Catalina

Michael Connelly

After a case goes disastrously wrong, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell is reassigned to Catalina Island, where the slower pace proves deceptive. A body discovered in the harbor, a violent assault at a local bar, and the theft of a prized marlin statue draw him into a web of murder, corruption, and island politics. As Stilwell navigates pressure from law enforcement officials and powerful local figures, he must determine which seemingly unrelated crimes are part of a larger scheme. Blending sharp police procedural plotting with the distinctive atmosphere of Catalina Island, this compelling mystery introduces a thoughtful, capable detective and a promising new crime series.

Michael Connelly

On Catalina Island, Detective Sergeant Stilwell expects to guard a secluded community from the troubles of the mainland—not confront a drug operation that erupts into violence at a remote mountain airstrip. Placed under scrutiny after the failed sting, he launches a covert investigation that connects a newly recovered backpack, a long-missing hiker, and an unsettling trail leading back to Los Angeles. As Stilwell joins forces with LAPD detective Renée Ballard, the two pursue a calculating adversary who thrives on misdirection and official blind spots. Set against Catalina’s rugged isolation, this tense crime thriller explores loyalty, institutional pressure, and the risks of pursuing justice when the case reaches far beyond familiar boundaries.