Michael Connelly steps away from his phenomenally successful Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer novels to pen NIGHTSHADE, the first installment in an exciting new series set on Catalina Island.

It is here where Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been "exiled" due to department politics, and he is making the best of it. For the most part, it is a quiet area with many wealthy residents and guests, and not much crime to speak of. That is, until he is contacted about a Jane Doe who was discovered in the waters of the harbor near where the ferry comes in and out. Stilwell learns that the body was purposely weighed down at the bottom of the harbor, making her an obvious victim of foul play.

"NIGHTSHADE is a solid beginning to this series, and I look forward to seeing these marvelous new characters again."

In a scene reminiscent of the 4th of July bit in Jaws, the mayor of Catalina Island warns Stilwell not to let his investigation get in the way of Memorial Day weekend, the second biggest weekend of their calendar year. This is not the only speed bump that Stilwell must face. He also has to deal with the detectives from his old squad who take over the case from him, including his nemesis, Rex Ahearn, who has an axe to grind.

Stilwell decides to occupy his time with another case: the theft of a valuable statue from the Black Marlin Club, a high-end members-only spot for the wealthy and elite. The missing statue is a point of pride, and the club president, Charles Crane, is fairly confident that it was taken by Leigh-Anne Moss, an employee he had just fired for sexual harassment.

What a surprise it is when Stilwell finds out that Jane Doe is none other than Leigh-Anne Moss. This now links the two cases and allows Stilwell to still involve himself in the murder investigation under the guise of following up on the Black Marlin theft. Everyone who knew Leigh-Anne was aware that she was a gold digger who was constantly coming on to wealthy members, most of whom would ferry over from the mainland to have some playtime away from their wives and families.

Stilwell’s personal investigation takes him from Catalina Island to Los Angeles to follow up on anyone who came into contact with Leigh-Anne --- from former coworkers to ex-lovers and roommates. The consensus is that she was a shrewd operator who knew exactly what she was doing and may have taken things too far with the wrong member. It is now up to Stilwell to do the near impossible and pinpoint which person is the culprit in a club full of potential suspects.

All of this needs to happen under the constant scrutiny of those who wish Stilwell nothing but ill will, and that includes the mayor. When more violence, including murder, infiltrates the action, the pressure on Stilwell becomes unbearable. Fortunately, he has a small team that believes in him and provides support. The suspense intensifies as he continues to put himself in danger in order to prove to himself and others that he is a detective worthy of respect.

The book’s title comes from a nickname that Stilwell learns belonged to Leigh-Anne. It really humanizes her as he drives forward with her murder case. NIGHTSHADE is a solid beginning to this series, and I look forward to seeing these marvelous new characters again.