with the mainland politicos in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company as well as NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

I've been a big fan of this author for quite some time (just for grins, I counted reviews of those I've posted since I started my book blog in 2013, and there are 13 in there). So getting the chance to sample the first in a new series put a smile on my face for days. Now that I've finished reading, the smile is still there and I'm looking forward to the next installment, but I have to say I'll need more time to really warm up to the new guy in town - if for no other reason than I just can't trust anyone who apparently doesn't have a first name (or maybe that's a plot hook reminiscent of Leroy Jethro Gibbs).

Actually, Stilwell is on an island - Catalina Island, to be exact. Once a detective for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, he irritated the powers-that-be there enough that they deported him to the island where all the department misfits go - a place where they figured he couldn't get in much trouble (and if he did, it wouldn't be their problem).

To kick things off, he responds to a report of a female body that's been found at the bottom of the harbor; she's in pretty bad shape and is devoid of any identification except for the purple streak in her hair. At the same time, a buffalo turns up in even worse shape at a local preserve - the victim, presumably, of a poacher. Immediately, Stilwell takes charge of both investigations (with a bit more emphasis on the human victim, understandably). And in short order, he runs afoul of some of his former LA colleagues who now would like nothing better than to kick him to the curb. If that weren't enough, the investigation leads right through the doors of an exclusive men's club on the island - and wealthy, snooty males don't take kindly to having their domain invaded by common folks like the police.

The rest of the book is focused on the two investigations, both of which have the potential to end Stilwell's career (if not his life) as well as fleshing out his character and that of several key characters I assume will play central roles in future books. The plot held my attention - as have those of every other book I've read by this author - so I'll definitely be watching for the next one. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in at the beginning.

This is a new series for Connelly with all new characters. Officer Stilwell is a new Sheriff in Catalina. He has been sent there by the Chief in LA as a demotion. It wasn't clear to me why. He's working on a case of someone who has killed a buffalo, and Stilwell's main suspect is a very tough character. Stilwell has found a partner in Tash, a woman who is the assistant harbour master. She calls him to tell him that a human body has been found under a ship wrapped in an anchor chain. The two cases become somewhat complicated, as Stilwell needs to work with some former colleagues in LA, even though they don't appear to like him. They soon find that a woman who had worked at the Black Marlin Club (a very posh fishing club) was fired and she seems to have disappeared and to have taken a very special statue that belonged to the club. Stilwell manages to get the body out of the water and discovers she is the fired woman. Then, he has to find how she got where she was found, who killed her, and where she was dumped. Stilwell works very hard to to solve the two cases, and he appears pretty competent to me in spite of former colleagues who don't want him to succeed. It gets very exciting near the end!

This looks like a the beginning of a great new series. I thank Netgalley and Little Brown Publishers for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department placed Detective Stilwell on lovely Catalina`due to his 'response' to departmental politics. It is an out-of-the-way assignment but one he comes to appreciate. Stilwell investigates the mutilation of a protected animal, the discovery of a body, wrapped and weighted, in the harbor and the theft of a stature from the local ritzy private club. The investigation of the body is handed off to the homicide division on the mainland. Stilwell finds it hard to let the case alone - for it is assigned to one of the idiot detectives from his past. Following leads on the island is how he best serves all these investigations. Can he help it if some of his questions lead him back to the mainland? Dangerous people have few limits when it comes to protecting themselves and their profits. Stilwell finds that out the hard way.
Murder, corruption, blackmail, conspiracy and a touch of romance - are all in a day's work for Stilwell.
Nightshade is the first in a new series and offers interesting twists to keep the reader engaged.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company, Michael Connelly and NetGalley for this ARC.

Nightshade is the new novel from Michael Connelly, and introduces Stil (aka Detective Stilwell) in what will undoubtedly be the start of a new series.

Stil has been sent to Catalina Island after having a dust up with a murder case in LA. Content with his new duties in patrolling the island, things change when the body of a woman is found in the water at a boat dock. Stil starts to investigate, and the story takes off from there.

While I have really enjoyed many of Mr. Connelly’s previous books, Nightshade did nothing for me. I found the novel to be uninvolving and tedious to read, with poorly developed characters and, at times, awful dialogue. The plot was totally predictable. To be honest, I don’t understand why the book is getting all those five star reviews.

My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Nightshade.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I have read other books by this author and liked them too.

MIchael Connelly once again provides his readers with an investigator who must get to the bottom of a murder. I always enjoy Connelly's ability to weave twists, turns and danger into his stories. Detective Stillwell, a new character, wields an investigation of a body found in the water on Catalina. Although the community is the stepchild of Los Angeles and doesn't warrant the best law enforcement from the LAPD, it has inherited one of the detectives out of favor with the brass for using unsanctioned methods. LAPD wants to take control of this particular murder and calls Stillwell off the investigation. No, no, no--He can't let this go because the person assigned to the case is his nemesis who he knows always takes the easy way out! Flying under the radar, Stillwell utilizes his investigative skills, calls in favors from former LAPD colleagues, and races to find the truth while keeping friends and loved ones safe. Can he navigate these choppy waters without losing his job AND those he cares about?

I liked the book very much but don't feel the attraction to this character as I do for Connelly's other characters (Bosch and Ballard)--maybe he will grow on me. I still recommend the book because Michael Connelly is a tremendous writer and storyteller.

After political infighting at the L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Division, Detective Stilwell—no first name given—is reassigned to Catalina Island, a quiet post where trouble rarely goes deeper than a stolen golf cart or a drunken weekender. He patrols in a John Deere Gator, files his reports, and works under the radar while a judge sails in once a week to hear routine cases. But when a body is discovered submerged at the bottom of the harbor, the island’s veneer of calm shatters.

What follows is a fast-paced, character-driven procedural that reveals the darker currents lurking beneath paradise—and reaffirms Michael Connelly’s masterful hold on the genre. Nightshade is everything you want in a Connelly novel: complex characters, layered investigations, and a sense of place so vivid it becomes a character. Just as Elin Hilderbrand made Nantucket her literary home base, Connelly is beginning to map Catalina Island.

Stilwell is a welcome addition to the Connelly universe—operating in that narrow, morally flexible space that defines so many of Connelly’s best. Readers who’ve followed Bosch, Ballard, and Haller through the murky complexities of justice will feel right at home—with the added intrigue of a new island setting. Connelly’s anti-heroes are all street-smart and deeply committed to working the system to achieve at least some good. Follow authority? Not so much. Play by the rules? Sure, their own.

The decision to withhold Stilwell’s first name is an intriguing one, giving him a kind of mythic noir detachment. While the story hits some familiar beats, the Catalina backdrop keeps things feeling fresh. I devoured Nightshade and immediately started planning a trip to Catalina—first stop, grab a sandwich and a beer with the locals at the Sandtrap. (Stilwell, for his part, downs copious amounts of coffee from a Yeti tumbler.) Then a hike up over the ridge to Button Shell Beach, which, as Stilwell notes, has working toilets—unlike the more remote, rugged Long Point Beach where his girlfriend, Assistant Harbormaster Tash Dano, prefers to camp.

Nightshade officially launches a new series, and Stilwell feels more than capable of carrying it forward—on the page and potentially on screen. I’m all in. Connelly seems to have an endless well of plots and characters, and that’s no surprise. As Stilwell reflects, justice is never complete—but that lingering gap is exactly where Connelly does his best work. There’s plenty more to explore in those gray zones.

I've been devoutly following Michael Connelly's writing since about the late 90's, and it amazes me that he only seems to get better. There's no hint of being stale and I'm always still squirming with anticipation when I know a new book is coming.

Nightshade introduces us to a completely new character, Detective Sergeant Stillwell, a law enforcement officer on Catalina Island. I enjoyed the familiar police procedural aspects and also the novelty of a brand new investigator. I thought I might miss Bosch or Ballard, but I was hooked on Stil from the start. I can't wait to find out what happens on the insular island next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown and Company for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

As a longtime fan of Michael Connelly, I was excited to request this one. This features a new character, who lives on Catalina Island. While trying to solve a murder, more happens on the island to open up more mystery activities. I look forward to reading more with Stilwel. Thank you for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley,author Michael Connelly for his latest book,Nightshade as well as Publisher,Little Brown & Co.
I have read all,yes all of Michael’s books over the years plus those adapted as mini-series on tv. I liked not loved this newest. It mostly takes place on Catalina Island in CA. Detective Stilwell is a part of LA County Sheriff’s Dept. Having been a “bad boy”,he is being punished by being sent to Catalina Island where no real crimes happen except for minor ones when tourists arrive,which are mostly misdemeanors.The story takes off when a young waitress is found murdered in the water.There are several characters that seemed tied to it throughout the story,a private men’s club for very wealthy men and the Mayor of Avalon.(Catalina Island). There’s a romance between the Detective and a woman named Tash which is very sweet. I gave it three stars because it wasn’t as exciting and interesting as his other novels but still ok. It’s a stand alone novel or the beginning of a series.Time will tell.
On Sale May 20,2025.

So glad there is a new Michael Connelly series. Srillwell is a good character. Look forward to more. Perhaps Connelly can write faster?

This new series introduces us to Detective Stilwell: a cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina Island. Being exiled to Catalina was supposed to be punishment for Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell...

I absolutely love Catalina AND Michael Connelly, so I neeeeded the publishers to choose me via NetGalley, which they did! I think the reason it took me a bit of time to get into Nightshade was because the first part of the book introduced a lot of people and things, including TW: A buffalo that had been killed and mutilated. However, once I got into the book I didn't want to put it down!! "Stil" is dealing with two crimes: The buffalo incident and also a woman found dead at the bottom of a Catalina harbor. I'm eager to read book #2!!

Even though Nightshade is the start of a new series, I feel it can also be read as a standalone.

Thank you, #LittleBrownandCompany, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Nightshade has an expected publication date of May 20, 2025.

#MichaelConnelly #Mystery #Suspense #Catalina

NIGHTSHADE by Michael Connelly

For Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Sergent Stilwell, the posting to Catalina Island was supposed to be a punishment for not playing well with others and failing to play politics correctly. After all, sending deputies that annoyed the leadership out to the island has always been the way of handling those who could not be terminated, for whatever reason. While it may have started out as a punishment, these days Stilwell likes being out there a lot. He is charge, isolated from the political garbage on the mainland, likes the folks under his command, and the scenery can’t be beat.

What isn’t great is the fact that recently a buffalo was killed at the preserve. Its head was cutoff. A local reporter, Lionel McKey, is hounding him for updates and Stilwell has nothing to say. It is one thing to have a good idea who did it. It is another to prove it and he is working the case.

He has a lead, a search warrant, and progress is being made. It is the start of the first full weekend of summer and that means the place will be packed. Tourists will be on the island in huge numbers. That means things will happen when you bring in large numbers of people together for gambling, drinking, and more.

It also includes at least one murder as a body is soon discovered hooked by a chain and lodged under a sailboat on the harbor. She certainly didn’t commit suicide, wrap herself up in a bag for a sail, and then wrap a chain around herself, before affixing it all to the underside of the boat. The mayor might be more focused on the tourism aspects of such a discovery, but Stilwell is focused on the murder.

Solving the murder case, his first since leaving the mainland, and others, is at work in Nightshade by Michael Connelly. It is a complicated read with a lot of backstory and character development as well. None of that slows down the read. In fact, that character development and backstory gives the read considerable depth while creating an excellent first novel of a series. There is one heck of a foundation should the author start another series. One hopes he made that choice as his website indicates this is the start of a new series.

Even if it is only a standalone, it is a great read, and well worth your time.


My digital ARC reading copy came from the publisher, Little, Brown and Company, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a review.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2025

Catalina Island and its quirky but wealthy citizens are the backdrop for Connelly’s new police procedural novel with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell as the main character. Stilwell is an everyman type dedicated to law enforcement. When a female’s body is discovered under the docks wrapped in plastic, the story takes off with lots of missteps by Stilwell. Many of Catalina’s workers and residents could be involved. Connelly rarely disappoints but this tale seemed a bit rushed to the conclusion with many balls in the air that end up all-at-once resolved. That said, fans of the Lincoln Lawyer series will find much to like in Stilwell.

Nightshade is the first in a new series for Michael Connelly. It introduces Detective Stilwell, who has been exiled to Catalina Island. In fact, Catalina Island is considered “the island of misfit toys”, where they send all the police department’s problem children. Stilwell had been a homicide detective before being sent there. But he feels like he’s found a home and isn’t anxious to return to the mainland.
The story follows two separate crimes, only one of which Stilwell is meant to be investigating. A buffalo has been killed and beheaded. Some think it was done by aliens, but Stilwell’s main suspect is decidedly terrestrial. Meanwhile, the body of a young woman is found submerged in the harbor, weighted down by an anchor.
As always, Connelly has crafted a well developed main character. He’s persistent and determined and he definitely has a problem backing off of an investigation even when ordered to do so. We get his back story, especially how he got in trouble with his superiors. I did find it interesting that not once does Connelly give us a first name for Stilwell.
Connelly has the knack for writing an evenly paced story. Not a thriller, it is a well paced police procedural that walks the reader through each step of the investigation. He keeps things within the realm of the possible which is important to me.
I will definitely be following up if there is a second in this series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this book.

Thanks to Little Brown for the advanced copy of this book for review.

This dad read Nightshade, a brand new crime thriller from Michael Connelly. L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has a lone detective on Catalina Island, Sergeant Stilwell. Long has Catalina has long been a place where troubled law enforcement officers are sent to “cool off,” but Stilwell has made it his home, building a life with a serious girlfriend, a dedicated team, and a personal mission to seek justice no matter the cost. When a body is discovered beneath the Pacific Ocean’s surface, Stilwell must navigate department politics while grappling with his burning desire to solve the case. Can Catalina remain his peaceful escape, or will the island’s dark secrets drag him into its depths?

It’s been a while since Connelly launched a brand-new character and series, and fans of his work know he excels at creating compelling, multi-dimensional characters and Sergeant Stilwell is no exception. Much like Detective Bosch, Stilwell operates by a strict personal code that compels him to push his investigations beyond the ordinary. The island setting is key, too: the physical distance between Stilwell and his superiors not only emphasizes his isolation but also ramps up the tension, keeping readers on edge.

The novel also features a rich ensemble of characters, from friends—like the internet-savvy administrator and Stilwell’s charming girlfriend—to enemies, including a contentious peer on the mainland and petty criminals on the island. Connelly dives straight into these dynamics, which can feel overwhelming at first, but once the setting and characters are established, the thrills truly take off.

One of the reasons why I love Connelly so much is that he continues to surprise me. Book after book I never quite have the solve pinned down and Nightshade is no exception. Like his detectives and their cases, the story unfolds unpredictably, and if you’re anything like me, you won’t want to put the book down until you’ve unraveled every twist.

With Nightshade, Connelly proves once again why he’s the master of the crime thriller. The novel offers a gripping mystery, intriguing characters, and more than a few jaw-dropping twists. Nightshade is the perfect thriller to read on your own island getaway this summer, I give it 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢/5—highly recommend!