I would love for Joanna Schaffhausen to continue the Detective Annalisa Vega series forever. This is a great thriller with unseen twists, layered characters, and a very satisfying conclusion. Annalisa is a private detective now and gets involved with a mysterious death that could be a murder at the hand of a sociopath. I really enjoyed the psychological element and the twisty whodunnit (and how) in this book. The additional piece of Anna navigating step parenthood was very interesting. As always, this book has an action-packed ending that felt very well paced and unexpected. I really loved this story (and all of Joanna Schaffhausen's work). Thanks to Joanna Schaffhausen, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really love the way Schaffhausen tells a story. I am a huge fan of both of her series, and this latest Annalisa Vega tale was fabulous. I love the way she blends together series-long questions as well as individual discrete storylines in each book. The character development is strong and believable and really adds to the drama of the narrative. I loved seeing Cassidy's story deepen and am exceptionally curious to see what is next up for our fearless protagonist, given the bit of a surprise (but not really) at the end.

This is Joanna Schaffhausen’s fourth installment in her Detective Annalisa Vega series. Having read the first three books in the series, I was excited to read this one early.

This one was slightly different than the first three books, but it wasn’t totally unexpected in terms of advancing the series. Annalisa is now a private investigator. Also, her family members are mentioned, but more in passing.

The focus of this book is primarily on her first case, as well as her navigating her relationship with Nick and his daughter. In terms of the case, I was a little hesitant to read this book because I don’t particularly want to read about sociopaths. However, the plot worked and had some twists that kept things interesting.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This is the fourth installment focusing on Annalisa Vega. While this book could be read as a stand alone it would work better if you’d read the rest of the books and had some of the character history.

The ending was wonderful, and I didn’t see some of the twists coming. Books that keep me guessing are getting to be few and far between so it’s always a surprise treat. Books about PI’s are different that that of cops because they don’t have to follow the same rigid set of rules; it’s always fascinating to read about and I ponder if that is truly how it works. I love books about sociopaths and this one was great in that regard. I’d never thought of sociopaths as being good or bad, so it was different to think of them this way. It was just an interesting characterization that was made throughout the book. The subplot was also a good one and one I wont say too much about because it would be a spoiler, but it kept me guessing as well. The writing was well done and very captivating, it drew me in from the start.

This is one that I’d love to go back and read from the start so I had all my questions answered and I think that you should too!

This is 4th in a series, but I read it as a standalone without reading any of the other books. FMC Annalisa has left the police force in Chicago after catching a well known serial killer. She is now starting her own Private Investigator business. Her first client is an author who wrote a book about a sociopath who she is worried may be linked to a recent death of a socialite who fell from a balcony.

I think I really need to pause on PI books. It feels like authors rely on PI characters to act like police but with no rules/ethics, giving more options for storylines. This storyline was interesting after I recently read. “Sociopath: a Memoir” by Patric Gage. Due to the knowledge I learned about sociopaths through that book, it frustrated me how evil sociopaths were painted in this book. This included the use of sociopath and psychopath interchangeably. The first half of the book used “sociopath” and the second half of the book used a mixture of psychopath and sociopath. And how do sociopaths make up 1-4% of the population yet almost every character in this book fits the bill? 🤔

All major plot points wrapped up nicely. While parts of the book were enjoyable and there were well thought out twists, I found myself frustrated with some of the details.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Pub Date Aug 13 2024

Love that Annalisa is back and as a PI at that. Her case is time bound to find out if there is there such a thing as a good sociopath? Good story filled with twists and turns, which included Nick's (ex husband and now current husband) teenaged daughter.

Maybe it's me but why so all smart, gnarly women marry or are in a relationship with terrible men? But I digress. So is there a good sociopath? Who is a sociopath? The pace of the book was fast, but scattered at times. I love that the author knows so much about brains. And yet I found myself cringing at the lack of checks and balances for the PI and for the police work.

Over all a good read. I love Joanna Schaffhausen's writing style, so I say go get it. Thanks to #netgalley for an ARC. Of course the views are my own.

I am a huge fan of this series and am always so excited to get another Annalisa Vega story! In the fourth installment of the series, there are many changes happening with Annalisa, most importantly she's left the CPD to become a private investigator. She's hired by Mara, a professor who's written a new book about "good sociopaths", namely Dr. Craig Canning, a brilliant neurosurgeon, after his neighbor is found dead. Mara needs to know if Dr. Canning isn't the "good sociopath" she's betting her career on. This story is brilliant!! Twists on twists on twists!! I. COULD. NOT. PUT. IT. DOWN! Bravo Joanna Schaffhausen!! Another terrific addition to this series!!

Psychopaths and sociopaths and killers - OH MY!

⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Annalisa Vega is BACK (YYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!) - now starting her PI business and her first client comes in with a perplexing problem. Mara has written a book about “good sociopaths” and how they are beneficial to society. Many are born with this form of mental illness but few actually become murderers. Only problem? The star of her new book might not be so beneficial. In fact, he might be a killer.

💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: This whole series is one of my top series in the mystery/police procedure/PI genre and I make zero apologies fangirling with my middle-aged nerdy self. Vega is no damsel in distress (THANK YOU!), she’s smart, she’s fierce, she’s BA personified.

Might be my psych degree (or that’s my excuse) but sociopaths, psychopaths? FASCINATING. Read an article in The Atlantic about this exact issue and it’s just dang captivating. Riveting.

📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery/Police Procedural/PI

😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨:
- [ ] Allll the mystery loving peeps need to get into this series. Yes, can be read as a stand-alone

🙅‍♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨:
- [ ] Those who don’t enjoy strong female leads, or maybe aren’t into the psychological aspects.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me side eye every single person I know.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 13, 2024
Annalisa Vega is now an independent private investigator, after leaving the police force, and new wife with a husband and step-daughter. As she tries to make sense of her new life and how it all fits together, her firm gets its first client- author Mara Delaney. Mara has a new book about to be released, centred around Chicago’s finest neurosurgeon, Craig Canning, with the shocking premise- is there such a thing as a good psychopath? Mara knows Craig is a psychopath but she is hopeful Annalisa can prove it because a woman has died in his building through mysterious circumstances and Mara knows that if it turns out Craig is responsible her whole book, and everything she believed, would be for nothing. As Annalisa investigates, Craig catches on to her and soon Anna herself is caught in a deadly cat and mouse game with a known psychopath.
“All the Way Gone” is the fourth Annalisa Vega novel by author Joanna Schaffhausen. This is absolutely one of those novels where reading one or two is really all you need to know to be able to follow along with ease. Schaffhausen does not make it necessary to read all of the novels, or even to read them in order, but as always, I recommend it.
Although Annalisa is the protagonist, Mara also tells her side of the story, which is especially helpful towards the end of the novel. Obviously, I loved the psychopath angle and the thought-provoking premise of whether or not good psychopaths exist. Although “Gone” is a fiction novel in every way, it is fascinating and even informative, as the reader weaves their way through Craig Canning’s twisted mind alongside Annalisa. The ending took me by surprise, and I loved the journey through all the guessing, speculation and shocking twists that led me there.
“Gone” has to be my favourite Vega novel by far, although I will openly admit a bias to all things neuroscience, psychology and especially, psychopathology. However, Schaffhausen is a talented writer and deserves all the credit and “Gone” is an edge-of-your-seat, mind-bending suspense novel of twists and turns, with an unexpected ending that delivers!

Annalisa Vega has quit being a cop and is now a PI. She gets her first case before her office is even open. A professor wants her to find out if the subject of her book on good sociopaths is a murderer. All the investigating Annalisa does cannot prove he committed murder even tho she feels he did it. The man is a renowned brain surgeon, so how could he be a murderer? Annalisa keeps digging and learns a lot and she finally feels she has it figured out, but can she prove who the murderer really is and can she stay alive to prove it...

Wow, this one was full of twists! I loved that there were so many characters intertwined and how the author handled them. The subject matter was fascinating and really made you question everything along the way. Despite that, I didn’t see that ending coming at all. I hadn’t read the previous three books, while I wish I had, it didn’t detract from the story not having read it. This was such a fun thriller, I’d definitely recommend!

Annalisa is back, but she is no longer on the police force.

She hung her own shingle out as a private investigator.

She didn't have to wait too long for a client.

Mara arrived asking Annalisa to check into the death of young woman who fell from her balcony. She thinks Craig Canning, a famous neurosurgeon, pushed her.

Mara and Craig have other connections too. Mara has written a book about sociopaths and centered it around Craig.

Annalisa gets another client as well.

Her husband's daughter has a friend who needs to find her mother. Her mother is bad news.

Dr. Canning is also bad news especially when he threatens Annilissa and her livelihood and Mara about a secret she has.

Another can't-put-down read by Joanna Schaffhausen.

Lots of tension, twists, and surprises that will keep you off track and keep you turning the pages to get to the end.

Fans will be delighted. 5/5

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

Joanna Schaffhausen is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and her latest book hooked me from start to end. All the Way Gone was a great mystery that kept me guessing to the end with a twist that I did not see coming. I give this book a 5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin Press for the opportunity to review All the Way Gone. All opinions are my own.

Sociopaths 'R Us.........

Seems like the shelves are stocked with the demented. Choose your brand from the emotionally distanced, those who absolutely hate to lose, the beaming narcissists, and all those who don't quite play well with others.

Joanna Schaffhausen creates quite the stir in her fourth addition to this series. I'm a card carrying fan of Schaffhausen. All the Way Gone didn't quite live up to the bar set with those preceding books. There have been some major changes here in the direction of some of those characters and in the weight of this intended storyline. You've pulled Detective Annalisa Vega from the ranks of the Chicago Police and thrust her into the P.I. role. She's swimming in deep waters here and can't seem to pocket a clue.

Dr. Mara Delaney is a professor who is touting her new book called Good Sociopaths. She believes that not all sociopaths act on their inner wind storms. Her case study is that of a Chicago neurosurgeon who has saved a multitude of lives with his brilliance. Dr. Craig Canning is a deeply embedded sociopath. But now Mara is having doubts about her premise for her soon to be published book.

Mara hires Annalisa to investigate Canning. She wants to keep it in the dark. Her new book depends on it. But when Victoria Albright fell from her highrise apartment balcony, Annalisa is not so sure that it was an accident. After all, Canning lives in the same building and knew Victoria well. And someone seems to be after Mara as well. How is this all connected?

The character of Annalisa Vega has changed drastically in All the Way Gone. Annalisa seems to have lost her sharp as a knife analytical skills and drive. She's now wrapped in her husband Nick's family turmoil. (Yes, they married without the fans present.) There's a lot of drama and a lot of wayward threads here. Oh, so many that it's watered down the once kickass Annalisa. She's been domesticated......and even more so with the last chapter. I'll still be locked in for the next one without question.......so help me.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Joanna Schaffhausen for the opportunity.

An amazingly twisty story.

Annalise is starting her PI business while getting used to re-marrying her ex and figuring out a relationship with his newly discovered teen daughter. A client walks in to hire her to investigate the subject of her book - Good Sociopath. Professor Mara Delaney has a lot depending on her star subject, Dr Canning fully living the role. As a well known neurosurgeon, Dr. Canning is beloved by his patients and hospital staff. A young woman in his building plunged to her death - and - there are ties to Dr. Canning.

Annalise starts connecting the dots while determining if the death was an accident or murder.

I literally finished this book today and it left me guessing until the end!! It took me a bit to get into, but once i was engaged I could not put it down. I thought I figured it out but kept on guessing. I highly recommend this one!

ALL THE WAY GONE begins with Ruth Bernstein, an 84-year-old widow, standing outside her luxury apartment. Her next-door neighbor, Vicki Albright, supposedly slips and falls from her apartment balcony while hanging wind chimes and dies. Is Vicki’s death the result of an accident? That is my first question. Annalisa Vega, an ex-cop, opens a detective agency, Vista Investigations. Her first client is a woman who requests that Annalisa never let “him” know about her visit. Who is the man? Why is the client seeking help? Why all the secrecy? Is this related to Vicki’s fall from her apartment building? If so, how?

This thriller keeps me totally engaged in the story. I find myself thinking of this book in between my reading sessions. I look forward to reading future books in the Annalisa Vega series. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of ALL THE WAY GONE.

I love Joanna Schaffhausen's books. In addition to all of the page-turning twists and turns of her books, in All the Way Gone she also asks the reader to contemplate a thorny question - is there such a thing as a good sociopath? Newly minted as a PI, Annalisa Vega is visited by Mara Delaney when the subject of her book has a murder occur in the building in which he lives. Mara doesn't want the premise of a good sociopath debunked if neurosurgeon Craig Canning was doing something bad. For any other person, this would seem like stretch, especially in an apartment building this size. But knowing Canning's tendencies it seems a possibility, and the more interactions Annalisa has with Canning as she investigates the harder it is for her not to believe he did it. Not only is he a sociopath, he is also an incredibly intelligent one. Meanwhile, in another case that gradually gets entangled with the other, Annalisa's stepdaughter Cassidy comes to her for help tracking down the absentee mother that may be a kidney donor match for Cassidy's critically ill friend Naomi. As the book goes on the reader will realize that while Canning is the most obvious sociopath in the story, he's not the only one. But how good or bad is he? And what actions and other things a sociopath does mean that the good they do in selfish pursuit outweighs their bad tendencies. It's thought provoking on top of a book that throws the usual Schaffhausen surprises in as the book races to an ending. Definitely another readable murder mystery! A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn't know that this was part of a series so, once again, I felt like I was coming in during the story. I stuck with it because it was very well written but the plot took a while to get started and , for a lot of the book, not very much seemed to be happening. I would be willing to give more books from this series a try but I think that I'd start reading them in order.
Thank you Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Love this series so much and this one is just as terrific as the others!!! I love the characters and wowza the twist!!! I just finished and I’m already ready for the next one!