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Catalina #2
Ironwood
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
16 days and 23:52:57
15 copies available
U.S. only
Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in.
Detective Sergeant Stilwell knows that his posting on Catalina Island is no paradise, but to most residents, it seems blissfully separated—by twenty-two miles of ocean—from the troubles of Los Angeles County. But now a threat is coming to his safe haven.
Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, Stilwell and his deputies watch a plane land in the middle of the night at the Airport in the Sky, a remote airstrip in the mountains. A duffel bag of drugs is dropped and the deputies move in, but things quickly go sideways. While Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man into the mountainside brush, shots are fired on the runway and the plane flies off.
An internal inquiry follows, putting Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared of responsibility for the disastrous operation. But he is determined to find out who brought deadly violence to his island, and begins his own secret investigation into the drug deal gone wrong.
While under orders to remain in the sheriff’s substation, he finds in the lost and found a valuable backpack that was never claimed. He traces it to a woman who disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. But then why was the pack only turned in two months back? Now thoroughly intrigued, he follows the mystery all the way to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard.
Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, and soon realize they are on the trail of a criminal who revels in taunting the authorities. Meanwhile, frustrated at being shut out of an investigation on his own island, Stilwell risks his already shaky standing in the department to pursue a case whose reach is wider than he ever imagined.
Page-turning, packed with intrigue, and bringing together an unstoppable investigative team, Ironwood continues the Catalina series with all of Michael Connelly’s signature “relentless narrative drive…evocative atmosphere, realistic dialogue, and well-developed characters” (Washington Review of Books).
Detective Sergeant Stilwell knows that his posting on Catalina Island is no paradise, but to most residents, it seems blissfully separated—by twenty-two miles of ocean—from the troubles of Los Angeles County. But now a threat is coming to his safe haven.
Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, Stilwell and his deputies watch a plane land in the middle of the night at the Airport in the Sky, a remote airstrip in the mountains. A duffel bag of drugs is dropped and the deputies move in, but things quickly go sideways. While Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man into the mountainside brush, shots are fired on the runway and the plane flies off.
An internal inquiry follows, putting Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared of responsibility for the disastrous operation. But he is determined to find out who brought deadly violence to his island, and begins his own secret investigation into the drug deal gone wrong.
While under orders to remain in the sheriff’s substation, he finds in the lost and found a valuable backpack that was never claimed. He traces it to a woman who disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. But then why was the pack only turned in two months back? Now thoroughly intrigued, he follows the mystery all the way to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard.
Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, and soon realize they are on the trail of a criminal who revels in taunting the authorities. Meanwhile, frustrated at being shut out of an investigation on his own island, Stilwell risks his already shaky standing in the department to pursue a case whose reach is wider than he ever imagined.
Page-turning, packed with intrigue, and bringing together an unstoppable investigative team, Ironwood continues the Catalina series with all of Michael Connelly’s signature “relentless narrative drive…evocative atmosphere, realistic dialogue, and well-developed characters” (Washington Review of Books).
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Expected publication May 19, 2026
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About the author
Michael Connelly
377 books35.6k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Michael Connelly is an absolute master of the police procedural drama. His books always bring me so much joy and once again in 2026 we are being spoilt with 2 new books. He is my absolute favourite author and I couldn’t wait to dive into Ironwood.
After loving Nightshade last year, I was keen to go back to Catalina Island and catch up with Stilwell. This man never seems to sleep and is 100% committed to his work. Even when spending time with his girlfriend Tash, he is thinking about his cases. He certainly has his hands full in Ironwood. Firstly there is the drugs operation that ended up with his officers being taken out and a missing persons case that comes out of an item in the lost and found shed.
I loved that this book had Stilwell working with Renee Ballard on the missing persons cold case. I hope this continues to happen, I loved their chemistry and team efforts in this case. They make a great team,. We even have a brief appearance from Harry and Maddie Bosch which always makes me smile.
As always, Michael Connelly books move at fast pace, I read this on my plane journey home from Japan in a few hours. There is always something dramatic happening and you just can’t put it down. Much like Harry Bosch, Stilwell does not like to be left out of things and will do whatever it takes to solve the case and I love that about him. His punishment of being sent to the island 22 miles off the Los Angeles coast has done him a lot of good and I hope that we will get many more books in this setting with this character.
I am so thankful to Little, Brown and Company for my early copy of this book to read. Such an honour to be able to do so for such a prolific author.
This one comes out on May 19th. Get reading Nightshade now to prepare for it.
After loving Nightshade last year, I was keen to go back to Catalina Island and catch up with Stilwell. This man never seems to sleep and is 100% committed to his work. Even when spending time with his girlfriend Tash, he is thinking about his cases. He certainly has his hands full in Ironwood. Firstly there is the drugs operation that ended up with his officers being taken out and a missing persons case that comes out of an item in the lost and found shed.
I loved that this book had Stilwell working with Renee Ballard on the missing persons cold case. I hope this continues to happen, I loved their chemistry and team efforts in this case. They make a great team,. We even have a brief appearance from Harry and Maddie Bosch which always makes me smile.
As always, Michael Connelly books move at fast pace, I read this on my plane journey home from Japan in a few hours. There is always something dramatic happening and you just can’t put it down. Much like Harry Bosch, Stilwell does not like to be left out of things and will do whatever it takes to solve the case and I love that about him. His punishment of being sent to the island 22 miles off the Los Angeles coast has done him a lot of good and I hope that we will get many more books in this setting with this character.
I am so thankful to Little, Brown and Company for my early copy of this book to read. Such an honour to be able to do so for such a prolific author.
This one comes out on May 19th. Get reading Nightshade now to prepare for it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another great installment in the new Stillwell series. The character is really growing on me -- and great to see some cameos from other Connelly characters.
Will we see Stillwell in an upcoming season of Ballard?
Will we see Stillwell in an upcoming season of Ballard?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: Ironwood
Author: Michael Connelly
Series: Catalina #2
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Pub Date: May 19, 2026
My Rating: 4.4 Stars!
Pages: 336
I live in Southern California aka ‘Overtown’ and am somewhat familiar with Catalina Island –have vacationed there as well as have made several day trips. It is indeed twenty-six miles across the sea as the song states. Although not a breath taking Tropical Island is truly is like paradise as it is sooo different from our hurried and hectic lives- almost a thrown back in time.
In “Nightshade” the first book in the Catalina series we learn that Detective Sergeant Stilwell with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department had been “exiled” or punished to a low-key post on Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk,
He will be the lone detective in Avalon on Catalina Island so his typical job will be managing the drunk-and-disorderly tourist who visit on weekends and Holidays. But things did get more serious in that story as they are about to this in this one.
This story starts in the middle of the night when Stillwell acts on a tip that one of his deputy’s got that a plane from Mexicali was making a drop. Stillwell and his deputies are at the little “Airport in the Sky’ a remote airstrip in the mountains and are watching as the plane land. When it touched down a duffel bag of drugs is dropped. Deputies move in, shots are fired and the plane takes off. Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man but he quickly gets away into the mountainside brush. The operation was a disaster additionally two Deputies were shot Alton Quigley and Lisa Ramirez was shot.
Later while going through the lost and found items to see what can be turned over to St. Catherine’s for their rummage sale. As they are getting ready to call Father Braxton for a pick up, Stillwell notices an expensive ‘Hyperlite Unbound Camping pack’ and is curious. Sure enough there is enough info inside to make some calls. Finds out Angela Metier disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. However the pack was only turned in two months ago. Hmmm This leads Stillwell to do more investigation which leads him to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard.
Yes THE Renée Ballard we know from other stories!
Although I liked that Ms. Ballard helped and fun that Bosch’s daughter now a police officer made an appearance- I was happy that Detective Sergeant Stilwell is the star in this thriller!
I am a Michael Connelly Mickey Haller, Harry Bosch and now a Stil fan!!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 19, 2026.
Author: Michael Connelly
Series: Catalina #2
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Pub Date: May 19, 2026
My Rating: 4.4 Stars!
Pages: 336
I live in Southern California aka ‘Overtown’ and am somewhat familiar with Catalina Island –have vacationed there as well as have made several day trips. It is indeed twenty-six miles across the sea as the song states. Although not a breath taking Tropical Island is truly is like paradise as it is sooo different from our hurried and hectic lives- almost a thrown back in time.
In “Nightshade” the first book in the Catalina series we learn that Detective Sergeant Stilwell with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department had been “exiled” or punished to a low-key post on Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk,
He will be the lone detective in Avalon on Catalina Island so his typical job will be managing the drunk-and-disorderly tourist who visit on weekends and Holidays. But things did get more serious in that story as they are about to this in this one.
This story starts in the middle of the night when Stillwell acts on a tip that one of his deputy’s got that a plane from Mexicali was making a drop. Stillwell and his deputies are at the little “Airport in the Sky’ a remote airstrip in the mountains and are watching as the plane land. When it touched down a duffel bag of drugs is dropped. Deputies move in, shots are fired and the plane takes off. Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man but he quickly gets away into the mountainside brush. The operation was a disaster additionally two Deputies were shot Alton Quigley and Lisa Ramirez was shot.
Later while going through the lost and found items to see what can be turned over to St. Catherine’s for their rummage sale. As they are getting ready to call Father Braxton for a pick up, Stillwell notices an expensive ‘Hyperlite Unbound Camping pack’ and is curious. Sure enough there is enough info inside to make some calls. Finds out Angela Metier disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. However the pack was only turned in two months ago. Hmmm This leads Stillwell to do more investigation which leads him to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard.
Yes THE Renée Ballard we know from other stories!
Although I liked that Ms. Ballard helped and fun that Bosch’s daughter now a police officer made an appearance- I was happy that Detective Sergeant Stilwell is the star in this thriller!
I am a Michael Connelly Mickey Haller, Harry Bosch and now a Stil fan!!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 19, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ironwood by Michael Connelly (May 2026) [reading in March]
Catalina #2 [ previously Detective Stilwell]
254-page Kindle Ebook story pages 11-252
Genre: Mystery > Crime; Suspense, Thriller > Mystery Thriller; Contemporary
Rating as a movie: R
Featuring: Bibliography for Michael Connelly, Parts, Catalina Island, California; Investigations, Detective, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California; Renée Ballard, Los Angeles County, California; Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Hiking, Los Angeles Police Department, Easter Eggs, Long Beach, California; Violence, Harry Bosch, Missing Persons, Law Enforcement Politics, Small-Town Characters and Drama
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏝⛴️👮♂️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 229 of 254 [Chapter] 46 - I have been reading this off and on all day, odd place to take a break but it's family time. It's good but not great. I'm looking forward to wrapping up this last case.
I liked this story more than Nightshade, as expected. This story has more action as it doesn't have the disadvantage of world-building, and it also focuses on multiple cases, so the story moves faster. I thought I knew exactly where this was going but the end was a bit unexpected. I'm looking forward to the next one, although this still falls a bit short of the thrill of Connelly's other series. The cameos were nice. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Recommend to others?: Yes. Nobody does crime thrillers like Connelly.
Catalina [previously Detective Stilwell]
1. Nightshade (2025)
2. Ironwood (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" by Doris Day
Books and Authors mentioned: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends by Jay Ward, Alex Anderson, and Bill Scott; High Noon by Carl Foreman [based on] "The Tin Star" by John W. Cunningham; Ride the High Country by N.B. Stone Jr., Seven by Andrew Kevin Walker, The Glass Bottom Boat by Everett Freeman, Captain Blood by
Casey Robinson [based on] Captain Blood by Jay Pilcher and C. Gardner Sullivan [based on] Captain Blood, His Odyssey by Rafael Sabatini; Baywatch by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann; Jaws by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb [based on] Jaws by Peter Benchley; Catalina Caper [aka Never Steal Anything Wet] by Clyde Ware, Chinatown by Robert Towne, All Ashore by Blake Edwards and Richard Quine
Catalina #2 [ previously Detective Stilwell]
254-page Kindle Ebook story pages 11-252
Genre: Mystery > Crime; Suspense, Thriller > Mystery Thriller; Contemporary
Rating as a movie: R
Featuring: Bibliography for Michael Connelly, Parts, Catalina Island, California; Investigations, Detective, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California; Renée Ballard, Los Angeles County, California; Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Hiking, Los Angeles Police Department, Easter Eggs, Long Beach, California; Violence, Harry Bosch, Missing Persons, Law Enforcement Politics, Small-Town Characters and Drama
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏝⛴️👮♂️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 229 of 254 [Chapter] 46 - I have been reading this off and on all day, odd place to take a break but it's family time. It's good but not great. I'm looking forward to wrapping up this last case.
I liked this story more than Nightshade, as expected. This story has more action as it doesn't have the disadvantage of world-building, and it also focuses on multiple cases, so the story moves faster. I thought I knew exactly where this was going but the end was a bit unexpected. I'm looking forward to the next one, although this still falls a bit short of the thrill of Connelly's other series. The cameos were nice. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Recommend to others?: Yes. Nobody does crime thrillers like Connelly.
Catalina [previously Detective Stilwell]
1. Nightshade (2025)
2. Ironwood (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" by Doris Day
Books and Authors mentioned: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends by Jay Ward, Alex Anderson, and Bill Scott; High Noon by Carl Foreman [based on] "The Tin Star" by John W. Cunningham; Ride the High Country by N.B. Stone Jr., Seven by Andrew Kevin Walker, The Glass Bottom Boat by Everett Freeman, Captain Blood by
Casey Robinson [based on] Captain Blood by Jay Pilcher and C. Gardner Sullivan [based on] Captain Blood, His Odyssey by Rafael Sabatini; Baywatch by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann; Jaws by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb [based on] Jaws by Peter Benchley; Catalina Caper [aka Never Steal Anything Wet] by Clyde Ware, Chinatown by Robert Towne, All Ashore by Blake Edwards and Richard Quine
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I first met Detective Sergeant Stilwell – first name not revealed – in “Ironwood,” the first of what is now a series of two books. Despite my misgivings about that lack of name (hmmm, what is he hiding?), I took a liking to him; so when I got the chance to read the follow-up, courtesy of a pre-release review copy from NetGalley, I didn’t hesitate. That proved to be a sound decision, and now I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
“Stil,” as he’s known, lives and works on Catalina Island; banished there by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after irritating the powers-that-be to the point that they sent him to a place where all the department “misfits” go. Most of the time, that keeps Stil out of their hair, other times, like now, the two locations get a bit tangled up. As the story begins, Stil and his troops are watching a suspicious plane land on a remote island airstrip. As a duffel bag of drugs is dropped as expected and Stil’s team advances, but then everything falls apart. The drop-off guy runs and disappears into the mountains, shots are fired from somewhere and someone catches a deadly bullet.
Despite being told by his superiors he’s off the case, Stil keeps up the investigation without their knowledge. As he digs around in his own turf, he finds a backpack still in evidence that hasn’t been claimed. Curious, he learns it belongs to a woman who went missing on the island four years ago while hiking. Not surprising in and of itself, but the backpack was recovered just two months earlier. More curiosity leads him off the island to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and (surprise!) a character familiar from another series by this author, Detective Rene Ballard. Turns out they’re something of a match made in heaven; it’s a team I hope we’ll see again soon.
The rest of the book focuses on that investigation, but Stil being Stil, he can’t back off that runway shooting case despite warnings from his superiors. Both cases get resolved, but it is the latter that brings serious ramifications for Stil and hints at the direction of the next book in the series. Can we see it soon, please? Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to immerse myself in another enjoyable mystery by way of a pre-release copy. Another one well done!
“Stil,” as he’s known, lives and works on Catalina Island; banished there by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after irritating the powers-that-be to the point that they sent him to a place where all the department “misfits” go. Most of the time, that keeps Stil out of their hair, other times, like now, the two locations get a bit tangled up. As the story begins, Stil and his troops are watching a suspicious plane land on a remote island airstrip. As a duffel bag of drugs is dropped as expected and Stil’s team advances, but then everything falls apart. The drop-off guy runs and disappears into the mountains, shots are fired from somewhere and someone catches a deadly bullet.
Despite being told by his superiors he’s off the case, Stil keeps up the investigation without their knowledge. As he digs around in his own turf, he finds a backpack still in evidence that hasn’t been claimed. Curious, he learns it belongs to a woman who went missing on the island four years ago while hiking. Not surprising in and of itself, but the backpack was recovered just two months earlier. More curiosity leads him off the island to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and (surprise!) a character familiar from another series by this author, Detective Rene Ballard. Turns out they’re something of a match made in heaven; it’s a team I hope we’ll see again soon.
The rest of the book focuses on that investigation, but Stil being Stil, he can’t back off that runway shooting case despite warnings from his superiors. Both cases get resolved, but it is the latter that brings serious ramifications for Stil and hints at the direction of the next book in the series. Can we see it soon, please? Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to immerse myself in another enjoyable mystery by way of a pre-release copy. Another one well done!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Michael Connelly has set the bar so high for mystery/action/thriller genres that his name is first on recommendations to my patrons. You can count on him providing a unique, well-developed plot, and great characters you really care about. He has the ability and writing style to move a story along while pulling the reader in and not letting up until the end. It is no wonder he has had so many books made into tv series and films.
With Ironwood (Catalina Series #2), he takes us back to Catalina Island where Detective Sergeant Stillwell (who was politically relegated to this island of LAPD outcasts in Nightshade to keep him under control and away from the juicy cases on the mainland) finds himself feeling responsible for a drug bust gone wrong where one of his team is killed and the other one seriously injured. How did this happen? Stillwell is tenacious with finding the answers to this even though his supervisor on the mainland tries to tie his hands, even resorting to watching him with cameras in his substation. Stillwell owes it to his team to solve this and punish those responsible.
But you can't keep a good man down, and Stillwell manages to come upon another mystery in the form of a backpack in the substation's lost and found. His investigation on who the item belongs to brings up more questions which leads him to the LAPD's Open & Unsolved Unit headed by our good friend Detective Renee Ballard (who was assigned here as a punishment by the LAPD). Wow! There is a pattern here with the LAPD stifling or bringing down tenacious cops (including Harry Bosch) who are willing to do what it takes to find the truth in a case! How does this backpack relate to cold and unsolved cases that Ballard is trying to solve?
Can he handle both cases and find a resolution? He owes it to his team and to the owner of the missing backpack to resolve the cases and punish those responsible. The beauty is in how he does it without his supervisor knowing and firing him.
Ironwood raises the bar on Catalina Series and is not to be missed. I have already told family, friends, and patrons to place their requests for this title as it will be in great demand!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown & Co for allowing me to read the ARC!
With Ironwood (Catalina Series #2), he takes us back to Catalina Island where Detective Sergeant Stillwell (who was politically relegated to this island of LAPD outcasts in Nightshade to keep him under control and away from the juicy cases on the mainland) finds himself feeling responsible for a drug bust gone wrong where one of his team is killed and the other one seriously injured. How did this happen? Stillwell is tenacious with finding the answers to this even though his supervisor on the mainland tries to tie his hands, even resorting to watching him with cameras in his substation. Stillwell owes it to his team to solve this and punish those responsible.
But you can't keep a good man down, and Stillwell manages to come upon another mystery in the form of a backpack in the substation's lost and found. His investigation on who the item belongs to brings up more questions which leads him to the LAPD's Open & Unsolved Unit headed by our good friend Detective Renee Ballard (who was assigned here as a punishment by the LAPD). Wow! There is a pattern here with the LAPD stifling or bringing down tenacious cops (including Harry Bosch) who are willing to do what it takes to find the truth in a case! How does this backpack relate to cold and unsolved cases that Ballard is trying to solve?
Can he handle both cases and find a resolution? He owes it to his team and to the owner of the missing backpack to resolve the cases and punish those responsible. The beauty is in how he does it without his supervisor knowing and firing him.
Ironwood raises the bar on Catalina Series and is not to be missed. I have already told family, friends, and patrons to place their requests for this title as it will be in great demand!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown & Co for allowing me to read the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had the chance to read an advance copy of Ironwood by Michael Connelly, releasing in May 2026, and it reminded me yet again why Connelly is truly the master of police procedurals and thrillers.
This novel, the second book in the Catalina series, brings readers back to Catalina Island where Sergeant Stillwell—known simply as “Stil”—is in charge of the island’s small but important police substation. While Catalina might seem like a quiet paradise, Connelly quickly reminds us that darkness can reach even the most beautiful places.
In Ironwood, Stil faces a tremendous personal loss that deeply affects him and shapes the emotional core of the story. At the same time, he becomes involved in investigating reopened unsolved murders—cases that refuse to stay buried. To tackle them, Stil gets help from none other than the fantastic Renée Ballard and her team, tying the investigation into the larger Connelly universe that fans know and love.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how seamlessly Connelly weaves Catalina into the greater Harry Bosch–Renée Ballard world. The cameos and connections were a real treat for longtime readers. The story is packed with nonstop investigation, strong procedural detail, and plenty of tension that kept me turning pages for hours.
This was a gripping read from start to finish. I genuinely found it hard to put down once the investigation began unfolding. Connelly’s pacing and ability to layer multiple threads together are as sharp as ever.
If I had one small critique, it’s that the ending felt a bit abrupt. That said, knowing Connelly’s style, it very well may be intentional—setting up what’s coming next for Stil and the ongoing stories in this universe.
Overall, this was an easy 5-star read for me and another reminder of why Michael Connelly remains one of my favorite authors. He continues to prove why he is one of the best in the business at crafting compelling crime fiction.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company, Michael Connelly, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
#Ironwood #NetGalley #MichaelConnelly #LittleBrownandCompany
This novel, the second book in the Catalina series, brings readers back to Catalina Island where Sergeant Stillwell—known simply as “Stil”—is in charge of the island’s small but important police substation. While Catalina might seem like a quiet paradise, Connelly quickly reminds us that darkness can reach even the most beautiful places.
In Ironwood, Stil faces a tremendous personal loss that deeply affects him and shapes the emotional core of the story. At the same time, he becomes involved in investigating reopened unsolved murders—cases that refuse to stay buried. To tackle them, Stil gets help from none other than the fantastic Renée Ballard and her team, tying the investigation into the larger Connelly universe that fans know and love.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how seamlessly Connelly weaves Catalina into the greater Harry Bosch–Renée Ballard world. The cameos and connections were a real treat for longtime readers. The story is packed with nonstop investigation, strong procedural detail, and plenty of tension that kept me turning pages for hours.
This was a gripping read from start to finish. I genuinely found it hard to put down once the investigation began unfolding. Connelly’s pacing and ability to layer multiple threads together are as sharp as ever.
If I had one small critique, it’s that the ending felt a bit abrupt. That said, knowing Connelly’s style, it very well may be intentional—setting up what’s coming next for Stil and the ongoing stories in this universe.
Overall, this was an easy 5-star read for me and another reminder of why Michael Connelly remains one of my favorite authors. He continues to prove why he is one of the best in the business at crafting compelling crime fiction.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company, Michael Connelly, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
#Ironwood #NetGalley #MichaelConnelly #LittleBrownandCompany
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
IRONWOOD starts on a run and doesn't stop. From the opening scenes of a drug trafficking bust gone wrong—an undertaking that leaves one of his deputies dead and one seriously wounded—Detective Sergeant Stilwell keeps going, uncovering corruption and deceit on Catalina Island. IRONWOOD is the fast-moving second instalment of the Catalina series by Michael Connelly, and it more than makes up for the less-than-stellar first instalment of that series ("Nightshade").
There are several narrative threads in IRONWOOD. First and foremost is the investigation of how the drug trafficking bust got messed up. Another main thread involves Stilwell's interactions with the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit and its head, Detective Renée Ballard, during the Unit's investigation of a serial killer who may have moved to Catalina. Then there are minor subplots involving everyday crimes taking place on the Island, crimes specific to the unusual lifestyle of those who make it their home (as opposed to the thousands of tourists who come for a short visit).
Stilwell is now firmly entrenched into the Harry Bosch universe, and even catches a glimpse of "the old man" picking up a rifle shell at a funeral. But it is the rhythm and politics of Catalina that lie at the heart of this story.
The only criticism I have of this one is that I still don't know much about Stilwell's background. There are small hints, but nothing concrete; he is an enigma.
But overall a great addition to the Michael Connelly's library of outstanding crime fiction. It had me quickly flipping pages. Five strong stars.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
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My review for the previous book in the series:
Nightshade (Catalina, #1)
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There are several narrative threads in IRONWOOD. First and foremost is the investigation of how the drug trafficking bust got messed up. Another main thread involves Stilwell's interactions with the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit and its head, Detective Renée Ballard, during the Unit's investigation of a serial killer who may have moved to Catalina. Then there are minor subplots involving everyday crimes taking place on the Island, crimes specific to the unusual lifestyle of those who make it their home (as opposed to the thousands of tourists who come for a short visit).
Stilwell is now firmly entrenched into the Harry Bosch universe, and even catches a glimpse of "the old man" picking up a rifle shell at a funeral. But it is the rhythm and politics of Catalina that lie at the heart of this story.
The only criticism I have of this one is that I still don't know much about Stilwell's background. There are small hints, but nothing concrete; he is an enigma.
But overall a great addition to the Michael Connelly's library of outstanding crime fiction. It had me quickly flipping pages. Five strong stars.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My review for the previous book in the series:
Nightshade (Catalina, #1)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Ironwood, Michael Connelly once again proves why he remains one of the most compelling voices in crime fiction. Set against the striking and often overlooked backdrop of Santa Catalina Island, this novel delivers a gripping blend of atmosphere, character, and high-stakes suspense.
At the center of the story is Stilwell, the steady and capable head of the Catalina substation. Tasked with keeping both the island’s thriving tourist population and its tight-knit local community safe, Stilwell and his small team of deputies embody the quiet, everyday heroism of law enforcement in a place where paradise can quickly turn perilous.
Connelly masterfully weaves together multiple cases—a rash of graffiti incidents, the chilling presence of a serial killer, and, most prominently, a mysterious plane landing that erupts into a deadly gunfight. The consequences are immediate and personal: one deputy is killed, another seriously injured, and the sense of safety on the island is shattered. From that moment on, the novel accelerates into a tense and emotionally grounded investigation that keeps the pages turning.
One of the true pleasures of Ironwood is its connection to Connelly’s broader universe. Fans of Harry Bosch and Renée Ballard will appreciate their cameo appearances, which feel organic rather than forced, adding depth and continuity without overshadowing Stilwell’s story.
What sets Ironwood apart is its setting. Catalina is more than a backdrop—it’s a character in its own right. Connelly captures both its beauty and its isolation, using the island’s geography to heighten tension and complicate the investigation in ways that feel fresh and authentic.
With sharp prose, layered plotting, and a strong emotional core, Ironwood is a standout addition to Connelly’s body of work.
At the center of the story is Stilwell, the steady and capable head of the Catalina substation. Tasked with keeping both the island’s thriving tourist population and its tight-knit local community safe, Stilwell and his small team of deputies embody the quiet, everyday heroism of law enforcement in a place where paradise can quickly turn perilous.
Connelly masterfully weaves together multiple cases—a rash of graffiti incidents, the chilling presence of a serial killer, and, most prominently, a mysterious plane landing that erupts into a deadly gunfight. The consequences are immediate and personal: one deputy is killed, another seriously injured, and the sense of safety on the island is shattered. From that moment on, the novel accelerates into a tense and emotionally grounded investigation that keeps the pages turning.
One of the true pleasures of Ironwood is its connection to Connelly’s broader universe. Fans of Harry Bosch and Renée Ballard will appreciate their cameo appearances, which feel organic rather than forced, adding depth and continuity without overshadowing Stilwell’s story.
What sets Ironwood apart is its setting. Catalina is more than a backdrop—it’s a character in its own right. Connelly captures both its beauty and its isolation, using the island’s geography to heighten tension and complicate the investigation in ways that feel fresh and authentic.
With sharp prose, layered plotting, and a strong emotional core, Ironwood is a standout addition to Connelly’s body of work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've been a devoted fan of Michael Connelly for years, and with Ironwood, the second installment in his Catalina series, he has delivered another masterclass in American crime fiction. Detective Sergeant Stilwell returns as our guide through the sun-drenched yet surprisingly dangerous world of Catalina Island, and from the very first pages, I was completely hooked.
Connelly's signature ability to weave multiple subplots without ever losing momentum is on full display here. A drug drop surveillance operation goes catastrophically wrong, leaving one deputy dead and another fighting for his life in the ICU. Meanwhile, a mysterious backpack recovered from lost and found opens a cold-case rabbit hole involving a woman who vanished on a hiking trail four years ago. Smaller threads — vineyard vandalism, graffiti crimes — add texture and a genuine sense of island life under quiet siege. None of it feels padded; every storyline earns its place.
What truly elevates Ironwood is Connelly's gift for character. Stilwell is a nuanced, morally grounded protagonist, and the welcome appearance of Renée Ballard — working the case from the mainland — gives the story an electric charge. Cameos from Harry Bosch and his daughter Maddie will delight longtime fans of the extended Connelly universe, feeling organic rather than forced.
The novel builds toward a moral-choice ending that is deeply satisfying and it left me hoping this isn't the last we'll see of Sgt. Stilwell on Catalina.
I cannot recommend Ironwood highly enough. Connelly remains, in my view, the finest American crime writer working today, and this book is proof of exactly why. Five stars, without hesitation.
A big thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Connelly's signature ability to weave multiple subplots without ever losing momentum is on full display here. A drug drop surveillance operation goes catastrophically wrong, leaving one deputy dead and another fighting for his life in the ICU. Meanwhile, a mysterious backpack recovered from lost and found opens a cold-case rabbit hole involving a woman who vanished on a hiking trail four years ago. Smaller threads — vineyard vandalism, graffiti crimes — add texture and a genuine sense of island life under quiet siege. None of it feels padded; every storyline earns its place.
What truly elevates Ironwood is Connelly's gift for character. Stilwell is a nuanced, morally grounded protagonist, and the welcome appearance of Renée Ballard — working the case from the mainland — gives the story an electric charge. Cameos from Harry Bosch and his daughter Maddie will delight longtime fans of the extended Connelly universe, feeling organic rather than forced.
The novel builds toward a moral-choice ending that is deeply satisfying and it left me hoping this isn't the last we'll see of Sgt. Stilwell on Catalina.
I cannot recommend Ironwood highly enough. Connelly remains, in my view, the finest American crime writer working today, and this book is proof of exactly why. Five stars, without hesitation.
A big thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoy Michael Connelly novels and always look forward to his latest offering. With ‘Ironwood’ we are taken to the beautiful Catalina Island.
The story introduces us to Detective Sergeant Stilwell, a man who knows better than anyone that the twenty-two miles of ocean separating Catalina from Los Angeles isn’t enough to keep the darkness out. When a drug drop at the remote “Airport in the Sky” goes catastrophically wrong, Stilwell finds himself in the middle of a departmental nightmare.
As always Michael Connelly delivers a gripping plot with outstanding characters. While stuck in the sheriff’s substation, Stilwell discovers a backpack in the lost and found belonging to a woman who vanished four years ago. Why was the pack only turned in two months back? This discovery leads to one of Michael Connelly’s other stand out characters, Detective Renée Ballard of the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit, and a collaboration begins. Stilwell works the island’s rugged terrain while Ballard navigates the red tape of the mainland.
Suddenly the case has expanded and what was a local island crime now stretches to LA.
Stilwell is a very good addition to the already strong cast of characters in the Connelly novels. With Bosch, Ballard, Stilwell and ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ there is already so much on offer.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The story introduces us to Detective Sergeant Stilwell, a man who knows better than anyone that the twenty-two miles of ocean separating Catalina from Los Angeles isn’t enough to keep the darkness out. When a drug drop at the remote “Airport in the Sky” goes catastrophically wrong, Stilwell finds himself in the middle of a departmental nightmare.
As always Michael Connelly delivers a gripping plot with outstanding characters. While stuck in the sheriff’s substation, Stilwell discovers a backpack in the lost and found belonging to a woman who vanished four years ago. Why was the pack only turned in two months back? This discovery leads to one of Michael Connelly’s other stand out characters, Detective Renée Ballard of the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit, and a collaboration begins. Stilwell works the island’s rugged terrain while Ballard navigates the red tape of the mainland.
Suddenly the case has expanded and what was a local island crime now stretches to LA.
Stilwell is a very good addition to the already strong cast of characters in the Connelly novels. With Bosch, Ballard, Stilwell and ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ there is already so much on offer.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stilwell remains on Catalina Island, serving out a kind of exile from the LAPD. When we last left him, in the first book in the series, he had begun to warm to the place and the people in spite of his post being a form of punishment.
In Ironwood, we catch up with Stilwell as he's trying to follow up on a tip delivered to a new deputy also sent to Catalina under less than ideal circumstances. But when all hell breaks loose, Stilwell is forced to confront a new threat to the island and those he cares about.
_______
I'm really enjoying this new main character in the extended Bosch universe. Stilwell is a stoic man, but he's also not a true loner and has a woman he cares deeply for—even if he isn't the best at outward displays or saying the right thing.
Most important, Stilwell lives that same ethos of Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts. It's his ethic that lands in him trouble but also makes him a main character so simple to root for.
This book pairs him up for a brief time with Renee Ballard and the cold case team on the mainland, and it's nice to see her character from a different POV.
Ironwood has two concurrent mysteries running, and that keeps the action flowing and the pacing work.
The ending is a strong teaser for the next book, in that we assume by choosing what's ethically right, Stilwell is going to be in big trouble. Looking forward to the next book and more of Stilwell and Catalina Island.
In Ironwood, we catch up with Stilwell as he's trying to follow up on a tip delivered to a new deputy also sent to Catalina under less than ideal circumstances. But when all hell breaks loose, Stilwell is forced to confront a new threat to the island and those he cares about.
_______
I'm really enjoying this new main character in the extended Bosch universe. Stilwell is a stoic man, but he's also not a true loner and has a woman he cares deeply for—even if he isn't the best at outward displays or saying the right thing.
Most important, Stilwell lives that same ethos of Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts. It's his ethic that lands in him trouble but also makes him a main character so simple to root for.
This book pairs him up for a brief time with Renee Ballard and the cold case team on the mainland, and it's nice to see her character from a different POV.
Ironwood has two concurrent mysteries running, and that keeps the action flowing and the pacing work.
The ending is a strong teaser for the next book, in that we assume by choosing what's ethically right, Stilwell is going to be in big trouble. Looking forward to the next book and more of Stilwell and Catalina Island.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Michael Connelly has made a name for himself crafting police procedurals with renegade detectives, those so focused on solving their cases that rules have a habit of getting bent. In Ironwood, the second of the Catalina Island series, Detective Sergeant Stilwell fits that profile. Catalina Island is known as “The Island of Misfit Toys”. But Stilwell loves the island and the life he’s created there. The story begins with a drug bust gone wrong - a plane dropping a bag of drugs ends with the death of one officer and another clinging to life. Benched during the ensuing investigation, Stilwell is cleaning out the lost and found when he discovers an expensive backpack. A little digging leads him to the discovery that the owner went missing four years earlier.
As with all of Connelly’s books, there’s plenty of action, twists and betrayals. The two separate investigations means there’s no downtime. The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, which makes me confident there will be a third book.
As is often the case with Connelly’s books, there is crossover with other characters. In this case, Renee Ballard of LA Cold Cases.
In the first book, we never learned Stilwell’s first name. This time, there’s a minor reveal. If you blink, you might miss it.
Connelly’s writing has all the elements to keep the reader engaged. I wonder if this series will also end up as a tv series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this book.
As with all of Connelly’s books, there’s plenty of action, twists and betrayals. The two separate investigations means there’s no downtime. The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, which makes me confident there will be a third book.
As is often the case with Connelly’s books, there is crossover with other characters. In this case, Renee Ballard of LA Cold Cases.
In the first book, we never learned Stilwell’s first name. This time, there’s a minor reveal. If you blink, you might miss it.
Connelly’s writing has all the elements to keep the reader engaged. I wonder if this series will also end up as a tv series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Catalina Island is paradise for the people who live there, twenty two miles from the troubles of Los Angeles. Detective Sergeant Stilwell knows the island isn’t the paradise it seems. Stilwell and his deputies watch a plane lan, drop a bag of drugs in the middle of the night at a remote airstrip in the mountains. Then things go sideways when they move in. While the investigation is ongoing Stilwell is ordered to remain in the sheriff’s substation, he finds a backpack in the lost and found that was never claimed. He traces it to a woman who disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. He reaches out to LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard.Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, and Stilwell realizes he may be in danger.
I am so glad Stilwelll is back and we get to spend some time on Catalina Island. I read this in two sittings, it would have been one but my kid insisted on eating dinner. While this is only book two The Catalina Series, it feels familiar and look forward to see what other drama comes to Avalon and the rest of the island.
Thank you, Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley. #Ironwood #NetGalley #MichaelConnelly
I am so glad Stilwelll is back and we get to spend some time on Catalina Island. I read this in two sittings, it would have been one but my kid insisted on eating dinner. While this is only book two The Catalina Series, it feels familiar and look forward to see what other drama comes to Avalon and the rest of the island.
Thank you, Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley. #Ironwood #NetGalley #MichaelConnelly
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The second in Connelly’s Catalina Island series featuring LA County Sheriff’s Sgt Stilwell starts with an intended interception of a nighttime drug delivery at Catalina’s small mountain top airport that goes terribly wrong, ending with the death of Stillwell’s newest deputy and a second seriously injured. When Stillwell is ordered to stay out of the investigation, he connects a backpack recently turned into his lost and found to a hiker reported missing many years earlier and finds her bones in a grave on the island. Navigating both investigations, Stillwell works with LAPD on what could be a serial killer targeting hikers and off the books with trusted colleagues with the LA Sheriff’s Office on the murder of his deputy. Both cases might uncover corruption that goes over his head. As usual, Connelly write a fast paced police procedural that will keep readers’ attention throughout. In IRONWOOD, readers are treated to a blending of characters from the Bosch Universe, including Renee Ballard and cameos from Harry and Maddie Bosch themselves!
A deadly airport sting, a long-buried skeleton, and corruption at the highest levels collide as Stilwell joins forces with familiar faces from the Bosch universe in Connelly’s relentless, island-set thriller Ironwood.
A deadly airport sting, a long-buried skeleton, and corruption at the highest levels collide as Stilwell joins forces with familiar faces from the Bosch universe in Connelly’s relentless, island-set thriller Ironwood.
March 8, 2026
I received an ARC through Netgalley for this review.
Ironwood is the second in Connelly’s Catalina series, a follow up to Nightshade. I really enjoyed this book, especially when compared to Nightshade. I felt the pacing was a little quicker with fewer parts that dragged or focused on Stillwell’s regions with Tash, which I don’t find very interesting. I also found the main case Stillwell is investigating in this story to be a little tighter and less convoluted.
I think my biggest problem is that I just don’t think I like Stillwell very much as a character. It seems like every other investigator he encounters is beneath him and every single one of his hunches pans out. He treats his deputies as idiots and after most interactions with them he has a thought about how they didn’t handle a situation exactly the way he would have. Stillwell is constantly withholding information from his captain or outright defying him. In this story he goes to visit a deputy who got injured in the line of duty but seeing how the deputy is doing is secondary to trying to get information from them.
Overall I felt positively about this book and Connelly’s ability to write engaging crime stories is present, but Stillwell doesn’t hold a candle to Haller or Bosch.
Ironwood is the second in Connelly’s Catalina series, a follow up to Nightshade. I really enjoyed this book, especially when compared to Nightshade. I felt the pacing was a little quicker with fewer parts that dragged or focused on Stillwell’s regions with Tash, which I don’t find very interesting. I also found the main case Stillwell is investigating in this story to be a little tighter and less convoluted.
I think my biggest problem is that I just don’t think I like Stillwell very much as a character. It seems like every other investigator he encounters is beneath him and every single one of his hunches pans out. He treats his deputies as idiots and after most interactions with them he has a thought about how they didn’t handle a situation exactly the way he would have. Stillwell is constantly withholding information from his captain or outright defying him. In this story he goes to visit a deputy who got injured in the line of duty but seeing how the deputy is doing is secondary to trying to get information from them.
Overall I felt positively about this book and Connelly’s ability to write engaging crime stories is present, but Stillwell doesn’t hold a candle to Haller or Bosch.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was given an early copy from NetGalley to read and review.
We were introduced to Stil in Nightshade, another novel set in the Bosch world, however taking place on Catalina Island.
Stil is back in Ironwood, along with a couple of mysteries.
First of all, I have to say that I have never been to Catalina Island, however, with Michael Connelly's beautiful descriptions, I feel like I could find my way around were I to visit tomorrow. It is a skill that few are better at.
The other piece that Connelly excels at is weaving two or three stories all together into one seamless tale. As often is the case in his novels, there is more than one mystery to solve. But he flows between the two so expertly that you are never lost or confused.
In Ironwood, we have a cold case arise that Stil assists with. Enter Renee Ballard, whom all Connelly readers are familiar with. It was nice to see her character in this novel and knowing all the characters, it fit perfectly.
Like all of his Ballard, Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer books, Ironwood has amazing storytelling, an imperfect protagonist and enough suspense and intrigue to keep you reading till late in the night. This new series is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I am excited to see where it takes us next.
We were introduced to Stil in Nightshade, another novel set in the Bosch world, however taking place on Catalina Island.
Stil is back in Ironwood, along with a couple of mysteries.
First of all, I have to say that I have never been to Catalina Island, however, with Michael Connelly's beautiful descriptions, I feel like I could find my way around were I to visit tomorrow. It is a skill that few are better at.
The other piece that Connelly excels at is weaving two or three stories all together into one seamless tale. As often is the case in his novels, there is more than one mystery to solve. But he flows between the two so expertly that you are never lost or confused.
In Ironwood, we have a cold case arise that Stil assists with. Enter Renee Ballard, whom all Connelly readers are familiar with. It was nice to see her character in this novel and knowing all the characters, it fit perfectly.
Like all of his Ballard, Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer books, Ironwood has amazing storytelling, an imperfect protagonist and enough suspense and intrigue to keep you reading till late in the night. This new series is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I am excited to see where it takes us next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ironwood is the second volume of the new Catalina series by Michael Connelly.. When you start a Connelly book, no matter the setting and characters, you know you are in the capable hands of a master. The tone is recognizable, whether it is Bosch or the Lincoln Lawyer or in this case Detective “Stil” Stillwell, a cop who was sent to Catalina Island as punishment but liked it enough to stay. There is a world weary tone to the detective who has seen a world of corruption but doggedly pursues his path with integrity. If you like the comfort of a procedural, Connelly never disappoints. Just don’t expect much story beyond the linear narrative. . Connelly through his characters does not do much navel gazing.
In this story you get two mysteries for Stil to solve which he does with the help of assorted colleagues, including another fan favorite Renee Ballard from the world of Bosch.
My only complaint came at the end of the book when the reader doesn’t get to savor the final comeuppance of the worst offenders. However, to be honest, showing that humiliation probably isn’t in the code of a Connelly hero.
In this story you get two mysteries for Stil to solve which he does with the help of assorted colleagues, including another fan favorite Renee Ballard from the world of Bosch.
My only complaint came at the end of the book when the reader doesn’t get to savor the final comeuppance of the worst offenders. However, to be honest, showing that humiliation probably isn’t in the code of a Connelly hero.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
‘Ironwood’, by Michael Collins , is the second instalment in the Catalina series featuring Detective Sergeant Stilwell.
In all honesty I was a little bit underwhelmed by the first book featuring this new lead character and feared that if I’d just feel the same again,and be disappointed by this next episode.This time around I needn’t have worried.Right from the start the narrative explodes into action and never lets up from there.Without spoiling the details of the multiple investigations that ‘Stil’ gets into ,this really gives an authentic sense of the anxieties and complexities of working tirelessly and sometimes obsessively though the investigation process.The highest praise that I can give this tale is that it very favourably compares with the very best of the previous storylines featuring Bosch,Ballard,or Haller. It soon becomes apparent how well it is worth taking the initial commitment of your time to quickly become engrossed in this gripping crime thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group ,for an Advance Readers Copy for review.
In all honesty I was a little bit underwhelmed by the first book featuring this new lead character and feared that if I’d just feel the same again,and be disappointed by this next episode.This time around I needn’t have worried.Right from the start the narrative explodes into action and never lets up from there.Without spoiling the details of the multiple investigations that ‘Stil’ gets into ,this really gives an authentic sense of the anxieties and complexities of working tirelessly and sometimes obsessively though the investigation process.The highest praise that I can give this tale is that it very favourably compares with the very best of the previous storylines featuring Bosch,Ballard,or Haller. It soon becomes apparent how well it is worth taking the initial commitment of your time to quickly become engrossed in this gripping crime thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group ,for an Advance Readers Copy for review.
February 24, 2026
Ironwood-Stilwell (Catalina Island, Book Two in the series)
Michael Connelly, please consult with me first before making decisions about the ending of your novels..Thanks in advance.
Let me start off with I love Stil as a character and the life he’s made on Catalina Island.
Book 2, what I loved most was the different cases not being related. A serial killer and corruption.
The serial killer case is where Stil meets Renee Ballard which I loved and hoping they come together for future cases. If we’re lucky maybe Harry Bosch will make an appearance.
Stil has one officer dead and the other seriously injured. He’s on a mission to figure out who’s behind it until he’s moved off the case.
A room in the substation designated for the “lost and found” is where he stumbles across the backpack.
I give this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I couldn’t believe how invested I became into the story and how fast I read this masterpiece.
Great job to one of my favorite authors and I expected nothing less.
Can’t wait for Book 3.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a very exciting story, and I was so delighted that Stil partnered up with Renée Ballard to catch a serial killer. This book takes place about a year after the first one, and begins with Stil and two of his deputies attempting to foil a drug drop at the small airport high up in the mountains on Catalina. That ended badly, with one deputy killed and the other terribly injured. Stil does manage to capture the Mexican drug dealer who tried to escape. When his boss tells him he's not to investigate anything and to stay at the station, he begins to go through the lost and found items and finds a very expensive backpack filled with clothes and female items. Using a keyring on the backpack, he finds out who the backpack belonged to and this starts yet another investigation.
Wow, this story moved along at a fast pace! I was a little disappointed with the ending, and wanted more, but I suppose that's going to be addressed in the next book. Cheers to Michael Connelly for writing so well, and thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy. I loved it!
Wow, this story moved along at a fast pace! I was a little disappointed with the ending, and wanted more, but I suppose that's going to be addressed in the next book. Cheers to Michael Connelly for writing so well, and thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy. I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Detective Sergeant Stilwell is a law enforcement officer on Catalina Island. Assigned to look through the lost and found after after an informant's tip leaves one officer dead and another seriously injured, he finds a backpack turned in recently. After tracing the backpack to a woman who disappeared several years earlier, he realizes that it may tie into a cold murder case which Renee Ballard and her team are reviewing in LA. There have been a string of murders of female hikers, and Stil is sure he has found the culprit. He must then deal with the officer's murder, which has wide ranging repercussions. I was disappointed with the first book in the Catalina series, but not this one: Connelly has written an exciting page turner with memorable characters; I was especially glad he brought Ballard in, and even Bosch got a mention. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Five golden stars from start to finish⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Connelly has another winner in his Catalina series with Det Sgt Stilwell.
Stilwell stakes out the Catalina landing strip one night, acting on a tip from an informant only to
gave it end as an ambush with one deputy dead and another barely clinging to life.
As he is ordered to stand down while an investigation is conducted by
lAPD investigators from the mainland, he starts looking into the discovery of a backpack, left in
the open, which tracks to a old case of a missing young woman which Rene Ballard and her
office is investigating. Stilwell teams up with Ballard and her LAPD cold cases team to try and
connect the dots between the mainland and Catalina.
A fabulous story, richl in suspense, intrigue and simply fascinating, returning characters.
Another Connelly pure delight in reading......
BUT....
we REALLY need the next one.
ASAP.
Connelly has another winner in his Catalina series with Det Sgt Stilwell.
Stilwell stakes out the Catalina landing strip one night, acting on a tip from an informant only to
gave it end as an ambush with one deputy dead and another barely clinging to life.
As he is ordered to stand down while an investigation is conducted by
lAPD investigators from the mainland, he starts looking into the discovery of a backpack, left in
the open, which tracks to a old case of a missing young woman which Rene Ballard and her
office is investigating. Stilwell teams up with Ballard and her LAPD cold cases team to try and
connect the dots between the mainland and Catalina.
A fabulous story, richl in suspense, intrigue and simply fascinating, returning characters.
Another Connelly pure delight in reading......
BUT....
we REALLY need the next one.
ASAP.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Michael Connelly excels at creating chapters who draw our interest.
Detective Sergeant Stiwell is no exception.
Banished to Catalina for oissong off fellow deputies, Stiwell decides to stay on the Island at the end of the first novel in this series.
Book two picks up pretty much where book one left off.
We start with a busy gone wrong, and Stiwell is sidelined because reasons - but that doesn't stop our intrepid hero.
There are two investigations here, and some interactions with Renee Ballard, another Connelly character. Harry Bosch also makes a guest appearance.
The story is tight, the suspense mostly real.
My only critique is I don't really feel a connection between Stiwell and his love interest, who was the plot device which is keeping him on the island.
Regardless, it's another great read from Connelly.
An absolute 5/5.
Thanks to the Publisher for the advanced look via an ARC.
Detective Sergeant Stiwell is no exception.
Banished to Catalina for oissong off fellow deputies, Stiwell decides to stay on the Island at the end of the first novel in this series.
Book two picks up pretty much where book one left off.
We start with a busy gone wrong, and Stiwell is sidelined because reasons - but that doesn't stop our intrepid hero.
There are two investigations here, and some interactions with Renee Ballard, another Connelly character. Harry Bosch also makes a guest appearance.
The story is tight, the suspense mostly real.
My only critique is I don't really feel a connection between Stiwell and his love interest, who was the plot device which is keeping him on the island.
Regardless, it's another great read from Connelly.
An absolute 5/5.
Thanks to the Publisher for the advanced look via an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Catalina Island is home to wealthy Americans and visitors looking for paradise. However, in Ironwood, paradise turns out to be anything but that. Michael Connelly reigns supreme in the second novel of the Catalina series. This time, we find Sergeant Stillwell heading up an operation based on intelligence about a cartel. When things go wrong, Still is benched and looking for answers. Ironwood is a fast-paced tale of bad decisions, questionable characters, and heroic islanders. The ironwood tree is known for its longevity and ability to survive extreme drought. It’s the perfect representation of the excellence that Michael Connelly has displayed throughout his career. Add this to your summer reading list – Stilwell might just become your new favourite slightly unorthodox crime fighter.
Thank you to Little Brown publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#MichaelConnelly #Goodreads #libraryninja📚
Thank you to Little Brown publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#MichaelConnelly #Goodreads #libraryninja📚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stil finds himself running an op with two other deputies after a CI said that a shipment was coming in that night at the landing strip. Things do not go well and Stil finds himself trying to figure out what happened. Corum, his boss, seems to want to keep him on a short leash. This is nothing new. Then Stil stumbles on a case that has Renee Ballard and him joining forces. I did like how they worked together to try and get closure. Add in a suspect who is in the wind and it all is quite the interesting tale. I did like Stil, but his constant need to be involved was a bit much. He went rogue a lot. He did remind me of Harry Bosch a lot. I wanted him to ask for help and become part of a team instead of a one-man show all of the time. He did figure out what was going on with all of the cases. It was interesting to see how far the cover-up was going to go on the Quigley thing. I am interested to see what happens next on Catalina.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was another quick and enjoyable read from Mr. Connelly. I really like Stilwell as a character. You can see a little of Harry Bosch in him more and more. I liked the multiple plotlines in this story and the crossover with Renee Ballard was fantastic. We even got a few other quick cameos that were great to see too! One thing I don't like about this series is Tash and her relationship with Stilwell. It's just a weird relationship and either needs to be explored more or dropped for future installments. Otherwise it's just filler and I'm not a big fan.
There were some good unresolved plotlines at the end that certainly will make me eagerly await the next installment in this series! 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for this ARC. #Ironwood #NetGalley
There were some good unresolved plotlines at the end that certainly will make me eagerly await the next installment in this series! 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for this ARC. #Ironwood #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in this series. Maybe the new character by one of my favorites? I also felt the writing was choppy.
That being said, I really like this book. I'm getting to know Sargeant Stilwell (Stil) , I love learning about Catalina Island and this book has 2 stories, not just one. The first one includes the ambush of 2 deputies on the Island, the other is a cold missing persons case which brings Ballard into the mix with cameos of Harry and Maddie. Love this.
My only thing I didn't like...Stil is interviewing a person of interest and feels that he needs to not tell his partner the sex of this person. Why? If she is that insecure, he deserves better. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this.
That being said, I really like this book. I'm getting to know Sargeant Stilwell (Stil) , I love learning about Catalina Island and this book has 2 stories, not just one. The first one includes the ambush of 2 deputies on the Island, the other is a cold missing persons case which brings Ballard into the mix with cameos of Harry and Maddie. Love this.
My only thing I didn't like...Stil is interviewing a person of interest and feels that he needs to not tell his partner the sex of this person. Why? If she is that insecure, he deserves better. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this.
February 1, 2026
The follow up to his 2025 bestseller, Nightshade, Michael Connelly takes us back to the “small island, big crime,” in Ironwood. A thrilling installment in the Catalina series that is even more riveting than the first as we follow Sergeant Stilwell as he deals with a double shooting, potential serial killer, and some island vandalism.
This book wastes no time in commanding your full attention and keeping it until the final page is read. Connelly’s writing is detailed, direct, and engaging. Fans of Nightshade will notice that he has taken the stakes up a level as Stilwell faces some of his biggest challenges on the island.
This book wastes no time in commanding your full attention and keeping it until the final page is read. Connelly’s writing is detailed, direct, and engaging. Fans of Nightshade will notice that he has taken the stakes up a level as Stilwell faces some of his biggest challenges on the island.
March 8, 2026
Michael Connelly is my favorite author and I have read all of his books. They are all 4-5 stars for me. This is another good one. Second book in the Catalina series. I did like this one more than the first one (but that one was good too). I liked that Ballard and her team made an appearance and the references to Harry Bosch. All of the cases in this book were interesting, well thought out and written. I do recommend reading Nightshade first because there are some references to things that occurred in that book and it also helps with the character development. I am looking forward to more books in this series.
Thank you to netgalley and Little Brown and Co for an advanced copy of this book
Thank you to netgalley and Little Brown and Co for an advanced copy of this book
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