Chicago Detective Vega is relentless in her search for the truth.

“Long Gone” is book three in the “Detective Annalisa Vega” series, but as a first-time reader, I had no trouble following along. Characters are introduced and background information is included as part of the narrative. The book opens with a brutal assault from long ago. For readers, the declaration that follows sets the tone of the novel. “I’m sure he still feels guilty about that. Wouldn’t you?”

Readers are introduced to Chicago Detective Annalisa Vega and her partner, Nick Carelli. They divorced fourteen prior but have settled into a workable professional relationship. Vega drives the plot; she is a strongminded, dedicated police officer. She is determined to find answers no matter how difficult, even if others do not want the answers found. She is a stalker with a badge, going after everybody, and sorting out the innocent from the guilty later.

Schaffhausen created characters with complicated pasts and complex secrets. Many make a lot of “questionable” choices in words, deeds, and companions. There is a cold case; a big case; a complicated case; one that takes on an ugly dimension. Vega investigates anyone and everyone. People have secrets they would die for, and if Vega does not untangle the mess, she will be next.

I received a review copy of “Long Gone” from Joanna Schaffhausen, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books. The action is nonstop; the clues lead in all directions, and Vega takes chances to reveal the truth.

“Long Gone” by Joanna Schaffhausen is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries and anywhere you get your books.

#BookReview #JoannaSchaffhausen #LongGone #DetectiveAnnalisaVega ( )

Complicated police procedural and crime thriller featuring Chicago detective Annalisa Vega in the followup to GONE FOR GOOD.

Even more messed up than her personal life, Annalisa's job is also fraught with problems. Nobody on the force likes or trusts her since she turned in her own father, an ex-cop. Now she runs the risk of alienating everyone even further when she's assigned to investigate the murder of a another Chicago detective, Leo Hammond. Apparently Leo Hammond wasn't the great cop that everyone thought he was -- nor were his best buddies. In addition, Annalisa is looking into a cold case that might also be linked to some malfeasance on Hammond's watch. As always, she goes looking for trouble and it always gets found.

This is a convoluted set of cases where there are multiple suspects with lots of secrets and lies that have gone unexposed for years. The truth is eventually revealed after Annalisa attacks both situations with her usual dogged enthusiasm. The words of her current boss describe Annalisa's character: "...blatant insubordination, legal violations, questionable judgments, and dangerous pursuits." Instead of admiration, Annalisa mostly elicited annoyance. It just seems such a trope that she constantly goes off on her own and puts herself and others in peril. Regardless, the complex investigation yields results and Annalisa doesn't get fired.

Although I did not like this as much as I'd hoped, it provided a couple of hours of entertainment. I am not sure if I will read further installments in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. ( )

A twisty murder mystery with a lot of intertwining story lines. I really enjoyed Joanna's style of writing and I am looking forward to reading more books from her in the future.

I liked the narrator's voice and I was able to still understand everything at 2x speed which is always a plus. I would definitely look for audiobooks read by Kelsey Navarro in the future. ( )

Annalisa Vega is back investigating a cold case she isn’t assigned to and not permitted to look into as well as a present-day murder of a policeman.

She has a hunch that both cases are related, and the murderer is the same person.

There was not enough evidence to convict this person for the first murder twenty years ago, and it looks like there isn’t enough this time either.

Annalisa is determined to prove she is right when everyone is telling her she has it all wrong.

Things happen while she is digging up evidence, but it made someone angry, and now she might be a suspect.

I always enjoy Ms. Schaffhausen’s books. Her story lines keep you glued to the pages.

Fans of Annalisa will again be treated to her amazing detective work.

Even though it is Book #2, you can read LONG GONE as a standalone.

This one will have the most cunning sleuths guessing incorrectly. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review. ( )

Annalisa Vega is back in Long Gone! For those of us Gone For Good fans wondering how Chicago Police Detective Vega would put her life back together, your answers are provided in this excellent sequel.

For those of you who haven’t met Annalisa yet, STOP. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Long Gone is not the book you’re looking for…yet. Long Gone is not a standalone novel. You must read Gone For Good first to understand the relationships and conflicts between the characters based on the events of the first book. Would you walk into a theater halfway through a movie and be able to enjoy the rest of that movie? Nope. Don’t cheat yourself of the pleasure of reading the whole story. Once you’ve read Gone For Good, you’ll be ready and eager to grab Long Gone.

Wow, Annalisa was shattered by the end of Gone For Good and is struggling in a new reality where her relationships with family, friends, and coworkers are strained after her actions after solving the Lovelorn Killer case. Partner/ex-husband Nick Carelli seems to be the only one on her side, but even their professional and personal relationships are heading for the crossroads. Vega and Carelli are assigned to track down a cop killer. Some resentful cops see a chance for revenge for Annalisa’s actions in the Lovelorn Killer case and try to frame her for the crimes she is investigating. As more bodies pile up, it gets harder for Annalisa to solve the case and escape being framed for murder. She’ll leave collateral damage in her wake - lives are ruined, some are lost - and considers it a necessary part of solving her case.

Annalisa’s struggling through deeply strained personal relationships. While she claims she wants to rebuild, she plays the victim instead of recognizing others’ pain. She’s hurt but fails to acknowledge that other people hurt too. More than one person asks her to just visit certain family members, but she chooses to wallow in her own pain instead. Then she learns that other strained relationships are mending, and she laments that she’s left out. The only way her relationships will mend is if she makes an effort to rebuild the relationship. Even then, she still expects others to give up their plans and choose hers instead.

I like a flawed heroine, and Annalisa Vega definitely fits that bill. Schaffhausen does an excellent job of showing the motivations behind each of the characters, even though Annalisa remains self-absorbed. I felt frustrated that Annalisa could not see where she was the impediment to repairing relationships. I groaned every time Annalisa told her fellow officers what she was going to do then quickly changed her mind when the mood struck her. It is a delicate balance to make situations clear to the reader when the character remains oblivious, and Schaffhausen expertly walks that fine line. Annalisa makes a number of mistakes, but I was always on her side, hoping she’d figure things out and repair her reputation and her relationships.

Long Gone is an excellent combination of a twisty mystery with deeply developed characters. Thriller fans will enjoy the book…but only if they’ve read Gone For Good first.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing a review copy of the book. ( )