Annalisa Vega has a lot on her plate - a strained relationship with her family, an intense relationship with her ex-husband, and a murder of an ex-police officer turned PI who was her Captains dear friend. A simple case keeps evolving as Annalisa looks into his open cases. And, then there's the situation with her college-aged niece. Be prepared to stay up late as Dead and Gone is flippin' fantastic! So many twists, turns, and "huhs"! Joanna Schaffhausen has such a wonderful character on her hands... and considering where she left her, I can't wait for the next Annalisa Vega book! A great big thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

I wish I were more like Annalisa Vega. Which Annalisa Vega would hate. I was absolutely so excited to be able to pre-read this next installment of the Vega series, Joanna has wonderfully created a multitude of crimes and cases within Dead and Gone, and seamlessly wove them all together in the end, showing how they're all connected to each other. It will have you guessing until the very end. Job Well done.

#DeadandGone
#NetGalley
Let me just say that I am a little biased in my reviews of this author. Her books are fast-paced and page-turners. If you haven't read Joanna Schaffhausen then you are missing out. She has different series and everything she writes is a suspenseful adventure.

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.

Book Title: Dead and Gone
Series: Detective Annalisa Vega #3
Author: Joanna Schaffhausen
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press- Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: August 8, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars

This is my sixth novel by author, Joanna Schaffhausen and the third Detective Annalisa Vega.
In "Gone for Good" which was first in this series, we know Annalisa is a gifted police officer and the daughter of an ex police officer. However, Annalisa is well known for being the daughter who turned in her father for his role in a murder.

Annalisa and her ex-husband, Nick Carelli are working on a case when Annalisa is pulled to investigate another case.
When Annalisa arrives on the scene she finds Sam Tran an ex-Chicago Officer and now a licensed PI 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 and wonders if this is current or when Sam was a police officer.
She hears the cell in his pocket ringing and discovers her brother Vinny is on the other end of the line. Vinny had hired Sam to look into a stalker that was on the college campus where his daughter Quinn is a student.
There is a lot going on in this story; including what is going on with Annalisa and Nick
So hold on ~ the ride has just begun!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 8, 2023

Engrossing and full of twists. I love Annalisa and her determination. There are several cases involved in this one. I admit I'm still not a Nick fan and this one set that in stone for me. The mysteries are what drove this story for me. There were so many shocking reveals. I had to read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. It was worth the lack of sleep!

I love Joanna Schaffhausen's books, and this one of her best. The book was full of twists and surprises. Every time I thought "Oh, I know who did it," I was wrong. That rarely happens, but I love when it does. I just hope this series keeps going.

I absolutely love Schaffhausen's stories! Both of her series are favorites of mine, and I'm really enjoying watching the characters develop along the way. Her ability to blend long-term character and world development with individualized cases and plot lines in each book is one of her great strengths, and it's in plentiful evidence here. The writing is crisp and engaging and the characters are delightful. This was a great read!

Dead and Gone is book 3 in the Annalisa Vega series. Vega, along with her partner and ex-husband Nick Carrelli, investigate the murder of Sam Tran. Tran was a PI and former cop who was investigating a college campus stalking case at the college where Vega's niece Quinn is a student. Vega and Carelli are also working a serial robbery case known as the Masked Chicken Bandit. As the story unwinds, there is a lot going on with the investigation for Vega personally and professionally. Lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. Schaffhausen does in a great job with the psychological thriller and keep the reader on the edge until the end.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a read! A rollercoaster of twists and turns and terror. I loved the characters, the plot was incredible and the flow was perfect. This had moments of pure terror you don’t see coming. A great late night read guarantees to give you chills. I loved the stories within the story, it works in this book. An incredible page turner! Must read

I greatly appreciate the opportunity provided by NetGalley to review the next title in the Annalisa Vega series from Joanna Schaffhausen.

Once again, Vega finds herself involved in challenging cases, ones in which obstruction and time make finding those responsible difficult. In true Vega form, she investigates thoroughly and almost gets killed doing it.

As with the other titles on the series, I enjoyed this very much and am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Do you prefer pointed plots or ones with lots of things going on?

For me I like a few things going on but when you get to too many things – I get confused. With my general state of mind being confused, I try to read things that don’t confuse me lol. This one while it had a lot going on it was done nicely.

This is the third book in the Annalisa Vega series. In this book we find Detective Annalisa trying to track down what happened to private investigator Sam Tran. Annalisa suspects that the answer is hidden in one of Tran’s cases and goes digging. Turns out that her brother was one of Sam’s clients. He hired him to find a dangerous stalker on his daughters college campus. To protects her niece Annalisa tracks Sam’s steps backwards and stumbles upon a brutal homicide. Now with the stakes high, Annalisa must act fast, because the murder is still out there and time is running out.

I love a good police procedural thriller every once in a while and this one delivered! It was engaging and held my interest the entire time. There was a lot going on with this one, lots of twists and turns, but it all came together and worked nicely. I would classify this one more as a mystery versus a thriller, and yes I think there is a distinction. But either way it was a great read. This book also made me interested in reading the first two of the series – she had to put her dad away for being a corrupt cop! What! Sign me up.

This one is out August 8th!

Annalisa Vega is back with several unsolved cases. There’s a dead ex-cop found hanging from a tree, there’s a “chicken bandit” robbing convenience stores, and her niece has a stalker. Of course, Annalisa is in the middle of it all as an investigator and a victim. Annalisa’s family and her partner/ ex-husband play a big part in the story too. This is definitely part of the series and not recommended as a stand alone. This book was non-stop, and not necessarily in a good way. There was way too much going on. All of the cases mentioned above had several characters involved and many red herrings but they were all predictable and of course all wrapped up in a bow. On top of all of the cases Annalisa had a lot going on in her personal life with the fallout from her family from previous books including her ex-husband’s previous cheating. The character development from the previous two books in the series are the only reason to try read this installment. The plot is all over the place, but coming back to these characters was almost worth it.

Great mystery/thriller. This kept me guessing. I loved the family angle as well. I definitely recommend this book and I believe I have a new series to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an uncorrected exercise in exchange for an unbiased review.

Incredible. I was so impressed. There was so much that happened throughout the story. I couldn’t put it down. I can not wait to get a physical copy and read the ones in the series before.

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 was a great, twisty read! I love this series and I hope anyone who's in the mood for a mystery gives Detective Vega a try!

This is the third book in the Annalisa Vega series, I have read and reviewed the previous two, although I think you could read any as a standalone. Annalisa is called to the scene of a man found hanging in a cemetery, he has a word on his chest that suggests the person that did him in has an issue with the police, the dead man is Sam Tran a former policeman and current PI. Annalisa investigates the files he was working on prior to his death, one of which involves a stalker at the college her niece is attending, which means she has to talk to her brother, Vinny. Annalisa has a complicated family history, she turned in her father, an ex cop, for covering up a murder, something her family has not forgiven her for. In addition to the campus stalker, Sam was looking into a case from 20 years ago that involved the murder of two people that were having an affair, and the disappearance of a woman who her daughter believes would not have left her. And if that wasn't enough, she also has to deal with a case she was working on, the Chicken Bandit, so nicknamed because the perp wears a chicken mask during robberies. Overall a lot of balls in the air which Annalisa and her ex-hubby and current boyfriend Nick, deal with to the end. I would highly recommend this series, Annalisa is one tough lady. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur for the ARC.

Annalisa Vega is back on track but first she must open one of 3 past cases to uncover a serial killer!
Vinny Vega (Annalise's bro) hired Sam Tran to find a stalker on his daughter's campus.
She was working on a few robberies by a 'Masked Chicken Man' when she's pulled off to work this one.
It's not long before we learn her former partner is found hanging with the word P for Pig written on him.
Several clues are then addressed including her niece Quinn that clearly hits home. Another involves a couple from a hotel and lastly a missing woman from years earlier.
So, which one might be our killer?
Annalisa has her hands full with 4 open cases and the previous robberies with everything on the line including a renewed examination of her former relationship with her ex-spouse Nick.
Tons of suspense, intrigue, and mystery surround the use of syringes and Black Cat/Gorilla suits.
Were these murders meant as scare tactics to silence others?
Could this be a case of mistaken identity or perhaps these weren't murders after all but suicides?
The million dollar question to now uncover is who killed Sam? Or, at the very least what happened to Sam Tran?
This was quite the treat to read and I hope it goes off into book world with gusto.
Thank you to Joanna Schaffhausen, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Detective Annalisa Vega, having solved an intense serial murder case, is working on a series of robberies committee by a man in a chicken mask when her boss puts her on a new case. A PI, who is a former cop and partner of Annalisa's commanding officer, is found hanging from a tree with the word "pig" written on his body. During the investigation, Annalisa finds possible clues in the PI's active cases, one of which involves her niece, Quinn, and a possible stalker. Another case is the search for the murderer of a local couple in a hotel years ago, along with the search for a woman who disappeared decades ago. In essence, Annalisa is juggling 4 cases, and still gets involved with the Chicken robberies. She also is struggling to make sense of her renewed relation with Nick, her ex-husband and partner. It is a compelling read with a surprise ending. I hope this isn't the last Annalisa Vega book.