Ironwood

 

Ironwood by Michael Connelly
5/19/26; 336 pages
Little, Brown and Company
Catalina Series #2 

Ironwood by Michael Connelly is an excellent, very highly recommended police procedural/thriller and the second book in the Catalina series following Nightshade. Detective Sergeant Stilwell was sent to be the police substation director on Catalina Island (the island of misfit toys) due to infighting and office politics, but he now enjoys this post and is still in a relationship with Tash, acting harbor master.

When a drug bust operation goes wrong, leaving Deputy Alton Quigley dead and Deputy Ilsa Ramirez hospitalized, the internal inquiry results in Stilwell being benched until he is cleared of responsibility for the operation which was undertaken based on a tip Quigley received. Stil quietly undertakes his own investigation into the drug deal gone wrong and identifies the drug courier as Gonzalo Kalas when he is trying to leave the island. Kalas is apprehended and subsequently detained but then, when Stil is out of the substation, ICE agents unexpectedly show up and take Kalas. 

During the same time, while cleaning up the substation, Stil finds a key in a backpack that he discovers belonged to Angela Metier, a woman who went missing four years ago, but the backpack was turned in only two months earlier. He follows this lead to the mainland, or Overtown, and LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard. It appears that there may be a serial killer at play. Stil continues his investigations, to pursue both cases. There are also several other minor cases and incidents that Stil has to handle along the way.

Connelly has given us another exceptional, intricate, well-written police procedural with a fast-paced plot which will hold your complete attention throughout the whole novel. It is clear that there is a whole lot going on behind the scenes and Stil is the man to uncover the nefarious connections and clues while logically investigating. As expected, his superiors at the LAPD are constantly keeping watch of him and exerting their authority, however, Stil is very perceptive and intuitive while he follows clues and makes serious connections. 

Stilwell is a great, fully realized character. He continues to be tenacious, intelligent, and methodical, while exercising astute investigative instincts. It is a pleasure to follow his handling of all the investigations, large and small, in Ironwood. This second book in the series leaves room for future development and changes in the personal at the Catalina substation. Clearly the ending indicates a future addition to the series and I'm already eagerly awaiting it. 

Ironwood is a perfect choice for those who enjoy intelligent police procedurals. It can be read as a standalone novel but will be especially welcomed by those who have read Nightshade. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.