All the Way Gone

All the Way Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen
8/13/24; 352 pages
St. Martin's/Minotaur Books
Detective Annalisa Vega #4

All the Way Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen is a highly recommended investigative mystery and the fourth novel in the Detective Annalisa Vega series.

Annalisa Vega is now a private investigator after leaving the Chicago police force. Her first client is Mara Delaney, a professor who has written a book titled The Good Sociopath centered around Chicago neurosurgeon Craig Canning. The premise of Mara's book is that some sociopaths are beneficial to society, like Dr Canning who, even though he may lack empathy or genuine emotions, has saved hundreds of lives. Mara asks Annalisa to look into Craig's life because she suspects he may be responsible for the death of Victoria Albright and therefor may not be as good as her book claims.

Once Annalisa begins looking into the case she is presented with another case by her teenage stepdaughter, Cassidy Weaver. Cassidy's friend Naomi needs a new kidney and is trying to find her mother, Elizabeth Johnston, who abandoned Naomi when she was three.

As the complicated cat and mouse plot unfolds sociopaths pop up all over the place, keeping the tension and your interest high. Annalisa has been told that sociopaths only care about winning at all costs, and this is clearly the case. More than one person may have wanted Victoria eliminated and the two investigations are bringing out all the animosity between characters. There is some suspension of disbelief required, which is easily done. Clues are dropped about the guilty party, but you have to keep reading to learn the real story.

Although this is the fourth book in the series it can be read as a standalone novel. Following the whole series will naturally provide more back story and character development, but since Annalisa has left the police force and is now working as a PI, it changes her approach to a case, freeing her up in some ways. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.