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Catalina #2
Ironwood
11 hours
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).
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).
Audiobook
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Michael Connelly
374 books36k 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
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.
May 22, 2026
Story 3 stars. Narration 4.5 stars
Having been a fan of this author for probably over thirty years I wasn’t expecting to rate this book this low. Detective Stilwell of Catalina Island has two cases to solve this time. One a serial killer and one about a major drug drop at the airfield resulting in a huge mess and a loss of life.
I was really interested in the serial killer part, but for some reason the author chose to finish that part quite quickly without much fanfare. The other case didn’t even get finished. We know the truth, but don’t know what happens. Cliffhangers are my most hated happening in any book. Connelly chose not to really finish the book. I’m sure some readers don’t care because it’s Connelly and he’s the best at police procedurals/mysteries, but come on! Could he at least have finished the book? Evidently not. Now we have to wait and see if there’s another book. I know I’m an outlier for how I rated this book and no one is more shocked than me. Let me also add that to me, 3 stars is not a good rating, especially for a writer of this caliber. Rant over.
On another note, Renee Ballard teams up with Stilwell to solve the serial killer case. Harry Bosch is mentioned and Maddie Bosch even shows up in one scene, but has no lines. I enjoyed seeing these characters show up and it was undoubtedly my favorite part of the book.
Having been a fan of this author for probably over thirty years I wasn’t expecting to rate this book this low. Detective Stilwell of Catalina Island has two cases to solve this time. One a serial killer and one about a major drug drop at the airfield resulting in a huge mess and a loss of life.
I was really interested in the serial killer part, but for some reason the author chose to finish that part quite quickly without much fanfare. The other case didn’t even get finished. We know the truth, but don’t know what happens. Cliffhangers are my most hated happening in any book. Connelly chose not to really finish the book. I’m sure some readers don’t care because it’s Connelly and he’s the best at police procedurals/mysteries, but come on! Could he at least have finished the book? Evidently not. Now we have to wait and see if there’s another book. I know I’m an outlier for how I rated this book and no one is more shocked than me. Let me also add that to me, 3 stars is not a good rating, especially for a writer of this caliber. Rant over.
On another note, Renee Ballard teams up with Stilwell to solve the serial killer case. Harry Bosch is mentioned and Maddie Bosch even shows up in one scene, but has no lines. I enjoyed seeing these characters show up and it was undoubtedly my favorite part of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2026
I have read all of Michael Connelly books over the years, so I was waiting for the release day of Ironwood with high expectations — and the book absolutely delivered for me. I rated it 5⭐, just like the first Catalina novel, because I am very happy to see this new series continuing to evolve so strongly.
What makes the Catalina books feel different from Connelly’s Los Angeles stories is the setting itself. A small island where everyone knows everyone creates a completely different investigative system. In some ways, crimes are easier to investigate because connections, movements, and secrets are harder to hide. But at the same time, the social pressure becomes much stronger, especially when powerful local families, law enforcement, and personal relationships are involved.
Stilwell is exactly the kind of protagonist I enjoy reading about: clever, observant, honest, and brave enough to openly confront corruption instead of quietly accepting it. Across the investigation, the book shows how difficult it can be to pursue justice inside a tightly connected community where influence and loyalty often matter more than truth.
I also really enjoyed seeing the wider Connelly universe continue to connect through familiar characters, while still allowing Stilwell and Catalina Island to develop their own identity. The result is a tense, intelligent procedural that feels both classic Connelly and refreshingly new at the same time.
What makes the Catalina books feel different from Connelly’s Los Angeles stories is the setting itself. A small island where everyone knows everyone creates a completely different investigative system. In some ways, crimes are easier to investigate because connections, movements, and secrets are harder to hide. But at the same time, the social pressure becomes much stronger, especially when powerful local families, law enforcement, and personal relationships are involved.
Stilwell is exactly the kind of protagonist I enjoy reading about: clever, observant, honest, and brave enough to openly confront corruption instead of quietly accepting it. Across the investigation, the book shows how difficult it can be to pursue justice inside a tightly connected community where influence and loyalty often matter more than truth.
I also really enjoyed seeing the wider Connelly universe continue to connect through familiar characters, while still allowing Stilwell and Catalina Island to develop their own identity. The result is a tense, intelligent procedural that feels both classic Connelly and refreshingly new at the same time.
May 21, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
Michael Connelly continues to prove why he rules the police procedural genre with this second book in his Catalina series. Detective Sergeant Stilwell is a solid, highly principled lead, and the island setting provides a great backdrop for the story. The plot is completely gripping as Stilwell balances the fallout of a disastrous drug operation with a cold case involving an abandoned backpack.
The narrative hits another level for Bosch and Ballard fans when the abandoned backpack is traced to a young female hiker who went missing on the island years ago. This discovery flags the attention of the Open-Unsolved Unit, forcing Stilwell onto the mainland alongside Detective Renée Ballard, who is tracking a serial killer. When Stilwell admits he is getting obsessed with the case, Ballard anchors him with some classic Harry Bosch wisdom, advising him to look at the murder book from every angle until something finally jumps out. This specific insight connects the island politics beautifully to the broader Connelly universe.
Attentive readers will finally discover Stilwell’s first name in the dialogue.
However, I am docking points for the ending. Come for the great universe crossovers and detective work but prepare for a cliffhanger.
April 4, 2026
Michael Connelly is a superstar author: I’ve read all of the Bosch novels; a devoured every single Lincoln Lawyer books and now I have just completed the second Catalina story about to be published in May 2026. The first book in Connelly’s new series was solid if not quite spectacular. This follow up effort improves on the first effort although in my humble, amateur review I believe he still needs to have this series make that big step up from “good” to “great.”
Most of “Ironwood “ again takes place on the touristy island of Catalina just a short boat ride or helicopter ride from the sunshiny beaches of Los Angeles.. This installment begins literally with a bang. Stilwell, our protagonist, remains exiled to Catalina Island where in the dark of night a plane drops a duffle bag of drugs at the island airfield. Shocking events occur that I shan’t write about. An investigation begins that will even include a cameo from Renee Ballard from LA’s unsolved crimes unit. Oh yeah, your friendly critic has also read all of Connelly’s Ballard series also. So, in summary, we heartily recommend Ironwood but just enjoy the plot while Michael Connolly develops his core characters (including Catalina Island itself.)
4 Stars for Ironwood.
Most of “Ironwood “ again takes place on the touristy island of Catalina just a short boat ride or helicopter ride from the sunshiny beaches of Los Angeles.. This installment begins literally with a bang. Stilwell, our protagonist, remains exiled to Catalina Island where in the dark of night a plane drops a duffle bag of drugs at the island airfield. Shocking events occur that I shan’t write about. An investigation begins that will even include a cameo from Renee Ballard from LA’s unsolved crimes unit. Oh yeah, your friendly critic has also read all of Connelly’s Ballard series also. So, in summary, we heartily recommend Ironwood but just enjoy the plot while Michael Connolly develops his core characters (including Catalina Island itself.)
4 Stars for Ironwood.
May 20, 2026
CAN ARC REVIEWS BE SEPARATED? PLEASE?
I have loved MC's books since I had to read Concrete Blonde for a Literature Class in college. Some books I've found are better than others, but for the most part, it's a win. I don't know what happened here. There was still a chunk of the book that was left untold, and I was shocked when I got to the end. Not because I was surprised (he didn't even disguise a twist), but because everything was left without a real end.The best part about books are the endings when you learn this ins and outs, why things took place, and where the characters are left. This book offers none of that. Read at your own disappointment.
* Maddie and Bosch are included in a "blink and you miss it" way (name dropped which is more irritating).
I have loved MC's books since I had to read Concrete Blonde for a Literature Class in college. Some books I've found are better than others, but for the most part, it's a win. I don't know what happened here. There was still a chunk of the book that was left untold, and I was shocked when I got to the end. Not because I was surprised (he didn't even disguise a twist), but because everything was left without a real end.The best part about books are the endings when you learn this ins and outs, why things took place, and where the characters are left. This book offers none of that. Read at your own disappointment.
* Maddie and Bosch are included in a "blink and you miss it" way (name dropped which is more irritating).
May 24, 2026
I felt this one was good enough for 5 stars and I turned every page with anticipation and yet I feel it deserves a sequel. I hope one is coming. The ending left lots of things hanging.
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?
May 25, 2026
In the sequel to Nightshade, Connelly once again enlarges his universe of characters beyond Bosch and Ballard. Detective Stillwell is based in Avalon, on Catalina Island, 29 miles off the Los Angeles’ coast, only an hour or so by ferry, but far enough away that the majority of Angelenos never give it a thought. It’s a whole separate universe with the only population a town of about 5,000. It grows in population on holiday weekends and is the site of many alcohol-fueled problems. Yet, this rocky island is still part of Los Angeles County and it’s where problem deputies in the Sheriff’s Department are sent to cool their heels, deputies like Stillwell, who are determined to close cases anything but the easiest way. In the Connelly tradition, Stillwell is a white knight on a horse who can’t leave well enough alone. Ballard plays a significant role here, but Bosch only gets a walk-on cameo.
Stilwell gets involved with two cases here. One, acting on a tip from a confidential informant, Stillwell and his deputies think they’re taking down s drug delivery on a remote airstrip, but ended up being ambushed by a sniper with the deputies taking bad gunfire. While temporarily not working cases pending the investigation, Stilwell begins cleaning out a storeroom in the substation, and finds a backpack purposefully left on a bench two months earlier. Tracing a key in the pack through a locksmith, Stilwell finds it’s the backpack of a hiker who mysteriously disappeared years earlier and tied into unsolved hiker deaths being investigated by Renée Ballard and her cold case team.
Stilwell is warned to stay away from the first investigation because his own actions are being scrutinized. He also has to push his way into the second when he’s not supposed to be working cases, particularly anything on the mainland.
Stilwell gets involved with two cases here. One, acting on a tip from a confidential informant, Stillwell and his deputies think they’re taking down s drug delivery on a remote airstrip, but ended up being ambushed by a sniper with the deputies taking bad gunfire. While temporarily not working cases pending the investigation, Stilwell begins cleaning out a storeroom in the substation, and finds a backpack purposefully left on a bench two months earlier. Tracing a key in the pack through a locksmith, Stilwell finds it’s the backpack of a hiker who mysteriously disappeared years earlier and tied into unsolved hiker deaths being investigated by Renée Ballard and her cold case team.
Stilwell is warned to stay away from the first investigation because his own actions are being scrutinized. He also has to push his way into the second when he’s not supposed to be working cases, particularly anything on the mainland.
May 24, 2026
I am not liking this series as much as his others. I really struggle with Tosh who is very passive and boring. (I am not sure if I have spelt her name right - I am doing audio.). I didn’t find it quite as convincing as his other novels. So although an easy read, not as rewarding for me. Just under 4 stars.
May 20, 2026
This author just keeps cranking out great books. It looks like with this series. He has started out another one that will go on successfully for a while.
My years of writing reviews for Goodreads has now evolved into asking Claude AI to take over for me. I apologize for my laziness. But at the age of 79 I have to take a few shortcuts.
Ironwood by Michael Connelly
Catalina Series, Book 2 — Published May 19, 2026
Summary
Detective Sergeant Stilwell is sworn to protect Catalina Island, a scenic place meant to feel far removed from the evils of the mainland. But danger is closing in. 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 mountain airstrip.  The operation goes badly wrong — his deputies are ambushed, one is killed, and another is permanently injured. 
An internal inquiry follows, putting Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared. While under orders to remain at the sheriff’s substation, he discovers a valuable 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 earlier — but the pack was only turned in two months ago. 
Now thoroughly intrigued, he follows the mystery to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard. Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, soon realizing they are on the trail of a criminal who revels in taunting the authorities. Meanwhile, frustrated at being shut out of investigations 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. 
Review
Ironwood arrives just yesterday (May 19), so full critical reviews are only beginning to emerge, but early assessments are enthusiastic. Connelly is described as being “at his most polished and incisive,” with crackling dialogue, complex investigations, tricky relationships, escalating suspense, and dogged and inspired sleuthing by a principled, rule-breaking hero. 
Connelly’s procedural skills are said to be in top form as he layers deadly threats and complex personalities to create what reviewers are calling a masterclass in police investigations. There’s even a link to another unforgettable Connelly character when Stilwell returns to his old LA stomping grounds. 
One reviewer noted that Connelly has another great series on his hands with the Catalina novels — that everything fans expect is delivered, the mysteries are intriguing, the pace relentless, and Stilwell a captivating character, with Ballard’s addition making a great book stellar. 
The Sun-Sentinel called it a satisfying series that continues Connelly’s tradition of emphasizing both character and action with aplomb, saying they were already ready for a return trip to Catalina. 
Bottom line: If you’ve enjoyed Connelly’s Bosch or Ballard books, this looks like a strong continuation of what he does best — morally complex cops, procedural authenticity, and propulsive plotting. The Catalina setting gives the series a distinctive flavor, and the crossover with Renée Ballard will be a draw for longtime fans. Worth picking up.
My years of writing reviews for Goodreads has now evolved into asking Claude AI to take over for me. I apologize for my laziness. But at the age of 79 I have to take a few shortcuts.
Ironwood by Michael Connelly
Catalina Series, Book 2 — Published May 19, 2026
Summary
Detective Sergeant Stilwell is sworn to protect Catalina Island, a scenic place meant to feel far removed from the evils of the mainland. But danger is closing in. 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 mountain airstrip.  The operation goes badly wrong — his deputies are ambushed, one is killed, and another is permanently injured. 
An internal inquiry follows, putting Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared. While under orders to remain at the sheriff’s substation, he discovers a valuable 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 earlier — but the pack was only turned in two months ago. 
Now thoroughly intrigued, he follows the mystery to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard. Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, soon realizing they are on the trail of a criminal who revels in taunting the authorities. Meanwhile, frustrated at being shut out of investigations 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. 
Review
Ironwood arrives just yesterday (May 19), so full critical reviews are only beginning to emerge, but early assessments are enthusiastic. Connelly is described as being “at his most polished and incisive,” with crackling dialogue, complex investigations, tricky relationships, escalating suspense, and dogged and inspired sleuthing by a principled, rule-breaking hero. 
Connelly’s procedural skills are said to be in top form as he layers deadly threats and complex personalities to create what reviewers are calling a masterclass in police investigations. There’s even a link to another unforgettable Connelly character when Stilwell returns to his old LA stomping grounds. 
One reviewer noted that Connelly has another great series on his hands with the Catalina novels — that everything fans expect is delivered, the mysteries are intriguing, the pace relentless, and Stilwell a captivating character, with Ballard’s addition making a great book stellar. 
The Sun-Sentinel called it a satisfying series that continues Connelly’s tradition of emphasizing both character and action with aplomb, saying they were already ready for a return trip to Catalina. 
Bottom line: If you’ve enjoyed Connelly’s Bosch or Ballard books, this looks like a strong continuation of what he does best — morally complex cops, procedural authenticity, and propulsive plotting. The Catalina setting gives the series a distinctive flavor, and the crossover with Renée Ballard will be a draw for longtime fans. Worth picking up.
May 21, 2026
Two cases in one book?!? Yes, sign me up!
Returning back to Catalina Island is a must and I truly enjoyed this fast paced read.
There is a missing cold case, and actually two cases that Stilwell is working on. I really enjoyed seeing some cameos from the author's other series. It was like finding little easter eggs. The cases are addicting, especially the missing cold case. I was hooked till the very end. I couldn't help but laugh at Stilwell trying to one up his captain.
The narrator, Will Damron did an amazing job portraying Stillwell. His tones and inflections were spot on. I really felt like there was a race against time to capture the serial killer. Such an addicting listen!
I can’t wait to see what happens next in Catalina Island. I think it’s going to be epic!
A very special thanks to Little Brown for the gifted arc and ALC.
Returning back to Catalina Island is a must and I truly enjoyed this fast paced read.
There is a missing cold case, and actually two cases that Stilwell is working on. I really enjoyed seeing some cameos from the author's other series. It was like finding little easter eggs. The cases are addicting, especially the missing cold case. I was hooked till the very end. I couldn't help but laugh at Stilwell trying to one up his captain.
The narrator, Will Damron did an amazing job portraying Stillwell. His tones and inflections were spot on. I really felt like there was a race against time to capture the serial killer. Such an addicting listen!
I can’t wait to see what happens next in Catalina Island. I think it’s going to be epic!
A very special thanks to Little Brown for the gifted arc and ALC.
May 21, 2026
Author Michael Connelly could probably write a crime novel like this in his sleep at this point, and occasionally I wonder if he has. His latest volume returns to the setting and characters of last year's Nightshade, where a detective has been punished for still-murky past transgressions and reassigned to a small island off the coast of California as punishment. The action picks up here shortly after, and as usual for this writer consists of a few overlapping investigations, most of which don't directly relate to one another but simply capture the protagonist's busy caseload.
This is all about as solid as long-time readers would expect, and we even get a crossover with Renée Ballard of the LA cold cases division (plus silent cameos from Harry Bosch and his daughter) for anyone fooled into thinking the Catalina books represented a separate continuity from Connelly's primary works. A couple issues keep it from being among his best, however. First, the balance of the plots is off in my opinion, with the more interesting one -- a serial killer taunting the police over their inability to catch him -- wrapping up too soon, while the aftermath of a deputy's shooting ends up occupying the majority of the climax. And second, at the risk of minor spoilers, it feels too convenient that the captain who's been rude to Stilwell for the whole story winds up implicated in some of the wrongdoing in the end too. Sometimes bad bosses are just a pain to work with, and not coincidentally also corrupt criminals that you can righteously take down!
But it remains a joy to watch a clever investigator follow leads and build up evidence against his suspects, and Ballard / Stilwell seems like a productive partnership to continue exploring when the inevitable sequels roll around. I imagine genre fans will appreciate this, though it lands as more good than great overall.
[Content warning for suicide and gore.]
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This is all about as solid as long-time readers would expect, and we even get a crossover with Renée Ballard of the LA cold cases division (plus silent cameos from Harry Bosch and his daughter) for anyone fooled into thinking the Catalina books represented a separate continuity from Connelly's primary works. A couple issues keep it from being among his best, however. First, the balance of the plots is off in my opinion, with the more interesting one -- a serial killer taunting the police over their inability to catch him -- wrapping up too soon, while the aftermath of a deputy's shooting ends up occupying the majority of the climax. And second, at the risk of minor spoilers, it feels too convenient that the captain who's been rude to Stilwell for the whole story winds up implicated in some of the wrongdoing in the end too. Sometimes bad bosses are just a pain to work with, and not coincidentally also corrupt criminals that you can righteously take down!
But it remains a joy to watch a clever investigator follow leads and build up evidence against his suspects, and Ballard / Stilwell seems like a productive partnership to continue exploring when the inevitable sequels roll around. I imagine genre fans will appreciate this, though it lands as more good than great overall.
[Content warning for suicide and gore.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
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Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
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May 24, 2026
This is the second book in a spin off to the Harry Bosch series that introduced us to Detective Sergeant Stilwell. He is a former homicide detective with the LAPD who was sent to "The island of misfit toys" otherwise known as Catalina Island. Why was he stationed there? It was supposed to be a punishment, but he ended up really liking the post and decided to stay.
One of the wonderful things about being a long time fan of a particular author is when you get to see certain easter eggs and in this book, Detective Stillwell ends up working a cold case with Renee Ballard (whom readers know from her own spin off series) and even better than that, Harry Bosch does a short cameo as well.
Michael Connelly is an expert at the police procedural genre and this new series is an example of that. It hits the ground running and we follow Detective Stillwell as he finds himself in the middle of not one, but two active cases on Catalina. One of the cases ends up going up higher in the food chain of the LAPD than is safe for his career and honestly, we did not really get the complete resolution of that case. It is always great to hear from Harry, even if it is only a small mention.
I listened to this on audio and Will Damron did a fine job with the narration. If I had to pinpoint the thing that kept this from being great, I would say that it felt a bit one dimensional. Now, don't get me wrong, I really like Stillwell as a character, but he seems to be "too" good at everything he does. This felt like a book that was easy to listen to with everything just happening to fall in line. I guess I never really FELT the tension that I felt in some of the earlier Harry Bosch books. While there are several secondary characters, we don't really get to know any of them. Just my thoughts......
But, with all that aside, would I recommend the book? Absolutely. Like I said before, Michael Connelly is an expert on the police procedurals. If you have a couple of hours and want to be entertained, this definitely fits the bill.
One of the wonderful things about being a long time fan of a particular author is when you get to see certain easter eggs and in this book, Detective Stillwell ends up working a cold case with Renee Ballard (whom readers know from her own spin off series) and even better than that, Harry Bosch does a short cameo as well.
Michael Connelly is an expert at the police procedural genre and this new series is an example of that. It hits the ground running and we follow Detective Stillwell as he finds himself in the middle of not one, but two active cases on Catalina. One of the cases ends up going up higher in the food chain of the LAPD than is safe for his career and honestly, we did not really get the complete resolution of that case. It is always great to hear from Harry, even if it is only a small mention.
I listened to this on audio and Will Damron did a fine job with the narration. If I had to pinpoint the thing that kept this from being great, I would say that it felt a bit one dimensional. Now, don't get me wrong, I really like Stillwell as a character, but he seems to be "too" good at everything he does. This felt like a book that was easy to listen to with everything just happening to fall in line. I guess I never really FELT the tension that I felt in some of the earlier Harry Bosch books. While there are several secondary characters, we don't really get to know any of them. Just my thoughts......
But, with all that aside, would I recommend the book? Absolutely. Like I said before, Michael Connelly is an expert on the police procedurals. If you have a couple of hours and want to be entertained, this definitely fits the bill.
May 20, 2026
2.75.
An anti-climatic novella that is padded to limp over 300 hardcover pages. I had hoped that the Catalina series would be a one and done, but here we are only in book two and we already have Ballard here to pad the pages as a supporting character. Even Maddie shows up in a line of the story just for the hell of it. Bosch appears as a specter, and his limited actions are far more interesting and human than anything Stilwell does. By the way, who is Stilwell? A competent cop. Okay, and? Who is he? I get the idea of him being in exile, but he’s a seventy minute boat ride from LA, so it’s not like he’s ever truly in the wilderness. Who are any of these characters? They’re just names for Stilwell to have a conversation with and to move the plot along. Connelly’s books don’t feel like novels any longer; they read like TV outlines where administrative accuracy is more important than story and character.
If this was a Bosch novel, the final showdown would have happened back out on the airstrip, or a balls out cat and mouse chase through the Catalina forest and trails.
An anti-climatic novella that is padded to limp over 300 hardcover pages. I had hoped that the Catalina series would be a one and done, but here we are only in book two and we already have Ballard here to pad the pages as a supporting character. Even Maddie shows up in a line of the story just for the hell of it. Bosch appears as a specter, and his limited actions are far more interesting and human than anything Stilwell does. By the way, who is Stilwell? A competent cop. Okay, and? Who is he? I get the idea of him being in exile, but he’s a seventy minute boat ride from LA, so it’s not like he’s ever truly in the wilderness. Who are any of these characters? They’re just names for Stilwell to have a conversation with and to move the plot along. Connelly’s books don’t feel like novels any longer; they read like TV outlines where administrative accuracy is more important than story and character.
If this was a Bosch novel, the final showdown would have happened back out on the airstrip, or a balls out cat and mouse chase through the Catalina forest and trails.
May 20, 2026
Wow! Two major cases for Sergeant Stilwell- a serial killer and a narco case involving an officer down. All the while he's calmly solving small town vandalism problems. He just exudes calm and professionalism while dealing with a bully of a boss. This goes in lots of surprising directions and ends with lots of unresolved and unanswered questions. I can see him leaving Catalina or becoming part of Rene Ballard's cold case TF. But not until he deals with major police corruption.
May 22, 2026
I'd give it 3&1/2 stars.
May 21, 2026
Ironwood by Michael Connelly is a Catalina Novel featuring a deputy named Stillwell, known as Stil. He had been sent to the island as a punishment but found a home there and now was part of the community. Now, as always, there is a crime to be solved. They wanted him to stay out of it, but that was not possible for him. Plus, there was another crime, a body, and it looked as it they might be related. It was helpful that his girlfriend, Tash, was the acting harbor master, so it was easy for him to get surveillance video of the coming and goings of boats. They didn’t want him involved because he and his two deputies had been attacked. One was dead, one was in the hospital with serious, life-altering injuries. It had been a set-up, it seems, instigated by a called from a so-called CI reporting to Quigley, the dead deputy. But, why?
Stil is a good cop. He makes connections. In this story he sees Harry Bosch, works with Maddie Bosch, and works closely with Bosch’s protege, Renee Ballard. She is with the cold case unit with the police department. Nice connections. She shares come of Bosch’s investigative philosophy. He tries it. It helps. Two crimes. Not related it turns out, but he manages to solve both of them. Great series. A reader can always count on Michael Connolley
I was invited to read Ironwood by Little, Brown and Company. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LittleBrownAndCompany #MichaelConnelly #Ironwood
Stil is a good cop. He makes connections. In this story he sees Harry Bosch, works with Maddie Bosch, and works closely with Bosch’s protege, Renee Ballard. She is with the cold case unit with the police department. Nice connections. She shares come of Bosch’s investigative philosophy. He tries it. It helps. Two crimes. Not related it turns out, but he manages to solve both of them. Great series. A reader can always count on Michael Connolley
I was invited to read Ironwood by Little, Brown and Company. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LittleBrownAndCompany #MichaelConnelly #Ironwood
May 21, 2026
The author is back on track for me. I only sort of liked his last Lincoln Lawyer book and the last Renee Ballard book, and I thought the first one in this series was the worst book of his I'd ever read (and I've read them all). It felt like one of those self-published books that you find in gift shop of a tourist destination where a crime is set and people might buy it because it's fun to read a book located where you're visiting.
This started a bit wobbly for me. There's a scene where the detective/hero's girlfriend doesn't lock her front door because the island is so safe, apparently forgetting her kidnapping in the first book.
There's a shootout on a Catalina Island airstrip off the coast from Long Beach. One cop is killed and one injured. Because crime books these days can never have just one major plot, there's also a serial killer on the loose after the body in a cold case is found on an island hiking trail. This would normally cause eye-rolling for me, but the author interweaves them perfectly — plus another small subplot is tied to the villain in the first book.
The plot moved fast. The police work was interesting — realistic but not too detailed. It ends abruptly but satisfyingly with the hero panting and the case resolved but the future uncertain. Good stuff.
This started a bit wobbly for me. There's a scene where the detective/hero's girlfriend doesn't lock her front door because the island is so safe, apparently forgetting her kidnapping in the first book.
There's a shootout on a Catalina Island airstrip off the coast from Long Beach. One cop is killed and one injured. Because crime books these days can never have just one major plot, there's also a serial killer on the loose after the body in a cold case is found on an island hiking trail. This would normally cause eye-rolling for me, but the author interweaves them perfectly — plus another small subplot is tied to the villain in the first book.
The plot moved fast. The police work was interesting — realistic but not too detailed. It ends abruptly but satisfyingly with the hero panting and the case resolved but the future uncertain. Good stuff.
May 23, 2026
I liked this one quite a bit better than the first Catalina mystery, Nightshade. It's probably because Connelly brought in Renee Ballard, and we even got a tiny Harry Bosch cameo. I also really liked the serial killer plot. I'm still not in love with the Catalina spin-off, and I'm lukewarm on Stilwell - the Renee Ballard continuation is my favorite thing that Connelly is writing right now, since it seems we have come to the end of Bosch. The ending was an absolute corker, and I'm hoping that book 3 lives up to the promise.
May 24, 2026
Removed a star for the very abrupt and frustratingly incomplete ending.
Loving Detective Stilwell as a new character for Michael Connelly (this is the second book of this new series) and this book had lots to keep me gripped. With passing references to Bosch and a tie in to Renee Ballard, it was a great story and I’m disappointed it wasn’t a longer book. It’s really a novella and that’s a disappointment when you pay full book price.
TW: suicide, murders, abduction, serial killer
Loving Detective Stilwell as a new character for Michael Connelly (this is the second book of this new series) and this book had lots to keep me gripped. With passing references to Bosch and a tie in to Renee Ballard, it was a great story and I’m disappointed it wasn’t a longer book. It’s really a novella and that’s a disappointment when you pay full book price.
TW: suicide, murders, abduction, serial killer
May 23, 2026
I don't think this series is as good as the Harry Bosch series. This particular book seemed to be written for a lower reading level. Short sentences, statements of the obvious, simple plot. There were several crimes, some minor, others not so minor that were investigated by detective Stillwell, but all seemed to be too easy. He generally found one clue that lead inevitably to the criminal. There were no false trails or setbacks, not even much action. Kind of boring actually. Also, it ended abruptly with no clue about what would ultimately happen.
May 20, 2026
Audiobook. This was a was a quick listen which I enjoyed but I felt the sub-plot twists were a bit predictable and almost superficial. Personally I would have preferred a more in-depth main plot with Ballard and Bosch rather than all the sub plots. That being said, this is the second book in a series and I am sure that the characters and plots will develop with the series. Narration by Will Damron was very good as ever.
May 24, 2026
A Page Turner
A terrific story….once again. The setting on Catalina Island is really interesting and the way Connelly weaves in so many of his great characters. Couldn’t put it down and disappointed I already finished it.
A terrific story….once again. The setting on Catalina Island is really interesting and the way Connelly weaves in so many of his great characters. Couldn’t put it down and disappointed I already finished it.
May 25, 2026
Another excellent read from my favourite author. I miss Harry Bosch but Stillwell is like Bosch in many ways. I really liked that Harry and Maddie were mentioned and that Ballard played her part in this story too. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for the third book in the Catalina series.
May 24, 2026
The 2nd book in a new series by Michael Connelly (author of The Lincoln Lawyer series). This, and the 1st book Nightshade, were good solid suspense mysteries set on Catalina Island.
May 24, 2026
Checks all the boxes. I am loving this series.
May 20, 2026
Slow, quiet power rather than Bosch's lone wolf magic, but no one writes procedurals like Michael Connelly.
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.
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