This is such a good series! Annalisa has left the police department and has started a private investigation business. Business has been slow lately - not many people want to hire a pregnant investigator. When her brother asks her to look into the case of a fellow inmate who claims he was convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, she reluctantly agrees. The murder case was one of Nick’s and her investigation could create problems in their personal life.

The story is fast paced, twisty and suspenseful . The investigation shines a light on domestic violence and how so often the system fails the victims. Even though there are no graphic descriptions of abuse, some may find the subject matter uncomfortable. Each of the books in this series can easily be read as a standalone, but to really understand Annalisa’s moral compass, her relationship with Nick and how her actions have impacted her family, it’s best to immerse yourself in the series from the beginning.

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

Annalisa Vega has left the Chicago PD and started her own PI firm. Business is slow and her father is sending her ridiculous cases involving lost cats, so she is surprised when her brother, who is incarcerated for a crime she locked him up for, summons her to the prison and tells her that a fellow inmate, Joe Green, isn't guilty and there is new proof. Annalisa's husband Nick is the cop that but Joe Green away years ago but Annalisa can't ignore the new proof and investigates.

I like this series and this was another good installment. My only complaint is that I had a hard time keeping the women running the woman's shelter straight in the beginning. Otherwise, it was a good mystery that wrapped up well. I look forward to more of this series.

GONE IN THE NIGHT is the fifth installment in the Annalisa Vega series, featuring the former police detective turned private investigator. Pregnant Annalisa Vega visits her brother in prison, who introduces her to Joe Green, a fellow inmate claiming innocence in the murder of his wife’s lawyer. She soon discovers her husband Nick made the arrest, the key witness is lying, and they may be facing a serial killer.

This novel is a sharp thriller, packed with twists, turns, deceit, and secrets, plus a dash of revenge. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! The narrative tackles challenging subjects, the characters are distinctive, and the setting is memorable, all culminating in a satisfying conclusion. This is the second book I've read in the series, and I plan to read the first three. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. I also appreciate Joanna Schaffhausen for this riveting read; I look forward to exploring your other books!

I'm a big fan of the Detective Annalisa Vega series. This time around she's a private investigator and her brother has asked her to look into a case that her now husband Nick investigated years earlier. Is the man convicted on this case innocent? I love how Schaffhausen puts Annalisa in these difficult situations where she's ultimately testing her loyalty between the truth and the important people in her life. Still all the great characters with great backstories, awesome writing and intriguing storylines make this series a must read.

In this latest installment, we join Annalisa as she navigates the complexities of her personal and professional life. With her private investigation business in a lull and the impending arrival of her baby, she receives an unexpected request from her estranged brother, Alex. He wants her to dig into the case of Joe Green, a fellow inmate and former neighbor, who may have been wrongfully convicted. To add to the intrigue, this case is linked to one of her husband Nick’s old murder investigations. Did Nick miss something crucial?

What I loved most about this book is the dynamic between Annalisa and Nick as they team up once again. Their partnership adds an engaging layer to the investigation, which is rife with secrets and surprising twists. Annalisa’s relentless pursuit of the truth puts her relationship with Nick on shaky ground, but their bond ultimately strengthens as they confront a dangerous serial killer lurking in the shadows.

This story beautifully ties back to the beginning of their journey, showcasing the evolution of Annalisa and Nick’s relationship as they prepare for their new chapter as parents. Additionally, we see intriguing developments in Annalisa’s complicated family dynamics that add depth to the plot.

If you’re a fan of thrilling mysteries filled with suspense and compelling characters, you’ll enjoy Gone in the Night which can be read as a standalone. I can’t wait to see where Annalisa’s journey takes her next!

In her fifth Annalisa Vega novel, Joanna Schaffhausen delivers a layered crime thriller that keeps you turning pages. When Joe Green—a fellow inmate of Annalisa’s brother—claims wrongful conviction, Annalisa steps in, even as the man behind the arrest is her estranged husband, Detective Nick Carelli. Their investigation threads through a women’s shelter, a mysterious missing ring, and shocking murders linked by a chilling symbol, all building to an intricate, suspense-filled narrative.

Annalisa stands out as a compelling protagonist—intelligent, fearless, relatable, and pregnant, she carries her personal and ethical conflicts with depth as she balances marriage, family guilt, and the search for justice.

While the multiple plotlines weave a rich tapestry, some readers felt the dream logic device fell a bit flat, and a secondary subplot (a missing engagement ring) occasionally felt tacked on. Still, these quibbles don’t overshadow the strong pacing and layered storytelling that make the ride worthwhile.

Strengths: A smart, driven heroine; morally complex relationships; intense procedural suspense.

Small Weaknesses: Slight reliance on surreal dream sequences; one subplot feels a bit extraneous.
This mystery is a standout in the Annalisa Vega series—gripping enough to read solo, but even richer when experienced following her earlier investigations.

TW: Domestic abuse, Child Sexual Abuse

"Gone in the Night” is Joanna Schaffhausen’s fifth installment in her Detective Annalisa Vega series. You can read this as a stand alone, but since I am in love with Annalisa and Joanna Schaffhausen, I highly encourage you to read all in the "gone" series.

At the request of Alex, Annalisa’s brother, whom she put in prison, she goes to visit him. Turns out he might have a case for her about someone who was wrongfully convicted of murder. The kicker, her husband Nick was the investigator. Talk about awkward. Did I mention, Annalisa is pregnant, and her dad is trying to get her PI business some work by making up cases.

The story is handled delicately, and revolves around women and children who have been abused and a shelter that tries to help them. There is a small parallel story as well. Not sure if those characters will show up in another book or not.

A solid 4.5 stars from me. It is a layered and nuanced book that you will enjoy.

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #GoneInTheNight for my ARC. The views are my own

Gone in the Night is the 5th book in Joanna Schaffhausen's exciting mystery series Detective Annalisa Vega. I've read all of the series except for book 2 (which I have, but I haven't had time to catch up yet, darn it), and each mystery stands alone. However, you will get more out of the series if you've followed the progression of Annalisa's relationships with her family and her husband Nick. I really enjoyed all of the books I read, but I loved this one! It's my favorite to date.

Former Detective (now PI) Annalisa Vega turned her brother Alex in for his role in a murder and hasn't forgiven him. Alex hasn't forgiven her either for turning him in, so she's very surprised when he requests that she visit him in prison. He may have a case for her: One of his fellow inmates, Joe Green, may be innocent of the murder that put him in prison. Joe's doing hard time for killing his ex-wife's lawyer. However, an anonymous letter sent to him in prison warns that the eyewitness in his trial made up her story. Being heavily pregnant and her private investigation business foundering, Annalisa takes on Joe's case. There are two problems, though. The eyewitness definitely lied about what she saw, and Annalisa's husband Nick was the one who arrested Joe for the murder. Faced with correcting Nick's mistakes, she discovers Joe has two ex-wives who have nothing good to say about him. They may have planned a frame up to put him in prison, but one of those women has completely disappeared. Did Joe kill her, or is he the actual victim? Annalisa's search for the truth tests the bonds of her family and marriage. Meanwhile, a killer has been sending men to their deaths in Lake Michigan. If she does't figure out the truth about Joe, Nick may be next.

All of the books that I've read in this series have been great and I thoroughly enjoyed them, but this volume was excellent! The mysteries have all been exciting, but it's the dynamics between Annalisa and her family and Nick that interest me the most, and we had all kinds of conflict here that Annalisa had to navigate through. Could you put your brother away for murder? She could, because truth and justice are extremely important to her. Her relationship with Nick has been very difficult in the past; he cheated on her - a lot - but they've gotten past that. Annalisa and Nick remarried, and they have a baby on the way. Of course, though, in Annalisa's world there's a new issue that may affect their marriage: Nick made a number of mistakes in his investigation in of Joe Green, and Annalisa is trying to correct them. That doesn't go over very well with Nick! Like most of us, he does't like to be told that he did something wrong. Also, his co-workers at the Chicago Police Department are busting his chops about his wife having to fix things. At one point, I was aghast at the situation that involved the two of them, and I almost turned off my Kindle! But I persevered; I had to follow through! Much of the book revolved around Ruby's Place, a refuge for abused women and their children. Domestic abuse may be a trigger warning for some. What did employees Charlotte, Layla and Karma have to do with Joe Green? Who is killing men in Lake Michigan? The answers will blow you away! There was a side story involving Annalisa's PI job involving finding an old woman's lost ring. It lightened the dark investigation involving Joe Green. Returning characters included Annalisa's brother Alex, his ex-wife Sassy, Nick's daughter Cassidy from a former relationship, Annalisa's parents, and my favorite supporting character, Jack the kitten, who was getting upset his people were not making "sufficient laps" for his comfort! The story was thrilling, but relationships are what made this book so exciting! I hope there are many more books to come in this series.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's Minotaur for allowing me this arc to review.

Annalise Vega goes to see her brother Alex, who she put in prison, and is convinced by him to take on a case of an inmate he knows, Joe Green, who thinks he was set up for a murder he didn't commit. Another part of the story is the murder of Cyrus Merriman, a lawyer. These 2 things leads Annaliese to a women's shelter and a bunch of vigilante women whom experienced domestic violence which plays a major part in the story and solves a past kidnapping linking in.

I like the way the story focused attention on domestic violence but may trigger some. Good book with many twists

This is the fifth book in the Annalisa Vega series which I’ve enjoyed from the beginning.

Having left the police department, Annalisa is now a private investigator. Unfortunately, her business has been floundering, so when her brother Alex introduces her to Joe Green, a fellow inmate, who claims he is innocent of the murder of which he was convicted, she reluctantly decides to investigate. She does discover that an eyewitness may have lied at Joe’s trial, but she also finds some unsettling information about Joe. Her investigation leads her to a shelter for women and children fleeing abuse where the staff seems to know more about Joe than they’re admitting. Then more bodies are discovered which suggest the work of a serial killer. The other major complication is that Nick Carelli, Annalisa’s husband, was the lead detective in the case against Joe so she fears the strain her sleuthing might have on their relationship.

One of the appeals of this series is the character of the protagonist. Annalisa is definitely a strong female character. She is intelligent, thorough, fearless, and relentless in her pursuit of justice. She is not perfect however so she is relatable. As in the previous installments, there are personal struggles in her life. She still feels guilty about being responsible for her brother’s incarceration and worries about discrediting Nick and the effect that might have on their relationship, especially because she is in the late stages of pregnancy.

The plot is intricate with many layers and twists. I did predict some of the twists but not others. The one element I did not like is the recurring dream that helps Annalisa solve part of the case; for me, such surrealism does not ring true. The second case Annalisa investigates, that of a missing engagement ring, feels forced and superfluous, though it does lighten the tone since the Joe Green case certainly has no lighthearted moments.

There is a large cast of characters so I occasionally experienced some difficulty in remembering the connections. It was not a case of remembering who was who but how they came to be in each other’s orbit. Chance and coincidence certainly seem to play a role in bringing some of those people together.

As with the other novels in the series, I enjoyed this one. It’s an intriguing mix of police procedural, mystery, and family drama. A number of characters face moral dilemmas as well so readers will find themselves wondering what they would do in similar situations.

The ending suggests that this could be the end of the Annalisa Vega series. I hope not because all the books are good. This book can be read as a standalone, but why not treat yourself to the entire series beginning with Gone for Good and continuing with Long Gone, Dead and Gone, and All the Way Gone before reading this one, Gone in the Night.

Annalisa Vega is a private investigator who used to be a police officer. She is on her second marriage to the same man, Nick Carelli, who is a police detective. Her business is not doing well, partly because potential clients don't want to hire a very pregnant woman. Her brother, who is in jail for murder (she helped put him there), has asked her to investigate the case of another inmate. He believes the man - Joe Green - may be innocent of the crime he was accused of.

This book is mostly about crimes against women and children and includes the disappearance of a young girl marching in a parade decades ago. I didn't see how it would all fit together, but Annalisa Vega puts the puzzle pieces together by the end. I am planning on re-reading this book to pick up on all the clues I missed the first time around.

I received an e-arc from the publisher St. Martin's Press, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

This case hits entirely too close to home

PI Annalisa Vega's life is already pretty complicated. She is trying to keep her business afloat, not easy when she is currently quite pregnant and prospective clients see her physical condition and assume she can't do whatever it is they need doing. She's married for the second time to Chicago police detective Nick Carelli...the first time around didn't stick but they're doing pretty well now. Oh, and she was responsible for putting her favorite brother Alex behind bars for murder, for which she still feels guilty despite knowing in her heart she had had no choice but to do it. When Alex asks to see her in prison she makes the trip to the correctional center, curious as to what he could want. He tells her a fellow inmate named Joe Green, someone who had done work for her family years earlier, is imprisoned with him for murder but has something close to proof that he is innocent of the crime. Alex wants Annalise to look into it, but there's a catch...if Joe is actually innocent, it means that the cop in charge of the investigation into the murder messed up. The cop in question is, of course, Nick Carelli. Knowing that taking the case might cause a strain in her marriage but acknowledging that her code of ethics won't let her ignore it, she starts digging in to Joe's case. What she finds includes two ex-wives who might have had reason to want Joe behind bars, a refuge for abused women, connections to a decades-old kidnapping case, and a killer who targets abusive men...someone who might turn their sights on Nick if Annalisa doesn't get to the truth first.
Gone in the Night is the fifth book in the Annalisa Vega series, and is a fast paced thriller which tackles some ugly topics as well as the dynamics of a family that has weathered challenging times. Annalisa is a strong female lead, a tough woman with a firm moral compass that guides her actions. Her relationship with Nick and with her family, including her parents and Alex's ex-wife, is portrayed with nuance and both are affected by the mounting tension that her new investigation triggers. The commentary on the plight of abused women and the imperfect system that does not always deliver justice to them is brutally honest; anyone who might find this unsettling should keep it in mind when deciding whether or not to read the book. The story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me turning the pages until the very end, an entertaining and intense tale with a good blend of character and plot. Readers of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter and Sara Paretsky should pick up a copy and add it to their TBR pile; if they've read the earlier installments in the series that's great, but the book can be easily enjoyed as a standalone. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to Gone in the Night in exchange for my honest review.

Gone in the Night is book 5 in the Detective Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schaffhausen. This book is a twisty thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end! I loved reading and trying to guess who did it. This series just gets better and better. Annalisa's brother has requested to see her in jail even though he hasn't forgiven her for turning him in. Annalisa is shocked at the request, but decides to go see him. Alex doesn't want to see her for him, he wants to tell Annalisa about an inmate. Joe Green is serving a sentence for killing his ex-wife's lawyer, but he got a letter saying that the eyewitness to his supposed murder, had lied. The letter way anonymous, but someone out there knew the truth.

Annalisa is now a private investigator and business hasn't been great with her being very pregnant. Annalisa decides to look into the case after speaking with Joe. As Annalisa is investigating, she finds out that the eyewitness definitely lied, and that's the main reason that Joe was found guilty.. Unfortunately, she finds out that the arresting officer was her husband, Nick. Will Nick understand her re-opening one of his old cases and questioning what he did? Annalisa decides to take the case and go through Nick's old investigation piece by piece. While she turns up some new twists in the case, Nick is busy working a current case in which men are being killed and thrown into Lake Michigan. Is Joe really innocent? Did his ex-wives scheme to put him away? This case will test Nick and Annalisa's marriage in ways that no other case has. Will the marriage survive this case? I rate Gone in the Night 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I don't want to say much more to give any part of the story away, because there are things you won't see coming. Gone in the Night can be read as a standalone if you haven't read others in the series. Gone in the Night is out now and should not be missed! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of Gone in the Night in exchange for a fair review. #GoneInTheNight

Gone in the Night
Joanna Schaffhausen
Detective Annalisa Vega #5
OUT NOW by Minotaur Books
320 pages

"Gone in the Night" is the fifth book in a series, but you can jump in without missing a beat. I jumped in after only reading book one and easily followed along. Now I’m itching to binge the rest. The story delivers with unexpected, satisfying twists that hit you out of nowhere, just how I like my crime fiction.

Annalisa Vega, formerly a detective with the Chicago Police Department, has traded her badge for a Private Investigator license (and prenatal vitamins—she’s about to become a mom). Annalisa and her brother aren’t exactly on speaking terms since she turned him in for murder. Still, he’s reached out from prison with a case he wants her to tackle. A fellow inmate, Joe Green, claims he’s been wrongly convicted of killing a lawyer. Yeah, yeah, they all say they’re innocent, right?

Annalisa is doubtful until she learns the key witness lied at trial. But here’s where it gets juicy. The arresting officer was her husband, Nick. Awkward. Annalisa is suddenly knee-deep in a case where loyalty, justice, and her own marriage are all on the line. Joe has two ex-wives, and one has vanished. Oh, and there are eerie drownings in Lake Michigan.

This book has murder, family drama, marital tension, a possible murderer, and more red herrings than a fish market. If you love mysteries with layered characters, messy moral choices, and a “trust no one” vibe, this one’s for you.

Thanks to the author and Minotaur Books for the #GiftedARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Former Chicago police detective and current private investigator Annalisa Vega is surprised when her brother Alex contacts her, asking her to visit. They haven't been close since she turned him in for murder, but she drives to his  downstate Illinois prison to see him. He has a request. Another inmate, a man who used to mow her family's lawn, claims he's innocent of the murder that landed him in the joint, and he and Annalisa's brother wants her to look into it. Joe Green is certain the one witness that the prosecution depended on lied, and he recently received an anonymous note backing up his claim. While it's far from definitive proof, a PI he hired previously learned very little - except that the witness didn't own a dog, a dog she supposedly was walking late at night when she saw the murder. An added wrinkle: it was Nick, Annalisa's husband, who made the dubious arrest years ago. But she agrees to take the case, and it leads to a much more tangled tale than she can imagine, one tied to an unsolved case from decades ago.

The lawyer who her jailed client supposedly murdered was a lawyer who did pro bono cases for women living at a shelter for victims of domestic violence. We know from the prologue that it was a woman who let the sleazy lawyer pick her up in a bar, then led him to the lakeshore where she stabbed him before rolling him into the freezing water. But as Annalisa digs into the case, she wonders if her client may be innocent of this murder, but guilty of something else. His ex wife fled to the shelter to escape him, and his previous wife disappeared. Visits to the shelter don't clarify anything. The woman who runs the shelter and her assistants are reluctant to help, and they are keeping secrets.

While Annalisa pursues her case, she takes on another client, a wealthy widow whose valuable engagement ring has disappeared. The only people who could have stolen it are her very good friends who get together at her home regularly, or her longtime employee who bakes delicious scones but is beginning to have issues with her memory. The client can't believe her friends could be behind the theft, but the ring is precious to her. She wants Annalisa to find out what happened to it, regardless of the consequences.

By the end of the story, Annalisa has solved both cases, and her husband Nick is able to bring a final, lingering mystery to a surprising close.

The fifth book in this series offers a tangled but absorbing plot that can be enjoyed without having read the previous books. There are plenty of twists and surprises throughout the story. However, for those who have followed Annalisa's previous cases, there's a bonus: updates about her family, the state of her marriage to Nick, and the fact that she is well into a pregnancy throughout her cases, offer a rich tapestry of relationships that will be especially satisfying for regular readers of the series.

Another twisty installment of the Annalisa Vega series. I love the suspense and the multiple storylines and how they all connect. Since this is book 5, the characters are like old friends, well rounded and endearing. This one is a definite page turner! I'm sad to see the series end but I am satisfied with the ending. I am looking forward to more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Clever and unstoppable action. I’m utterly captivated by Annalisa Vega and her unwavering moral compass, which inevitably leads her into various predicaments. I adore the dynamic between her and Nick, and despite their underlying conflicts, they manage to maintain a successful relationship. The author’s writing prowess is evident, drawing the reader in effortlessly. You won’t be able to put the book down.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Joanna Schaffhausen. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Former detective Annalisa Vega, now pregnant and a floundering PI, hasn’t forgiven her brother for his role in a murder, and he hasn’t forgiven her for turning him in, so she’s surprised when he asks her to visit him in prison. Turns out, he has a possible case for her: one of his fellow inmates, Joe Green, may be innocent of the murder that landed him behind bars. Annalisa begins investigating and finds some issues with the original case; unfortunately, his arresting officer was her husband, Nick. This case tests the bounds of her marriage, her family, and her sense of justice.

This is one of my favorite series, but if you haven't read it, the author gives plenty of background so that it can be enjoyed as a stand alone. But if you've read from the beginning, you get the treat of knowing and reuniting with these characters. These books are so well written and expertly plotted, with lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Plus, the family relationships and dynamics keep the storyline feeling personal. Great police procedural and I can't wait to see what happens next in this series!

🌟🌟🌟🌟
How have I never read this Annalisa Vega series before? This is the fifth book, but I was able to jump in right away.
Annalisa helped put her brother in prison but then asks her help in solving an old case. Love the twists and turns and Annalisa is a very likable character.
I definitely will be going back to read the first four stories. I can’t wait for the sixth book! Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#GoneInTheNight #JoannaSchaffhausen #StMartinsPress #Thriller #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #MinotaurBools

Gone In The Night by talented author Joanna Schaffhausen leaves it all on the table. And the reader's job is to pick it up and enjoy every word in the fifth detective Anna Elisa Vega outing. Anna, a Private Investigator, receives a surprise phone call from her brother, who is in prison for murder. He wants Anna to look into an old case, a fellow inmate Anna's brother believes was wrongly convicted. The Anna Alicia Vega series is perfect for anybody who wants their procedurals with life lessons and the usual and exciting investigatory procedures. Readers need not worry about not having read the four previous entries, as Gone In The Night can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend that readers pick up all of the Anna Alicia Vega novels to solidify their enjoyment of Gone In the Night. This is a definite winner, and readers will be pleasantly surprised as they delve into this world of private investigation, police procedural, and family relations.