NetGalley Top Reviewer

NetGalley Top Reviewer
NetGalley Top Reviewer

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Nightshade (#1 Detective Stilwell) by Michael Connelly

 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.

This is the first in a new series that I plan to follow.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, Catalina Island

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