Thank you @Minotaur_Books for the #gifted ARC of DEAD AND GONE!

I absolutely love Joanna Schaffhausen’s Annalisa Vega series and her newest installment doesn’t disappoint.
This is a lot going on in DEAD AND GONE. Annalisa is investigating the death of a former cop turned private detective. Doing so means also investigating his three open cases, two of which are cold cases and one is a stalking case involving her niece!

The niece/stalking storyline gave us the added perspective of Annalisa’s niece Quinn. I adored Quinn. She was fierce and determined to live her life despite her stalker. When she felt that campus police weren’t doing their job, she took matters into her own hands. I really hope we get some more Quinn in future books because her character grew so much in just this one book.

If you’re a fan of police procedurals, cold cases and determined female detectives, then don’t miss out on this series! DEAD AND GONE is the third book in the series so you don’t have a ton of books to catch up on yet!

DEAD AND GONE is out now!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4924189831
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvun56OrigJ/

Detective Annalisa Vega is back! She's a cop who believes in justice so much that she turned in members of her own family.

In this installment, The main case is the murder of a former cop turned private investigator. Did Sam get to close to the truth in one of his cases? Is it more personal? You'll have to read it for yourself, you won't be sorry.

There are also several other cases happening at the same time. Stalking on a college campus is just one of them.

I love the character of Annalisa. Her dedication is admirable. I also like other major players and some secondary ones too. Some of the conclusions to the many cases may surprise you. I was surprised by a few.

I hope there will be more books in this series. I want to know more!!

Thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

Ah Annalisa, Annalisa! Few cops are as hated as you in the Chicago Police Dept. You arrested your own father and brother for the love of Gerd. You not only crossed the thin blue line (as it was meant in the old days), you demolished it. You ground it to gravel. The only other detective who will work with and back you up is Nick Carelli, your ex-husband.
In Dead and Gone , Annalisa is the detective her boss turns to when a former police officer is found hanging in a cemetery with the word pig scrawled on his body. The victim, Sam Tran is now a criminal investigator who retired early from the police dept. He was also Lt Zimmer’s former police partner and current friend. The main reason Lt. Zimmer wants Annalisa, is to answer the question did Tran suicide or was he murdered? Zimmer also wants to know if Tran was a dirty cop back in the day.
Annalisa discovers three cases that Tran is investigating. She is shocked to discover her brother Vinny has hired Tran to investigate the stalking of her niece, Quinn, on the Illinois University campus. Quinn’s case is the only active case in Tran’s files, the other two cases are historical cases that people are still desperate to see solved. With good reason.
The narration then switches to Quinn and her life on campus, her friends, and the stalker. These are well done chapters painting an accurate picture of campus life. Especially the youngest students embracing the craziness and dangers of being away from home for the first time.
In the beginning of the campus chapters, Quinn and her friends seem to be heading into TSTL territory. Luckily, they seem to snap out of it.
Schaffhausen also treats us to chilling chapters of a mind falling apart. Slowly, deliberately, without care, without conscience. He is escalating as he is having so much sick fun.
This is not the first Schaffhausen book in which her main detective investigates separate cases at the same time, this is real. She does an excellent job roping you in, keeping the three investigations, four including Tran’s death, distinct and easy to follow. Readers just have to pay attention. It is fascinating to be given the chance to understand how cold cases can be solved.
Once again Annalisa goes off the reservation, forgetting she has a boss and a partner.
Schaffhausen is generous in providing her readers with multiple choices for the villain. I think I pick the wrong villain every time. The information is there, we aren’t misled, but she doesn’t give it up easily.
Annalisa remains involved with the case she had been working on with Nick, The Chicken Bandit robberies. The Chicken Bandit is escalating too. There is some slick quick thinking on Annalisa’s part when she has an unfortunate encounter with him.
Lots of slick thinking and intricate puzzles to solve; a good description of Schaffhausen's writing. Her first book pegged her as one of the most original, thoughtful and well-informed crime writers to come along. This hasn't changed with her eighth book.
From the big picture to tiny details such as the cop always gets the first ambulance over the bad guy. No matter if it’s a scratch for the cop or the head hanging off the bad guy.
Schaffhausen goes way beyond serial killers and police procedurals. Her books examine the themes of family, of trust, of love, and the mysteries of both the heart and twisted ugly minds. No easy answers provided, just chances to examine the questions. Annalisa must examine all of the questions if she is to move beyond all of the betrayal and loss in her life.
The first two Annalisa Vega books, are heavily referenced in Dead and Gone . Doesn’t matter, read them anyway. Doesn’t matter if you read this first, it works perfectly well as a standalone, it’s just that the first two are so outstanding too, they shouldn’t be missed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC).

Dead and Gone is the third book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. I have not read the prior books in the series, but I really enjoyed this one.

Annalisa Vega gets a call from Zimmerman, her boss, that she needs her to meet her for something important. Once she arrives, she sees Sam Tran’s body hanging from a tree. Zimmerman tells her that Sam was her friend and former co-worker. She wants her to work the scene and find who did this.

As Annalisa investigates, she goes to Sam's office and finds that he was hired to investigate three cold cases. As she takes a look at one of the cases Sam's phone rings, it's Annalisa's brother Vinnie, who promptly hangs up on her without answering any of her questions. When she looks again at the cases, she sees that Vinnie hired Sam to find the person who is stalking her niece. Quinn.

Annalisa is working Sam's death, Quinn's stalker, a missing woman, a double murder and the "chicken bandit" she and Nick were working on before. All in all, there are a lot of characters to keep track of while reading this story. Annalisa starts with Quinn's case first as it is more recent, and the others are over twenty years ago while trying to connect everything to Sam. I didn't find it distracting, but once in a while I had to reread something just to make sure I was following the clues.

I really liked this story; it was an intense action-packed mystery that held my attention until the very end. I hope to add the prior books to list to read in the future. Here's hoping the series is not anywhere near being completed.

Dead and Gone is book three in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. Fans will welcome this new story and those who have not read the series can start here and find out what it is about.

Ms. Vega is a Chicago police detective. Her victim is an ex-police officer who became a P.I. Is his death related to one of his cases? to the police? to Annalisa or her family? to others whom he knows?

To further complicate matters, there is a stalker on a college campus. Readers know that can’t be good. In addition, a double murder from years ago enters the picture.

Readers also delve into Annalisa’s private life and relationships. This helps to round out the story.

Dead and Gone is a good but gritty novel with a lot going on. Not for cozy fans but its audience should enjoy this title.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

Dead and Gone is the third book in the Annalisa Vega series. I am not usually a person who jumps into the middle of series so I quickly read the first two.

There is a lot going on in this one. There are three major storylines, a stalker on a college campus, a robber called the Chicken Bandit, and the murder of a private investigator, as well as two minor ones. Despite that, Joanna Schaffhausen does a great job keeping everything separate, while still creating a story that flowed and intertwined when necessary.
As with all police procedurals, I loved tagging along with the detectives while they investigated, followed clues, and came across the occasional red herrings.

Annalisa is such a strong female character. She’s smart and badass and I loved her relationship with partner/ex-husband, Nick Carelli. I just discovered this series and I really hope this book isn’t the last!

Dead & Gone proves yet again why the Detective Annalisa Vega series will remain one of my all-time must read favourites. I LOVE this series and I absolutely devoured this latest instalment in the drama (seriously, devoured - I read it in one morning without stopping once).

This series is the perfect combination of police procedural, but with characters who are the right amount of complex and human. I love Annalisa because she’s been forced to make really hard choices and because not once does she get to skate past the consequences of those choices. I love that @joannaschaffhausen writes her as a hugely competent detective, but not one that has any sort of super human policing skills that defy reality. I love that she’s written as a strong and brilliant, but still highly vulnerable woman. And I LOVVVVEEEE the twisty crimes that take you on a whirlwind ride - the way everything ties back together in the end?! Perfection. Joanna writes what can only be described as complicated crime puzzles and I have no idea how she keeps all the threads straight, but it is SO much fun unraveling the mystery as a reader.

No spoilers, but I think this may be one of my favourite crime puzzles in this series yet. It took me entirely by surprise where the story went once the first body is found. In a keep-you-glued-to-the-page and perfect pacing kind of way.

While you can read each book as a stand-alone, why would you ever want to miss getting into a series of great books?! This is book 3 and truly, I am already dying to read book 4 - I just know it’s going to be juicy.

Thank you @minotaur_books for the copy, and @joannaschaffhausen - please give us more Annalisa and Nick soon!!!

Annalisa Vega is one of my favorite characters ever and I really looked forward to this new book. I was totally thrilled with the fast-paced plot, the character development and the multiple mysteries. First, the plot was not just fast-paced but it was also layered with twists, innuendo and fake trails. Just my kind of mystery! I felt as though I got to know Annalisa better in this novel as she is facing some personal and family problems, so she is completely fleshed out, lovable and relatable. The mysteries circle around each other as Detective Vega races to find the killer of a former cop before she herself becomes another victim. There is a subplot about her niece being stalked that dovetails with the main mystery of Sam Tran’s death. The story is well-written, captivating and addictive, with the creep factor increasing as the story moves along. I enjoyed every minute I spent with this book and look forward to more of Annalisa Vega’s adventures!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Detective Annalisa Vega investigates the death of Sam Tran, a Chicago cop turned private investigator. Tran’s open cases involve cold cases (murder and disappearance) and a stalker of Vega’s niece. Did someone related to one of his cases want him dead?

I'm a big fan of this series! It just keeps getting better and better. Dead and Gone involves multiple cases with multiple suspects and a focus on Vegas’ private life — she’s partnering with Nick (her ex-husband and current boyfriend) and her family issues are at the forefront due to her niece’s stalker. The storylines are each intriguing on their own and seamlessly integrated. Plus, the personal aspects enhance (not detract from) the overall story.

I enjoyed this fast-paced, action-packed book with twists that keep you guessing. I didn’t want to put the book down. Seeing this kicka$$ female detective continue to evolve professionally and personally has made this series a must-read for me.

I’m looking forward to whatever is next for Vega!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions in this voluntary review are my own.

Detective Annalisa Vega of the Chicago Police Department has not had it easy. Two years earlier, she made a decision that infuriated her family. In addition, her ex-husband and fellow cop, Nick Carelli, wrecked their marriage with his persistent philandering. Although she has since forgiven him, she can never forget how hurt she was at the time. Now, the two are partners again, both personally and professionally.

In Joanna Schaffhausen's "Dead and Gone," Vega juggles multiple cases. First, Sam Tran, a former member of the CPD who later became a private investigator, is found hanging from a tree with a slur scrawled on his body. Who killed him and why? In addition, Vega's niece, Quinn, fears that someone is stalking her in college. It turns out that there are a number of disturbing events occurring on this campus.

"Dead and Gone" lacks much-needed character development. In addition, this confusing tale takes us down one rabbit hole after another; and by the time all the threads are tied up, Vega has improbably solved every case (including the ones Sam never completed). Unfortunately, the author relies on too many red herrings and unlikely twists and turns to propel this implausible and meandering police procedural.

Dead and Gone is book three in A Detective Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schaffhausen.
So I loved the two previous titles in this series and was so excited to jump in to start the third.
Schaffhausen has created another highly anticipated read. Y’all she didn’t disappoint either.
The suspense starts on the very first page and maintains a high level throughout.
The storytelling and writing were deliciously dark and creative.
There are multiple well-defined and extremely likable characters.
There was so many twists and turns in this book it is a wild and great ride.
I loved the mystery in this book. It was intriguing and kept me flipping the pages in my Kindle.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Detective Annalisa Vega is requested by her superior to look into Sam Tran’s death. A former Chicago policer officer turned private investigator, Sam Tran appeared to lead a very clean life and the circumstances surrounding his death have left his loved ones puzzled. Annalisa feels that maybe he got too close to finding answers in one of the cases he was investigating, and someone wanted to shut him up.

The Vega family have had their share of media attention and when Annalisa’s brother calls Sam’s phone she can’t help but wonder why. It turns out that Annalisa’s brother Vinny hired Sam to investigate whoever is stalking his daughter, Quinn.

Annalisa wants to keep her niece safe, so she starts looking into the open cases that Sam was working on. She must work fast but hopes to close cases as she goes so that she is able to rule people out and find out who is responsible for Sam’s death.

This book was a page-turner, and always kept me guessing. I tried hard to figure out the identity of Quinn’s stalker as I had liked two different suspects, but neither ended up being right. I will recommend this book to others as it always kept me guessing!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Book for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #DeadandGone

This is the third in the Detective Annalisa Vega series set in Chicago. It is a police procedural with elements of a psychological thriller.

The body of Sam Tran, an ex-policeman turned PI, is discovered and his death is ruled suspicious. Annalisa is put on the case and believes that the answer to his death will be found in one of his three open cases. Those include a double homicide from 20 years ago, a missing woman from 30 years ago, and a stalker on the campus of the college Annalisa’s niece Quinn attends. As Annalisa investigates, she is also dealing with some issues in her personal life.

With its multiple plot lines, the book is certainly action-packed. There are actually 6 investigations (Tran’s death, Tran’s three open cases, a string of robberies committed by the Chicken Bandit, and a second double homicide cold case). The stalker case becomes the focus because the danger is imminent. What is interesting is that Quinn’s point of view is given, as is that of one of the suspects. In the end, all the cases are solved though two are not entirely closed.

There are lots of red herrings and several twists. Since more than one character is in danger, tension is high. My interest was maintained throughout.

Annalisa is a likeable character. She is certainly brave and determined. Her flaw is taking risky chances; more than once she runs into situations without backup. Her renewed relationship with her ex-husband adds an interesting dimension because it comes with a couple of complications. What I appreciated is that her personal life doesn’t distract from the police procedural.

I like crime fiction which offers more than just suspense and entertainment. This book does that. Annalisa, more than once, is faced with a moral dilemma: following the rules may cause more harm than has already been experienced. There’s a particular statement that caught my attention: “How hard it was to live with a broken family. How little you could do to fix it, no matter how desperately you wanted to.” This applies to Annalisa because of her complicated relationship with her family but there are also other difficult family relationships in the novel.

The ending is a surprise though not totally unexpected considering some of Annalisa’s thoughts and feelings. She dislikes the restrictions placed on her so she can’t do what she wants to do with some cases. This ending suggests a new turn in further books in the series.

There is much to recommend this book: crisp writing, a well-crafted plot, engaging characters, and lots of suspense. Aside from a stupid assumption about the purchase of a phone and a couple of minor coincidences, there are few flaws. If you haven’t encountered Annalisa Vega, you should. And for a fuller understanding of her, start with Gone for Good and Long Gone.

I was so excited to get approved for DEAD AND GONE which is the third book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schaffhausen! I loved the first two - GONE FOR GOOD and LONG GONE and the third was no exception 👏🏻

My thoughts:
-police procedural
-invested in the characters
-several storylines happening
-straightforward writing style

While there are multiple storylines, they are all connected, not hard to follow, and come together in the end. I love having a solid series to follow where you can root for the characters and hope there will be more to come for Annalisa’s story!

Thank you Minotaur and Netgalley for the arc!

Over the course of this series, Detective Annalisa Vega has proven her worth on the force, despite being enemy number one among her peers. But is she taking on more than she can handle when she is given a case involving a former cop/current PI, Sam Tran? Probably not, Annalisa is pretty much a badass!

What makes Sam's case complicated is that there are limited clues, so Annalisa turns to his open investigations as a PI. And of course, Annalisa, being who she is, wants to solve all of them. So, we actually get 3 additional mysteries within this book (oh, and the one case Annalisa was taken off of involving a Chicken Bandit). Sometimes it got a bit confusing switching from one case to another, but one of them stood out from the rest, since it involved her niece, Quinn.

At first, Quinn is merely dealing with a stalker. Seems innocent enough. However, we get the POV of the stalker, and their intentions are far from innocent. As things escalated, I was sucked into the story and desperate for answers. The author throws around a couple of suspects to throw you off track, but my suspicions about one person were eventually confirmed.

While Annalisa once again shows how valuable she is to the force, she is much less reckless in this book than in the previous releases. She doesn't hide her whereabouts from others and is quick to ask for assistance, something she didn't always do previously. Does this keep her out of trouble? No, of course not, lol. But she is quick to get aid, putting her life at less risk, so there's that.

Given how this book ends, I'm not sure what the author intends to do. End the series or continue, as Annalisa embarks on a new road. I hope she continues, but we shall see . . .

Relentless, sinister, and intricate!

Dead and Gone is an intense, unpredictable thrill ride that takes us back to Chicago, where Detective Annalisa Vega now finds herself delving into the open cases of murdered former CPD officer turned private detective Sam Tran, which include the investigation into a missing mother from the late 1980s, a man looking for justice into the slaying of his wife and her lover, and the protection of Annalisa’s own niece who seems to have become the latest object of fascination for a stalker on her college campus.

The writing is eerie and tight. The characters are diligent, attentive, and flawed. And the plot builds quickly into an ominous tale full of twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, lies, danger, obsession, violence, mayhem, and murder.

I’ve been a huge fan of Joanna Schaffhausen since I read The Vanishing Season in 2017, and whether it’s one of her Ellery Hathaway novels or another saga in the Detective Annalisa Vega series, such as this latest release, Dead and Gone, I am always riveted, entertained, satisfied and highly impressed.

After listening to book two in this series and getting a little confused with all the characters, I decided to read this book. Great decision. I loved it. Five stars.

Again--Detective Annalisa Vega is dealing with a lot. I think it would have been too much for me to keep track of on audio. So many characters and just one narrator.

Detective Vega is assigned a new case while potentially dealing with a very personal issue between her and Nick Carelli. (her ex-husband, but partner on the force and again boyfriend.) On top of that, she is dealing with a family situation involving her niece at the local college.

There is never a dull moment in this twisty book. Just when I think I have something figured out, I realized I don't. Ah, I love it! I can't wait for more from this author!

Thank you to Minotaur Nooks and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Goodreads Giveaway, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of the latest in the wonderful Detective Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schaffhausen - 5 stars!

Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega has been assigned to investigate the death of ex-cop turned PI Sam Tran. He was found hanging from a tree with a message written across his chest sending a message to police. Annalisa begins investigating his open cases, sure that there is a link, and is surprised to see that her brother, Vinny, was one of Sam's clients. Vinny hired Sam to find a stalker on his daughter's college campus. One of Sam's open cases was a brutal double homicide from over 20 years ago. Annalisa has to figure out how all this fits together, trying to keep both her and her niece safe in the process.

This is such a fabulous series and I was thrilled to escape into this book with these characters. Certainly read the first two books first, although this could work as a stand alone as well. Annalisa has so much bad history with her family, since she turned in her dad and brother, and now her other brother plays a role in her investigations. I love the ongoing relationship with Annalisa and her ex-husband/boyfriend/coworker Nick, with a few surprises in this book in that category. There are multiple storylines of investigation and I kept turning the pages to see how it would all end up. Can't wait for the next book in this series!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book for a review.

I’m a sucker for a strong, female detective story. I’ve read all Annalisa Vega stories, and this one is just as fantastic as the two previous!

There were a lot of storylines running in this book, and while I’m happy they were all wrapped up, it felt a bit rushed towards the end to close all the loops. A small complaint really, since I loved the book overall.

I can’t wait for Book #4!

Joanna Schaffhausen is one of my must-read authors, I've read and love every book she has written! Dead and Gone is the 3rd book in the Annalisa Vega series. I highly recommend reading the first two books so you get to know the character's backstories, but I don't think it's essential to follow or enjoy this book.
Vega is a Chicago PD detective, partnered with her ex-husband on and off the clock. When private investigator and former cop Sam Tran is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Vega is pulled off a serial robbery case to investigate. Convinced Tran's death is linked to one of his open cases, Vega starts to look into them herself, surprised to learn one of them involves her own niece. The characters are nuanced and likeable, easy to invest in, and there is never a dull moment in this many-threaded mystery.