Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of Gone in the Night.

Joanna Schaffhausen is an automatic read for me. If you haven't picked up one of her mystery thrillers, take this as your sign to read them. All of them! I fell in love with the Ellery Hathaway series, and I thought there's no way Annalisa Vega can replace the whole that was left with the ending of the Ellery Hathaway series. I was wrong. You could read this as a standalone, but you get SO much backstory on the side characters when you read the entire series, and honestly, why wouldn't you want to? They are all amazing!

When Annalisa Vega's brother asks to see her, she can't imagine why, given their tumultuous past. When she shows up, he tells her he has a possible case for her PI endeavors. His fellow inmate, Joe Green, claims to be innocent for the murder of his ex-wife's lawyer. With her PI business circling the drain, she figures no harm in looking into it. Right off the bat, she finds issues with the case against Joe. Doesn't help that her husband, Nick, was the detective on record for this case. While Nick isn't happy to see his case ripped apart, he doesn't stand in Annalisa's way during her investigation. During all of this, there is also another murderer out there dumping dubious men into Lake Michigan. The twists and turns that this novel puts out are great. I was there for it all. Pick this one up (and the other four in this series!) today!! You'll also want to check out the Ellery Hathaway series, which starts with The Vanishing Season.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the gifted digital ARC!

The Annalisa Vega series just does not miss. Schaffhausen can write a procedural with the absolute best of them. Gone in the Night is the 5th book in the series and it was just as bingeable as all the others. If I could have finished this in one sitting I definitely would've!

Every time I thought I had something figured out, the rug was pulled out from under me. I have only read the Annalisa Vega series but I need to rectify that and read Schaffhausen's entire backlist STAT!

If you haven't started the series yet, consider this your sign! And while each book technically *could* work as a standalone, I don't recommend starting in the middle. You'll miss a huge storyline from book 1 that tells you a lot about the morality of Vega.

A very happy pub day to Gone in the Night!

From the very beginning until the last page, this one will grab you and take you on a wild ride. I love these characters and am always excited for a new book in this series. This one kept me on the edge. I felt like I was right there with Annalise. Highly recommend!

Joanna Schaffhausen is one of my favorite authors, and Detective Annalisa Vega is one of my favorite characters! Vega has resigned from the Chicago police department and started her own private investigator agency, but she finds that being obviously pregnant is a deterrent to many of her prospective clients. While her father keeps sending nonsense cases her way, a visit to her brother Alex at the prison where he is serving time may have been the last place she expected to pick up a new client, another inmate who is doing time for killing his ex-wife’s lawyer. Joe Green has received an anonymous letter telling him that the eyewitness at his trial made up her story, and he wants Vega to look into it. Although always dubious when an inmate claims their innocence, Vega agrees, only to discover the original case was handled by her husband, Nick, and he isn't pleased that she thinks he may have screwed up. When it turns out that Joe's case intersects with one of Nick's current cases, he and Vega realize there may be a serial killer targeting violent men. As always, Schaffhausen delivers a complex, multilayered story with great characters. Vega's sense of truth and order once again go up against her sense of loyalty, and she is faced with the dilemma of whether legal justice is the same moral justice. While I highly recommend reading the series in order, Gone in the Night could also be read as a standalone.

Annalisa Vega, now a private investigator, is heavily pregnant and plagued with guilt about having chosen to send her brother to prison, where he will miss out on all of the events of his young daughters’s lives. So when Alex calls her from prison to ask her to help out a fellow inmate, Anna feels some obligation to consider the assignment. But the more she investigates the other man’s innocence of murder, the more she starts to question what she is learning.

As always, Schaffhausen throws her characters into thorny situations involving loyalty, revenge and forgiveness, with spectacular consequences. Taught and propulsive, the plot hooked me from the start. I raced through the twists I didn’t see coming. Five out of five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

This terrific detective series is underrated and deserves more hype. The books are well-written, suspenseful, and tightly plotted. Schaffhausen has created a very compelling FMC in Annalisa Vega. Her determination and sense of justice make her a fantastic investigator, but have led to some strained family dynamics as she continues to feel the fallout of having put her brother, Alex, behind bars in book one.

This latest investigation takes on some complex issues, including domestic violence, so please check trigger warnings.

Annalisa has successfully transitioned from police officer to PI and remarried her ex-husband Nick. And, she is eagerly anticipating her baby on the way when her brother, Alex, asks her to look into the potential innocence of one of his fellow inmates. The case was investigated by her husband, Nick. Did Nick make some mistakes that led to an innocent man going to jail? Meanwhile, Nick is currently chasing down a potential serial killer, and the two cases seemingly overlap at a women's shelter.

Annalisa is such a strong FMC. Intelligent, resourceful, and relatable. She and Nick have a complicated history and dynamics. I go back and forth on how I feel about them, but the family dynamics in these books, including those with her parents, brother, and extended family, add emotional depth to the stories.

Set in Chicago, this is atmospheric and gritty. And the case is as intriguing as it is dangerous. I was kept on my toes and second-guessing, as the story takes some twists and turns. Each case is self-contained, and the history is recapped, so this works as a stand-alone for anyone wanting to jump in here. Fantastic procedural, and I hope more books are coming in this excellent series!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the gifted book!

Gone in the Night is the 5th in the Detective Annalise Vega series. I have read all the books in the series except for book 2 (I'm not sure how I missed that one). But if you are just now learning of this series, you can read this one without reading the previous books. You are provided with enough backstory to understand the characters' pasts and their relationships.

Annalise is a former Chicago police detective turned private detective. She is pretty famous for solving an infamous serial killer case. In this book, she is hired by a person in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Unfortunately, Annalise's husband was the lead detective on the case. Her proving that the guy isn't the murderer means showing all the ways her husband messed up.

But Annalise, who previously put her brother in prison, is all about finding the truth no matter the consequences.

There are a lot of secrets in this book, which makes it difficult to know what really happened and who to believe. But it makes for a great read.

While Annalise is on the trail of uncovering another serial killer, she is also hired to help an elderly woman find her engagement ring - a highly cherished gift from her late husband. At first glance, this side story just seems to be the light to balance out the dark of the main plot line. However, I believe both plots explore what one will do for love.

If you enjoy thrillers from Lisa Gardner and Karen Rose, then you should add Joanna Schaffhausen to your list of authors to read.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/08/go-on-thrill-ride-with-these-2-thrillers.html

I enjoyed this latest mystery featuring Annalisa and Nick Carelli. The impact of later-term pregnancy on her PI career is both humorous and realistic. Her cases are tied together by the thought-provoking question what are you willing to lose in the pursuit of truth? Highlights for me include Annalisa’s and Nick’s relationship as they work from opposite sides, and a mystery with plenty of twists and turns as they both pursue a killer. Perspectives from the women’s shelter were sobering. Though part of a series, this can stand on its own. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Joanna Schaffhausen’s "Gone In The Night" is an absolute triumph in the realm of crime fiction. This complex murder mystery weaves an intricately layered plot that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The city setting provides a gritty, atmospheric backdrop that perfectly complements the tension and suspense of the narrative.

The brilliant female lead is the heart of the story—intelligent, determined, and refreshingly authentic. Her depth and resilience add a compelling dimension to the police procedural elements, making every discovery and twist feel personal and impactful. The procedural details are meticulously crafted, offering a realistic look into investigative dynamics without bogging down the pace.

What stands out is how seamlessly Schaffhausen integrates the theme of family into the storyline. The emotional undercurrents related to familial ties and conflicts add richness and relatability, making the characters more than just players in a crime drama—they feel real and multi-dimensional.

"Gone In The Night" is a masterclass in storytelling, blending suspense, strong character development, and emotional resonance. I wholeheartedly give it 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a thought-provoking, thrilling read.

Whew! Talk about a shocking beginning! Joanna Schaffhausen got my attention right away! Yikes! Gone in the Night is riveting, intense, shocking and hard to put down! I read most of this book in one day as I was fully captivated by the plot. Be warned, this book deals with domestic violence which some readers might find too hard to read. This is the 5th book in the Annalisa Vega series but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

Annalisa Vega is pregnant and working as a private investigator in Gone in the Night. After being informed that her imprisoned brother wants to meet with her, Annalisa visits him in prison where he presents her with a case for a fellow inmate, Joe Green, who claims to be innocent of the murder charge that landed him in prison. This is going to be tricky as her husband, Nick, was the officer who arrested Joe. Plus, it quickly becomes evident that one of the witnesses lied about what she witnessed. Annalisa will not stop until she gets to the bottom of what happened. What she finds is a bunch of secrets, a trail of lies, and domestic violence.

This book had a nice amount of twist and turns along the way. This book also sees Annalisa preparing for the birth of her child. She is working hard and dealing with a lot of issues while finding herself in a bit of danger along the way. As with the other books in this series, Gone in the Night is well thought out, nicely paced, with fully fleshed characters, has an intriguing mystery (and a side mystery), tension, and relationship issues. As I mentioned above, this book does deal with domestic violence, abuse and predators. I thought the author handled this well but readers who may be triggered by this need to be aware of the content of the book.

Riveting, shocking, mysterious, twist filled and wonderfully written!

This is a thrilling novel, exactly what we’ve come to expect from Joanna Schaffhausen. The evolution of the characters given their journeys and situations strikes true and relatable. The plot is propulsive and we are able to really delve into what is happening since we know (and love) these characters. I can’t wait for the next installment!

I can’t believe this is the 5th Annalisa Vega book! I really enjoy this author’s books. Annalisa Vega is a wonderful character and so his her ex and now again husband, Detective Nick Carelli. I love them together and their relationship. Annalisa is now very pregnant with their son or daughter.

Being pregnant doesn’t stop her from her private investigation work— especially when her brother in prison brings her a new case. It’s an old case that Nick was the lead on. Did he make a mistake or miss something? Men are turning up dead and is Nick next?

This author’s books are always easy to read and are filled with wonderful characters and twists. (One that really got me upset for a minute regarding Nick and Annalisa’s relationship.)

This is another solid and interesting installment in the series.

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

I enjoyed this new addition to this series . I do wish Annalisa would have some adventures that don’t somehow have connections to her family though . The story was interesting and took a couple of interesting turns - there was definitely one twist with Annalisa and Nick that totally got me! … I do feel like there were a couple of loose threads with the ending but overall I really enjoyed the story and read this in a day

A favor turns into a deep dive into a long buried secret. Annalisa, a cop turned PI, agrees to look into a murder that Joe Green an inmate serving time with her brother, claims he did not commit. Turns out the original case was run by her husband Nick who is more than a little annoyed that she's questioning his work until it becomes apparent there was more to the murder than it originally appeared. Other men are turning up dead, all with a rune. There's a connection to Ruby's Place, a women's shelter run by Charlotte, who has her own secrets. This moves between Annalisa and Charlotte as one looks for answer the other is trying to avoid. And, there's a gentler plot line involving the possible theft of a valuable diamond ring from a wealthy widow. Oh and Annalisa is very pregnant. Just as you might find yourself confused and perhaps a bit tired of the Joe Green case, there's a twist that will keep you reading. I admit to being a fan of this series for the complex mysteries and the family dynamics. This was a good addition but it will also be fine as a standalone encase Schaffhausen gives good backstory. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm eager to see how Annalisa and Nick handle the next chapter in their lives.

Private eye Annalisa Vega's brother, Alex, asks her to help a fellow inmate. Joe Green was convicted of killing his ex-wife's lawyer, Cyrus Merriman 13 years ago. Now, someone has claimed that the witness lied and to make matters even more chaotic, Annalisa's husband, Nick, was the police officer who arrested him. Annalisa not having alot of work and pregnant looks into the old case. She learns that the witness Gwen, claimed she was walking her dog, she never owned a dog. There were enough similarities to Cyrus' murder ( stabbed with a Berkanan rune) to link it with other murders. Joe is released, but found stabbed to death in Lake Michigan although without the rune. Eventually, the case leads back to Ruby’s Place, a shelter for abused women. How does this shelter connect with the dead men? Are these revenge motivated?

Gone in the Night is an excellent addition to this series. It can be read as a stand-alone but there is so much backstory to Annalisa, her relationship with her family and her husband that I recommend reading the series from the beginning. The author keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace, with some twists and turns. I have found that when I start reading one of her books, I can't put it down. I hope we see more of Annalisa.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

With a baby soon on the way, Annalisa and Nick have fallen into a domestic time of bliss. Until Annalisa's brother, Alex, invites her to the prison for a discussion. Soon, Annalisa finds herself looking into a case—one that Nick had worked on years before—and it is becoming clear that he may have put the wrong person in jail. Meanwhile, the real killer is watching, and if Annalisa doesn't act soon, she may lose all that she has come to love so much.

I am so glad that Joanna Schaffhausen decided that her loyal readers needed another Annalisa Vega novel. I have come to adore this character very much, and I couldn't wait to see where this case would take her and us next. Once I began this book, I, as I have done with all others, continued reading until I reached the end. It was that good. I have come to love the other characters- Nick, Cassidy, and Annalisa's family just as much.

If you like police procedural/private eye type of mysteries, this series is going to catch your attention quite fast.


Expected Publication 12/08/25
Goodreads Review 08/08/25

Annalisa Vega is a former detective turned private investigator. She is expecting a baby with Nick Carelli, a fellow detective whom she divorced and remarried after they agreed to reconcile. Anna has little to do—business is slow—and she becomes involved in a case that Nick had once handled. Anna's brother, Alex, who is serving time in prison, asks his sister to look into the possibility that Joe Green, a fellow inmate, was convicted for a murder that he did not commit. Anna interviews Joe and others who know him, and looks into the events that led him to be found guilty of killing his wife's lawyer, Cyrus Merriman. She concludes that the eyewitness account and forensic evidence that led to Joe's conviction may have been flawed.

In Joanna Schaffhausen's "Gone in the Night," Anna's probe will bring her into contact with the staff of Ruby's Place, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Some of the individuals working there know more about matters pertaining to Anna's inquiries than they are willing to reveal. In addition, although Nick is not happy at being upstaged by Anna, he acknowledges that she may be justified in her efforts to free Joe. However, neither Anna or Nick realize that reopening this case will lead to shocking revelations and could endanger innocent lives.

The characters in this crime novel are varied and intriguing, and Anna is a tough lady who always goes the extra mile to uncover the truth. Schaffhausen's dryly humorous dialogue helps counterbalance the tale's morbid themes. Unfortunately, as the narrative progresses, the plot becomes increasingly muddled and, when the story reaches its melodramatic climax, there are several developments that strain credulity. That being said, the author is a capable storyteller who sheds light on the warped personalities of cruel men who take advantage of vulnerable women, some of whom remain permanently scarred as a result of their traumatic experiences. On the bright side, Anna and Nick are an appealing couple whose family dynamics add extra flavor to this dark account of exploitation and vengeance.

Chicago private detective Annalisa Vega is almost an old friend by now - this is the fifth book in the series, and I've read all the others. This time out, she has a little extra to deal with: the impending birth of a new baby with her husband, police detective Nick Carelli (who she married for the second time after the first time didn't "take." She's left the police force (and working with him), but given her talent for police work and the sheer boredom of not having many clients, keeping her nose to herself is proving a bit difficult.

Although I enjoyed this one as I always have, I did have a bit of trouble keeping all the characters in this one straight - partly because it seemed as if half of them aren't who they claim to be. It makes for a complex plot for which I give props to the author, but it also meant a fair amount of flipping back to prior pages to make sure I knew who was who.

The story begins as Annalisa's brother Alex, who's in jail for murder (Annalisa played a major role in putting him there, albeit reluctantly), calls and asks her to visit. She does, but it turns out he doesn't want her help for himself, but rather for another inmate named Joe Green. The man, Alex insists, is innocent of the murder of his ex-wife's lawyer for which he was convicted.

Annalisa is skeptical, of course, but a letter from an unknown person suggests that the witness whose testimony sealed Green's fate was lying. Curious, Annalisa does a bit of digging and learns that the witness did lie about at least one crucial detail. But she also learns something even more potentially devastating: her husband was Green's arresting officer. That, in turn, exacerbates tension between the two as Nick sometimes considers his wife's no-holds-barred approach to solving crimes as an attempt to upstage him.

But of course, Annalisa forges ahead, and Nick - to his credit - for the most part realizes she's simply trying to figure out what really happened, not cut his legs from under him. As her investigation digs deeper, more murders make her even more sure sure that Green is innocent - at least of the crime for which he was convicted - and Nick concurs. It's not an easy investigation and it ends up putting Nick's life in danger, but that makes it even more of an adventure for readers. Definitely worth checking out - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to go along for the ride by way of a pre-release copy.

If you like: Isabella Maldonado, Steve Cavanagh
Avail: Aug 7
Series: 5
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Genre: 🪓Thriller
Violence: 🔪🔪🔪
TW: Sexual assault, child abuse, domestic abuse

Synopsis: Turns out pregnancy is bad for PI business. So when Vega’s incarcerated brother asks her to help exonerate a fellow prisoner accused of murdering his wife, she agrees. One problem: the detective on the case was her husband. If she again chooses truth over family loyalty, will their marriage survive the clash?

Thoughts: The premier, Gone for Good, hooked me on this series, but this 5th installment in the Annalisa Vega thrillers comes a close 2nd. The book starts by turning the serial killer trope on its head & then continues to play against expectations throughout, ensuring plenty of twists for the reader. Transitioning Vega from cop to PI also allows Schaffhausen to compare & contrast what is lawful—and therefore expected of the police—and what is right. The gray area between provides plenty of fodder for the fiction writer. But don’t worry, this isn’t a heavy philosophical read. This page-turner doubles down with both strong plot & compelling characters that will leave you waiting anxiously for book 6.

Thank you to Minotaur Books & NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gone in the Night: A Detective Annalisa Vega novel by Joanna Schaffhausen

This is a new to me series and author and I will definitely read more of this series. While it is the fifth installment of the Annalisa Vega series, not having read the earlier novels didn’t impact my enjoyment of this one – it can be read as a standalone as enough information of past history of the main characters was provided.

This was a quick read as I wanted to know who really killed Cyrus (his ex-wife’s lawyer) and why did the witness give false testimony? We have an idea of the who killed him - with the prologue, but why would a witness lie about Joe being the killer? At the same time Vega is pursuing Ray’s innocence in the killing of Cyrus, more murders are occurring. Is the serial killer the same person? And what, if anything, does a missing child have to do with this case?

Rounded up 4.5 to a 5 stars. No spoilers, just a curious logistics detail that didn’t quite add up in the conclusion of the novel (not having to do with the main case).

Thanks to Joanna Schaffhausen, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book.