published May 20, 2025

I’m a big Michael Connelly fan, especially the Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller books, then more recently the stories of police officers Jenkins and Renee Ballard. So II was looking forward to reading Connelly’s newest mystery, and meeting new characters (truly, Connelly has a gift for making his characters REAL to the reader). Happily, I received a copy of Nightshade from Little, Brown and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. Admittedly, it’s been awhile since I received it but it’s been percolating in my brain for months…a good sign, right? Not necessarily…

I truly enjoyed pretty much all the Connelly books I have read, but for some reason Nightshade just didn’t do it for me. I’m the first to admit it might be MY problem, nothing wrong with the story, plot, or characters. And possibly the reason I liked the others more is because this one is more plot-driven, rather than giving me a story about some old friends? (Also, the pacing was a bit slow at times). 

A detective named Stilwell from the LASD is the new character. I’m a Southern California native who grew up loving Catalina, so it was somewhat of a headscratcher when in this book Stilwell’s reassignment to this beautiful island is somewhat a banishment or demotion… He investigates two crimes in this one, starting with a corpse weighed down under a ship in the harbor, and the other exploring hunting (actually poaching) on a protected reserve. Both social class and departmental politics are big factors as he works the cases, and Stilwell even has time to have a romance going on. 

I was SO hoping that after reading this, I would be eagerly awaiting the next adventure of this new detective, but I’m afraid I’m not that invested in what happens next. I’m actually shocked, TBH, because Connelly has long been one of those authors about whom I am THRILLED to learn of a new book. I will read the next one, and try not to go into it with negativity, but I’m sad to say I can only give this one three stars. And I still don’t know Stilwell’s real backstory or even his last name!