Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This is one of my favorite authors, although I do enjoy her Ellery Hathaway series more than Annalisa Vega. This one was slow for so long and I found myself not caring about any of the characters except Ruth; it would be fun to see her again in a future book. Annalisa, Nick and Cassidy just seemed so dumb about everything. BUT....the twists at the end? I had a lot of it figured out but not all of it. That ending totally redeemed it for me.

All the Way Gone is the fourth in the Annalisa Vega series and drew me in from the very beginning. A sociology professor is writing a book about “good sociopaths”. Her premise is that a lot of successful people are sociopaths, which is what makes them successful. And she uses a very successful surgeon as her poster boy. When a young woman in his apartment building falls to her death, the professor decides she better make sure her subject is actually as squeaky clean as she thinks. So, Annalisa is hired.
While being a great, fast moving story, this book also made me think. There’s enough scientific info about what makes someone a sociopath. And there’s also the whole “are they born that way” and “can they be changed” questions. There’s a whole philosophical level to this book you don’t typically find in a police procedural.
In addition to her case, Annalisa is dealing with Cassidy, Nick’s recently “discovered” 16 year old daughter. Cassidy is a typical teenager - not good at doing what she’s told or staying out of trouble. Her mom is dying and Nick is looking to become much more than just her biological father. Schaffhausen does a great job of getting the added stress this puts on their new marriage.
Between the various storylines, the book moves at a brisk pace. There’s a great sense of tension. The cat and mouse scenes between Annalisa and Dr. Canning were really well done. All the characters are well drawn and I especially found the good doctor to be especially well done. It was easy to see how the first twist would play out but not the how of it. But trust me, I didn’t see that ending!
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.

ok so i went in blind and this was a big mistake, this book left me confused until I found out that this was part of a series, so on the get-go, I had to go and check out the other books for me to understand where this story was going. I didn't understand her relationship ( who in their right mind remarried their ex). Also, I thought it was a thriller/murder mystery but boy I was disappointed ( the cover was misleading). Maybe if I read the first book this review will change who knows?

All the Way Gone, the fourth in Joanna Schaffhausen's Detective Annalisa Vega novels, is definitely one of the creepiest in the series. That's because it centers on a highly regarded doctor who is the subject of a book called The Good Sociopath. He is indeed a sociopath, but is he a good one? The book's author, Mara Delaney thinks so, but she's not so sure. She hires Annalisa, now a private investigator and married a second time to her ex-husband, Nick, to investigate Dr. Craig Canning. If she determines that Dr. Canning is responsible for the death of a woman who fell to her death from her balcony, Mara will be discredited, her book dropped, and she will have to return a quite healthy advance. At the same time, Nick's 17-year-old daughter is doing some of her own investigating. She wants to find her very ill girlfriend's long-lost mother to convince her to donate a kidney to her daughter. But she doesn't know what a hornet's nest she will confront, putting her life in danger and driving Nick crazy with fear for her safety.

It's a twisty plot, as always, and the suspense is palpable. Dr. Canning is truly a scary character, but is he guilty of the crime? I enjoyed the thrills and the surprising conclusion of the story, although there wasn't as much about Annalisa's backstory and her history with Nick and with the police force as I would have liked.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I’ve enjoyed this series and its Chicago setting. A case of so many red flags and psychological red herrings the books was a delight to read for its complex plot and unlikabke characters! However, there are plenty of other emotionally appealing although damaged characters. And while some of the context is unbelievable it is a great read.

This was my first experience reading a book by Joanna Schaffhausen, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The subject matter and characters were fascinating, and the writing style was clear and well-paced, making it easy to follow.

“All the Way Gone” begins with what seems like the innocent death of a young woman who falls from her 14th-floor balcony while supposedly hanging wind chimes. The twist? She lives in the same building as Dr. Canning, a renowned surgeon featured in an upcoming book about how sociopaths can benefit society.

Mara, the book's author, grows suspicious of Dr. Canning's involvement in the woman's untimely death and hires a private investigator to ensure he wasn’t involved, protecting her book’s potential success. The story alternates between the perspectives of Mara and the investigator, building tension as it becomes clear that while Dr. Canning is a prime suspect, he may not be the only one with a motive for murder.

This intriguing and enjoyable book sparked my interest in psychology and sociopathy. I look forward to reading more from Joanna Schaffhausen! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Publish date: August 13, 2024

This book kept me guessing until the end. Is there a such thing as a good sociopath? That is what Anna is trying to figure out. This is the third book in this series that follows Annalisa Vega. It’s a stand alone mystery and I did not read the previous books. I do feel like I missed a bit not knowing some of the backstory and character relationships but it was fairly easy to figure out. I enjoyed this book a lot. There were some surprising and twists.

I love a good mystery/thriller/whodunit/crime novel, and this checks all the boxes. Annalisa is now a PI picking up her first case, and as expected, nothing is as it seems. Add some family drama, and you've got yourself a great read. I can't wait for the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "All The Way Gone", the latest book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schauffhausen.
At the outset of this, the fourth book in the series, Detective Vega has turned in her shield, become a private citizen, and opened Vista Investigations; she's now a Private Investigator. Also, she has remarried her ex-, Nick Canning, and is navigating the perils of having a surprise, sixteen-year-old step-daughter who's simultaneously coping with the impending loss of her mother and her new family dynamic.
Now, PI Vega is presented with her first and second cases, almost simultaneously.
Annalisa will find that the idea of 'undercover' investigation for someone with her previous high profile leaves a lot to be desired - like anonymity!
Dr. Mara Delaney, the author of an about-to-be published book that posits the existence of a "Good Sociopath" has begun to have doubts about her prime example - a brilliant surgeon who may or may not be a cold-hearted killer (and by extension, not a 'good sociopath').
And Cassidy, Nick's newly found daughter, wants Annalisa to locate her friend's mother, a mother who disappeared many years ago, but might be a match for a badly needed organ donation.
The bulk of the story centres on sociopathy and whether there really are sociopaths who contribute positively, not negatively.
Who is the real sociopath, and can they be stopped? Both cases have twists and turns, surprises and heart-stopping action, and you will certainly be taken on a roller coaster ride to the very end.
Highly recommended. You could read this as a standalone (it works, and there's enough backstory that you won't feel lost).

Such a unique story line and a great read. This one sucks you in from the very first page and keeps you in its grip until the very end. The concept was creative and the characters were developed perfectly for their roles. This was immersive and well written.
Oozes suspense and mystery. A real rollercoaster of a ride with so many twists and turns you have no idea what’s coming for you!

I was so ready for another Annalise Vega book but got done glitchy licensing error messages (what???). So bummed.

This is the fourth in the Detective AnnaLisa Vega series. It can be read as a standalone.

Remarried to Nick, AnnaLisa has left the police department and opened her own private detective agency. Her first client is an author who has written a book that purports that there are some “good" sociopaths who contribute positively to society and she has focused on neurosurgeon Craig Canning. When one of Dr. Canning’s neighbors falls to her death, the author hires AnnaLisa to investigate just to make sure that he truly is “good.”. Oh, but there is so much more to Dr. Canning!

On the home front, Nick has recently discovered a daughter, Cassidy, from an affair he had when he was married to AnnaLisa the first time. Cassidy asks for AnnaLisa’s help in locating the long missing mother of a good friend of hers who needs a kidney transplant.

I have read a few of Schaffhausen’s books and like her writing. This is a fast read, with a lot of mystery surrounding the possibly suspicious death and the glib narcissism of Dr. Canning. Annalisa is an intelligent young woman whose doggedness is her worst enemy. The idea of a “good” sociopath is an interesting concept and gives the reader a lot to think about.

Is there such a thing as a good sociopath? Newly minted private investigator Annalisa Vega is skeptical, but her first client, Mara Delaney, insists that some sociopaths are beneficial to society. Mara has even written a book titled The Good Sociopath centered around Chicago neurosurgeon Craig Canning. Dr. Canning has saved hundreds of lives so it shouldn’t matter that he doesn’t actually care about his patients, should it? But Mara has a more urgent problem, she is now concerned that Canning might not be such a good sociopath after all. A young woman in Canning’s apartment building mysteriously plunged to her death from a balcony, and Mara fears Canning could be responsible. She needs to uncover the truth about Canning before the book comes out, so Annalisa has little time to search for answers. Annalisa quickly discovers that more than one person wanted the young woman dead. Canning insists he didn’t do it. His charming, unflappable demeanor suggests that either he’s telling the truth or Mara is right and he’s cold-hearted to the core. But the cops believe the girl’s death was an accident. The more Annalisa probes, the more she becomes convinced it’s a fiendishly clever murder, one only a brilliant psychopath could pull off. She draws deeper into a battle of wits with Canning, so determined to prove his guilt that she forgets Mara’s most important warning—that sociopaths only care about winning at all costs. When Annalisa finally peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the horrifying truth of the girl’s death, she may be too late to save herself. Lots of twists and turns in this one. Fourth in the series can read as a stand-alone. Highly recommend!

A decent detective thriller with a bit of family drama rolled in.
If you like a story with a lot of twists and turns and maybe a cliffhanger thrown in you might enjoy this one. I haven’t read the previous 3 so I can’t say how much intertwine they are.
But I did enjoy the story. There is alot of psychology thrown in.

Thank you Minotaur Books and Joanna Schaffhausen for the gifted digital ARC!

The Detective Annalisa Vega series does. not. miss! I absolutely loved this one. I'm not even sure I can eloquently point to what it is about Schaffhausen's writing style that I love so much, I just cannot put any of her books down!

I definitely did not see the big twist in this one coming and there was a major plot point at the end that I could have done without, but it does make me curious whether or not the series will continue (I won't spoil any further than that).

All the Way Gone US pub date is August 13!

Excellent and thought provoking. Just the kind of book that is great for class discussions with my older issues. Can there be a good sociopath, does society need them. Is there ever any justification for killing a bad person. Lots for them to think about, all told in a very readable form and mixed in with a mystery

This is a very intriguing mystery with complex characters and moral issues and multi layer cat and mouse game. Annalisa is very human and relatable and part of the book focuses on her family relationships, which rounded out the story. I wasn't as fond of the characterization of Lizzie, that felt a bit weaker than the rest but overall a very intelligent thriller 4.5

Our beloved Detective Annalisa Vega is back, but instead of being a member of the force, she's a Private Investigator now, running her own "firm" and choosing her own cases. It's weird seeing Vega away from the police, but let's be honest, she hasn't had the best experiences with Chicago's finest. Her husband, Nick, is still with the PD, though.

With Vega a PI, we get to see different aspects of her life, especially when she takes on her first client, Mara Delaney, who is writing a book about the good sociopaths can bring to society. She centered her story around Dr. Craig Canning, a local neurosurgeon, but now there's been an incident at Dr. Canning's apartment building and Mara wants Vega to make sure he wasn't involved before the book comes out and her entire theory is publicly debunked.

What follows is a tense tale, where it first appears that not much will happen. But suddenly, we're reading a tightly woven, intense story about a woman pushed (allegedly) over her balcony, the brilliant surgeon and neighbor who may have done it, and the doctor writing a book about him.

As Vega plays cat and mouse with the cunning Canning, he infiltrates all aspects of her life--including Nick, who is investigating the suspicious balcony death and even Cassidy, Nick's newfound teenage daughter. Schaffhausen's strength is how well she magically slots together so many little details about a case. Before you know it, storylines are intertwining before your very eyes. This is a strong mystery: well-done and well plotted with great characters.

Annalisa has always been a favorite of mine, with her refreshing outlook on life and unwavering dedication. In this book, her character is further developed, and we're introduced to new faces like Cassidy. While Cassidy’s character seems a bit plain at the moment, I’m hopeful she will be fleshed out more in future installments.

What makes this story particularly engaging is its focus on sociopaths rather than the typical serial killer trope. The exploration of different types of sociopaths adds a fascinating scientific dimension that kept me hooked. However, I did feel that the attempt to paint Canning as the antagonist was a bit heavy-handed, which kept me second-guessing who the real villain was. Despite that, I enjoyed piecing together the clues and ultimately figuring it out.

Overall, this book is a compelling read for anyone interested in psychological thrillers. The depth of Annalisa’s character and the intriguing premise of sociopathy make it a standout addition to the series.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Joanna Schaffhausen always writes a story that is complex and satisfying. All the Way Gone is the fourth book in the Detective Annalise Vega series. Annalisa is now a private investigator and has been hired by an author to investigate the subject of her upcoming book release. Having written a book about Dr Craig Canning and how he is a good sociopath, she now is concerned that he may be responsible for the death of a young woman in his apartment building. The police believe that the woman's death was an accident, including her husband. The investigation reveals that there were several people who could have wanted the woman dead. The story is twisty and we dig into the mind of a sociopath and how they interact with people. This is a good investigative thriller and I appreciated all of the complex details.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy.