Nightshade by Michael Connelly

As a longtime fan of Michael Connelly, I was eager to dive into Nightshade—especially with the introduction of a brand-new protagonist, Detective Stillwell. Set on the often-overlooked Catalina Island, the story unfolds in a town that appears sleepy on the surface, sustained by tourism and routine ferry arrivals, but Connelly manages to peel back the layers and expose a hidden network of secrets, corruption, and small-town power dynamics. Having visited Catalina myself, I was especially impressed by the authenticity of the setting. Connelly clearly knows the island well—he names actual streets, landmarks, and restaurants, lending the narrative a grounded sense of realism. A few fictional touches are woven in, such as the Black Marlin Club, but if you’re familiar with the island, you can easily imagine its real-life counterpart. His descriptions are vivid enough that the island almost feels like a secondary character—isolated, beautiful, and quietly tense. Stillwell is a solid addition to Connelly’s pantheon of complex, morally upright detectives. Exiled from the mainland after clashing with fellow officers, he arrives on Catalina with baggage and grit. While some have criticized the lack of deep character development in this first outing, I disagree. Connelly tends to build his characters gradually over the course of multiple novels—just as he did with Bosch. Stillwell is clearly a man with a past, and I suspect we’ll get more of his layers as the series continues. The plot centers around the murder of a young woman with ties to a shady men’s club, a crooked politician, and a tour operator with secrets of his own. The mystery itself isn’t as twisty or surprising as Connelly’s best, and the villains reveal themselves a bit too obviously. Still, the investigation moves briskly, packed with sharp dialogue, atmospheric detail, and procedural precision. What Nightshade might lack in explosive drama, it makes up for with mood, setting, and the promise of a compelling new series. Stillwell may not have Bosch’s jazz collection or Ballard’s nocturnal grit, but he brings his own distinct rhythm—quietly observant, slightly cynical, and unwilling to let go of a lead. If you're a fan of Connelly's world, Nightshade is a worthy read and a strong setup for what's to come. I’m definitely looking forward to more from Detective Stillwell.