Member Review

While you might expect the small island of Catalina, just 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, to be a quiet and uneventful place, that turns out not to be the case at all. The second installment in the Detective Stilwell series kicks off with a bang. Stilwell and two of his deputies are staking out the island’s airstrip after receiving a tip that drugs are about to be dropped off. When a plane lands, everything spirals out of control. One deputy is killed, another is left fighting for their life in the hospital, and Detective Stilwell is sidelined on desk duty.
Even though he has not been officially cleared, Stilwell cannot let the case go and continues working behind the scenes to uncover what really happened that night. As if that were not enough, life on the island grows even more complicated when a new lead emerges in the long cold case of a hiker who went missing four years earlier. Stilwell is soon connected with Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open Unsolved Unit, who will make the lead even more urgent.
Stilwell is a strong, compelling character, and Catalina Island makes for a fantastic and atmospheric setting. Bringing in familiar characters from Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch universe, particularly Renée Ballard, only adds to the enjoyment. Connelly is, as always, at the top of his game. I found myself turning the pages as fast as I could. The way he weaves the two storylines together is masterful, building tension while keeping each plot engaging.
The novel also ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, which is sure to make the wait for book three feel long. Do not miss picking this one up when it is released in May. Thank you to Michael Connelly, Little Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the free advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.J