Nightshade

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does Nightshade compare to other detective novels by Michael Connelly, such as The Black Echo or The Lincoln Lawyer?

2. This is the debut novel featuring protagonist Detective Stilwell. What are your first impressions of this character?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Reflect on the novel’s depiction of Leigh-Anne Moss’s life and murder. Is she a sympathetic victim? Why might the author have depicted her in this way?

2. The novel suggests that high levels of tourism may have a negative impact on a community. Is this true, in your experience of Catalina or similar communities? What are the costs and benefits of a high volume of tourists in a community?

3. Tash Dano was born and raised on Catalina Island and feels anxious whenever she leaves. Have you ever felt anxious about leaving your home? What helped you address these feelings? 

4. The novel takes place in the present and makes references to modern pop-culture touchstones like Taylor Swift and the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the effects of these references to the contemporary popular culture?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the novel’s depiction of crime on Catalina Island speak to contemporary debates about crime in the United States?

2. The novel begins and ends on Catalina Island, though Stilwell moves back and forth from the mainland throughout the novel. How does this movement affect the novel?

3. How does Stilwell differ from other modern literary detectives you may have read about, such as John Grisham’s Jake Brigance or Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the novel use systemic problems in the law-enforcement system as engines to drive the plot? How does this aspect of the novel’s plot advance its themes? 

2. How does Stilwell’s characterization change over the course of the novel? How does he develop as a detective through the investigation?

3. How does Nightshade’s setting on Catalina Island impact the plot and tone of the novel?

4. The novel offers examples of the power of ingroup biases in the Black Marlin Club and in the rivalry between Catalina Island natives and recent transplants. How do ingroup biases affect the plot of the novel?

5. Explore the significance of the title Nightshade and the use of the nightshade flower as a symbol throughout the novel.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a movie, who would you cast in the roles of Stilwell and Dano?

2. Do you believe that Stilwell and Dano will be able to maintain their relationship? What challenges might they face in the future?