Over the years, I have read every book (I think) that Michael Connelly has written and have enjoyed them all. He creates characters the readers are invested in and well-plotted mysteries that mesmerize.

Over the years, I have read every book (I think) that Michael Connelly has written and have enjoyed them all. He creates characters the readers are invested in and well-plotted mysteries that mesmerize.

I really enjoyed this new mystery with a brand-new detective character, Stilwell, plus an intriguing new setting - Catalina Island off the coast of L.A. There were lots of twists and turns and unexpected developments that kept me drawn in. As the story progressed and Detective Stilwell's past was revealed in bursts, I became more and more curious about him. And, as his investigation into the woman whose body was found in the harbor deepened, I grew to respect him as a murder investigator and as a person who cared about truth and valued other human beings.

I really hope there will be a second Stlwell/Catalina Island mystery. The setting itself was interesting and unique and I am now invested in knowing what comes next for Detective STilwell.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Co. and the author for the opportunity to read an eArc of one of my favorite authors. What a privilege! Sorry for the delay in publishing my review when it was published in May of this year. I just get so busy reading sometimes. :)

The beginning is a bit slower than readers might expect from Michael Connelly, whose standout characters have already made their mark on screens everywhere — Lincoln Lawyer as a movie and Netflix series, and Bosch and Ballard in binge-worthy shows. That said, you can always count on Connelly for an engaging story, and Nightshade, which introduces a compelling new detective, is no exception. Like his other protagonists, Detective Stilwell rubs some people the wrong way—but that’s exactly what makes him so compelling as he pursues justice in a deceptively serene setting.

Connelly never misses, and this is a great first book as well as addition to his mythos. Looking forward to revisiting these characters wherever he takes them next.

NIGHTSHADE by Michael Connelly
Publication: May 20,2025 by Little, Brown & Co
Page Count: 352


Another marvelous gem, as Connelly masterfully introduces a new character, that rivals the beloved Harry Bosch. L.A. County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell, has been semi-exiled to offshore Catalina Island, after a dust-up with another detective (of questionable veracity.). This new police procedural is packed with, twists, red-herrings and explosive revelations. It appears that our dutiful detective will be confined to petty thefts, and drunk and disorderly crimes, instead of pursuing justice in more meaningful cases. While investigating a poaching and killing a protected buffalo, a body is found floating in the harbor. Hidden and darker secrets of the supposedly serene island will come to the surface as the two cases collide together. The beheading of the buffalo is suspected to be the work of Henry Gaston. A weird way to generate publicity for his “Island Mystery Tours” business. Somehow this will connect to the local crime boss, Oscar “Baby Head” Terranova, and probable boss of Gaston. The floating body in the harbor may be related the recent firing of waitress, Leigh-Anne Moss from the exclusive Black Marlin Yacht Club. She was caught too often fraternizing with the rich members and guests … all potential “sugar-daddies.” Despite being told by the Los Angeles Police Department Chief to stand down, and not pursue the possible murder angle, Stilwell cannot help but enmesh himself in the two probably interrelated cases.
Connelly once again proves to be a masterful storyteller, as he weaves the multiple plots together with escalating suspense and intrigue , culminating in an exhilarating denouement.
Connelly turns this page-turner into a tour de force thriller, to rival in stature to the Harry Bosch novels.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Co for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to the continuing travails of Detective Stilwell.

A new series centering on Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell stationed on Catalina Island. Here we start with an investigation into the killing of a protected buffalo and also the discovery of a female body in the water bound by a plastic bag and anchored. Stilwell defies all authority to work both cases. Typical of Connelly, this is a good police procedural - great investigative process. Looking forward to more of the series.

3.5 stars rounded up. I'm fairly certain this is the first Connelly book I've read which makes me late to the game. While I was excited to see this is the start of a new series, I didn't really know what to expect but decided to jump in. I enjoyed this crime drama/police procedural and the main character Stilwell was clever and likable. However the introduction of an abundance of characters made it difficult to follow the story at times and was confusing overall. I liked it well enough to continue with the series though. My thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved Michael Connelly’s Nightshade. Detective Stilwell brings a fresh, gritty perspective to the LA crime world. Exiled to Catalina Island, he tackles a tense investigation full of secrets, corruption, and twists. Harry Bosch may have started the universe, but Stilwell is a compelling new addition. I received this ARC from NetGalley and enjoyed it from start to finish.

I’m a huge fan of Michael Connelly and I’m always happy when he starts a new series. I have to admit I kept waiting for Bosch to show up though! Enjoyed the new character and can’t wait to see where it leads next.

New Cop, New Island, Same Connelly Magic

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Michael Connelly is back with Nightshade, the first book to feature Detective Stilwell. Once a homicide cop in Los Angeles, Stilwell gets shoved aside by department politics and reassigned to Catalina Island, stuck handling property crimes. Sounds easy—until a woman’s body turns up at the bottom of the harbor, identified only by a streak of purple in her hair. Then a routine poaching call explodes into violence, dragging Stilwell into the dangerous orbit of a powerful island figure and an old rival determined to bring him down.

The setting is terrific: Catalina’s picture-perfect charm hides plenty of shadows, and Connelly makes the most of it. Stilwell isn’t polished or pretty, but he’s gritty, relentless, and absolutely refuses to quit—perfect traits for a new series lead. The pacing is tight, the police work feels authentic, and the last act had me flipping pages fast.

Sure, a few plot turns are predictable, but that doesn’t keep this from being a solid series launch. If you’ve missed Bosch and Ballard, you’ll be glad to meet Stilwell—he’s cut from the same no-nonsense cloth, with a fresh backdrop to boot.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the comp; opinions are my own.

A new Connelly character, Detective Stilwell, emerges in this book based on Catalina Island. A body is found in the ocean near the island and thus begins the hunt for a killer. Detectives from the mainland and Stilwell must work together to solve this case but there is a lot of past history between them. Although this is a new series for Connelly, it’s a fast paced police procedural and kept my interest. It will be interesting to see how this series develops..

The master of crime fiction and king of cop procedurals, Michael Connelly (my favorite author) is back with a sizzling new crime thriller series featuring Detective Sergeant Stilwell #1, set on Catalina Island, with his riveting fortieth novel, NIGHTSHADE.

STELLAR! Top Notch— Top Books of 2025.

With a new cast of characters and a fresh base of operations, we are introduced to a new hero, a love interest, a nemesis, a reporter, a mayor, and a crime boss. This new setting and these new characters leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

If you are fans of Bosch, Haller, and Ballard, you will be at home with the new police detective on Catalina Island, and the project that started as an exile or punishment. Connelly once again showcases that small-town crime can be just as enthralling as big-city corruption.

Full of grit, edge, humor, suspense, twists, and lots of heart. Fans will be pleased!

About...

LA County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell, our protagonist, has been “exiled” to a low-key post policing Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland. He's a determined and relentless investigator, much like Bosch, and his journey on the island will test his skills and character.

He did not like the department politics (much like Bosch) and was re-assigned to the island of Catalina, 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles.

Not long after arriving, Stilwell receives 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 the island.

There is also a high-stakes theft at the exclusive Black Marlin Yacht Club, whose exclusive membership is limited to original families and their heirs, and opens only when one dies. The club makes rare honorary exceptions for the judge who visits the island weekly and the mayor.

Crossing all lines, he works the cases. Of course, things are made complex by an ex-colleague determined to thwart him at every turn. He is as persistent and skilled as Bosch when it comes to receiving justice for the woman known as “Nightshade."

In Connelly's signature fashion, his investigation will lead him to dark secrets of the idyllic island. What was meant to be a serene, laid-back island as an escape from the evils of the big city proves just as corrupt.

My thoughts...

Connelly is a super star juggling all his major projects with the filming of the fourth season of The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) and the upcoming new Lincoln Lawyer thriller The Proving Ground (can't wait-Oct 21, 2025) and the most recent Renee Ballard Prime series (July 2025- spinoff series; I bingewatched the entire season when it was released) and of course, Bosch Legacy (final season) which I devoured and going to miss.

However, with all this, the author comes up with a creative way to keep things fresh with a new, flawed, and highly relatable skilled detective, Stilwell, a mysterious idyllic setting with new crimes to uncover, a nemesis to deal with, a love interest, and a fabulous supporting cast of characters.

What makes NIGHTSHADE so fascinating is the politics, jurisdictions, and hierarchy between LA and Catalina Island and all the obstacles, grudges, hostility, and his reinforcements being 20-some miles away. But Stilwell is up for the challenge. Also, another perk is that Stilwell is in a steady relationship (Tasha, the island’s harbormaster), unlike most of Connelly's characters, so it will be interesting to see how all this is developed.

Highly impressive! Superbly plotted, full of tension, suspense, and twists. As a long-time avid fan, Connelly keeps getting better if that is even possible!

In summary, NIGHTSHADE is a riveting, intriguing, engrossing start to a new series that I highly recommend! Combining an intelligent leading man, mixed with suspense, drama, wit, humor, and heart, this is a captivating must-read new series!

Audiobook...

As a long-time fan, I always read the e-book (ARC if lucky) and then buy the audiobook and the hardcover copy for my home library. Over the many years, I have been spoiled by the lineup of favorite voices with some of my favorite narrators, and when they change, it always messes with your head.

However, my delight knew no bounds when I discovered that one of my favorite narrators, Will Damron, would be narrating NIGHTSHADE. With his deep, soothing baritone, I knew the audiobook would be a treat. And it was! Will's narration brings Stilwell and the other characters to life, providing an award-winning performance and an unparalleled listening experience. I can only hope that Will continues to narrate the upcoming Stilwell installments.

Recs...

Fans of Michael Connelly, Bosch, Ballard, Haller, and well-written police procedures/crime fiction —will enjoy the introduction of his latest hero, Stilwell.

Special thanks to Little Brown & Company and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy for my honest thoughts. I also purchased the audiobook and the hardcover copy.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating; 5 Stars +
Pub Date: May 20, 2025
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John Wick’s fight began with the death of his dog. In Michael Connelly's novel Nightshade, it kicks off with a decapitated buffalo on Catalina Island. Both events ignite something far deeper in their respective storylines.

The investigation into the buffalo’s death quickly reveals itself as the tip of something far more sinister and corrupt lurking beneath the surface of Catalina Island. Detective Sergeant Stilwell is relentless and he won’t stop until he uncovers the truth.

This book dives into corruption, greed, and the twisted underbelly of the wealthy elite social scene. The decapitated buffalo? Just the opening act of the island’s dark secrets.

The characters are excellent. They’re fully fleshed out and woven into equally compelling storylines, all spiraling around Stilwell. The question is: will he be choked out by the forces against him, or will he find his footing and become the one holding the torch, ready to burn those who deserve it?

I look forward to reading more from this series and hope Bosch might make an appearance and if lucky, add Renee Ballard to the mix.

I'd like to thank Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for my ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Michael Connelly is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read nearly all of his books. He creates really well developed characters and the plots are always twisty yet believable. When I started reading Nightshade, I wondered if Connelly had really written it, or whether he was farming out books as so many well-known authors have done. It’s a new series, but I found it confusing that so many characters were introduced initially, along with a lot of unfamiliar boating terms, and the buffalo mutilation was beyond horrifying. As with many of Connelly’s protagonists, Stilwell is something of a loner, with another officer in the department who strongly dislikes him. I was disappointed that I never really connected with Stilwell or any other character, something that has never happened before when reading a Connelly novel. I will definitely be interested to see what’s next in this series, but honestly at this point I’d rather read another Ballard, Bosch, or Haller story.

I'm a longtime fan of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series, and I enjoy the Lincoln Lawyer and Renee Ballard books, too.

Nightshade introduces a new character -- Det. Stilwell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He's assigned to Catalina Island after running afoul of office politics on the mainland.

It's a low-key gig, until a Jane Doe shows up dead in the harbor.

What ensues is a very solid police procedural, exactly the type of novel Connelly reliably delivers. Follow the clues, solve the crime. Read Nightshade by the pool, at the beach, on a plane. You'll come away perfectly satisfied.

Except... wow, does Stilwell seem a LOT like Bosch. He's in hot water with his bosses. He disobeys orders. He's kind of a jerk.

One of the things I like best about Connelly's non-Bosch books is that they have all the strengths of the Bosch books -- clever plots, crisp writing -- with characters who are different.

Perhaps in future installments, Stilwell will come more into his own and seem a little less like an island version of Bosch.

Connelly introduces a new detective, Sheriff's Detective Stilwell. Stilwell is moved to Catalina Island after a dust-up in the Sheriff's office with another detective that Stilwell accuses of being too lazy to fully investigate a case. Stilwell has adjusted well to the island and its slower pace and he has even fallen in love with a local, Tash Dano. But, he gets a call-out for a dead body found underwater, tied down with an anchor and encased in a sail bag. Her black hair floats in the water and there is a streak of purple hair color, known as Nightshade. When he calls the Sheriff to report the body, the two detectives he least likes are assigned to the case. They are only too willing to close the case as a suspicious death, but Stilwell knows there is more to it. The mayor is corrupt and he is only too happy to look the other way as well. Stilwell will have to pursue this on his own. Always a good read, Connelly has written another winner.

Nightshade, introduces Detective Stillwell in the first book of Michael Connelly 's new series. I went into this book, coaching myself to not whine about how much I want Harry Bosch. The first book in a series can be difficult, like a first date. Stillwell finds himself investigating a murder that leads him and his sidekicks on a suspenseful investigation and introduces other new characters. The Catalina setting was immersive and worked well. Stillwell's bulldog approach is very much like Bosch. I liked the book enough to read the next installment.

Michael Connelly hasn’t written many standalone novels, and I’m hoping Nightshade will be the opening entry into a Detective Stillwell series. Set on California’s atmospheric Catalina Island, the story and setting had me fully invested in the closed society of that unique community. Lots of excitement in uncovering a killer. I’ll be looking for Number 2 in the Stillwell universe.

The first in a new crime thriller series by this bestselling author!

Set on beautiful Catalina Island, this novel introduces a new character, Detective Sergeant Stilwell, who has been assigned to the sheriff’s substation there because of problems he had as a homicide cop in LA County, California. One of his cases is the investigation of the death of a young woman who was found wrapped in a sail bag and weighted with an anchor in the harbor. Assisted by his girlfriend, Tash Dano, assistant harbor master, and the other police officers also exiled there, he attempts to solve the murder as well as expose corruption and other crimes on this beautiful island.

I liked the action and the excellent writing that kept this moving a fast pace that I could easily devour in a single setting. The characters need to be a bit more fleshed out, including perhaps getting the first name of our main character Stilwell, but I am looking forward to a follow up installment. The details about the setting are interesting and the locale will doubtless prove that bad things happen even in idyllic places.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Will Damron, who always does a great job voicing strong male characters. His performance enhanced my enjoyment of the novel.

Nightshade marks the start of a brand-new series from crime fiction master Michael Connelly. As expected, the plot is tight, fast-paced, and expertly constructed—hallmarks of Connelly’s seasoned storytelling. The mystery pulls you in quickly and keeps the pages turning with well-placed tension and twists.

As the first book in a new series, Nightshade does a solid job introducing fresh characters, though they aren’t quite as fleshed out or emotionally layered as those in Connelly’s Bosch or Lincoln Lawyer series. That said, the groundwork is clearly being laid, and there’s plenty of promise for deeper character development and stronger relationship dynamics in future installments.

While the emotional resonance isn’t as immediate here, the writing is as sharp and assured as ever. With Connelly’s masterful command of the genre, it’s safe to say this new series is off to a compelling start—and I look forward to seeing how it grows in the second outing. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

I love it when we have a Detective who lives a little bit on the edge. Following those gray areas instead of completely black-and-white.

This new character is based in Catalina and is finding a lot of deep-seated crime in this small island: murders, endangered species issues, theft, conspiracy, corruption. The list goes on and on.

But what’s awesome is the inter-connection with his past placements and the mutual dislike of a select officer. This connection to his last post and supervisor is a critical piece in this evolving story.

The main character, Stilwell, is smart and knows how to dig deep and follow a path. But he also knows how to move things along if needed, going into that little bit of gray area that makes Connelly’s stories intricate and developed.

This new guy is a breath of fresh air with his low-key persona and his growing romantic interest. I know that as this series develops, so will these characters into that addictive quality we love with a long-running series.

Nightshade is a unique and highly developed, intricate story containing great pacing and twists that will keep us addicted to the flow of the story. Connelly crafts another winner with this new character, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.