Nightshade

De: Michael Connelly

Narrado por: 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).

Not up to his usual standards.

Weak story, insufficient character development. I LOVE Michael Connelly, but his one just misses his usual outstanding work.

not my favorite Connelly book

police detective Sargent banished to Catalina gets mixed up with murder and mayhem
seems a lower quality of story than his other books

Bosch Lite

I'm a longtime Michael Connelly fan, so I found this a pleasant enough listen, but I don't think it comes close to the entries in his Harry Bosch series (or for that matter, his Lincoln Lawyer series). As usual, the plotting is intricate; the characters are colorful; the prose is clunky but effective; and the book is packed with interesting and authentic-sounding details about professional procedures, the sociopolitical milieu, and the physical location. But I felt Stilwell had less depth and complexity than Bosch, I didn't find his relationships (romantic and otherwise) very compelling, and the story itself carried less emotional weight than a typical Bosch story. The narration was competent, but there were plenty of times when Will Damron didn't place the emphasis where I would have placed it - just a matter of personal taste, but a slight annoyance. Overall, I'd give it a B+.

An unusually unheroic character

Thought Detective Stillwell as a character was somewhat careless, presumptuous, self-serving and self absorbed. Although alls well that ends well this made the reader feel less impressed and less likely to root for a positive outcome. The thing that held the story together was the villains and adversaries were even more deplorable and morally bankrupt. The story's location and surroundings make the book okay but lacks the character of Harry Bosch as Stillwell is certainly even less of a team player, but ultimately solves the crime.

Not His Best

l liked the location a lot.. The story had too many people and crimes that were confusing.