NightshadeNightshade
What it's about
Exiled to a quiet post on Catalina Island by department politics, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbor.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Michael Connelly introduces a new detective.
You'll love it if you liked
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Night Fire
Blood WorkGood to know
It introduces a new detective, so you can start here.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller44 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
More by Michael Connelly
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Brass Verdict
The CrossingBlood WorkIf you like this, read next
Explore the best-of lists
All 47 best-of lists →
New booksTop 25 · 485 rankedBooks of the 2020sTop 25 · 562 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 504 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 623 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 325 ranked
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelsTop 25 · 63 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 333 rankedQuick answers
Is Nightshade worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It ranks #2,559 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 59.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Nightshade about?
Exiled to a quiet post on Catalina Island by department politics, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbor.
How long does it take to read Nightshade?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Nightshade?
If you liked it, try The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, The Night Fire by Michael Connelly or Blood Work by Michael Connelly.