Latest news with #Nightshade
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Book review: A brand new detective hits the scene
Nightshade is Michael Connelly's 40th thriller in a career that's spanned a couple of decades. He has arguably created one of the crime thriller genre's most memorable and beloved characters, Hieronymus 'Harry' Bosch, which has spawned two TV series — Bosch and Bosch Legacy on Prime — suitably starring Titus Welliver as Bosch. He's also created The Lincoln Lawyer, aka Mickey Haller, another charismatic lead character, and yet another successful TV series, this time on Netflix. To say Connelly has pedigree is an understatement; his books have sold over 80m copies worldwide, the man knows how to write a best-selling novel. In this book he introduces us to a new lead character — LAPD detective Stilwell (we never hear his first name). Stilwell heads up the Sheriff's department on the destination island of Santa Catalina off the coast of LA. We find out that he's been forced out of the LAPD homicide department after a run-in with another detective. Catalina, we discover, is where misfit LA cops are banished to. It's a typical tourist destination, with rich tourists descending on the island in their boats during the season. The main crimes tend to be low-level, with judges arriving on the island once a week to try new cases. When we meet Stilwell, he's greeting Judge Harrell at the harbour to fill him in on this week's cases, including an animal mutilation. While Stilwell is investigating the mutilation case at a local alien tours depot, he gets a call from one of his deputies informing him that a body has been found in the harbour. The body is that of a young woman who worked at the Black Marlin Club, a gentlemen's club on the island. Connelly skillfully weaves this main crime in with the mutilation case and the action jumps from Catalina to LA and back again. With Stilwell, we see the character development that Connelly is famous for. Like Bosch, and Haller to a certain extent, Stilwell pushes against the rules, edges around the regulations. But at his heart he's a decent person who is invested in the victim. And Stilwell has his own quirks too; in the first interaction with Judge Harrell he anticipates the judge's every need and has the means necessary to attend to them — a pencil in his top pocket, a towel for the judge who swam ashore from his boat. And we see that smart-assness too that Bosch and Haller also have, where they give as good as they get. Stilwell is no pushover. He's a quick thinker, and has that ability to think outside the box that makes him a good detective. He cares about the people who he works with and who he has relationships with, and when the case spirals in the middle of the book, we see the lengths he will go to to protect the ones he loves. But like Bosch and Haller, Stilwell has his flaws, and that's what Connelly does so well, he gives his characters layers. These are not one-dimensional people. Stilwell has a tendency to act first and think later; we see in the book that this can cause trouble. But beneath it all, we know that Stilwell won't rest until the murder case is solved and someone is held accountable. This is a good introduction to this new character. We're given enough to become invested in Stilwell and the new location of Catalina, and there are plenty of open-ended questions hanging that leave the reader wanting more. Will Stilwell become the next big detective series for Connelly? The signs are pretty good.
Auto Blog
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Mazda 3 Hatchback vs Toyota Corolla Hatchback: Some of the Best from Japan
After driving the Toyota Corolla hatchback and the Mazda 3 hatchback, I've come away impressed with both. Still, they are very different vehicles. Hatchbacks aren't totally gone Small hatchbacks are not as common an offering as they used to be. Toyota and Mazda offer two of the most compelling examples today in the form of the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla Hatchback. Now, yes, Toyota has the monster GR Corolla and a hybrid Corolla, while there is a beefy Mazda 3 Turbo offered with all-wheel drive as well – but they don't exactly go head-to-head. On the other hand, the comparison of the two regular hatchbacks proved a slightly closer match, so those are the two I pitted in a duel. Toyota Corolla Hatchback Toyota Corolla Hatchback Nightshade The 2025 Toyota Corolla Hatchback comes in three trims: the $23,780 SE, the $24,780 Nightshade (which comes with sweet-looking 18-inch bronze wheels), and the $27,080 XSE. Oddly, the Nightshade only has three color combinations, while the other trims offer over a dozen. Altogether, the Corolla hatchback is significantly less expensive than the Mazda 3 hatchback, but both vehicles are more expensive than their sedan siblings. Like the previous year, the Corolla hatchback comes with a 4-cylinder engine that makes 168 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a single fixed ratio gear. This marries an automatic transmission first gear with the CVT taking over when you're on your way. It works well, giving you an EPA-estimated 36 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. Toyota Corolla Hatchback SE Compared to the Mazda 3, the Toyota Corolla hatchback is tiny, coming in at 169.9 inches long versus the Mazda's 183.5 inches. Passenger volume and cargo space are far less than the Mazda as well, with 18 cu-ft of cargo space behind the back seats, and a total of 23 cu-ft max. Toyota's interior is fresh and feels decidedly mid-level when compared with the Mazda, and some of the materials feel a bit cheap to the touch. It's still an easy-to-use, fairly comfortable layout, and all Corolla hatchbacks come with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both vehicles have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The front seats in all models are comfy, with the XSE providing a sportier-feeling perch. Unfortunately, the Corolla has a rather cramped rear seat, not suitable for taller folk. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Despite having a CVT and a lot less power, the Corolla is a fairly lively ride. Sure, it's not as fun to zoom around town in, compared to many, but it never wavered in its ability to drive well. Handling was better than expected, and control is good on twisty corners. Its highway ride can be a bit choppy, though, especially when compared with the Mazda. Mazda 3 Hatchback 2020 Mazda3 The Mazda 3 2.5 S starts at $25,150, with the 2.5 S Select Sport starting at $26,190, the Mazda 3 2.5 S Preferred at $27,890, and the 2.5 S Premium (which comes with the only 6-speed manual transmission offered) at $30,850. Higher-end AWD and Turbo versions are not being compared. 2020 Mazda3 — Source: Mazda The base engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Other than the top-end Mazda 2.5 S Premium, no other Mazda3 comes with a manual transmission. As such, the only transmission on offer is a 6-speed automatic. The Mazda3 hatchback has an EPA-estimated rating of 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The 2025 Mazda3 Hatchback is considerably larger than the Toyota Corolla hatchback, in nearly every dimension. It's about a foot longer and has a larger interior altogether, but it's also well over 200 lbs lighter. The Mazda3 Hatchback offers 20 cu-ft of cargo space behind the rear seat, with a maximum capacity of 47.1 cu-ft. Mazda is excellent at making simple interiors look special. Slick design mixed with nice materials helps, and their seating is comfortable across the board. Back seat space is nearly best-in-class, and even base models feel slightly upmarket compared to some rivals. The lower and mid-level models get an 8.8 infotainment screen, with a 10.3-inch screen available for higher-end models. I find all Mazda products to be well-mannered on all roads; however, despite their small size, the Mazda3 feels less sporty than some other cars in this class. The Mazda version of a rear torsion beam suspension has been cited by some as mellowing the ride, even on the turbo versions. That, mixed with its 3,267 lbs weight, gives the Mazda3 Hatchback a great highway ride, but handling is not as sporty as it looks. Final thoughts It's not quite as cut-and-dry as I thought it would be. Sure, the Mazda has more space, a nicer interior, and a beefier engine, but the Toyota is less expensive, more economical, and has a cheekier personality. They both give a lot of car for the money, and with the hatchback configuration, they are both utilitarian. In a world where people insist on getting crossovers and SUVs, having a hatchback often makes more sense, as they tend to cost a lot less than a crossover or an SUV. In this case, both vehicles are a lot more fun to drive daily than their crossover siblings and both are worth your time.
Los Angeles Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The week's bestselling books, June 8
1. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Press: $30) An unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond. 2. Nightshade by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown & Co.: $30) The bestselling crime writer returns with a new cop on a mission, this time on Catalina Island. 3. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress. 4. Never Flinch by Stephen King (Scribner: $32) Holly Gibney is back on the case, this time facing both a serial killer and a stalker. 5. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Atria Books: $30) The bond between a group of teens 25 years earlier has a powerful effect on a budding artist. 6. Spent by Alison Bechdel (Mariner Books: $32) The bestselling writer's latest comic novel takes on capitalism and consumption. 7. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' 8. Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf: $30) Two Floridians are plunged into a mystery involving dark money and darker motives. 9. My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende (Ballantine Books: $30) A young writer in the late 1800s travels to South America to uncover the truth about her father. 10. Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead Books: $28) An accomplished actor grapples with the varied roles she plays in her personal life. … 1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control. 2. Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson (Penguin Press: $32) Inside President Biden's doomed decision to run for reelection and the hiding of his serious decline by his inner circle. 3. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life. 4. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad (Random House: $30) A guide to the art of journaling, with contributions from Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem and others. 5. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer on how to be a creative person. 6. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (Knopf: $28) Reckoning with what it means to live in a West that betrays its fundamental values. 7. Steve Martin Writes the Written Word by Steve Martin (Grand Central Publishing: $30) A collection of greatest hits from the beloved actor and comedian. 8. Mark Twain by Ron Chernow (Penguin Press: $45) The Pulitzer-winning biographer explores the life of the celebrated American writer. 9. Notes to John by Joan Didion (Knopf: $32) Diary entries from the famed writer's journal. 10. Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane (W. W. Norton & Co.: $32) The naturalist explores rivers as living beings whose fate is tied with our own. … 1. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $19) 2. Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (Berkley: $20) 3. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco: $20) 4. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17) 5. Sandwich by Catherine Newman (Harper Perennial: $19) 6. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18) 7. The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $19) 8. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Transit Books: $17) 9. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Berkley: $19) 10. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury … 1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12) 2. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21) 3. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20) 4. All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley (Simon & Schuster: $19) 5. Cultish by Amanda Montell (Harper Perennial: $20) 6. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (Amber-Allen: $13) 7. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17) 8. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18) 9. The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (Penguin: $19) 10. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $36)
Los Angeles Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The week's bestselling books, June 1
1. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Press: $30) An unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond. 2. Nightshade by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown & Co.: $30) The bestselling crime writer returns with a new cop on a mission, this time on Catalina Island. 3. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' 4. Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf: $30) Two Floridians are plunged into a mystery involving dark money and darker motives. 5. My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende (Ballantine Books: $30) A young writer in the late 1800s travels to South America to uncover the truth about her father. 6. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress. 7. Spent by Alison Bechdel (Mariner Books: $32) The bestselling writer's latest comic novel takes on capitalism and consumption. 8. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Atria Books: $30) The bond between a group of teens 25 years earlier has a powerful effect on a budding artist. 9. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig (Orbit: $30) A young prophet takes an impossible quest with the one knight whose future is beyond her sight. 10. Anima Rising by Christopher Moore (William Morrow: $30) The tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter and an undead woman's journey of self-discovery. … 1. Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson (Penguin Press: $32) Inside President Biden's doomed decision to run for reelection and the hiding of his serious decline by his inner circle. 2. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control. 3. Who Knew by Barry Diller (Simon & Schuster: $30) A frank memoir from one of America's top businessmen. 4. Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane (W. W. Norton & Co.: $32) The naturalist explores rivers as living beings whose fate is tied with our own. 5. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer on how to be a creative person. 6. Mark Twain by Ron Chernow (Penguin Press: $45) The Pulitzer-winning biographer explores the life of the celebrated American writer. 7. Notes to John by Joan Didion (Knopf: $32) Diary entries from the famed writer's journal. 8. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life. 9. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (Knopf: $28) Reckoning with what it means to live in a West that betrays its fundamental values. 10. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Flatiron Books: $33) An insider's account of working at Facebook. … 1. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18) 2. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $19) 3. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco: $20) 4. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $19) 5. The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $19) 6. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Transit Books: $17) 7. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17) 8. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper Perennial: $19) 9. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial: $22) 10. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (Grove Press: $22) … 1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12) 2. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20) 3. The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (Penguin: $19) 4. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21) 5. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $18) 6. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18) 7. Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch (Tarcher: $20) 8. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $36) 9. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (Amber-Allen: $13) 10. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17)
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Book Review: A detective banished defies orders not to investigate a murder in ‘Nightshade'
Detective Sergeant Stillwell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has been banished from the homicide division. His sin: accusing his former partner of dropping a murder case for lack of evidence when, according to Stillwell, there was plenty of it. Branding him a troublemaker, his superiors packed him off to Catalina Island and put him in charge of a small, backwater office where cases normally range from petty theft to drunk and disorderly. This was supposed to be punishment, but Stillwell likes it. The island is beautiful. Recently divorced, he's already found a new love there. And he's relieved that he's free of department politics — or so he thinks. In 'Nightshade,' Stillwell is introduced as a new series character by Michael Connelly, whose other repeating protagonists, including Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer, are regulars on the bestseller lists and subjects of popular television series. Like Bosch, Stillwell doesn't bow to authority and is relentless in pursuit of justice for crime victims. However, he's younger, easier to get along with, and seemingly less prone to violence. The trouble starts when a workman scraping barnacles from the hull of a yacht discovers the body of a woman bound to an anchor at the bottom of the harbor. The local mayor, whose main concern is attracting tourists and developers to the island, demands that the case be handled quietly. In his new role, Stillwell is required to turn the investigation over to the homicide division on the mainland, but when his former partner is assigned to the case — and ultimately arrests the wrong man — Stillwell again defies authority and launches his own investigation. In the end, he not only identifies the real killer but exposes the kind of dark conspiracy he thought he'd escaped when he moved to the island. At first, the plot unfolds slowly as the author introduces a new community of characters, but soon the pace picks up. As always with a Connelly novel, the characters are well drawn and the prose is tight, precise, and easy to read. ___ Bruce DeSilva, winner of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award, is the author of the Mulligan crime novels including 'The Dread Line.' ___ AP book reviews:
