Joanna Schaffhausen has continually written fantastic under-the-radar mystery/suspense books, and she has another winner with Dead and Gone, the third book in the Annalisa Vega series. I would love to see her get more attention for her books, but it gives me the privilege of pushing them on anyone I know that loves the genre. In the latest Vega novel, Annalisa is pulled in by her boss when a former cop and current private investigator, Sam Tran, is found dead. To try and find out if someone has a motive for wanting Sam dead, not only is she investigating his death, but several cold cases he was working and an active case that quickly gets very personal - Annalisa's brother Vinny had hired Sam to find out who has been stalking his daughter Quinn on her college campus. With little to go on in the Tran case, Annalisa quickly gets herself neck deep in the case involving her niece. With the Ken doll cop on campus unenthusiastic about her investigating, and tense family dynamics, Annalisa has a tough job on her hands. Then Quinn's roommate goes missing and the suspect list begins to pile up. The primary storyline of the book is the one involving Quinn and her friends, but Schaffhausen incorporating other mysteries that need to be solved helps the reader from getting too focused on the whodunit of that particular storyline. And like her other Vega novels, several of these cases leave Annalisa in a moral conundrum, when following the rules of law doesn't always feel like the best option. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.

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.

I did it.

I have achieved what I set forth to do.

I wanted to read a book that would have me:

1. chew my fingernails down to the beds
2. hold my breath in angst
3. fear what lurks in the shadows.

I had to call my therapist after concluding Dead and Gone.

This is in no way shape or form a bad thing, the fact that this book had this much of an impact on me is still mind boggling BUT if anyone could do it, it was sure to be Joanna Schaffhausen.

I read Gone For Good and Long Gone, awhile back and right there I knew that Schaffhausen, and I had formed a "book-ship" of sorts, that would eventually escalate and lead me down a path of unwavering obsession to her books both published, and yet to be published.

Does Joanna Schaffhausen, have that effect on you too? Maybe we can start a support group!

All kidding aside, Dead and Gone, has easily snuck on in to my number one slot of most favored books.... EVER.

Teaser :

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.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC for an honest review.

Detective Annalisa Vega and her partner/ex-husband/current boyfriend, Nick Carrelli, get the case when an ex-cop, now private investigator is found dead. She finds out he was working for her brother to find out who is stalking her college student niece Quinn.

This is the third book in this series and I think it is a really solid series. I enjoy police procedurals and this was another good one from this author. I do think it is best to read these as a series. I read another of her books from a different series and I felt like I was missing something because I didn't have the characters' full back story. Anyway, this book had a lot going on and when I sort of thought I knew who was guilty there was another twist and I was wrong. Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to her next.

I love love love the Annalisa Vega series and Dead and Gone is by far the best yet!! She's not only trying to solve a murder, she finds herself also looking for a stalker and working on a cold case! So much suspense, so much excitement, I could not put this book down! Wow what a thrilling story this one was! I cannot wait to see what's next for Det Vega!!!

Dead and Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Mystery/Thriller: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5

WOW! WOW! WOW! I may just divorce my husband because he said I was reading way too much and this book…..oh this book is the one that I had to read and when I started I could not stop…nor clean the bathrooms, or cook dinner etc.

Anyway, I digress. Here we are again with our favorite protagonist Detective Annalisa Vega. And this time it is personal. I could not wait for another book written by this absolutely amazing author. Some authors have penned their skill and others it takes some time but Schaffhausen had it the first book she wrote. I know I say that some authors are in my top ten but she is my number 1 favorite.

A cop turned PI has been found hanging with a note attached to his chest. Detective Vega needs to look at his past and present cases to see if maybe he found out information that someone did not want him to find. Throw in a stalker and you have yourself one HELL of a ride. The fluidity of which she writes keeps you engrossed, engaged, and entertained. The characters are so well developed and flawed that you would think you are a part of the book’s investigation and the author takes her time to build up to an explosive ending.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers and police procedurals then you will FALL IN LOVE with this author and want to read this book immediately as I cannot see any reason that you could not start with this book as a stand-alone. But don’t take my word for it….read it yourself.


5++++ out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

A new installment of detective Annalisa Vega, and just as exciting as ever. Vega juggles her fragile family connection, her renewed relationship with her ex husband and a potential stalking of her niece. All the while Vega is tracking down the murder of an ex-cop turn local Private Investigator. As Vega attempts to close his last open cases, she gets closer and closer to the about his murder and her own beliefs.
If you like a fiesty detective, lots of family drama or just want a great procedural, Dead and Gone is for you!
#STMartinsPress #DeadandGone #JoannaSchaffhausen @Minotaur_Books

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.

<i> 3.5 rounded up </i>

<i> Phat ass trigger warning: stalking </i>

<b> SYNOPSIS </b>

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.

<b> MY OPINION </b>

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.

<b> PROS AND CONS </b>

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)

And we are back in Detective Annalisa Vega’s world, and I couldn’t have been more excited! This time, oh, who am I kidding, strike that! As always, she is up to her eyeballs with not only a murder to solve, but also a stalker, an unsolved, cold case, and her complicated relationship with her ex-husband Nick.
Annalisa is smart but boy does she know how to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s like a curse! A good one in some ways because it often leads her to being able to solve the case, but, how many times can she escape getting shot at, concussions, being held prisoner, oh, and every other imaginable thing that could possibly go wrong. I go back-and-forth trying to decide if she is really lucky or if she is cursed.Not a spoiler, but I’d say both.
I can’t think of one chapter that wasn’t action packed, and as many times, as I was like, “watch out, Annalisa”, I was also laughing at her seemingly endless antics. I don’t want to spoil the first two books if you haven’t read them yet, but her relationship with her family is oh so complicated. As for her ex-husband, that relationship has been severely tested time and time again.
I think this might’ve been my favorite book. There’s just some thing about spending years with a character that just works for me. Until we meet again( I hope).4.5 stars.

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.

Well I’ll be. The author had me doubting my own mother (& she’s been gone since 99). I thought everybody was guilty.

I love this series but this was my absolute favorite. It was so good, from the personal side to the whodunit parts. I cannot wait to see what’s up next for these characters!

I’d give Schaffhausen’s new book 10 stars!! She always keeps her readers hooked until the very end and she doesn’t waste time telling her story! Annalisa Vega and Nick Carelli return to solve multiple cases and FINALLY have a great ending to their relationship. However, a surprise ending to Vega…..can’t wait for the next book!!

This is a series I will follow to its end. A smart, savyy cop deals with her large, complicated family while solving cases with her ex-husband (ouch!) Strong plotting, good characters. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for an advance readers copy.

"Let me tell you something. I'm from Chicago. I don't break." (Barack Obama)

And neither does Detective Annalisa Vega. She's taken on the worst of the worst with the most hideous of crimes. Annalisa has stood up to her own family's questionable dynamics notably within the City With the Big Shoulders in the background. It's just who she is and continues to be.

A call comes in directing Annalisa to the Rosehill Cemetery. A homicide has taken place. Weird surroundings among the already dead. But shock awaits her as Annalisa recognizes the face of the man hanging from one of the trees. It's Sam Tran, a former police officer turned private investigator. Who would have wanted Sam dead? That remains to be seen.

The next call is personal. Quinn, Annalisa's niece, wants her to check out a situation at the university she's attending. Quinn's friend was knocked out on the way back to her dorm after a wild Halloween party. The campus police officer tells them that she must have tripped after consuming too much alcohol. Quinn doesn't believe that.

Soon Quinn begins receiving creepy texts on her phone. Someone has their sights set on Quinn. Quinn begs Annalisa not to tell her father, Vinny, who is Annalisa's brother. But knowing her tight-knit family, Annalisa's not sure how she can keep it from Vinny and at the same time protect her niece.

But it's about to get serious here when Quinn's roommate is abducted. Stuff is hittin' the fan. The campus police remind Annalisa that this is not her jurisdiction. She has Sam Tran's murder to solve. But blood is thicker than water. Annalisa finds herself in jeopardy as well as her own life.

Joanna Schaffhausen has outdone herself in Dead and Gone the third edition to this exciting series. It does read as a standalone with Schaffhausen filling in the gaps. There are no dull zones associated with this one. Schaffhausen keeps the action movin' and the questions poppin'. Who is behind all of this? The suspects ricochet left and right with the storyline being held taut throughout. It's a gem of a read. Check it out and experience crime fightin' Vega style.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to the talented Joanna Schaffhausen for the opportunity.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

I am a fan of Joanna Schaffhausen and Annalisa Vega as well :) You can totally read this as a stand alone book. While I loved that Detective Vega solved not 1 but two and then finally 4 cases, the final two seemed rushed. The rest of the story was a fast paced whodunit that had me guessing even though I thought I knew who the perp was I changed my mind a couple of times. This story would be a 4.5 stars for me.

The third in Joanna Schaffhausen's excellent Detective Annalisa Vega series has everything I admire in a mystery--a canny but flawed protagonist, a credible police procedural, memorable supporting characters, a panoply of persons of interest, a challenging romantic relationship, and surprises at the end.

In Dead and Gone, Annalisa is still feeling the effects of turning her father and brother in for a crime a number of years earlier, and it hasn't exactly made her the most popular detective in the Chicago PD. She and her ex-husband partner are investigating the hanging of a P.I. investigating several cases, when Annalisa's niece reports that her roommate is missing. Another hanging follows.

It's a convoluted story, but I didn't have trouble following the investigation and the action. It was a convincing conclusion, even though not everything turned out the way this reader would have liked. Highly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

4.5 rounded up. Both of the series this author has written have been very good. This one had a bit less emotional punch as the others but still was an interesting read. A case about a PI that was murdered opened up three cases he was working on as possible suspects. One was a case involving her niece and a stalker. The cases got more and more complicated including two very old cold cases and a side case of a masked chicken robber. The initial case got solved right at the last minute so it felt a bit rushed and not sure exactly how the conclusion was arrived at, so maybe more attention to that would have been good Overall a good police procedural with a strong heroine

Another great one by this author. I had read the others in this series, though not necessary to follow the plot and her other series. Both are excellent. This is a police procedural with ties to her family again. Troubled family relationship and troubled relationship with her ex husband/current boyfriend. twists and multiple interconnected storylines as she investigates the murder of a PI/former cop who was murdered, possibly connected to one of the three cases he was working on, two of which have family ties. She is strong, likeable heroine.

The most recent installment of the Annalisa Vega detective series is a terrific mystery and suspense novel. You don't need to read the others in the series to enjoy this one. The author gives us several plot lines happening which all converge in the end. The characters are engaging with non stop action.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would read others by this author!