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Detective Annalisa Vega #3
Dead and Gone
The next installment of Joanna Schaffhausen's critically acclaimed Detective Annalisa Vega series.
For Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega, Sam Tran’s death presents an ominous puzzle. The ex-cop turned PI is found hanging from a cemetery tree with a message across his chest that suggests someone holds a murderous grudge against the police. Annalisa suspects the real answer lies in one of Tran’s open cases. She believes he stumbled on a dark secret during his investigations and someone killed him to keep him quiet. Her own family harbors plenty of secrets, something Annalisa is reminded of when her brother turns out to be one of Sam’s last clients.
Vinny Vega hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker on his daughter’s college campus. Now Sam is dead and the stalker remains at large, with Annalisa’s niece Quinn firmly in his sights.
To protect Quinn, Annalisa begins tracing Sam’s steps back through his open cases, which include not only the campus stalker but also a brutal double homicide from twenty years ago. Did Sam finally find the killer? Did he uncover the stalker’s identity? Annalisa must figure out which secret got Sam killed, and fast, or someone else will die. Every move she makes brings her closer to the truth of Sam’s death, and closer to a murderer who will stop at nothing to remain free.
For Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega, Sam Tran’s death presents an ominous puzzle. The ex-cop turned PI is found hanging from a cemetery tree with a message across his chest that suggests someone holds a murderous grudge against the police. Annalisa suspects the real answer lies in one of Tran’s open cases. She believes he stumbled on a dark secret during his investigations and someone killed him to keep him quiet. Her own family harbors plenty of secrets, something Annalisa is reminded of when her brother turns out to be one of Sam’s last clients.
Vinny Vega hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker on his daughter’s college campus. Now Sam is dead and the stalker remains at large, with Annalisa’s niece Quinn firmly in his sights.
To protect Quinn, Annalisa begins tracing Sam’s steps back through his open cases, which include not only the campus stalker but also a brutal double homicide from twenty years ago. Did Sam finally find the killer? Did he uncover the stalker’s identity? Annalisa must figure out which secret got Sam killed, and fast, or someone else will die. Every move she makes brings her closer to the truth of Sam’s death, and closer to a murderer who will stop at nothing to remain free.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2023
73 people are currently reading
7296 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Schaffhausen
12 books1,216 followersJoanna Schaffhausen wields a mean scalpel, skills she developed in her years studying neuroscience. She has a doctorate in psychology, which reflects her long-standing interest in the brain―how it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Previously, she worked as a scientific editor in the field of drug development. Prior to that, she was an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such as World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, daughter, and an obstreperous basset hound.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
March 14, 2023
Many mysteries!
Dead and Gone is a procedural/mystery that centers around a former Chicago police officer’s murder and the cases he was investigating.
This is book #3 in the Annalisa Vega series, and it can be read as a standalone.
There are four central mysteries, but all stem from the investigation into the murder of Sam Tran, a former police officer who became a private investigator. When he is found murdered, Annalisa is brought in to investigate. She relies on Tran's four final cases as clues to his death.
One of the cases Sam Tran was assigned to happened to be to figure out who was stalking Quinn, Annalisa’s niece. This storyline takes place on a college campus.
The plot moves in many directions, as Annalisa’s investigation takes many paths. All plotlines are interesting, even those involving Anna’s personal life, which is heading in some interesting directions.
The narrative alternates between Annalisa and her niece Quinn. There are also chapters from the perspective of another person linked to the cases, but I won’t reveal more to avoid spoilers. Quinn’s character annoyed me at first, but she eventually grew on me. The banter between Annalisa and Nick Carelli, her partner, and ex-husband, was fun and lightened the mood during some very serious moments.
With multiple mysteries and storylines, the plot is easy to read and never confusing. The novel is packed with tension and suspense, and I love Annalisa’s character. There are some interesting twists and turns, including one major twist that threw me for a loop and made me recognize how laughable my armchair detective skills are. All wraps up with no loose ends. However, there is a bit of a cliffhanger for what comes next for Annalisa.
Looking forward to book #4.
I highly recommend this series--it is well-written, not flashy, and over-the-top. It is a straightforward procedural mystery with endearing characters and intriguing mysteries.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
Dead and Gone is a procedural/mystery that centers around a former Chicago police officer’s murder and the cases he was investigating.
This is book #3 in the Annalisa Vega series, and it can be read as a standalone.
There are four central mysteries, but all stem from the investigation into the murder of Sam Tran, a former police officer who became a private investigator. When he is found murdered, Annalisa is brought in to investigate. She relies on Tran's four final cases as clues to his death.
One of the cases Sam Tran was assigned to happened to be to figure out who was stalking Quinn, Annalisa’s niece. This storyline takes place on a college campus.
The plot moves in many directions, as Annalisa’s investigation takes many paths. All plotlines are interesting, even those involving Anna’s personal life, which is heading in some interesting directions.
The narrative alternates between Annalisa and her niece Quinn. There are also chapters from the perspective of another person linked to the cases, but I won’t reveal more to avoid spoilers. Quinn’s character annoyed me at first, but she eventually grew on me. The banter between Annalisa and Nick Carelli, her partner, and ex-husband, was fun and lightened the mood during some very serious moments.
With multiple mysteries and storylines, the plot is easy to read and never confusing. The novel is packed with tension and suspense, and I love Annalisa’s character. There are some interesting twists and turns, including one major twist that threw me for a loop and made me recognize how laughable my armchair detective skills are. All wraps up with no loose ends. However, there is a bit of a cliffhanger for what comes next for Annalisa.
Looking forward to book #4.
I highly recommend this series--it is well-written, not flashy, and over-the-top. It is a straightforward procedural mystery with endearing characters and intriguing mysteries.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
August 8, 2023
HAPPY PUB DAY!🫶
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
3.5 rounded up
Phat ass trigger warning: stalking
SYNOPSIS
Annalisa Vega is tasked with finding out who killed Sam Tran, an ex-cop now PI. To solve his case, she starts digging in his open cases.
MY OPINION
I can't tell you how aggressively I shook my ass when I received the widget via email after getting dinged via NetGalley months ago. While I found book #1 inconsistent in quality, I absolutely LOVED book #2 (banger alert was issued). Tbh, my heart says this is a pure 3 stars but I'm just gonna round it up because I'm hoping the universe will return the good juju and bless me with a GOODT read. That being said — this isn't BAD, but it's not book #2.
My main gripe with this book is, similar to #1, the police work was giving me Detective Pikachu. Every time Annalisa runs off without backup and a torn ACL, Darwin rolls in his grave. There were many questionable things, chief among them her blatant disregard to securing a scene. I feel like this happened in book #1 too — she loves bringing the whole fam along with her into dangerous situations. If these sections were tightened up, I would've been able to give this 4 stars with CHEST.
I know it doesn't make sense but yes, I'm #TeamNick. Once a cheater, always a cheater... I know I KNOW. I'm not even gonna try to justify myself because it makes no damn sense, but the fidget spinner of a heart wants what a fidget spinner wants. But tbh Joanna Schaffhausen pushed my #TeamNick loyalty to the brink here with one of the early reveals. Idk if I'm THAT good of a woman — who am I kidding, I know for a figgidity fact that I'm not. No community dique can make me overlook something like THAT.
Anyways, I was a lil nervous at the end because I hate when the gang wraps up a 20-year-old cold case in 5 mins, but I liked how this laid the groundwork for book #4. And yes, I will be tuning tf in, thank you very much. Book #2 remains my fave though.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting case, funny at times, good red herrings, fast paced, works as a standalone
Cons: police work was ... SIDE EYE at times, lots of threads dropped and resuscitated later to force the story to go on longer (otherwise it would've been wrapped up much earlier)
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
3.5 rounded up
Phat ass trigger warning: stalking
SYNOPSIS
Annalisa Vega is tasked with finding out who killed Sam Tran, an ex-cop now PI. To solve his case, she starts digging in his open cases.
MY OPINION
I can't tell you how aggressively I shook my ass when I received the widget via email after getting dinged via NetGalley months ago. While I found book #1 inconsistent in quality, I absolutely LOVED book #2 (banger alert was issued). Tbh, my heart says this is a pure 3 stars but I'm just gonna round it up because I'm hoping the universe will return the good juju and bless me with a GOODT read. That being said — this isn't BAD, but it's not book #2.
My main gripe with this book is, similar to #1, the police work was giving me Detective Pikachu. Every time Annalisa runs off without backup and a torn ACL, Darwin rolls in his grave. There were many questionable things, chief among them her blatant disregard to securing a scene. I feel like this happened in book #1 too — she loves bringing the whole fam along with her into dangerous situations. If these sections were tightened up, I would've been able to give this 4 stars with CHEST.
I know it doesn't make sense but yes, I'm #TeamNick. Once a cheater, always a cheater... I know I KNOW. I'm not even gonna try to justify myself because it makes no damn sense, but the fidget spinner of a heart wants what a fidget spinner wants. But tbh Joanna Schaffhausen pushed my #TeamNick loyalty to the brink here with one of the early reveals. Idk if I'm THAT good of a woman — who am I kidding, I know for a figgidity fact that I'm not. No community dique can make me overlook something like THAT.
Anyways, I was a lil nervous at the end because I hate when the gang wraps up a 20-year-old cold case in 5 mins, but I liked how this laid the groundwork for book #4. And yes, I will be tuning tf in, thank you very much. Book #2 remains my fave though.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting case, funny at times, good red herrings, fast paced, works as a standalone
Cons: police work was ... SIDE EYE at times, lots of threads dropped and resuscitated later to force the story to go on longer (otherwise it would've been wrapped up much earlier)
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
September 9, 2023
Detective Annalisa Vega is back with her 'throw caution to the wind' ways, and now her niece Quinn has taken a page from her aunt’s playbook! The result? In my opinion, the best book in the series so far. I couldn’t get enough of all the horrible decision-making going on here!
I shouldn’t judge: Annalisa’s headstrong ways make her a formidable enemy to criminals, and in this story, there was quite a collection of them: a loose-cannon thief called the Chicken Bandit, a cold-case murderer, and a gorilla-suit clad stalker who’s tormenting her niece Quinn on her college campus. When it rains it pours, as they say!
Where does it all begin, though? It starts with the apparent murder of ex-cop and private investigator, Sam Tran - a friend of Annalisa’s superior, Lynn Zimmer - who was found strung up in a tree with the word “pig” scrawled across his chest.
As Annalisa digs deeper into the Sam Tran case, and her ex-husband/current lover and fellow detective Nick Carelli investigates the Chicken Bandit case, things are further complicated when Quinn’s stalker situation becomes more menacing and her friend disappears, which leads Quinn to do some of her own ill-advised sleuthing!
There’s a LOT going on in this book, including a surprise thread about Nick that I won’t dive into, but I loved that! Was it realistic that Annalisa and Nick would have so much leeway to informally investigate on a college campus out of their jurisdiction? Doubtfully. Did that matter to me? No! Did I have to suspend disbelief at times? Of course. When a story is engaging and keeps me turning pages, I’m happy to buckle up and go along for the ride, and this was such a fun one!
Quinn was a great character, in her own right, and she definitely has a taste for her aunt’s foolhardy ways, but like Annalisa, she’s also clever, strong and determined, and it’s nice to see female characters with intelligence and spunk, even if some of their decisions get them into trouble (repeatedly)! I also enjoyed spending more time with the rest of the Vega clan and seeing the evolution of Annalisa’s relationship with Nick. Some may not forgive his past behavior, but I’m still hoping he’s turned a new leaf!
Schaffhausen’s writing is stellar, as always. Once again, she stitched the pieces of her story together like a master seamstress and left me eagerly awaiting Annalisa’s next adventure. Some big changes are in the air, and I can’t wait to see how they play out! The next installment, All the Way Gone, releases next August. If you enjoy solid, fun detective fiction with well-drawn characters, this is a great series that I highly recommend!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Joanna Schaffhausen for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now!
I shouldn’t judge: Annalisa’s headstrong ways make her a formidable enemy to criminals, and in this story, there was quite a collection of them: a loose-cannon thief called the Chicken Bandit, a cold-case murderer, and a gorilla-suit clad stalker who’s tormenting her niece Quinn on her college campus. When it rains it pours, as they say!
Where does it all begin, though? It starts with the apparent murder of ex-cop and private investigator, Sam Tran - a friend of Annalisa’s superior, Lynn Zimmer - who was found strung up in a tree with the word “pig” scrawled across his chest.
As Annalisa digs deeper into the Sam Tran case, and her ex-husband/current lover and fellow detective Nick Carelli investigates the Chicken Bandit case, things are further complicated when Quinn’s stalker situation becomes more menacing and her friend disappears, which leads Quinn to do some of her own ill-advised sleuthing!
There’s a LOT going on in this book, including a surprise thread about Nick that I won’t dive into, but I loved that! Was it realistic that Annalisa and Nick would have so much leeway to informally investigate on a college campus out of their jurisdiction? Doubtfully. Did that matter to me? No! Did I have to suspend disbelief at times? Of course. When a story is engaging and keeps me turning pages, I’m happy to buckle up and go along for the ride, and this was such a fun one!
Quinn was a great character, in her own right, and she definitely has a taste for her aunt’s foolhardy ways, but like Annalisa, she’s also clever, strong and determined, and it’s nice to see female characters with intelligence and spunk, even if some of their decisions get them into trouble (repeatedly)! I also enjoyed spending more time with the rest of the Vega clan and seeing the evolution of Annalisa’s relationship with Nick. Some may not forgive his past behavior, but I’m still hoping he’s turned a new leaf!
Schaffhausen’s writing is stellar, as always. Once again, she stitched the pieces of her story together like a master seamstress and left me eagerly awaiting Annalisa’s next adventure. Some big changes are in the air, and I can’t wait to see how they play out! The next installment, All the Way Gone, releases next August. If you enjoy solid, fun detective fiction with well-drawn characters, this is a great series that I highly recommend!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Joanna Schaffhausen for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now!
July 21, 2023
Suspense, family drama, and a suspicious death provide multiple plot layers to Joanna Schaffhausen’s
Dead and Gone
, the third book in the Detective Annalisa Vega police procedural series. Annalisa is called to the scene of Sam Tran’s death. The dead ex-Chicago police detective was a private detective and had a message painted on his chest suggesting that the killer is bitter towards the police. Annalisa believes the answers will lie in Sam’s three open cases. They’re a missing person case from 30 years ago, a current university campus stalker, and a double murder from about twenty years ago.
The characters are compelling, fascinating, and felt three-dimensional. Annalisa is someone that people can easily connect with and hope she succeeds. She has a strong sense of right versus wrong, as well as courage, resolve, and strength of character. However, she also takes risky chances. Crossing the blue line in the past has resulted in a loneliness that makes her feel she has nothing left to lose. Detective Nick Carelli is her partner and ex-husband. There is a fun dynamic between them. Their strong connection adds to the story line without detracting from the main case.
What a disquieting and unsettling prologue! The author’s doctorate in psychology and interest in the brain come to life in the antagonists in this novel. The book has a solid and deeply involved plot with great character depth. The plot is twisty, with exciting scenes that captivated me. The novel highlights complicated family relationships, friends, jealousy, murder, and much more. The author is a great storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as I rapidly turned the pages. The ending wrapped up things nicely, but I was surprised by one aspect of it. I can’t wait to see where the author takes that development in the next book in the series.
Overall, this riveting story arc immediately grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout the book. I can’t wait to read the next book by this author. Those who like complex police procedurals will likely enjoy this novel. It can be read as a standalone. However, reading the series in order gives readers more background and shows character development from book to book.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Joanna Schaffhausen provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for August 08, 2023.
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My 4 star review is coming soon.
The characters are compelling, fascinating, and felt three-dimensional. Annalisa is someone that people can easily connect with and hope she succeeds. She has a strong sense of right versus wrong, as well as courage, resolve, and strength of character. However, she also takes risky chances. Crossing the blue line in the past has resulted in a loneliness that makes her feel she has nothing left to lose. Detective Nick Carelli is her partner and ex-husband. There is a fun dynamic between them. Their strong connection adds to the story line without detracting from the main case.
What a disquieting and unsettling prologue! The author’s doctorate in psychology and interest in the brain come to life in the antagonists in this novel. The book has a solid and deeply involved plot with great character depth. The plot is twisty, with exciting scenes that captivated me. The novel highlights complicated family relationships, friends, jealousy, murder, and much more. The author is a great storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as I rapidly turned the pages. The ending wrapped up things nicely, but I was surprised by one aspect of it. I can’t wait to see where the author takes that development in the next book in the series.
Overall, this riveting story arc immediately grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout the book. I can’t wait to read the next book by this author. Those who like complex police procedurals will likely enjoy this novel. It can be read as a standalone. However, reading the series in order gives readers more background and shows character development from book to book.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Joanna Schaffhausen provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for August 08, 2023.
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My 4 star review is coming soon.
August 7, 2023
3.5 stars
I liked this addition to the Annalisa Vega series but I didn't love it. I think there was too much going on and yet nothing really moved forward until almost the end.
This installment has Annalisa trying to figure out who killed Sam Tran, a former cop working as a PI. Tran had three open cases, and Annalisa starts investigating them to see if any of them might have led to his death. One is the stalking investigation of Annalisa's college niece Quinn. Someone is stalking her and may be after other girls on campus. The second case features a couple murdered at a motel, and the third involves a long missing person. So basically four cases total, plus the "chicken bandit" case that Annalisa and Nick were working on when everything started, so really five cases.
This left me a little scattered, and then throw in a bunch of personal stuff with Annalisa and Nick and the past and the present. Although this book can be read as a standalone, you will get spoilers for the first two books and if you ever wanted to go back and start at the beginning you'd be disappointed.
I like Annalisa and I really enjoy police procedural mysteries like this one. I will definitely read the next because I need some more resolution with the Nick situation and the family dynamics overall are different than most books of this genre (once you read the first one you'll know what I'm talking about).
When taken as a whole, this is overall a solid contribution to the series. Some of the threads are more interesting than others, but there is resolution to everything in the end, even if some of the ethics are murky.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I liked this addition to the Annalisa Vega series but I didn't love it. I think there was too much going on and yet nothing really moved forward until almost the end.
This installment has Annalisa trying to figure out who killed Sam Tran, a former cop working as a PI. Tran had three open cases, and Annalisa starts investigating them to see if any of them might have led to his death. One is the stalking investigation of Annalisa's college niece Quinn. Someone is stalking her and may be after other girls on campus. The second case features a couple murdered at a motel, and the third involves a long missing person. So basically four cases total, plus the "chicken bandit" case that Annalisa and Nick were working on when everything started, so really five cases.
This left me a little scattered, and then throw in a bunch of personal stuff with Annalisa and Nick and the past and the present. Although this book can be read as a standalone, you will get spoilers for the first two books and if you ever wanted to go back and start at the beginning you'd be disappointed.
I like Annalisa and I really enjoy police procedural mysteries like this one. I will definitely read the next because I need some more resolution with the Nick situation and the family dynamics overall are different than most books of this genre (once you read the first one you'll know what I'm talking about).
When taken as a whole, this is overall a solid contribution to the series. Some of the threads are more interesting than others, but there is resolution to everything in the end, even if some of the ethics are murky.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 12, 2023
My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Joanna Schaffhausen and Netgalley.
I love this authors previous books, especially with these peeps.
This is nowhere near a good as her others.
Luckily, "wait...is that a real word?"
Anywho..This was what I'm hoping " a brain fart! "
Yes. We all have them, and I'm moving on from here!
This story was what I kindly call a floofty. That's what I call Lily Mae. Lily is my cat who never farts, "According to her." But when it happens, it's a floofty.
I loved every book I've read from this woman. I've really enjoyed them all. One little hiccup isn't going to slow me down! Also, I kinda love Annalisa's story.
I love this authors previous books, especially with these peeps.
This is nowhere near a good as her others.
Luckily, "wait...is that a real word?"
Anywho..This was what I'm hoping " a brain fart! "
Yes. We all have them, and I'm moving on from here!
This story was what I kindly call a floofty. That's what I call Lily Mae. Lily is my cat who never farts, "According to her." But when it happens, it's a floofty.
I loved every book I've read from this woman. I've really enjoyed them all. One little hiccup isn't going to slow me down! Also, I kinda love Annalisa's story.
February 7, 2023
Annalisa Vega is back again in the 3rd book of the series. She investigates the murder of Sam Tran an investigator who was looking into a college campus stalking case. She investigates three different cases in this exciting read.
This book was full of interesting characters and kept me up late flipping the pages.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC that will be released August 8, 2023!
August 8, 2023
3.5 stars
In this third book in the 'Annalisa Vega' series, the police detective investigates the death of a private detective. The book works fine as a standalone.
*****
As the story opens, Chicago Police Detective Annalisa Vega.....
.....and her police partner Nick Carelli have been investigating the Chicken Bandit case. Vega and Carelli work well together, in part because they were once married, and - now that Nick has changed his cheating ways - are giving the relationship another chance.
The Chicken Bandit, a man who wears a chicken mask, has been holding up corner stores and late-night delis, and he's proven very hard to catch.
Tired from night patrols, Vega and Carelli are preparing for work one morning when Annalisa gets a call from the boss, Commander Lynn Zimmer. Zimmer summons Annalisa to Rosehill Cemetery for "a probable homicde, special circs.'
At the Rosehill graveyard, a man is hanging from a tree, with the word PIG painted on his shirt. Zimmer identifies the victim as Sam Tran, an ex-cop who's been a private investigator for 10 years. Zimmer mentions Sam was a good friend, and puts Annalisa on the case....leaving Detective Carelli to chase the Chicken Bandit.
As Vega begins her inquiries into Sam's death, she learns the PI had three open cases. Annalisa speculates that Sam's murder may be related to one of the open inquiries, which include the following:
⦿ By coincidence, Annalisa's niece Quinn, a co-ed at Illinois University, is being harassed by a stalker who's sending anonymous notes and drawing dick pics on her door. So Quinn's father Vinny (Annalisa's brother) hired Sam to track down the perp.
⦿ A twenty-year-old homicide claimed the lives of Stephen Powell and Kathy Morrison, a couple engaged in an extramarital affair. Stephen and Kathy were brutally bludgeoned in a motel room, and the crime was never solved. Recently, Kathy's husband Brad Morrison employed Sam to look into the cold case.
⦿ A young mom named Nina Osteen, whose mother Charlotte disappeared over thirty years ago, hired Sam to find Charlotte.
Annalisa proceeds to look into Sam's open investigations, and by chance, even encounters the Chicken Bandit. All this puts Annalisa's life in grave danger, and I must say, I wish Annalisa wasn't such a maverick and always called in backup. This 'bravery' may be a family trait since Annalisa's niece Quinn has the same bad habit of walking head-on into danger. 😏
In the midst of all this, Annalisa has a lot going on in her personal life. In the past, a scandal led to Annalisa putting her father and brother in prison, and the Vega family is still reeling from the aftermath. Moreover, unexpected discoveries lead Annalisa to do some deep thinking about her relationship with Nick.
By the end of the book Annalisa has solved all the cases and is considering a new future for herself. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Thanks to Netgalley, Joanna Schaffhausen, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the manuscript.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
Read
August 16, 2022If you're looking for Annalisa #3, here it is!
Annalisa arrives on the scene of a dead private investigator, only to find the dead man's phone ringing in his pocket and her own brother on the other end of the line. He'd hired the deceased PI to look into a stalker on the college campus where Anna's niece is a student.
Annalisa quickly becomes convinced the PI was murdered because of a secret he discovered in one of his open cases. But which one? He had three ongoing investigations. She's about to find out one of the cases is a real killer, if she can stay alive long enough to solve them all.
Come for the mystery, stay for the part where Annalisa fears she might be pregnant. Due date (ahem) August 2023.
Annalisa arrives on the scene of a dead private investigator, only to find the dead man's phone ringing in his pocket and her own brother on the other end of the line. He'd hired the deceased PI to look into a stalker on the college campus where Anna's niece is a student.
Annalisa quickly becomes convinced the PI was murdered because of a secret he discovered in one of his open cases. But which one? He had three ongoing investigations. She's about to find out one of the cases is a real killer, if she can stay alive long enough to solve them all.
Come for the mystery, stay for the part where Annalisa fears she might be pregnant. Due date (ahem) August 2023.
August 8, 2023
**Happy Publication Day!**
*3.5 stars. In this third outing featuring Chicago Police Detective Annalisa Vega, she is assigned a very personal case for her boss, Zimmer: the murder of a former Chicago cop turned private investigator. He had a number of open cases and that's where Vega begins. She's surprised when her brother's name crops up. He had hired the P.I. to try to find a stalker annoying his daughter on her college campus. Vega is also dealing with her partner, ex-husband, and current lover, Nick Corelli, and is worrying that she might be pregnant. So there are lots of plot lines and complications to this story. It's an enjoyable mystery that keeps the reader guessing till the end.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
*3.5 stars. In this third outing featuring Chicago Police Detective Annalisa Vega, she is assigned a very personal case for her boss, Zimmer: the murder of a former Chicago cop turned private investigator. He had a number of open cases and that's where Vega begins. She's surprised when her brother's name crops up. He had hired the P.I. to try to find a stalker annoying his daughter on her college campus. Vega is also dealing with her partner, ex-husband, and current lover, Nick Corelli, and is worrying that she might be pregnant. So there are lots of plot lines and complications to this story. It's an enjoyable mystery that keeps the reader guessing till the end.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
February 7, 2023
Annalisa Vega is back again in the 3rd book of the series. She investigates the murder of Sam Tran an investigator who was looking into a college campus stalking case. She investigates three different cases in this exciting read.
This book was full of interesting characters and kept me up late flipping the pages.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC that will be released August 8, 2023!
This book was full of interesting characters and kept me up late flipping the pages.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC that will be released August 8, 2023!
June 8, 2023
This is the third book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series, and I'm happy to say I've read them all. Vega is a fun detective to follow. She's totally determined to do the right thing, has earned quite a reputation for solving some horrendous cases, and a has an interesting family history.
Description:
For Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega, Sam Tran’s death presents an ominous puzzle. The ex-cop turned PI is found hanging from a cemetery tree with a message across his chest that suggests someone holds a murderous grudge against the police. Annalisa suspects the real answer lies in one of Tran’s open cases. She believes he stumbled on a dark secret during his investigations and someone killed him to keep him quiet. Her own family harbors plenty of secrets, something Annalisa is reminded of when her brother turns out to be one of Sam’s last clients.
Vinny Vega hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker on his daughter’s college campus. Now Sam is dead and the stalker remains at large, with Annalisa’s niece Quinn firmly in his sights.
To protect Quinn, Annalisa begins tracing Sam’s steps back through his open cases, which include not only the campus stalker but also a brutal double homicide from twenty years ago. Did Sam finally find the killer? Did he uncover the stalker’s identity? Annalisa must figure out which secret got Sam killed, and fast, or someone else will die. Every move she makes brings her closer to the truth of Sam’s death, and closer to a murderer who will stop at nothing to remain free.
My Thoughts:
The case of private investigator Sam Tran's hanging was intriguing. It could be suicide, but the message on his chest certainly points to murder. Annalisa digs into Sam's background hoping to find clues. She checks out all the cases Sam had been working on when he died. Also, there's another case going on involving a guy in a chicken mask holding. Annalisa accidentally gets involved in that one as well, even though it is assigned to someone else. Oh, and is Annalisa pregnant or not. She is hesitant to take a test and find out - not sure she wants to the know the results. There's a second-chance romance going on here too that's interesting.
I like this series! It's fun to read about Annalisa's adventures and the situations she gets caught up in. I hope this isn't the last.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 8, 2023.
Description:
For Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega, Sam Tran’s death presents an ominous puzzle. The ex-cop turned PI is found hanging from a cemetery tree with a message across his chest that suggests someone holds a murderous grudge against the police. Annalisa suspects the real answer lies in one of Tran’s open cases. She believes he stumbled on a dark secret during his investigations and someone killed him to keep him quiet. Her own family harbors plenty of secrets, something Annalisa is reminded of when her brother turns out to be one of Sam’s last clients.
Vinny Vega hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker on his daughter’s college campus. Now Sam is dead and the stalker remains at large, with Annalisa’s niece Quinn firmly in his sights.
To protect Quinn, Annalisa begins tracing Sam’s steps back through his open cases, which include not only the campus stalker but also a brutal double homicide from twenty years ago. Did Sam finally find the killer? Did he uncover the stalker’s identity? Annalisa must figure out which secret got Sam killed, and fast, or someone else will die. Every move she makes brings her closer to the truth of Sam’s death, and closer to a murderer who will stop at nothing to remain free.
My Thoughts:
The case of private investigator Sam Tran's hanging was intriguing. It could be suicide, but the message on his chest certainly points to murder. Annalisa digs into Sam's background hoping to find clues. She checks out all the cases Sam had been working on when he died. Also, there's another case going on involving a guy in a chicken mask holding. Annalisa accidentally gets involved in that one as well, even though it is assigned to someone else. Oh, and is Annalisa pregnant or not. She is hesitant to take a test and find out - not sure she wants to the know the results. There's a second-chance romance going on here too that's interesting.
I like this series! It's fun to read about Annalisa's adventures and the situations she gets caught up in. I hope this isn't the last.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 8, 2023.
July 12, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
The third book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series, Dead and Gone sees our determined detective with a slew of cases and some more family issues. A P.I. murdered, his three cold cases, a Chicken robber, Annalisa's niece,, Quinn, is being stalked, and a young teenager shows up claiming Nick, Vega's ex-husband and police partner is her biological father. Also, Annalisa wonders "Could I be pregnant?" It's a wild rollercoaster ride!
I adore Joanna Schaffhausen's characters( both Ellery Hathaway and Annalisa Vega are awesome)BUT this one was sometimes a bit murky. At first, I found myself more wrapped up in Quinn's stalker storyline than the P. I and his cases. It makes for a long read because threads are dropped and then picked up later. However, looking at the book as a whole it does all come together at the end. I suppose it could be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend books 1 and 2 because Annalisa's family backstory makes for good reading.
Expected Publication 12/08/23
Goodreads Review 12/07/23
The third book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series, Dead and Gone sees our determined detective with a slew of cases and some more family issues. A P.I. murdered, his three cold cases, a Chicken robber, Annalisa's niece,, Quinn, is being stalked, and a young teenager shows up claiming Nick, Vega's ex-husband and police partner is her biological father. Also, Annalisa wonders "Could I be pregnant?" It's a wild rollercoaster ride!
I adore Joanna Schaffhausen's characters( both Ellery Hathaway and Annalisa Vega are awesome)BUT this one was sometimes a bit murky. At first, I found myself more wrapped up in Quinn's stalker storyline than the P. I and his cases. It makes for a long read because threads are dropped and then picked up later. However, looking at the book as a whole it does all come together at the end. I suppose it could be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend books 1 and 2 because Annalisa's family backstory makes for good reading.
Expected Publication 12/08/23
Goodreads Review 12/07/23
October 16, 2023
Dead and Gone (Detective Annalisa Vega, #3) by Joanna Schaffhausen was the third book in this series that I have read. Each one, in my opinion, only gets better and better. Dead and Gone was fast paced and impressively complex. It was my favorite so far. I listened to the audiobook that was superbly narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster. It was set in and around the city of Chicago which was the perfect setting for the complex cases Annalisa Vega and her former husband, Detective Nick Carelli, were assigned to investigate.
A former police officer, presently working as a private investigator, Sam Tran, was discovered hanging from a tree in a cemetery. Annalisa Vega and Nick Carelli were called upon to determine whether Sam committed suicide or was brutally murdered. Both Annalisa and Nick were in complete agreement that they believed that Sam had been murdered. The questions that piqued Annalisa’s and Nick’s curiosity was why and by whom. The detective pair discovered derogatory remarks splayed across Sam’s bare chest when they discovered him hanging dead from the tree. Annalisa and Nick soon became aware that Sam had been working on three cases at the time of his death. To Annalisa’s surprise, she soon realized that her own brother, Vinny, had hired Sam to investigate the possibility of a stalker on his daughter Quinn’s college campus. Annalisa was very protective of Quinn. She wasted no time in paying Quinn a visit. Not only was there the possibility of a stalker on the campus where Quinn attended college but one of Quinn’s best friends had gone missing. Annalisa had her work cut out for her. Beside the multifaceted cases that Annalisa and Nick were working on, it was hard to ignore the complicated romantic relationship she and Nick were exploring.
I look forward to each new book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. Dead and Gone can be read as a stand-alone book but I suggest starting at the beginning to really appreciate and understand the characters. So far, Dead and Gone was my favorite book in this series. I adore Joanna Schaffhausen’s writing style and the well plotted novels she develops and writes. Her character development is so well executed. Without any hesitation, I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a good mystery with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure.
A former police officer, presently working as a private investigator, Sam Tran, was discovered hanging from a tree in a cemetery. Annalisa Vega and Nick Carelli were called upon to determine whether Sam committed suicide or was brutally murdered. Both Annalisa and Nick were in complete agreement that they believed that Sam had been murdered. The questions that piqued Annalisa’s and Nick’s curiosity was why and by whom. The detective pair discovered derogatory remarks splayed across Sam’s bare chest when they discovered him hanging dead from the tree. Annalisa and Nick soon became aware that Sam had been working on three cases at the time of his death. To Annalisa’s surprise, she soon realized that her own brother, Vinny, had hired Sam to investigate the possibility of a stalker on his daughter Quinn’s college campus. Annalisa was very protective of Quinn. She wasted no time in paying Quinn a visit. Not only was there the possibility of a stalker on the campus where Quinn attended college but one of Quinn’s best friends had gone missing. Annalisa had her work cut out for her. Beside the multifaceted cases that Annalisa and Nick were working on, it was hard to ignore the complicated romantic relationship she and Nick were exploring.
I look forward to each new book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. Dead and Gone can be read as a stand-alone book but I suggest starting at the beginning to really appreciate and understand the characters. So far, Dead and Gone was my favorite book in this series. I adore Joanna Schaffhausen’s writing style and the well plotted novels she develops and writes. Her character development is so well executed. Without any hesitation, I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a good mystery with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure.
September 14, 2023
Dead And Gone is another excellent installment in the Detective Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schaffhausen. Vega is a strong main character with a lot of baggage. She is a detective in Chicago and because of something she did (see the first book in the series) many police officers treat her like she’s the enemy. She has been rebuilding her relationship with her ex-husband (Nick), who is also a detective, and is currently her partner, in both senses of the word.
As with previous books, there’s a lot going on in this book! The book opens with a creepy scene at a Halloween party on a college campus. Then a former cop turned PI, Sam Tran, is found murdered. Vega is trying to figure out who killed him by working his open cases - one of which involves her niece, Quinn, who is being stalked on her nearby college campus. And a man in a chicken mask has been robbing convenience stores. At times, I had a bit of trouble remembering which case was which, but that was a minor issue.
I kept changing my mind about who the stalker creep was!
You could read this one as a standalone, as the author provides enough background for the reader and the cases explored in this book don’t really reach back to what’s happened in the previous two in the series. Of course, you’ll miss the underlying backstory of Annalisa’s family issues.
I thought that this was going to be the last book in the series but I see that there’s another one, All The Way Gone, projected to publish in 2024! I’ll be sure to read that one when it becomes available!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was a bit late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Kelsey Navarro Foster, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.
As with previous books, there’s a lot going on in this book! The book opens with a creepy scene at a Halloween party on a college campus. Then a former cop turned PI, Sam Tran, is found murdered. Vega is trying to figure out who killed him by working his open cases - one of which involves her niece, Quinn, who is being stalked on her nearby college campus. And a man in a chicken mask has been robbing convenience stores. At times, I had a bit of trouble remembering which case was which, but that was a minor issue.
I kept changing my mind about who the stalker creep was!
You could read this one as a standalone, as the author provides enough background for the reader and the cases explored in this book don’t really reach back to what’s happened in the previous two in the series. Of course, you’ll miss the underlying backstory of Annalisa’s family issues.
I thought that this was going to be the last book in the series but I see that there’s another one, All The Way Gone, projected to publish in 2024! I’ll be sure to read that one when it becomes available!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was a bit late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Kelsey Navarro Foster, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.
May 28, 2024
Another good book from this author. I’ve read everything she wrote. I wish she wrote more often. I love Annalisa and Nick!
Hey guys, her new book comes out in August! With the way weeks fly by, the book will be here before you know it! So excited!
Hey guys, her new book comes out in August! With the way weeks fly by, the book will be here before you know it! So excited!
July 17, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: August 8, 2023
Ex-cop turned PI Sam Tran is found dead in the woods, his body hanging from a tree. Detective Annalisa Vega notices a message on his chest that appears to indicate a vendetta toward the police. While she investigates the mysterious death of her friend, her niece, Quinn, is dealing with a stalker on her college campus. It isn’t until Quinn’s roommate goes missing that Quinn calls in her aunt to help and now, balancing both cases, Vega is determined to pull out all the stops to solve one murder and possibly prevent another.
“Dead and Gone” is the third novel in the Gone for Good series of crime novels by author Joanna Schaffhausen. Schaffhausen also pens the Last Seen Alive crime novels, so she has quite the police procedural resume. I was unfamiliar with any of her works until I was given access to this one, and “Dead and Gone” was the first Vega novel I explored. Speaking from experience, this could be read as a stand-alone.
Obviously, the characters in the novel have a background formed in the previous installments, a background I was unfamiliar with, but I was able to relate to them and managed to understand their connections without any former knowledge. It is narrated by many of the protagonists, including Quinn, Annalisa (obviously) and Byron (a suspect and college teacher’s assistant), but that only helped to understand the characters that had already been fully formed in previous novels.
I have read a lot of police procedurals as of late so I was able to predict the ending and determine who the suspect was within the first few chapters. Of course, I still read the novel to completion for vindication that I was right and to learn all of the how’s and why’s.
“Dead and Gone” is nothing unfamiliar to fans and readers of police procedurals, but the story is well-crafted and suspenseful, and Annalisa is a relatable and likable protagonist. As a new author (to me anyway) and a new series, Schaffhausen manages to impress with the newest installment of her Vega series.
Expected publication date: August 8, 2023
Ex-cop turned PI Sam Tran is found dead in the woods, his body hanging from a tree. Detective Annalisa Vega notices a message on his chest that appears to indicate a vendetta toward the police. While she investigates the mysterious death of her friend, her niece, Quinn, is dealing with a stalker on her college campus. It isn’t until Quinn’s roommate goes missing that Quinn calls in her aunt to help and now, balancing both cases, Vega is determined to pull out all the stops to solve one murder and possibly prevent another.
“Dead and Gone” is the third novel in the Gone for Good series of crime novels by author Joanna Schaffhausen. Schaffhausen also pens the Last Seen Alive crime novels, so she has quite the police procedural resume. I was unfamiliar with any of her works until I was given access to this one, and “Dead and Gone” was the first Vega novel I explored. Speaking from experience, this could be read as a stand-alone.
Obviously, the characters in the novel have a background formed in the previous installments, a background I was unfamiliar with, but I was able to relate to them and managed to understand their connections without any former knowledge. It is narrated by many of the protagonists, including Quinn, Annalisa (obviously) and Byron (a suspect and college teacher’s assistant), but that only helped to understand the characters that had already been fully formed in previous novels.
I have read a lot of police procedurals as of late so I was able to predict the ending and determine who the suspect was within the first few chapters. Of course, I still read the novel to completion for vindication that I was right and to learn all of the how’s and why’s.
“Dead and Gone” is nothing unfamiliar to fans and readers of police procedurals, but the story is well-crafted and suspenseful, and Annalisa is a relatable and likable protagonist. As a new author (to me anyway) and a new series, Schaffhausen manages to impress with the newest installment of her Vega series.
September 24, 2023
Great audiobook! 4 mystery cases in one book! One main one was a fellow police officer who turned private investigator. He was found dead. He was working on 3 cases. One was a missing mom, another was a stalking on campus of Detective Annalisa's niece, and the final one was a murder of the couple in the hotel room. Some were cold cases. I should say 5 because one was investigated by Nick but Annalisa got involved in it by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were all good. I like that there's a story on the killer with the stalking and even so, I couldn't guess who that was. I like the developing story of Annalisa and her partner, Nick. Hopefully Nick get a paternity test in the next book just to know for sure.
So many mysteries in one book that I almost forgot what happened with each. Why the chicken bandit did what he did. He robbed but he lingered. Why? Then actually there were two stalking cases at the school. After the first one was solved, the stalker basically got no trouble for giving hell to someone. There were also no explanation as to why the tooth broke and left in the woods. What's the killer's reason for killing the couple in the hotel? I like the book, but it was a lot to follow and left me with questions.
Thank you Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review. I listened to an audiobook via Libby App.
So many mysteries in one book that I almost forgot what happened with each. Why the chicken bandit did what he did. He robbed but he lingered. Why? Then actually there were two stalking cases at the school. After the first one was solved, the stalker basically got no trouble for giving hell to someone. There were also no explanation as to why the tooth broke and left in the woods. What's the killer's reason for killing the couple in the hotel? I like the book, but it was a lot to follow and left me with questions.
Thank you Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review. I listened to an audiobook via Libby App.
August 20, 2023
What can I say, I love this series and this author. Another full of mystery and twists
August 10, 2023
DEAD AND GONE is the third book in author Joanna Schaffhausen's Annalisa Vega series, and I'm here to say each book is better than the last. There's a reason Joanna Schaffhausen is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author, and the evidence is in this book! With a tenacious heroine who never gives up, multiple twisted plot lines, immersible setting and a whole lot of family drama, DEAD AND GONE is highly engaging and unbelievably atmospheric.
When ex-cop turned private investigator Sam Tran is found hanging from a tree in a cemetery with an ugly message written across his chest, it should be painfully clear he didn't commit suicide. Chicago Police Detective Annalisa Vega arrives on scene in time to answer the cell phone ringing in the dead man's pocket only to be shocked by hearing her brother Vinny Vega's voice on the other end of the line. She learns Vinny hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker threatening his daughter on her college campus. The stakes are sky high for Annalisa and her family as they'll do whatever it takes to keep free-spirited Quinn safe. In an effort to unravel several convoluted cases, Annalisa begins sorting through the dead PI's open cases while also trying to keep an eye on her niece who's not happy about being confined. The more she investigates, the more she believes the cases may be tied together in some way. One thing is clear . . . PI Sam Tran stumbled upon some information that got him killed and to discover the identity of the killer, Annalisa will have to connect the dots between all his open cases. As it turns out, a twenty-year-old double homicide may hold the key Vega needs.
DEAD AND GONE is an intense, complex and highly engaging story. As always, Schaffhausen's characters are fully fleshed out and compelling. Readers will easily connect with Annalisa as well as most of the support cast which includes several red herrings. Ex-husband Det. Nick Carelli is Vega's partner in both a professional and personal manner, and their interactions adds a touch of personal depth and anguish to the storyline, helping temper the viciousness of the murder case. A multitude of twisted plot lines keeps the tension high and the tone dire as Vega races against time to find a stalker before her niece, who fancies herself an amateur sleuth, gets into something she can't get out of . . . at least not alive. Vega also faces some personal revelations that put a strain on the relationship she and Nick are trying to rebuild.
From the unsettling prologue to the final shocker, DEAD AND GONE is impossible to put down. While it is part of a series, the author does an excellent job weaving in needed backstory to make this one readable as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the series in order for character development. Totally addictive, DEAD AND GONE is a fantastic addition to this intriguing series. The story is an action packed, tension laden, riveting suspense thriller with just the right blend of murder, suspense and personal relationships. I look forward to learning where the author takes these characters in future books. Highly recommended to fans of suspense thrillers.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books and the author for an arc of this story. All opinions expressed are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
When ex-cop turned private investigator Sam Tran is found hanging from a tree in a cemetery with an ugly message written across his chest, it should be painfully clear he didn't commit suicide. Chicago Police Detective Annalisa Vega arrives on scene in time to answer the cell phone ringing in the dead man's pocket only to be shocked by hearing her brother Vinny Vega's voice on the other end of the line. She learns Vinny hired Tran to find a dangerous stalker threatening his daughter on her college campus. The stakes are sky high for Annalisa and her family as they'll do whatever it takes to keep free-spirited Quinn safe. In an effort to unravel several convoluted cases, Annalisa begins sorting through the dead PI's open cases while also trying to keep an eye on her niece who's not happy about being confined. The more she investigates, the more she believes the cases may be tied together in some way. One thing is clear . . . PI Sam Tran stumbled upon some information that got him killed and to discover the identity of the killer, Annalisa will have to connect the dots between all his open cases. As it turns out, a twenty-year-old double homicide may hold the key Vega needs.
DEAD AND GONE is an intense, complex and highly engaging story. As always, Schaffhausen's characters are fully fleshed out and compelling. Readers will easily connect with Annalisa as well as most of the support cast which includes several red herrings. Ex-husband Det. Nick Carelli is Vega's partner in both a professional and personal manner, and their interactions adds a touch of personal depth and anguish to the storyline, helping temper the viciousness of the murder case. A multitude of twisted plot lines keeps the tension high and the tone dire as Vega races against time to find a stalker before her niece, who fancies herself an amateur sleuth, gets into something she can't get out of . . . at least not alive. Vega also faces some personal revelations that put a strain on the relationship she and Nick are trying to rebuild.
From the unsettling prologue to the final shocker, DEAD AND GONE is impossible to put down. While it is part of a series, the author does an excellent job weaving in needed backstory to make this one readable as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the series in order for character development. Totally addictive, DEAD AND GONE is a fantastic addition to this intriguing series. The story is an action packed, tension laden, riveting suspense thriller with just the right blend of murder, suspense and personal relationships. I look forward to learning where the author takes these characters in future books. Highly recommended to fans of suspense thrillers.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books and the author for an arc of this story. All opinions expressed are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
October 9, 2023
Dead and Gone is book #3 in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. Detective Vega launches yet another attempt to redeem her family’s name in the annals of the Chicago Police Department by investigating the death of an ex-cop who was her boss’s old friend. (That was just one of the storylines.) There was a lot going on in this book, including twists and turns, red herrings, secrets, lies, danger, obsession, violence, and murder!
The storyline I found most interesting was the one about Anna's niece, Quinn. She's away at college and feels as though she's being stalked, as she keeps receiving creepy anonymous texts from someone who seems to know her every move. I was positive I knew who it was, but boy was I wrong!
Dead and Gone had multiple points of view, which made it even more interesting. It's a complex and highly engaging book, and I recommend it!
The storyline I found most interesting was the one about Anna's niece, Quinn. She's away at college and feels as though she's being stalked, as she keeps receiving creepy anonymous texts from someone who seems to know her every move. I was positive I knew who it was, but boy was I wrong!
Dead and Gone had multiple points of view, which made it even more interesting. It's a complex and highly engaging book, and I recommend it!
August 27, 2023
Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega cannot get away from investigating cops... even former ones. Her boss pulls her in to the case of Sam Tran, once a cop and now a PI, who is found hanging from a tree with a terrible message across his chest. Annalisa digs into Sam's cases, wondering if he found something that someone would rather have left buried. Her investigation reveals her own brother, Vinny, was a client. Sam was looking into a stalker on her niece Quinn's college campus.
Oh Annalisa, I just want to give her a hug. She's still haunted by her past choices related to her family--Pop is sick and on house arrest; another brother is in jail; the rest of the family, including Quinn, blame her; and other cops distrust her. She has her partner (in every sense of the word) Nick, but even those two have a troubled history.
As always, this is an excellent entry from Schaffhausen. She expertly weaves in several cases along with appearances from Annalisa's family. It was great to see Quinn, who plays a big role in this book. More Vegas! There are plenty of cases and a lot to keep us guessing. The stalker on Quinn's campus, Sam Tran's murder and his associated cases, and then Annalisa and Nick are tracking down a robbery suspect known as the Chicken Bandit. We get pulled into Tran's cold cases, as Annalisa worries that they may have something to do with his death. It seems like a lot, but they all meld together perfectly.
I love Schaffhausen's books because they are a great balance of police procedural and Annalisa's family life. She attempts to deal with the ramifications of turning in her father and brother, her future with Nick, and now, Quinn's safety. It adds an excellent personal tinge to the story. There are still plenty of twists and turns and surprises. And don't let the family aspect fool you--this is a dramatic and dark tale filled with violence and suspense!
Overall, this is an excellent read. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur in return for an unbiased review.
Oh Annalisa, I just want to give her a hug. She's still haunted by her past choices related to her family--Pop is sick and on house arrest; another brother is in jail; the rest of the family, including Quinn, blame her; and other cops distrust her. She has her partner (in every sense of the word) Nick, but even those two have a troubled history.
As always, this is an excellent entry from Schaffhausen. She expertly weaves in several cases along with appearances from Annalisa's family. It was great to see Quinn, who plays a big role in this book. More Vegas! There are plenty of cases and a lot to keep us guessing. The stalker on Quinn's campus, Sam Tran's murder and his associated cases, and then Annalisa and Nick are tracking down a robbery suspect known as the Chicken Bandit. We get pulled into Tran's cold cases, as Annalisa worries that they may have something to do with his death. It seems like a lot, but they all meld together perfectly.
I love Schaffhausen's books because they are a great balance of police procedural and Annalisa's family life. She attempts to deal with the ramifications of turning in her father and brother, her future with Nick, and now, Quinn's safety. It adds an excellent personal tinge to the story. There are still plenty of twists and turns and surprises. And don't let the family aspect fool you--this is a dramatic and dark tale filled with violence and suspense!
Overall, this is an excellent read. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur in return for an unbiased review.
August 14, 2023
Annalisa is back dealing with her cases and a secret in her personal life.
Her personal secret is one she hasn’t told her partner who also happens to be her current lover and former husband.
As for her cases, she is assigned to one case but also gets herself involved with two others.
The case she is assigned to is pretty brutal as the opening pages tell us of a PI hanging from a tree and with the word PIG written across his chest.
One of the other cases involves an attack on the campus where her niece attends, and the other case was the chicken bandit who robs businesses dressed as a chicken.
Even though her main assignment was to find who killed the PI, she had to get involved with the case on the campus.
Love Ms. Schaffhausen’s books.
DEAD AND GONE has quite a bit going on with all these cases, but we have more things to think about and more cases to try to solve.
Will you be able to find the answers?
Don't miss her newest!! Tension and a great story line abound!! 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.
Her personal secret is one she hasn’t told her partner who also happens to be her current lover and former husband.
As for her cases, she is assigned to one case but also gets herself involved with two others.
The case she is assigned to is pretty brutal as the opening pages tell us of a PI hanging from a tree and with the word PIG written across his chest.
One of the other cases involves an attack on the campus where her niece attends, and the other case was the chicken bandit who robs businesses dressed as a chicken.
Even though her main assignment was to find who killed the PI, she had to get involved with the case on the campus.
Love Ms. Schaffhausen’s books.
DEAD AND GONE has quite a bit going on with all these cases, but we have more things to think about and more cases to try to solve.
Will you be able to find the answers?
Don't miss her newest!! Tension and a great story line abound!! 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.
July 4, 2024
I found this to be too convoluted and unrealistic. Sometimes simple and clean is better…less is more. There were too many threads, I think. Annalisa is trying to solve the question of what happened to former policeman Sam Tran. But Sam is a private investigator and has several open cases of his own, so Annalisa has to look into each case….it was just too much all at once. Again, less is better. But they were interesting enough that I kept coming back for answers.
August 9, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of Dead and Gone, book three in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. Every book in this series is better than the last one, which is saying a lot because the first two books were 5 star reads. It goes without saying that the writing is top-notch and that the book is well-paced.
After Annalisa is assigned to look into the death of private detective Sam Tran she starts to investigate his open cases, looking for a clue about his death. One of the cases involves Vega’s niece, so Vega has to work with her brother.
What unfolds is a twisty story that really kept me up late reading.
Annalisa is a great character and I really like how her relationship with her family members keeps changing. (No spoilers about this book or the previous books in the series because you should read them all, but there is family drama!) If you love a great story that also excels in characters’ relationships, this is the series for you.
After Annalisa is assigned to look into the death of private detective Sam Tran she starts to investigate his open cases, looking for a clue about his death. One of the cases involves Vega’s niece, so Vega has to work with her brother.
What unfolds is a twisty story that really kept me up late reading.
Annalisa is a great character and I really like how her relationship with her family members keeps changing. (No spoilers about this book or the previous books in the series because you should read them all, but there is family drama!) If you love a great story that also excels in characters’ relationships, this is the series for you.
August 6, 2023
This series just keeps getting better!!
Dead And Gone is the third installment in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. My advice is to read all three books in order to get the full backstory.
Once again I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and read this in just one sitting. There's something really special about Joanna Schaffhausens writing! I have my fingers crossed for a fourth book in this series. I love a solid police procedural.
I can't get enough Annalisa Vega!! She is a bad ass and has a reputation for solving extremely difficult and complex cases.
I thought I had this all figured out! Boy was I ever wrong! I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! I highly recommend this book. My thanks to Minotaur Books for this gifted copy. Dead And Gone hits shelves on August 8th!!
Dead And Gone is the third installment in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. My advice is to read all three books in order to get the full backstory.
Once again I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and read this in just one sitting. There's something really special about Joanna Schaffhausens writing! I have my fingers crossed for a fourth book in this series. I love a solid police procedural.
I can't get enough Annalisa Vega!! She is a bad ass and has a reputation for solving extremely difficult and complex cases.
I thought I had this all figured out! Boy was I ever wrong! I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! I highly recommend this book. My thanks to Minotaur Books for this gifted copy. Dead And Gone hits shelves on August 8th!!
August 25, 2023
Dead and Gone is the 3rd book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. She is a bit of a pariah in the police department as she turned in her own father, a police detective, and her brother for a murder and cover up years before. She is an excellent detective and when a former police officer, who left the force years earlier because of corruption, is found dead and hanging, the police chief wants Annalisa on the case. It turns out he was working as a PI, and had recently been hired by her brother. When Annalisa finds out why he had hired him, she tries to find out who has been stalking and drugging college students, including her niece. To solve the case and protect her niece, she begins to retrace his steps and they lead her right back to the university.
Annalisa is a great character. She has scruples and moral, is smart and intuitive yet is struggling to find her place. She is getting back together with her ex-husband, but she isn't sure and she is also dealing with a secret she is keeping from him. The crime itself turned out to be secondary to the stalking that is occurring on campus. I thought I figured out who that was, and it turned out that I was right, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment in the story. This story is a reminder about how easy it is to get in an unsafe situation. There are too many bad guys out there that will take any advantage. There is another case, the chicken thief, that Annalisa was pulled from, that pops up throughout this one. She ends up in a couple of dangerous situations herself, but you will have to read this one to find out what happens. This story was very realistic, with a lot going on and the police working multiple cases at the same time. It was a quick moving book and held my attention from start to finish. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend this series from the beginning so you get all the relationships and character development.
Annalisa is a great character. She has scruples and moral, is smart and intuitive yet is struggling to find her place. She is getting back together with her ex-husband, but she isn't sure and she is also dealing with a secret she is keeping from him. The crime itself turned out to be secondary to the stalking that is occurring on campus. I thought I figured out who that was, and it turned out that I was right, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment in the story. This story is a reminder about how easy it is to get in an unsafe situation. There are too many bad guys out there that will take any advantage. There is another case, the chicken thief, that Annalisa was pulled from, that pops up throughout this one. She ends up in a couple of dangerous situations herself, but you will have to read this one to find out what happens. This story was very realistic, with a lot going on and the police working multiple cases at the same time. It was a quick moving book and held my attention from start to finish. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend this series from the beginning so you get all the relationships and character development.
June 29, 2023
In book three of the Annalisa Vega series, Detective Vega is investigating the death of an ex-cop turned private investigator that may tie back to a twenty year old double homicide cold case.
I love this series - it's fast-paced with interesting mysteries - but feel like Annalisa needs an intervention - she's constantly running straight into dangerous situations without any backup or a real plan and somehow always gets out alive.
Definitely read the first two books before starting this one -- I think it'll make this book better if you understand her backstory with her family and Nick (NICK!!!!). I'm looking forward to reading the next installment - I would just really, really like Annalisa to make some smarter choices so I can root for her without also wanting to smack her just a little.
*thanks to St Martin's Press & Minotaur Books for the NetGalley review copy. Dead and Gone publishes August 8, 2023.
I love this series - it's fast-paced with interesting mysteries - but feel like Annalisa needs an intervention - she's constantly running straight into dangerous situations without any backup or a real plan and somehow always gets out alive.
Definitely read the first two books before starting this one -- I think it'll make this book better if you understand her backstory with her family and Nick (NICK!!!!). I'm looking forward to reading the next installment - I would just really, really like Annalisa to make some smarter choices so I can root for her without also wanting to smack her just a little.
*thanks to St Martin's Press & Minotaur Books for the NetGalley review copy. Dead and Gone publishes August 8, 2023.
February 4, 2023
4.75/5 stars! This is the first book in the "Detective Annalisa Vega" series. I haven't read the first two books, but this reads well as a standalone. I've been on a bender lately for reading Chicago-based thrillers because I'm currently living in downtown Chicago. I really appreciate authenticity in describing the setting. I was really proud of how this author handled it and I could picture myself at many of the places described. Because of this, or maybe just the author's superior writing, I was pulled deeply into the story and was shocked by the many twists and turns. A great book and I will be looking for more books by this author to read.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
August 23, 2023
What a fun series this has turned into! While Police Procedurals are typically not my go to thriller trope of choice, I always find Schaffhuasen’s mysteries super intriguing and I get invested right away!
I really enjoyed that this one had multiple mysteries and storylines at the same time and that they were super intricate and fascinatingly complex. With an abundance of red herrings and secrets, this was such an entertaining read!
While these types of series can typically be read as a standalone, I strong recommend against it! I’ve loved reading these so far and the character development is great and worth it! I’ll be anxiously awaiting the fourth instalment!
I really enjoyed that this one had multiple mysteries and storylines at the same time and that they were super intricate and fascinatingly complex. With an abundance of red herrings and secrets, this was such an entertaining read!
While these types of series can typically be read as a standalone, I strong recommend against it! I’ve loved reading these so far and the character development is great and worth it! I’ll be anxiously awaiting the fourth instalment!
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