Reviews - Nightshade | The StoryGraph

319 reviews for:

Nightshade

Michael Connelly

3.84 AVERAGE

swr253's review against another edition

3.0

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

mjreutman's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

dvieira80's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

otowi's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

booksandcatsgalore's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

rionysus's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I wanted to like this more book and was excited that Michael Connelly was introducing a new detective. Unfortunately, Stillwell isn't really new, but rather a 2025 version of Bosch. He's an outsider in the police force filled with officers who are lazy, incompetent or corrupt. Clearly, we the readers are supposed to like him, be interested in his personal happiness, and see him as one of the good guys (and his is in comparison to the actual criminals) who is different than his fellow cops. I didn't like him or care about his personal happiness/the snooze of a love interest side story that was shoe-horned into the narrative and the only way I found him different than his fellow cops was that he isn't lazy. However, it's hard not to label him at least somewhat incompetent and corrupt given that neither of the cases in this book are actually resolved in such a way that would likely lead to a successful conviction in reality. Like Bosch before him, Stillwell isn't big on dogged police work and the careful accumulation of actual evidence. Rather, he relies on making side deals with criminals, railroading suspects into confessions, acting solo, and the use of excessive force all while operating either outside of his jurisdiction often while not on active duty. This is an okay beach read, but not really a good start to a new series.