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

Fast Read But Weak

This has the same issues as some other Connelly novels. One is that the murderer is obvious very early in the novel. It’s the Mrs. Fletcher rule: the nicest, most helpful person is the killer. This one walks into the room, opens their mouth, and you know that person is the killer. Now you need to spend a few hundred pages learning why. Second is what Siskel and Ebert called the idiot plot. Your keen investigator suddenly becomes an idiot in order to move the plot along. We figure out why a certain individual assaulted a police officer chapters before our hero tumbles to it, too late. The ending is rushed and not very credible. Decent beach read, but not up to some other Connelly mysteries.

Yikes.

I've read or listened to all of Michael Connelly's books, and this one, well, I don't even know what to say. It felt rushed, anticlimactic, and did not develop the characters very well. I think this is what happens when you try to release books too soon. If this had been my first Michael Connelly book, it would've been my last.

Bosch 2.0

Once again, Mr Connelly doesn’t fail us fans. While this isn’t a Bosch book, the detective would be one Bosch would have much respect for. This story and main character makes you feel like you’re in a Bosch book and just don’t wanna stop listening to it. Great story and character development as we have become accustomed to from Mr Connelly. While the Bosch series may be over and have Ballard from the series, but now we have a new detective to latch onto, Det Stillwell and he is well worth it. Can’t wait for the next in what will hopefully be a series on Det Stillwell.

Typical Micheal Connelly Book

As a LA resident, I love his books. He describes locales and nuances that really fit the LA life and culture. Book does a good job keeping its tension. Stilwell feels a little like Bosch. Everyone counts or nobody counts. But, it’s a good read.

Exciting new characters with lots of twists.

Expected great writing and wonderful character development. A new series from one of my favorite authors.

Slow read but okay

It was a nice story but very slow. I would never have guessed it was Connelly.

Another winner

Excellent story, excellent reader, Another great addition to Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer stories.

Great character development.

I liked how new events popped up that held my attention. It is a good read.

Islands

Great start to a new series. A bit slow start but builds up to a great finish. Stillwell is an interesting character and Catalina is more interesting than anyone would think.

Another fantastic book by Michael Connlley.

I love Catalina Island. It is one of my most favorite places to go. I was familiar with a great deal of places that were mentioned in the book. Good suspense and good mystery. The narrator was very good also. I can't wait for another one to be written. I hope that they use the same narrator for the next audiobook.