Gone in the Night

Detective Annalisa Vega #5

by Joanna Schaffhausen

Detective Annalisa Vega 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.

Joe is doing hard time for killing his ex-wife’s lawyer, but an anonymous letter sent to the prison warns that the eyewitness in Joe’s trial made up her story. With her private investigation business foundering, Annalisa is desperate enough to start poking around into Joe’s meager case. She immediately finds two problems: One, the eyewitness definitely lied about what she saw the night of the murder, and two, Annalisa’s husband Nick was the cop who arrested Joe in the first place.

Faced with correcting Nick’s mistakes, Annalisa digs deeper into Joe’s past and discovers he has two ex-wives with nothing good to say about him. The women may have orchestrated an elaborate frame to put Joe in prison, but one wife has completely disappeared since then. Did Joe somehow kill her? Or is he the real victim? Annalisa’s search for the truth tests the bounds of her marriage, her family, and her own sense of justice. Meanwhile, a devious killer keeps sending men to a watery death in the vastness of Lake Michigan. If Annalisa doesn’t figure out the truth about Joe soon, her husband might be next.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Crime

313 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2025

About the author

Joanna Schaffhausen wields a mean scalpel, skills she developed in her years studying neuroscience. She has a doctorate in psychology, which reflects her long-standing interest in the brain―how it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Previously, she worked as a scientific editor in the field of drug development. Prior to that, she was an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such as World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, daughter, and an obstreperous basset hound.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winning entry in the Annalisa Vega series, Book 5 takes us into a topic that may be triggering for some readers: domestic abuse.

The book opens with the first victim - lawyer Cyrus Merriman - being led unsuspectingly to his death by a mystery woman whose idea of a lakeside walk ends up with his body in it. Jump thirteen years later and a now pregnant Annalisa is visiting her imprisoned brother Alex who introduces her to the person convicted of his death, a man named Joe Green.

When Joe shows Annalisa an anonymous note he received claiming the sole witness who put him behind bars lied, she agrees to take his case, but there’s one wrinkle: her husband - detective Nick Carelli - is the one whose investigation put him in prison. Things are about to get very awkward between these two!

The story leads us to a women’s shelter run by a woman named Charlotte Higgins who, along with her two employees Layla and Karma, is clearly holding secrets that connect her to Joe’s ex, Vanessa, as well as another ex named Jessica. Also in the mix is Gwen Beaufort, the lone witness connecting Joe Green to Cyrus Merriman’s death.

Why are all these women so intent on keeping Joe in prison? When the count of men’s bodies pulled out of the lake starts adding up, Annalisa and Nick realize this case may be bigger than they thought. Is there another serial killer on the loose?

There’s much more to the story, including a mystery surrounding a young girl’s abduction years before and a sweet side story for Annalisa involving an elderly woman and a missing ring, but the heart of the story is the mystery of who is killing all these men and why.

Because of the topic of domestic abuse, it was important for the author to handle it sensitively, and I thought she did a great job of allowing the reader to see the experience of victims, particularly where the justice system fails them, while also keeping the guilty parties accountable. The story isn’t heavy, but it is potent.

I really liked this one and found the story pretty riveting. The multiple mysteries were well done, there were a couple excellent twists, well-written characters and a clever satisfying ending. There was even an adorable cat named Jack. Schaffhausen knows the way to my heart! 🐈

Where this book really worked for me was the relationship between Annalisa and Nick. In some ways, Annalisa’s investigation is cleaning up Nick’s past mistakes, and he takes a lot of flack from his peers for that. Ultimately, though, they’re working together for the same purpose and it’s nice to see their support for each other, even when things occasionally get tense. Speaking of this, there’s a scene between them that for a split second had me questioning if I could continue to enjoy the series. I understand its purpose in the context of the story, but it was shocking. I’m sure many others who read it were equally surprised!

All-in-all, another excellent addition to a series that I’m always excited to read! Considering the ending of this one, I’ll be so curious to see what direction Schaffhausen takes Annalisa next. I can’t wait!

★★★★ ½

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Joanna Schaffhausen for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out on August 12, 2025.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gone in the Night: A Detective Annalisa Vega Novel has all the mysterious vibes! It is the fifth book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. I have not personally read the other books in this series yet. Reading this one definitely has me intrigued in reading her other books! It is about the brother of Annalisa asking to come visit him in prison because he has an interesting case for her. She is desperately looking for a case, so her going there was the perfect opportunity. Her brother tells her about a guy in prison named Joe who thinks is innocent. So, Annalisa goes into Joe’s past and discovers a lot of secrets. So, is this guy innocent or not? As the story continues to unravel, we find out if her brother’s thinking was right or wrong.

This fictional book flowed well, had a clear thesis and was full of mystery! It was well written and full of character development! Be sure to read the content warnings before reading this book. I really enjoyed this book! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Joanna Schaffhausen and
St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book is expected to be published on August 12, 2025!

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yes….another good one!!

Annalisa Vega is back - pregnant and with no cases to solve until she hears from her brother who is serving prison time.

Annalisa was the one who put her own brother in prison, and he wants to see her.

She has no idea why he wants to see her but visits him out of curiosity.

Her brother Alex asks Annalisa to investigate a murder his fellow prisoner is accused of but is innocent. They all say that, don't they?

Annalisa finds out he may be right about his innocence, but the only problem is that her husband Nick is the one who put him away.

She takes the case and finds out more than she really wants to. Did Nick make a mistake?

Meanwhile there is a serial killer running rampant and throwing grown men into Lake Michigan along with MANY connected things happening.

Will Annalisa risk ruining her marriage again by discrediting Nick? She knows that's a possibility, but she has to do her job.

We follow Annalisa as she doesn’t give up and as we see how she takes care of everything as usual.

Things get tense as the book wraps up, and fans of Annalisa won't be able to put the book down.

GONE IN THE NIGHT can be read as a standalone. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pregnant Annalisa has left the force and is now a PI. Her brother Alex, the one that she turned in for murder, is still in prison and requests a visit. One of his fellow prisoners wants to hire Annalisa to prove his innocence. Joe was convicted of murdering a wealthy lawyer and the case was originally solved by her husband Nick. Could Joe's ex wives have framed him for the murder? Was Joe an abuser, or perhaps something even worse? Is a serial killer involved? There are many plot twists and revelations; Annalisa is determined to find the truth, even though others are equally determined to stop her. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Joanna Schaffhausen]

It's Annalisa #5!

Detective Annalisa Vega 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.

Joe is doing hard time for killing his ex-wife’s lawyer, but an anonymous letter sent to the prison warns that the eyewitness in Joe’s trial made up her story. When Annalisa starts poking around into Joe’s case, she immediately finds two problems: One, the eyewitness definitely lied about what she saw the night of the murder; and two, Annalisa’s husband Nick was the cop who arrested Joe in the first place. 

Annalisa discovers Joe has two ex-wives with nothing good to say about him. The women may have orchestrated an elaborate frame to put Joe in prison, but one wife has completely disappeared since then. Did Joe somehow kill her? Or is he the real victim? Annalisa’s search for the truth tests the bounds of her marriage, her family, and her own sense of justice. Meanwhile, a devious killer keeps sending men to a watery death in the vastness of Lake Michigan. If Annalisa doesn’t figure out the truth about Joe soon, Nick may be next.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Happy Publication Day!**

At the heart of the fifth novel in this mystery series is spousal abuse and a battered women's shelter called Ruby's Place. Annalisa Vega has left the Chicago Police Department and become a private investigator. She's six-month pregnant so she hasn't been attracting many clients. Now her brother Alex, who is in prison for murder, has asked her to look into the case of Joe Green, a fellow inmate who he's convinced is innocent. The man was convicted of murdering his wife's divorce lawyer who worked pro bono at Ruby's Place. As it happens, Vega's husband, Nick Corelli, is the CPD detective who investigated the murder, becoming convinced of Joe's guilt because of an eye-witness's statement. Was it all a lie? Digging deeper now could make Nick look bad and put pressure on their marriage.

There are many layers to this story which makes it very intriguing. I enjoy this series, especially the characters and its Chicago setting. This one can be read as a standalone but I can highly recommend the entire series. Note that they all have the word 'gone' in their titles.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Gone in the Night” is Joanna Schaffhausen’s fifth installment in her Detective Annalisa Vega series. Since I’ve read all of the books in the series, I was again excited to read this one early.

Annalisa’s brother, Alex, requests she come visit him in prison. When Annalisa arrives, she discovers Alex may have a case for her. Alex’s fellow inmate, Joe Green, received a letter saying the eyewitness to his supposed crime was lying. The eyewitness’s testimony was largely the reason he was convicted of murder.

Annalisa knows before she leaves the prison visit that her husband, Nick, was the investigator who arrested Joe Green. After she begins revisiting Joe’s case and its evidence, she quickly determines the eyewitness lied in her statement. The question then becomes why would she lie?

A large part of the storyline around Joe’s case involves a women’s shelter for women and children who have been abused. A smaller storyline involved Annalisa being hired to find a woman’s missing ring. The ring was given to the woman, Effie, by her late husband. It has a lot of sentimental value, but is also apparently worth a lot of money.

Overall, I recommend this book. This was a solid entry in the series. It had a couple of twists that made sense. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

[Lavins · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars rounded up

Every time a book has an agenda "let's hate this group of people", it looses my interest.

Here we have this general and major hate against men and policemen. And this sentiment is clearly expressed throughout the book. For instance the book not so subtle emphasis how all men are idiots, brutes, violent, cheaters, liars and so on. And, of course, not only the policemen are not punishing any of them, they always let them go free.

Annalisa Vega, with the foggy brain of a 7 month pregnant person, was able in 5 min to prove the innocence of a convicted murderer who was serving time and demolished what an entire police workforce missed (including her husband)....

Actually she consistently undermines and borderline belittles her husband throughout the entire book under the premise that she wants to help. She shares nothing, she acts as if she's alone and not pregnant...

In addition, there are things that some women are doing that the author tries to pass them as justified because "the have been through a rough patch". Which makes me wonder, if a man would have acted in a similar fashion, would the author have seen it as justified or that only goes for women?

[Lori Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

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).

Thanks to #NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the DRC.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar mystery/thriller in the fantastic Annalisa Vega series. Annalisa’s latest case has personal ties when a criminal that her husband convicted years ago is claiming innocence. Schaffhausen has the perfect blend of suspense and personal stories relevant to this very exciting series. Her writing is above and beyond enjoyable and intelligent. For fans of Edwin Hill and Julie Clark.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Minotaur Books and Joanna Schaffhausen for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up to four.

In Joanna Schaffhausen’s Gone in the Night, Detective Annalisa Vega gets hired by the wealthy widow of a deceased man to track down the woman’s engagement ring. At the same time, her brother Alex, who is in prison, calls Annalisa and asks her to visit him. A man in prison wants to hire Annalisa to prove his innocence. There are MANY twists, turns, and red herrings in that part of the book! However, the results became rather unbelievable once it came to the lost engagement ring.

Thank you, #MinotaurBooks, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Gone in the Night has an expected publication date of August 12, 2025.

#Prison #StrongFemaleProtagonist #Series #Mystery #Suspense

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

GONE IN THE NIGHT, the fifth book in author Joanna Schaffhausen's Detective Annalisa Vega series, opens with the titular detective dealing with the impending arrival of her child with husband Nick.

The pregnancy has caused a massive downturn in her private detective business with clients not wanting to hire someone in her "state". But when a case does come her way, she can hardly refuse it.

And that's how she ends up tackling the case of convicted murderer Joe Green. Vega's imprisoned murderer of a brother (who pays lip service to owning up to his crime) ambushes her on a visiting day by introducing Green to her. His story about being framed for murdering his ex-wife's lawyer may sound like any convict's story but there's a catch: The detective on the case was her husband Nick.

(The self-satisfied smirk on her brother's face over this fact made me want add another life sentence to his time in prison)

The friction between Annalisa and Nick comes fast and leaves both furious. Her zeal for the truth regardless of the cost is part of the issue, but when she quickly disproves two key aspects that put the man in prison, Nick looks like he blew the case. Which would be a blow to anyone's ego.

Along the way, Vega has to deal with the continued family issues that have come up due to her putting her brother in prison and her destroying her father's reputation as a cop for his part in the brother's crime. And there's the case of a missing ring to occupy her time when she's not tracking down witnesses and answers to the Joe Green case.

All roads in that case seemingly lead to a women's shelter and here's where the plot really amps things up because bodies keep dropping and Vega and Nick now have to track down a serial killer who has had decades to hide their trail amidst a swath of dead bodies. It will take their combined talents to track down and end a killer's reign of terror and restore a sense of justice to the world.

But that could be any thriller in modern day. What makes GONE IN THE NIGHT rise to epic level is how Schaffhausen continually sets the reader up for a finale, only to shake up the status quo and give you another incredible (and most importantly, believable) plot twist.

As you're reading, you find yourself amazed by each turn of the plot (and of the page). And you have an incredible lead character in Annalisa Vega. I like the way she's not only a damn fine detective but at the same time she has to deal with the inner and outer turmoil that comes along with her quest for the truth. It has cost her plenty, yet she cannot simply set aside that need for the truth even if the end result might cost her even more of that turmoil. And since Schaffhausen has you in Vega's head throughout the book, you know just how she is feeling with each new turn in the case.

And the case itself...well is it giving away too much to call it a master class in how to tell a compelling, tightly plotted mystery that will leave you so deeply enveloped in the story that you feel you have to make the same decision as Annalisa does...to decide just how far you want to see the search for truth and/or justice (which are not always the same as we all know) take these characters.

GONE IN THE NIGHT is the fifth book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series. I've been a fan right from the start and let me say that Vega has definitely become one of my favorite detectives! The book has got all you could ever want in a mystery novel and just when you think you have it all figured out...WAIT THERE'S MORE!

For five successive books, author Joanna Schaffhausen has given readers a detective that should be seen as offering a blueprint for how to creatively craft the kind of investigator we'd all want working a case for us.

So get your copy, get your beverage of choice and set up in your favorite reading nook because GONE IN THE NIGHT is one of the best mysteries you will read all year!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star installment in the Annalisa Vega series! This could be read as a standalone but you would be missing out on one of the best series out there. Annalisa is contact by her estranged brother Alex. One of his fellow prisoners has been convicted of a crime he didn’t do. If anyone is going to find out the true story it’s Annalisa! The ending of this book makes me think it’s the end of the series. I look forward to what’s next whether it’s another installment or a brand new series from Joanna Schauffhausen, she can do no wrong! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Ray Palen · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the prologue to this novel we witness a man named Cyrus Merriman, who we later learn is a powerful attorney, removing his wedding ring and sticking it in his overcoat pocket before entering a small pub in the Chicago area on a snowy evening. He sees his target; an attractive young woman dominating a young man at the pool table and approaches her. One thing leads to another, and they leave together. The woman insists they walk to her place for the anticipated physical tryst, and he stops by a shop on the way to purchase cigarettes and condoms. He lends his overcoat to the woman who wants to take a closer at a nearby lake. It is then that she finds the wedding ring in the pocket of the coat and confronts him. After a sad attempt to claim he was separated, she chucks the ring into the lake and then stabs Cyrus to death when he confronts her, rolling his body into the nearly frozen lake.

This is a heavy beginning to the latest Detective Annalisa Vega novel, GONE IN THE NIGHT, by author Joanna Schaffhausen. Schaffhausen is a former neuroscientist turned writer who has attacked this series with the same surgical precision that she probably used in her former career. There have been consistent running themes in this highly enjoyable mystery/crime series that include family secrets, guilt, and revenge. Vega is now a very pregnant former Detective working as a PI taking on cases that typically involve one or more of the themes I just mentioned. Her husband, current Chicago PD Detective Nick, does not like the idea of her working cases in her condition but realizes that her background, which is fueled by villainous behavior on the part of her own family drives her in a way that made her initially change up her career choice from the law to police work.

Vega learns at a family gathering that her long-incarcerated brother Alex, a true killer, has requested she visit him in prison. When she decides to show she is surprised to see another man with him, a man named Joe Green who Alex promised he would get his justice-seeking sister to assist. Green was arrested thirteen years earlier for the murder of Cyrus Merriman, a situation that readers will instantly realize could not be accurate. He claims he was set up and that the only eyewitness to the alleged crime, a dog walker named Gwen Beaufort, was lying. Green shares that the actual killer sent him a taunting typewritten note indicating this very fact. Vega agrees to take his case and is immediately dismayed to find that the Officer who oversaw the crime that put Green behind bars was her husband, Nick.

To further complicate matters, Vega and Nick are led to a local shelter for abused women named Ruby’s Place where there may be some individuals with secret information that could not only clear Joe Green of all guilt but also connect to a series of related murders. This is confirmed by a marking now found on multiple bodies, also killed and dumped in a lake, who all had a marking of what looked like a letter ‘B’ on their bodies. Most of these murders happened while Green was in prison, which points towards his innocence and the existence of a serial killer that the local PD missed. That ‘B’ ended up being a Rune marking called a Berkanan which stood for starting over or rebirth.

Now, as Vega continues to press on into this case she runs into a series of potential suspects who all might have had reason for seeing Joe Green go behind bars as a form of retribution against not one but two previous wives. Little does Vega know that her continued perseverance in this case might also be placing a mark on the back of her own husband. GONE IN THE NIGHT is a very suspenseful read and continues to allow Schaffhausen to develop the characters in a series that always delivers as a top-rate mystery series.

Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Randi (randi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5✨’s

I have enjoyed this series, but I would say this felt like weakest in this series.

The side mystery felt superfluous and the main plot/mystery was revealed earlier than I expected. This story seemed to be focusing on primary and secondary character work. I appreciate that as I really enjoy character focused novels. But, having read all of Schaffhausen’s work, I would argue that she is adept at doing both suspense and character work. I missed the suspense here.

I also thought Nick was a turd. Not the most eloquent description, but to the point as to my opinion of him. I just don’t like him and Annalise together.

Overall, the writing is excellent and I look forward to the next book. Schaffhausen’s female protagonists are amazing in their strengths and flaws. She takes risks with her heroines and I appreciate that type of suspense from this writer.

[Tam Sesto · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Joni Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adore this series and this book may be my favorite so far. I loved the two separate cases that went on at the same time. Also the family dynamic was present and as important as the cases.

I sincerely hope this series goes on for a long, long time.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

GONE IN THE NIGHT (DETECTIVE ANNALISA VEGA, #5)
BY: JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN

I've been a fan of JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN'S from her very first DETECTIVE ANNALISA VEGA'S, very first debut novel, and my discovery at the time gave an EXCELLENT, first impression. I knew at the time when I read the first one in this series, of Police Crime Procedural's that this Author was onto something akin to a Gold mine in terms of a highly satisfactory reading experience. From her family to Detective Annalisa Vega herself as an amazing character development. With Detective Annalisa Vega you can expect high octane Mystery's that are like a maze in their complexities to be totally unpredictable, leaving even the most seasoned solver of the genre of readers not able to figure them out until the author is ready to reveal it. "GONE IN THE NIGHT,"her latest in this Series making it to number five which this one was no different in its labyrinth of murdered men being tossed in the Lake. Of course, what is different in this one is that she's expecting her first child, with Detective Nick Carelli who she was divorced in the first one, and now married to him for the second time.

Her brother Alex, who she turned in her father, and her brother for a murder in a previous installment, she does love her family, but ethically for her while working on the police force was the right thing for her to do. It kind of tells you how dedicated she is towards upholding the law she is. I love her character, and was thrilled to read installment #5, which has her having left the police force, and in this one she's a Private Investigator who still manages to get involved with solving crimes, which in this one her husband Nick is handling. He still gets taunts from other members on the force as Annalisa Vega solving the crimes. I think this could be read as a standalone, but it wouldn't hurt to read one of the earlier ones in this series. But it's not necessary since the author brings up just enough background information to inform the reader to understand enough to be oriented with her family, and other than Alex's wife Sassy getting remarried, Annalisa goes to see her brother in prison who introduced her to an inmate named, Joe Green who may or may not be innocent, and the victim of a witness that perjured herself.

As I said, these are so well written that the reader needs to keep reading deeper into the complexities of the plot to understand what is happening, and to figure out why these murdered men keep being found murdered and thrown in the water. The first victim is a lawyer who was doing Pro Bono work at a Women's shelter for women escaping Domestic Violence with their children who are running from abusive husbands. This one has many twists and turns, and I was able to guess who the little Blonde girl is that Annalisa keeps having recurring dreams about. An unpredictable plot which if I say much more will give spoilers. Suffice it to say that a Women's shelter will be the backdrop for which this mystery is centered around. Solving who is behind these crimes will be near impossible, but when the author is ready to reveal who it is it will be a compelling discovery. I'm so thrilled that Joanna Schaffhausen decided to return to Annalisa Vega in this fifth installment, since she's such an interesting, intelligent, perceptive and lovable protagonist with this one ending up being more mystery than thriller, "GONE IN THE NIGHT," should be on everybody's reading list. Don't worry if this is your first introduction to the Series, since I'm convinced you'll love this, and will most likely hook you into reading the first four installments which I would recommend reading them in order. I really love this Series, and look forward to the next one, and this one and one other are the only Series in Crime Police Procedural's that I love so much not to have missed any, and look forward to many more to come.

Publication Date: August 12, 2025! AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE NOW!

Thank you to Net Galley, Joanna Schaffhausen, and St. Martin's Press--Minotaur Books for generously providing me with my wonderful ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#GoneintheNight #JoannaSchaffhausen StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

GONE IN THE NIGHT (DETECTIVE ANNALISA VEGA, #5)
BY: JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN

I've been a fan of JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN'S from her very first DETECTIVE ANNALISA VEGA'S, very first debut novel, and my discovery at the time gave an EXCELLENT, first impression. I knew at the time when I read the first one in this series, of Police Crime Procedural's that this Author was onto something akin to a Gold mine in terms of a highly satisfactory reading experience. From her family to Detective Annalisa Vega herself as an amazing character development. With Detective Annalisa Vega you can expect high octane Mystery's that are like a maze in their complexities to be totally unpredictable, leaving even the most seasoned solver of the genre of readers not able to figure them out until the author is ready to reveal it. "GONE IN THE NIGHT,"her latest in this Series making it to number five which this one was no different in its labyrinth of murdered men being tossed in the Lake. Of course, what is different in this one is that she's expecting her first child, with Detective Nick Carelli who she was divorced in the first one, and now married to him for the second time.

Her brother Alex, who she turned in her father, and her brother for a murder in a previous installment, she does love her family, but ethically for her while working on the police force was the right thing for her to do. It kind of tells you how dedicated she is towards upholding the law she is. I love her character, and was thrilled to read installment #5, which has her having left the police force, and in this one she's a Private Investigator who still manages to get involved with solving crimes, which in this one her husband Nick is handling. He still gets taunts from other members on the force as Annalisa Vega solving the crimes. I think this could be read as a standalone, but it wouldn't hurt to read one of the earlier ones in this series. But it's not necessary since the author brings up just enough background information to inform the reader to understand enough to be oriented with her family, and other than Alex's wife Sassy getting remarried, Annalisa goes to see her brother in prison who introduced her to an inmate named, Joe Green who may or may not be innocent, and the victim of a witness that perjured herself.

As I said, these are so well written that the reader needs to keep reading deeper into the complexities of the plot to understand what is happening, and to figure out why these murdered men keep being found murdered and thrown in the water. The first victim is a lawyer who was doing Pro Bono work at a Women's shelter for women escaping Domestic Violence with their children who are running from abusive husbands. This one has many twists and turns, and I was able to guess who the little Blonde girl is that Annalisa keeps having recurring dreams about. An unpredictable plot which if I say much more will give spoilers. Suffice it to say that a Women's shelter will be the backdrop for which this mystery is centered around. Solving who is behind these crimes will be near impossible, but when the author is ready to reveal who it is it will be a compelling discovery. I'm so thrilled that Joanna Schaffhausen decided to return to Annalisa Vega in this fifth installment, since she's such an interesting, intelligent, perceptive and lovable protagonist with this one ending up being more mystery than thriller, "GONE IN THE NIGHT," should be on everybody's reading list. Don't worry if this is your first introduction to the Series, since I'm convinced you'll love this, and will most likely hook you into reading the first four installments which I would recommend reading them in order. I really love this Series, and look forward to the next one, and this one and one other are the only Series in Crime Police Procedural's that I love so much not to have missed any, and look forward to many more to come.

Publication Date: August 12, 2025! AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE NOW!

Thank you to Net Galley, Joanna Schaffhausen, and St. Martin's Press--Minotaur Books for generously providing me with my wonderful ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#GoneintheNight #JoannaSchaffhausen StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

GONE IN THE NIGHT (DETECTIVE ANNALISA VEGA, #5)
BY: JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN

I've been a fan of JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN'S from her very first DETECTIVE ANNALISA VEGA'S, very first debut novel, and my discovery at the time gave an EXCELLENT, first impression. I knew at the time when I read the first one in this series, of Police Crime Procedural's that this Author was onto something akin to a Gold mine in terms of a highly satisfactory reading experience. From her family to Detective Annalisa Vega herself as an amazing character development. With Detective Annalisa Vega you can expect high octane Mystery's that are like a maze in their complexities to be totally unpredictable, leaving even the most seasoned solver of the genre of readers not able to figure them out until the author is ready to reveal it. "GONE IN THE NIGHT,"her latest in this Series making it to number five which this one was no different in its labyrinth of murdered men being tossed in the Lake. Of course, what is different in this one is that she's expecting her first child, with Detective Nick Carelli who she was divorced in the first one, and now married to him for the second time.

Her brother Alex, who she turned in her father, and her brother for a murder in a previous installment, she does love her family, but ethically for her while working on the police force was the right thing for her to do. It kind of tells you how dedicated she is towards upholding the law she is. I love her character, and was thrilled to read installment #5, which has her having left the police force, and in this one she's a Private Investigator who still manages to get involved with solving crimes, which in this one her husband Nick is handling. He still gets taunts from other members on the force as Annalisa Vega solving the crimes. I think this could be read as a standalone, but it wouldn't hurt to read one of the earlier ones in this series. But it's not necessary since the author brings up just enough background information to inform the reader to understand enough to be oriented with her family, and other than Alex's wife Sassy getting remarried, Annalisa goes to see her brother in prison who introduced her to an inmate named, Joe Green who may or may not be innocent, and the victim of a witness that perjured herself.

As I said, these are so well written that the reader needs to keep reading deeper into the complexities of the plot to understand what is happening, and to figure out why these murdered men keep being found murdered and thrown in the water. The first victim is a lawyer who was doing Pro Bono work at a Women's shelter for women escaping Domestic Violence with their children who are running from abusive husbands. This one has many twists and turns, and I was able to guess who the little Blonde girl is that Annalisa keeps having recurring dreams about. An unpredictable plot which if I say much more will give spoilers. Suffice it to say that a Women's shelter will be the backdrop for which this mystery is centered around. Solving who is behind these crimes will be near impossible, but when the author is ready to reveal who it is it will be a compelling discovery. I'm so thrilled that Joanna Schaffhausen decided to return to Annalisa Vega in this fifth installment, since she's such an interesting, intelligent, perceptive and lovable protagonist with this one ending up being more mystery than thriller, "GONE IN THE NIGHT," should be on everybody's reading list. Don't worry if this is your first introduction to the Series, since I'm convinced you'll love this, and will most likely hook you into reading the first four installments which I would recommend reading them in order. I really love this Series, and look forward to the next one, and this one and one other are the only Series in Crime Police Procedural's that I love so much not to have missed any, and look forward to many more to come.

Publication Date: August 12, 2025! AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE NOW!

Thank you to Net Galley, Joanna Schaffhausen, and St. Martin's Press--Minotaur Books for generously providing me with my wonderful ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#GoneintheNight #JoannaSchaffhausen StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

[Cece Sondreaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5. I’ll be honest—I requested this ARC purely because the cover caught my eye and I was in the mood for a mystery. I didn’t realize Gone in the Night was the fifth book in a series, but that didn’t end up being a problem. I was able to catch up quickly and never felt lost or like I was missing key backstory. I really loved the main character, Detective Annalisa Vega. The story had plenty of twists and turns to keep me engaged, and overall, it was a quick, satisfying read. I’m glad I stumbled upon this one and will definitely be checking out more books in the series.

Go grab this August 12, 2025!!

Thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press/Minotaur books for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the digital arc!

4.25 stars

So good, as always!

I’m continually impressed by Annalisa’s character. She’s unique in a way female detectives normally are not written. This book in the series literally states what makes her unique. Truth over justice, no matter who, and the fact that she actually lives it even through the emotional damage and conflicts her choices have left in their wake with those closest to her. But what’s unique too is how those closest to her are forced to confront their priorities being flipped from hers. They have chosen justice over truth. These conversations are always hard to read because to be honest I find myself instinctually trying to find who is right, but that’s the whole point. There isn’t a clear answer. And both characters continually have to have these conversations, in order to be healed with one another. I loved the conversation with her near Dad at the end.

The mystery itself was heartbreaking, and full of great twists. I will read this series until the author wraps it up.

[Susie (DFWSusie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gone In the Night is a deeply compelling and twisty mystery thriller that delves into what it means to do the “right thing” when the lines of what is ethically, socially, romantically, and legally “right” do not align.
_____
Plot Summary:
Former Chicago homicide detective turned PI Annalisa Vega has a massive problem. She’s now famous for capturing a serial killer, but also became a pariah in the department for turning in her beloved brother for his role in a crime. In this installment, the second where Annalisa is out on her own, we really get the sense that she’s having trouble finding her place outside the confines of the CPD and with her new role as impending mother and current step-mother.

When her brother asks for her help to get a fellow inmate out of prison, Annalisa accepts out of misplaced guilt and more than a bit of boredom. The problem is that her husband Nick was the detective who put this guy away originally, so if she overturns the conviction she also damages Nick’s reputation.

They soon discover this case is deeper and more terrible than either imagined, bringing their own fears and personal demons back up from where they were long buried.
_____

Thoughts:
When I received this ARC I decided to go backward and read the series in order. Every book is solid and the pacing makes them fast and satisfying reads. They also contain several storylines which run though and while they can be read as standalone, I think that would not do the overall character and story arcs justice.

The evolution of Nick and Annalisa’s relationship over the course of the five books is gripping. Their first attempt at marriage was painful and fraught, so it takes some deft writing to get me to believe this second chance is earned and the forgiveness and recommitment is believable. Schaffhausen could have taken the typical path, making Nick a magically changed man. But instead of delivering the ideal cinnamon roll, he’s still complex and imperfect. Annalisa also must confront her flaws, trust issues, and compulsions. I was convinced these two, for all their external complications and internal messiness, are going to make it this time.

These are not really Romantic Suspense, and yet the romance between Nick and Annalisa is the spine that they all ride on, so believing in their love story matters - especially in this installment. Annalisa has proven several times that her moral compass is so firmly pegged it’s like she’s standing on the pole itself. This is not a woman that gives grace often, even when it’s clear that it is a self-destructive proposition to keep pressing. Nick knows this about her, so when he faces the prospect of having miscarried justice he doesn’t bolt. He listens, fights back when necessary, and accepts what comes from that partnership.

In a way, we see how much Nick has truly evolved in this specific book, beyond the surface level issues when he was young and stupid. Annalisa also puts to rest a lot of her familial guilt and gives Nick what he needs most. Both these characters have shown each other all their cards and that means taking risks with the knowledge that the other person believes they have the other’s best interest at heart.

There’s a very dramatic moment between the couple that at first will shock every reader in this series. But when the secret is revealed about that scene it both proves how strongly forged their bond is as true partners, and makes it wholly believable that their path forward will always be together.

I’m not sure if more books are coming in this series, but I will certainly be reading if so.
———
Series: Detective Annalisa Vega #5

Series or Standalone: The mystery is standalone, somewhat. But you really would miss so much about this particular story without having Books 1-4 as a baseline.

Themes/Tropes: wrongfully accused, second chance, dysfunctional families, incarceration, criminal justice/miscarriage of justice themes

Setting: Chicago, IL modern day

POV: third person, past tense, multi POV

Cops/LEO: yes, heroine is a recently retired Chicago homicide detective turned PI and her husband is still a Chicago homicide detective

Does the Dog/Horse/Cat Die? Their new family cat remains happy and healthy throughout.

Does the relationship/romance survive? Yes, Nick and Annalisa are happily married and stronger than ever at the end, even after being extra fire-tested in this one.
__________
Thank you St Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected Publishing Date: Aug 12, 2025

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the prologue to GONE IN THE NIGHT, we witness a man named Cyrus Merriman, who we later learn is a powerful attorney, removing his wedding ring and sticking it in his overcoat pocket before entering a small pub in the Chicago area on a snowy evening. He sees his target --- an attractive young woman dominating a man at the pool table --- and approaches her. One thing leads to another, and they leave together.

She insists that they walk to her place for the anticipated tryst, and he stops by a shop on the way to purchase cigarettes and condoms. He lends his overcoat to the woman, who then finds the ring and confronts him about it. After a sad attempt to claim he was separated, she chucks the ring into a lake and stabs Cyrus to death, rolling his body into the nearly frozen water.

This is a heavy beginning to Joanna Schaffhausen’s fifth mystery featuring Detective Annalisa Vega. Schaffhausen has attacked this series with the same surgical precision that I’m sure she used as a neuroscientist. There have been running themes in this enjoyable series, including family secrets, guilt and revenge. Annalisa is now a very pregnant PI taking on cases that typically involve one or more of those themes. Her husband, Detective Nick Carelli, does not like the idea of her working in her condition. But he realizes that her background, which is fueled by villainous behavior on the part of her own family, drives her in a way that initially made her change up her career choice from the law to police work.

Annalisa learns at a family gathering that her long-incarcerated brother Alex, a true killer, has requested that she visit him in prison. When she shows up, she is surprised to see another man with him. Joe Green was arrested 13 years ago for Cyrus Merriman’s murder, which readers know is not accurate. He claims he was set up and that the only eyewitness to the alleged crime, a dog walker, was lying. Joe shares that the actual killer sent him a taunting typewritten note with that assertion. Annalisa agrees to take his case and is immediately dismayed to find that the officer who oversaw the crime that put Green behind bars was none other than her husband.

To further complicate matters, Annalisa and Nick are led to a local shelter for abused women where there may be some individuals with secret information that not only could clear Green of all charges but also could connect him to a series of related murders. This is confirmed by a marking now found on multiple bodies, also killed and dumped in a lake, that looks like the letter “B.” Most of these homicides happened while Green was in prison, which points to his innocence and the existence of a serial killer that the authorities missed.

Now, as Annalisa continues to press on, she runs into a number of potential suspects, all of whom might have had a reason for wanting Green behind bars as a form of retribution against not one but two previous wives. Little does Annalisa know that her continued perseverance in this case also might be placing a mark on Nick’s back.

GONE IN THE NIGHT is a highly suspenseful read that continues to allow Joanna Schaffhausen to develop her characters in an outstanding mystery series that always delivers.

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,200 book reviews.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Gone in The Night
Series: Detective Annalisa Vega #5
Author: Joanna Schaffhausen
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press- Minotaur Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: August 12, 2025
My Rating: 4.7 Stars
Pages: 320
Annalisa is asked to go see her brother in prison. Since she’s the one that put him there she can’t help but wonder why he wants her to visit him. He has a case for her, another one who is in prison for murder claims he is innocent. She needs the money so she takes the case

Joe Green is doing hard time for killing his ex-wife’s lawyer, but an anonymous letter sent to the prison warns that the eyewitness in Joe’s trial made up her story. Annalisa starts investigating the possibility of Joe’s wrongful incarceration’, she immediately finds problems: the eyewitness definitely lied about what she saw the night of the murder; and another is Annalisa’s husband Nick Carelli was the arresting officer.(however at that time Nick was her charismatic ex-husband- Yes they remarried and are expecting a baby.)

Not to be a spoiler but Joe Green may be innocent of the murder he was incarcerated but he does seems to be guilty other crimes.
There is a lot going on in this story including some heavy topics such as abuse. I liked that ‘Ruby’s Place’ a shelter for women and their children played a supportive role in this story.
On the lighter side there is a side story of ‘a missing ring’ Annalisa was hired to find Effie Christos’ diamond-and-sapphire engagement ring given to her by her now deceased husband Theo. There are fears that the elderly housekeeper Matilda accidently lost as she was cleaning but cannot remember where she may have placed it.

This is my eight novel by Joanna Schaffhausen and my fifth Detective Annalisa Vega.
In Gone for Good which was first in this series, we learn that Annalisa is a gifted police officer and the daughter of an ex police officer. Annalisa is well known for being the daughter who turned in her father for his role in a murder.
About the Author ~ Joanna Schaffhausen wields a mean scalpel, skills she developed in
her years studying neuroscience. She has a doctorate in psychology, which reflects her
long-standing interest in the brain―how it develops and the many ways it can go wrong.
Previously, she worked as a scientific editor in the field of drug development. Prior to that, she
was an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such as World News Tonight,
Good Morning America, and 20/20. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, daughter,
and an obstreperous basset hound.

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books for granted me this great eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 12, 2025.

[Carole Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.