Detective Annalisa Vega Sparknotes

Detective Annalisa Vega Series by Joanna Schaffhausen

Author Joanna Schaffhausen writes the “Detective Annalisa Vega” series of mystery novels.

Annalisa Vega, a Chicago homicide detective, got married hastily in her early twenties, as her parents thought she was too young to get married, and now that she is well into her thirties, her mom fears that it might be too late.

This is why she agrees to go on a blind date with a lawyer that her best friend sets her up with. However the date winds up boring her to tears, and she is relieved, at first at least, to get a call which summons her to a murder scene. But then her problems deepen immediately once her ex-husband turns up.

“Gone For Good” is the first novel in the “Detective Annalisa Vega”

She is a bold, brilliant, resilient, and kickass new detective for the thriller world to read about. The book starts slowly and continues building its momentum until the heart pounding conclusion. There were turns, twists, misdirects, red herrings, and constant suspense as the Lovelorn Killer continues getting bolder in his efforts.

“Long Gone” is the second novel in the “Detective Annalisa Vega” series and was released in 2022. Annalisa Vega ruined her life, both professionally and personally, when she turned in her former cop dad for his role in a murder. Her fellow officers no longer trust her, and her family cannot forgive her. Detective Leo Hammond winds up dead in a strange murder, Annalisa believes she’s got nothing to lose by investigating whatever secrets he hid behind the thin blue line.

Annalisa soon zeroes in on somebody that had good reason to want Detective Hammond dead: a fast-talking and wealthy car salesman that had gotten away with murder already and was not about to allow Hammond a second chance. Moe Bocks is still the prime suspect in his girlfriend’s brutal unsolved murder, and now he has this new woman in his sights, she is Annalisa’s best

Her banter with ex-husband and now partner, Nick Carrelli, was fantastic and it’s great seeing how the partners play off one another. It’ll be interesting to see just how their relationship plays out in future books. Readers found themselves being immersed right off the bat.

Joanna creates characters that are multi-layered, vivid, compelling, and flawed. She never relies on over the top turns and twists since her plots are subtle, intricate, and developed. She weaves in suspense, tension, and a ton of action, too.

“Dead and Gone” is the third novel in the “Detective Annalisa Vega” series and was released in 2023. For Annalisa, Sam Tran’s death presents quite the ominous puzzle for her. This former cop turned Private Investigator is discovered hanging from a cemetery tree with this message across his chest which suggests that somebody holds this murderous grudge against the cops. Annalisa suspects that the real answer lies in an open case Tran was working