Annalisa’s life is a bit complicated. Her persistence in an earlier case resulted in the arrest of her brother who is still incarcerated. She has left the police department where her ex and now current husband, Nick, was her partner to open her own PI business and she is pregnant with their first child.

Her brother reaches out to her to take the case of a fellow inmate, Joe, convicted of a murder that he insists he didn’t commit and supports his assertion with a letter he received claiming the eyewitness to the killing lied. To further muddle the situation, her husband was the arresting officer.

As she unravels the tangled web of Joe’s history, similar murders are discovered and a missing person is somehow involved. Annalisa’s unwavering determination to uncover the truth puts her relationship with Nick at risk.

Joanna Schaffhausen has become one of my favorite writers. Well written, this was a great read. There is an intriguing plot and strong character development. The suspenseful and engrossing narrative keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Annalisa is a strong female protagonist, laser-focused on finding the truth, even if it strains her relationship with family members.

The fifth in this series, this would work well as a standalone. Schaffhausen provides valuable background information that enhances the reader’s understanding of the story. If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out the first four installments, as well as the author’s Ellery Hathaway series.


Trigger Warnings: Domestic and child abuse (non graphic).

Annalisa is a private investigator who, until this point, has received a number of dead end cases thanks to her father who is trying to keep her busy while she awaits the birth of her first child. She finally catches a break with an interesting case brought to her by her brother who is behind bars. His inmate friend asks for her help to figure out who really committed the murder in the case that resulted in his imprisonment.

As Annalisa unravels the mystery, she realizes that her husband was the detective on the case and that he inadvertently missed some of the most crucial leads and pieces of evidence. In a balancing act between not wanting to step on his toes and still find justice, Annalisa works diligently to seek justice for the victims.

I enjoyed this ARC! This was my first book that I’ve read by Joanna Schaffhausen and I’m definitely going to check out more of her books after this read! Despite it being the fifth installment of the Annalisa Vega series, I didn’t feel as though I was missing any key elements to the plot by not having read the first books in the series which is always a plus to me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Joanna Schaffhausen and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review! You can find Gone in the Night on shelves near you on its pub date of August 12th, 2025.

#netgalley #goneinthenight #joannaschaffhausen #2025reads #ARCreader #mystery #thriller

4 private investigator stars

In the fifth installment of this series, we find Annalisa Vega still running her private investigation business and pregnant. Her cases are pretty light, and surprisingly, her brother finds her a new case from prison.

I appreciate that Schaffhausen has good story continuity with this series, and no miracle evidence has emerged to get her brother out of jail. That continues to be a sore spot with her family and hasn’t been forgotten as the series continues.

Joe Green, currently behind bars for murder, says he’s innocent and wants Annalisa to help prove it. The eyewitness testimony now appears shaky, and this could be a problem because this was Annalisa’s husband Nick’s case. Will this look like Annalisa is trying to outsmart her husband?

Joe is certainly no saint, but is he guilty of murder? People in his past don’t have nice things to say about him! And where is his first wife?

Annalisa and Nick interview staff at the local domestic violence shelter as more murders pile up. Could they somehow all be connected? Is there a serial killer operating? This one had some good twists, and I did not predict the ending!

I worried for Annalisa since she was pregnant and in some dangerous situations. Nick and Annalisa unofficially teamed up on this one, and I hoped they would make it through unscathed. I think they deserve some time off to enjoy a new baby!

Detective Annalisa Vega #5
Gone in the Night by Joanna Schaffhausen

Long ago Nick made several big mistakes but his mistakes usually aren't work related. It doesn't help Nick that his wife shows him up more often than not. She is always getting to say "I told you so". The one thing Nick really prides himself on is being a stickler for following the rules at work even if he's thrown rules of his private life out the window in the past. But this is now and Nick is living his best self with Annalisa and things are going pretty good. A baby is coming and that means so much to both of them.

Now Annalisa's estranged brother, a brother who is in prison for murder, wants to talk to her. He wants her to investigate a case where he thinks the wrong guy was put in prison and the person who put that guy there is Nick. How to make a mess of one's marriage? Start investigating a case that might mean exposing your husband as making a huge mistake long ago. Does Annalisa always have to be right when her marriage is at stake?

It's bad enough that the past will always haunt the marriage of Annalisa and Nick. Now there is even a scene that makes me wonder how Annalisa can ever think of staying with Nick. Has he never really been worth giving a second chance? This story deals with domestic abuse and the dangers of a woman trying to get help. But also there might be a serial killer of men out that and Nick could be on the list of targets. Annalisa and Nick never seem to take the easy path and it's going to be interesting watching them going forward, especially when a baby is added to this opinionated mix.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Joanna Schaffhausen has become one of my favorite authors. Her books are interesting from the start and filled with action and twists throughout. Gone in the Night continues that legacy. This is the fifth book in the author’s Detective Annalisa Vega series. Although it is helpful, reading Schaffhausen’s first four books in the series are not necessary to enjoy her latest novel. I have truly enjoyed each book and they just keep getting better!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

I LOVE this series! Schaffhausen has done such a fabulous job crafting a collective of characters that are engaging, flawed, deeply relatable, and constantly evolving. Each book sees the relationships deepen as the characters develop individually. Pair that with engaging mysteries, a mix of cold and "live" cases in each story, and marvelous pacing and the result is nothing short of magical. I love the writing, the characterizations, and the world in which Anna and Carelli ply their trade. I like that they make mistakes and learn from them - but still make new mistakes each book. It makes the people and situations they find themselves in not only relatable but fully three dimensional. It's a fabulous series and I hope she keeps writing books in it for a long time to come!

Gone in the Night is the latest addition to Joanna Schaffhausen’s Annalisa Vega series, and it has all of the interesting twists, evolving mysteries and occasional moments of danger you can expect from one of her stories. Unlike some of the previous books that feature two different mysteries at the same time that get almost equal attention, the secondary mystery in this book is very much secondary, the full focus being put on a case Annalisa dumps in her lap that he knows will likely cause problems between her and her husband Nick. Annalisa’s brother thinks his fellow inmate and former lawn man to the Vega family is innocent of the crime he was convicted of, a crime that Nick was the lead investigator on. Some digging by a very pregnant Annalisa leads her to the same conclusion, finally giving her a case to work when her expectant status has scared everyone else off. Not surprisingly, it turns into so much more than who killed Cyrus Merriman if Joe Green didn’t, because a mark left on bodies that have washed up over time from Lake Michigan indicates that they likely have a serial killer on their hands. To make it even more complicated, the victims were all men who had a history of abusing women, and who really wants to punish the vigilante who’s doing what we all wish we could do. Annalisa and Nick are convinced there’s a connection to Ruby’s Place, a domestic violence shelter for women and children, but just how so will be a surprise to them and the reader. I won’t lie that I was hoping for more out of the second mystery in this book (but maybe Schaffhausen is reminding us that some mysteries really are that straightforward) but the way the main story plays out makes this more than worth reading. I continue to be impressed with how Schaffhausen comes up with different twists and stories that always seem fresh and compelling and yet still different from her previous books. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my introduction to Annalisa Vega and I am ready for more.

I found the story to be woven and converging at so many different points, all leading up to an unnerving reveal at the end.

Annalisa is asked by her brother to help a former inmate who may be inside for a crime he didn't commit. It was interesting how she navigated trying to uncover information without making it seem as if her husband had made mistakes. Finding evidence years later can be complicated, especially as new information is exposed that casts the victim in a different light, and creates an entirely different direction for the case along with many other suspects.

So many themes were explored, domestic violence, grooming, and how someone becomes a vigilante. In addition there are themes of guilt, regret and broken trust.

I really enjoyed this book because the characters were not perfect people, but people dealing with choices, regrets and trauma. It also offers a lot of twists and turns, and good detective work.

I liked it so much, I can't wait to go back and read others in the series.

Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review the book and offer my thoughts!

I am enjoying this series. Likeable characters, interesting moral dilemmas and interesting and warm family relationships. The writing style is easy to read and get involved with. 4.5

I think my students will like this one, and there are a lot of discussions to be had about who gets justice and when, ie after someone is hurt or murdered, domestic abuse, abuse of children and how it shapes people lives. Easy to read style of writing and while part of a series is fine to read on it's own

First I want to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book before it is released.

I do want to recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, with a what’s going to happen next vibe.

This book had me on the edge of my seat for the longest time. However, the last few chapters I felt it was predictable, and was able to figure out what was going to happen. Overall though, it was a good book and I didn’t want to put it down. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’m going to leave it how it is. But this book was great!

Very twisty and an entangled mess that really does get clear by the end. Tightly written with well developed characters and intense world building. Want to read more from this author!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Aug 12, 2025
#GoneInTheNight by @joannaschaffhausen #DetectiveAnnalisaVegaBk5@stmartinspress #lies @minotaur_books #CrimeFiction #angst #thriller #suspense #secrets #excop #familydynamic #privateInvestigator #relationshipIssues

Very enjoyable. Great writing, great plot, great characters. Everything a reader could wish for! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Another really good book in this series! The story has lots of twists and turns, right up until the case is solved. And then it has an extra little mystery to be solved. And a new baby. Bonus! I hope there are more books in this series.

this book is a tense, intricately woven mystery that tests the boundaries of family loyalty, justice, and trust. Detective Annalisa Vega, already torn by her brother’s past actions, reluctantly investigates a case that could either exonerate or convict an inmate—and complicate her marriage in the process. With a gripping pace and dark secrets emerging at every turn, this novel keeps readers guessing until the very end, challenging Annalisa’s resolve and her sense of what’s right.

One of my favorite series,is the Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schaffhausen . This latest installment did not disappoint. While visiting her brother in prison, he introduced her to another inmate, who claims he is innocent and wants Annalisa to investigate his case. The problem is her husband Nick was the detective who brought the evidence against him that send him to prison. I love this series and Gone in the Night is another great addition to it. Thanks to St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this arc.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing the copy of Gone In The Night by Joanna Schaffhausen. Annalisa is a former police officer turned private investigator. Schaffhausen always does an amazing job of drawing three-dimensional characters and I love seeing them grow and change over the course of the series. Annalisa’s relationship with her brother Alex is still strained, but she visits him in prison, which leads to her next case, investigating a possible wrongful incarceration. Unfortunately, the case had been first handled by her husband Nick. More murders follow and Annalisa once has to decide again how important the truth is if it hurts people. Don’t miss this amazon series! 5 stars

Rounded up, but still.
What's interesting here is that I'm so ridiculously enamored with the little sub-mystery that I kind of breezed over the big grim one. I mean, the little one was basically rich people Mayberry, so perhaps that explains the charm.

Annalise Vega is pregnant and her PI business is suffering. When she visits her brother in prison, he introduces her to an inmate who insists he is innocent and convinces Vega to look into it. She’s faced with yet another family conflict when it turns out her husband was the detective on her new clients case. The moral conflicts as well as the mystery and suspense make these books a compelling read.

This is the fifth book in the Annalisa Vega series and though I would certainly recommend reading the previous, I think you could read this as a standalone. Annalisa, who was responsible for her brother being in jail, has received a request from him to visit, he has something he wants to talk to her about. Annalisa agrees, and he introduces her to a fellow inmate that claims he's innocent and has proof, Joe Green provides his proof and asks her to investigate, though she's no longer with the police, she does run a private investigation firm and could really use the money. Around the same time, she's also asked to investigate the disappearance of a ring that an elderly lady is convinced has been taken by one of her fellow card players, she wants it found and returned quietly. Annalisa quickly finds that the investigation into the murder Joe was convicted of has a number of errors during the investigation which was done by her husband Nick, who still works on the force. The errors are enough to get Joe released from prison and Nick is tasked with re investigating. I really like this series Annalisa is someone who doesn't care what others think, her only concern is finding the truth no matter the consequences. Overall a very good, twisty story, and I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur Books for the ARC.