What a great first book to introduce a character. With twists and turns galore, small town dramas, missing people, dead people, arguing neighbours and lots of intrigue this was a great read.

I'm not usually the biggest fan of police procedurals, but I'm so glad I decided to give this series a try. I devoured the first two and pre-ordered the third!

The novel kicks off when two teenagers break into a remote house by a lake, hoping to score some prescription drugs. What they don’t realize is that they’ve picked the wrong house—and the wrong man. What follows is truly disturbing in the best way. Enter Ben Packard, a former police officer who has returned to his hometown of Sandy Lake, Minnesota, after a personal tragedy. Now a sheriff’s deputy, he’s thrust into the investigation of the missing teens. His own dark past begins to surface as the case grows more complicated.

I loved Ben so much. He's deeply flawed and complex. He’s not a traditional hero and that made him extra relatable to me, someone who often has a hard time getting into the head of those in law enforcement.

With And There He Kept Her, Moehling has crafted a captivating, unflinching thriller that pulls you into a tangled web of secrets, crime, and moral ambiguity. If you enjoy dark, atmospheric mysteries with complex characters and plenty of twists, this one will keep you up late into the night.

I'll stick with this series as long as he keeps them coming!

This is the debut by this author, and I absolutely loved it! The story is intriguing and takes you down so many twists and turns, and though we know what happened from the beginning, it's such a treat to watch how the investigation gets to that point. Packard is an awesome character (I'm tired of the "maverick cop doing whatever he wants" trope, so finding one who's actually somewhat a stickler for the rules is refreshing), and the supporting characters really add to the story in their own ways (especially Gary, who I need more of!). It never felt like the pace dragged at any point, and I just kept turning page after page to see where the story took us next.

I definitely want to read the next book in this series and more by this author in general. Absolutely recommend!

4.5 stars

**I received a review copy from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**

This one was good, but you know who dun it all the way through, so not very suspenseful and no real mystery to solve. It was entertaining though. I listened to the audiobook version and recommend it.

This is a character-driven, 2 points of view novel, which works but also, since we already know who dun it, we're just sitting back watching it unfold and meeting the new Sheriff in town, Deputy Ben Packard, who has a secret of his own.

So essentially you have your two rebellious kids out to steal some meds... one ends up dead, the other is kidnapped by the owner of said meds. Enter bad guy #2 who is more evil than bad guy #1 and suddenly you have a potential recipe for disaster. Throw in a little added drama, the kidnapped girl is diabetic and needs her insulin and the situation just became a whole lot worse.

I won't tell you how the Sheriff solves the case since that's really the only unknown part of the story... it's still worth a read (or listen) and was very fast paced.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC for a review.

This was a very intriguing and creepy story that was suspenseful as well as engaging from start to finish. At first I was hesitant because I thought there would be too much graphic sexual abuse and there was although with the author's terrific writing skills it made the book a read I could handle even though it was difficult at times reading about some of the torture and abuse.

DNF at 35%

I think unfortunately this is not my type of thriller. I am more of a "let's solve the mystery type of thriller" versus everything being spelled out and tension being implemented instead. I was compelled by the sheriff POV and would still read the sequel, but I didn't feel like there was enough mystery to make me excited to finish the book.

Not my type of book but I know there's an audience for it out there!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I think that this book probably needs a trigger warning for murder, kidnapping, and I don't even know what to call it... An intent to rape and over sexualize a minor? I don't know. Honestly disturbing.

This book was... Predictable? Boring? A super quick read? It is definitely something that you would pick up if you wanted something quick and mindless that wouldn't take much thought or time to read. I was done in two sittings. I think the pacing worked and it didn't drag out too much except near the end. And honestly, I think that was just a me problem wishing that it was over. I think that there probably is an audience for this book, it just wasn't me.

This is an excellent book! No other words needed! I really enjoyed this book! Thank you for a great book!

I unfortunately didn't enjoy this book. It is gross and didn't have enough twists and mystery to keep me interested.

"And There He Kept Her" by Joshua Moehling is a riveting thriller that grips readers from the very first page. The story begins with a chilling break-in gone wrong, leading to a series of harrowing events that culminate in tragedy. Moehling skillfully weaves together multiple plotlines, keeping the tension high and the suspense palpable throughout.

One of the standout elements of the novel is its cast of complex and deeply flawed characters. From Detective Ben Packard, who grapples with personal demons while leading the investigation, to the sinister antagonist Emmett Burr, each character is expertly developed and adds layers of depth to the story. Moehling's writing is dark and gritty, immersing readers in a world where danger lurks around every corner.

As the narrative unfolds, Moehling keeps readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. The pacing is relentless, driving the story forward at breakneck speed and ensuring that there is never a dull moment. Overall, "And There He Kept Her" is a gripping thriller that will leave readers eagerly anticipating what Joshua Moehling has in store next.

This was a captivating story that blended mystery, romance, and suspense. Moehling's storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end, with twists and turns that leave you guessing until the final page. The characters are well developed, each with their own backstory that adds to the whole. The setting of a small town adds to the intrigue, creating a sense of foreboding that lingers throughout. Overall, it was a great read that will satisfy fans of psychological thrillers and keep them eagerly turning the pages.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Unfortunately, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

This was an interesting read by an author that I was not familiar with having never read their work before. I always enjoy a new to me author and I wasn’t disappointed.
I found the characters interesting and really had a depth to them with lots of details described for me to portray them in my mind and really get inside them.
The story line took me to a place I wasn’t expecting and kept me intrigued right until the end.
I would recommend to anyone interested in this genre and will be reading more.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

"They thought he was a helpless old man. They were wrong.'

What a FANTASTIC read, an amazing debut, and an exciting new series. First of all, I loved the story. The missing kids, the man with the pink prison cell in his basement. But even more, I loved the characters and the town. Joshua Moehling made the sleepy town of Sandy Lake come alive and I loved meeting its inhabitants, especially Acting Sheriff, Ben Packard. I cannot wait to see what's up next for Packard and the town of Sandy Lake.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling is the first book in the Ben Packard series and what a great start it is. This was an entertaining, gripping, dark and disturbing story. Although this was not an on the edge of my seat read it was well paced and it most definitely held my attention to the last page. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. Recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

This debut by author Joshua Moehling was a great start into the writing world. It kept me hooked from the start.
The split POV from the cop and villain was a great way to tell the story. I look forward to continuing the series and read another case from Ben Packard.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

With few exceptions, detective books are not typically my jam. That being said, this one took me by surprise and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I will definitely be reading the next Ben Packard book as well! ⭐⭐⭐⭐