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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
fast-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Michael Connelly always delivers. It is fun to put this mystery together with the detective. I thought it was great that there is a new main character who is unique and well-defined. The book is suspenseful but doesn’t take itself too seriously. I really enjoyed it!
Well shit, we got a new player on the field. I think he's going to work out just fine. I thought this was a nice new character long time Connelly fans can sink their teeth into. There's a hint of Bosch (the main character Stillwell is kicked out of homicide and banished to an island) but is happy with his lot in life living on the island and having a relationship with a local who just gets him and he gets her. That's so unlike Bosch and heck even Ballard now that I think about it. Actually, do any Connelly characters have happy relationships? I digress. The book moves very fluidly and I myself could not put it down. My main reason for giving this one 4 stars though is that there was too much in this first one. It's so jam packed with things happening that after a bit I found it hard to keep some of the names straight. I also wish that Connelly had kept this to just one case. Having this move between cases is typical Connelly, but the second case read as really unfinished to me. I assume if there's a sequel we may hear about it. FYI, long-time Connelly fans may have caught that one line but it definitely shows this is in the Harry Bosch universe. I imagine there's going to be some cross-overs happening (please not Renee, I am so tired of that series).
Nightshade follows LA county Sheriff Detective Stilwell, known as 'Stil.' After a case goes wrong, he is plucked from the mainland and stuck on Catalina Island. He had worries he would not like his new post, but he does, the locals know him, he has a girlfriend, and he is able to keep the peace. That all changes though when he is called out because someone thinks they found a body weighed down in the harbour. There is now an active homicide investigation on Catalina Island which is going to bring back some people in his past that Stil would love to forget. But he still wants to work the case, and hopes to show those that counted him out, that he's still a better cop.
I think other reviewers said it first, but Stil is really a watered down version of Bosch. He doesn't have Bosch's personal ethos, but he wants to make sure gets justice for the woman who was murdered. He also wants to use this case to show up a cop he thinks is wrong and got its swept under the rug. I think that Connelly did a good job of developing Stil, but I guess I needed a bit more. He gets told multiple times this isn't his case and just keeps working it. I imagine a defense attorney would love that. I just didn't get his need outside of his wanting to show up his past colleague to keep working the case. There's an air of selfishness about him that reminded me a bit of Jack McEvoy.
The other characters we get introduced to, such as Tasha, the other deputies, etc. just felt a bit thin for this book. Connelly devotes much of the book to developing the bad guys and the victim.
The flow does goes a bit flat towards the end. But then picks up again.
I liked how this ended, but it definitely is setting the stage for a second book.
Nightshade follows LA county Sheriff Detective Stilwell, known as 'Stil.' After a case goes wrong, he is plucked from the mainland and stuck on Catalina Island. He had worries he would not like his new post, but he does, the locals know him, he has a girlfriend, and he is able to keep the peace. That all changes though when he is called out because someone thinks they found a body weighed down in the harbour. There is now an active homicide investigation on Catalina Island which is going to bring back some people in his past that Stil would love to forget. But he still wants to work the case, and hopes to show those that counted him out, that he's still a better cop.
I think other reviewers said it first, but Stil is really a watered down version of Bosch. He doesn't have Bosch's personal ethos, but he wants to make sure gets justice for the woman who was murdered. He also wants to use this case to show up a cop he thinks is wrong and got its swept under the rug. I think that Connelly did a good job of developing Stil, but I guess I needed a bit more. He gets told multiple times this isn't his case and just keeps working it. I imagine a defense attorney would love that. I just didn't get his need outside of his wanting to show up his past colleague to keep working the case. There's an air of selfishness about him that reminded me a bit of Jack McEvoy.
The other characters we get introduced to, such as Tasha, the other deputies, etc. just felt a bit thin for this book. Connelly devotes much of the book to developing the bad guys and the victim.
The flow does goes a bit flat towards the end. But then picks up again.
I liked how this ended, but it definitely is setting the stage for a second book.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No