Nightshade - (A Catalina Novel) Large Print by Michael Connelly (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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).

Review Quotes

"The singularity of Catalina, which is far enough from the coast to have its own insular nautical culture, allows Connelly to add deeper blues to his ever shifting Southern California palette."--Airmail

"[Connelly's] reporter's skills of observation make Nightshade come alive."--Los Angeles Times

"As always with a Connelly novel, the characters are well drawn and the prose is tight, precise, and easy to read."--Associated Press

"As with all of Connelly's books, there's a relentless narrative drive powering the story along to an explosive climax. His plotting, as usual, is tight and without a school of red herrings to distract the reader. Its strengths are its evocative atmosphere, realistic dialogue, and well-developed characters...Come what may, Stil is sure to soon take his place alongside Harry, Mickey, and Renee as a beloved Connelly stalwart."--Washington Independent Review of Books

"In this winning series launch, L.A. noir maestro Connelly...proves small-town policing can be just as high stakes as crime solving in the big city...The claustrophobic setting and layered plotting evoke the crime novels of John D. MacDonald, and Stilwell makes for an intriguing hero, with enough biographical gaps for Connelly to sketch him in further in subsequent installments. The author's fans will be thrilled to find him working in a new register."--Publishers Weekly

"Michael Connelly has remained one of today's top mystery writers -- if not the top mystery writer...Nightshade marks another bright turning point for Connelly."--South Florida Sun Sentinel

"Connelly's compulsively readable, best-selling crime fiction is propelled by justice-seekers committed to their calling, no matter the risks...With an intriguingly low-key but skilled and principled hero, his significant other, a pesky if useful reporter, a conniving mayor, and a crime boss known as Baby Head, Nightshade is a gripping and promising start to crime virtuoso Connelly's new series."--Booklist (starred review)

About the Author

Michael Connelly is the author of thirty-nine previous novels, among them New York Times bestsellers The Waiting, Resurrection Walk, and Desert Star. His books, which include the Harry Bosch series, the Lincoln Lawyer series, and the Renée Ballard series, have sold more than eighty-nine million copies worldwide. Connelly is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. He is the executive producer of four television series: Bosch, Bosch: Legacy, The Lincoln Lawyer, and the upcoming Ballard. He spends his time in California and Florida.