Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen is a twisty thriller that will have you telling yourself "just one more chapter" all night long. One of my favorite parts about this book were the characters. Characters can be hit or miss in thrillers, so I liked that Annalisa felt like a real person, but was still likable. I could also never predict where this book was going. That being said, one of the twists felt like it was a little too out of left field for me. But the pacing of this book was good, and I still really enjoyed the entire thing.

From the very first chapter, I was intrigued by the murder mystery. I appreciated that the book didn't give away too much about the crime earlier on because it really helped keep the mystery going.

The writing style of Gone for Good was straight-forward. There was no fluff, fancy wordings, etc. The book mostly reads like a crime drama rather than a thriller, but that didn't bother me. I have realized that I tend to get more involved in police drama stories rather than when the "detective" is a civilian. There were also some excerpts from the murder victim's diary that helped move the story along as well. One or two of them felt a little pointless to me, but otherwise, I think they really added a lot to the plot. I had a fun time with this one, and I am interested in reading more of this series!

If you like police procedural this is a great book for you. That’s not my preferred genre so while I would not continue to read the series I do think that people who like those type of books will enjoy this series.

This book ticked all my boxes for a good thriller. Fast paced, made me stay up late, and I couldn't figure out who the villain was until the end. I'm excited that this is a continuing series

Book #1 in a new series. I've learned to not expect as much from the first book in a series as the author builds the characters and communities. But not this book and not this author. It starts building the story from page 1 and takes off quickly. When the police are called to the scene, it's a shock to them all as this killer has been quiet for 20 years. The story now moves in two ways. Back to the original murders and forward as this investigation will be conducted using today's technology and an investigator who has so much more invested in this case.

Annalisa Vega is a strong female MC who is a detective in Chicago assigned to the Lovelorn Killer case. This serial killer terrorized the city 20 years ago and now he's back. Vega's family also has ties to one of the victims.
This book was fast paced with short chapters.
I did NOT guess who the killer was, which is a good thing, although there was another twist at the very end that I did see coming.
Overall, good book.

Very fast paced, excellent female protagonist, just enough creepiness and gore to keep you invested, HUGE / multiple twists at the end and a small sprinkle of romance!
This one has been taunting me on my bookshelf for
MONTHS. I was supposed to read and review this before it published in August, but my priority list with book tours and spotlights just kept growing. I am here to report - it's one worth shuffling up to the top of your #TBR. I am also thrilled its part of a because I really loved Annalisa's character and that ending left me with so many questions!!

I really really loved this book!! Such a great thriller that makes a full circle back to the original killer! I will definitely be picking up more titles by this author! 10/10

Reading Between the Wines book review #85/135 for 2022:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: Gone For Good (Detective Annalisa Vega #1)
Author: Joanna Schaffhausen
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: Wow this mystery had everything in it. Violence, mystery, red herrings, lies and of course murder…all the things that make a great thriller. Reading this was like being able to read multiple books in one due to the different plots. I absolutely loved the twists and think it was perfectly done. I immediately read the next in the series and cannot wait to read a third installment.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @GoneForGood.

#GoneForGood # JoannaSchaffhausen #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers

Outstanding detective read, which hopefully turns into a series. Detective Vega is my girl. So likable and relatable. Gruesome yet funny in some parts and put myself in straight detective mode. I wasn’t fond of Colin. Vega’s boyfriend from years ago. I thoroughly was pleased with how the story developed and who can say no to a cold case involving a serial killer?? No one. I have been talking about this books for days now with my friends.

Excellent new book from Schaffhausen!

I love Joanna Schaffhausen’s mystery / thriller books! Her Ellery Hathaway series is my favorite from the genre, so I was excited to read this new book. She did a fantastic job! I thought I knew who the killer was early on, but she managed to surprise me instead! I love her writing style. I think her professional background helps to create dynamic characters that are interesting and difficult to figure out.
Can’t wait to read book two!

I love this author! All her books are pre-orders, I don't even read the synopsis. I just know I'm gonna love it. I know she is going to pull me in all sorts of directions, she is going to mess with my mind and then she will send me on my way happy.

This book was fast paced, well written and a twisty! Just the way i like them.

10/10 would recommend

Ooh time goes by and if i don't write the review right away...sigh. I'm trying to be better. The best i can do right now is give a star count...

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* read the second book in this series first on accident lol so went back to read the first one! i do really like this series so far and am looking forward to reading more.

Gone for Good is an excellent start to a new mystery series featuring Detective Annalisa Vega. Twenty years ago, the Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women, ritually binding them before writing them each a gruesome love letter in the local paper. Many believe he's gone for good. Grace Harper isn't one of them. She believes The Lovelorn Killer is still around living in the same neighborhoods he hunted in. If only she can figure out who he is. Detective Vega lost someone she loved to the killer, so when she arrives at the murder scene of Grace Harper and it's clear the killer is back, she knows she has to solve this case and bring peace to her family. The story is twisty and intriguing. The characters are well-developed. Highly recommended! Be sure to check out Gone for Good today.

I started this book with high expectations but was disappointed with it. I felt that the story dragged so much at the beginning I started to skim parts of it just to get to the good part. While the story has lots of action and turns and twists, I found myself skipping big chunks of the story. I was simply not engaged with the story and wish it would have been told in a more appealing way. I tend to love crime thrillers but this wasn't it for me.

Annalisa becomes lead detective on a 20 year old cold case from her past after the killer resurfaces and it becomes a race to catch the Lovelorn killer before he gets her himself. This was a suspenseful read that left me screaming “Run, don’t trust him” several times, each time being wrong about the killers identity. This story is full of unexpected twists but also a bit of a love story. I’m not sure which man I’m rooting for just yet, but I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

“Gone for Good” by Joanna Schaffhausen follows Detective Annalisa Vega as a cold case reopens and she is put on the trail. The real kicker though- this serial killer murdered a family friend of Annalisa’s back in the day. Why has this killer reemerged? Annalisa has to put together what Grace, a member of an amatuer online sleuthing group, figured out before she was murdered. Fast paced and twisty, “Gone for Good” is a great start to this new series!

Annalisa Vega is an interesting character, for sure. She grew up with her father as a cop, as well as most of their family friends being cops. This past murder by a serial killer tore through their community and she can still feel it. This case is extremely personal and that only amplifies when the killer seeks her out intentionally. It feels as though it would be easy for Annalisa to act irrational, but for the most part she’s steady and focused.

This book also displayed a lot of clues as to who the killer was before the ending reveal. This made for fun reading because I was able to figure it out before the end. Little details are easy to miss, but if you focus, it’s all there.

In the end, this book was a solid 4 star read for me! I enjoyed the characters and I like that I’m able to start a series pretty early on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Detective Annalisa Vega teams up with her ex-husband to solve a homicide.

This is a very intense and action-filled story. I loved the Ex's working together. It had a "Moonlighting" tv show vibe. Some of the scenes were graphic and a bit gruesome so it is not for the faint of heart. There is a spicy moment so be aware of that. It was such a great read, I couldn't put it down. I could see it turned into a movie! It is a great read for someone who enjoys reading true crime!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I liked the blend of past and present in the story. Normally I don’t but it was well written. I liked how real Annalisa felt when reading and that she is a strong female lead. I also like her Ex, and will be interested to see if this develops in future books.