long-standing interest in the brain―how it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Previously, she worked as a scientific editor in the field of drug development. Prior to that, she was an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such as World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, daughter, and an obstreperous basset hound named Winston.
Schaffhausen applied the Page 69 Test to Gone in the Night, the fifth Detective Annalisa Vega novel, and reported the following:
Page 69 finds PI Annalisa Vega puzzling over an anonymous note that proclaims her client, Joe Green, is innocent of murder:Visit Joanna Schaffhausen's website.Annalisa reread the note as she walked out. “You know what’s odd?” she remarked to Nick.This half-page is a pretty good sample of what you can expect from the Annalisa Vega novels. Annalisa digs into every tiny detail of her investigations, including wondering about the motive of why someone sending an anonymous note would bother to sign it. Her question leads to an important revelation in this case, which is that the B is not a letter but a rune. Even more crucially, the director of the women’s shelter, Charlotte, has one tattooed on her leg, suggesting a link between her and the person who sent the anonymous note. Charlotte has just finished telling Annalisa she knows nothing about the case, and now Annalisa suspects her of lying.
“The B at the end. Whoever sent the note went to a lot of trouble to keep their identity hidden, so why write anything at all as a signature?”
“Maybe it’s trying to throw us off. Maybe the B doesn’t mean anything.”
Karma leaned over and peeked at the note as they walked to the main door. “That’s not a B,” she said. “It’s a rune.”
“A what?” Nick stopped walking so Annalisa halted too.
Karma grabbed the note without asking. “I mean, it is kind of a B, like an early B from the ancient Germanic languages. See how it looks like two sideways triangles on top of one another. It’s a Berkanan. It represents rebirth, wisdom, sanctuary, and healing. I’m surprised that Charlotte didn’t tell you this herself.”
“And why is that?” Annalisa asked.
Karma handed the note back to Annalisa with a shrug. “Because she has one tattooed on her leg.”
More generally, the Berkanan represents one of the themes of the book, which is a meditation on whether it’s possible to start over. Can you get a second chance in life? Who deserves one? Annalisa put her brother in prison years ago and the move solidified her moral code at the expense of her personal relationships. The Vegas’ struggle to heal is one of the main currents through all the books, leading to the culmination in this one as Annalisa confronts her brother at last.
The Page 69 Test: All the Best Lies.
Writers Read: Joanna Schaffhausen (February 2020).
Q&A with Joanna Schaffhausen.
My Book, The Movie: Gone for Good.
The Page 69 Test: Gone for Good.
Writers Read: Joanna Schaffhausen (August 2022).
The Page 69 Test: Dead and Gone.
--Marshal Zeringue
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