And There He Kept Her is not a thriller I would usually pick up, but after seeing so many rave reviews from it from trusted friends I am glad I decided to give it a chance!

It’s great if you like dark gritty thrillers set in small towns with various points of view. This book starts out with a bang, and had me cheering for different characters throughout the book. I loved how it ended. A really strong debut and I look to reading more from @jmoehling in the future!

Thank you to @poisonedpenpress for my copy this one just released this past week!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review of this book. The disappearance of 2 high schoolers sets the stage. Add to that a new cop in a small town who stands in for an ailing sheriff and residents with deep and dark secrets. The book is a quick read and all loose ends are tied up neatly at the end.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling.

When two teenagers break into an old man's house, they have no idea what they are getting themselves into, and how hard that man will fight to protect some old secrets that he holds.

Ben Packard is a cop in a small town keeping a big secret. But really what he needs is a fresh start and a lot of distractions. That's exactly what he finds when two teenagers go missing without a trace. But will this case be the one that runs him out of town?

Ooof, this is a doozy, and a lot of fun. I listened to it on a road trip and it had me on the edge of my seat! The character development is complex and very well done. I loved the suspenseful story, without it being overdone or hokey. I liked how human the author kept the characters, even the bad guys. Great read!

I was engrossed in every page from the start because to the superb writing. Each figure was beautifully rendered in hues. The plot moved along at the proper speed, building tension as things began to deteriorate.

It’s hard for me to describe how I felt about this book, but I’m going to do my very best to get through it. Police Officer Ben Packard returned to his small-town home in Sandy Lake to start over fresh. He got a job as a sheriff’s deputy and was immediately thrown into an investigation of two missing teenagers. As Officer Packard slowly begins his investigation, he realizes that his own personal struggles may have to be revealed in order to catch the kidnapper he seeks.

OMG! So, where do I begin. My biggest hurdle to get past was the over saturated detail that was more of a distraction than an aid to push the story forward. The detail was so massive that I had to constantly go back and read what was happening prior because I was so immersed in the detail I couldn’t remember. At the end of the day, I struggled to get through this story. There were key points regarding Officer Packard’s life that I didn’t feel was necessary to reveal. Due to the fact I do not provide spoilers, I can’t say much more without giving away too much.

Overall, the story was professionally written, but that was the problem. It was written too well, as though this author was getting paid by the word versus telling an actual story. There were so much extra things being said that could have been left out. The reader couldn’t do much because the author took care of it for us. That grated on my nerves something awful. I so wanted to enjoy this book, but I found it hard to do.

When two misguided teenagers break into a house in search of some prescription drugs, they figure that the sick old man living there is too fragile to even register their presence. Dumbass move would be an appropriate description here.

In the blink of an eye, they find themselves in the middle of a nightmare and sick doesn’t begin to describe what they blunder upon in that house. Dark and disturbing secrets are to be found in the crevices there.

Full disclosure readers, the thriller part of this story was at times unsavory, but I stuck with it for the complex protagonist at the center of it. Ben is a deputy sheriff who has moved to a small town after a tragedy rocks his world. I love an eerie small-town narrative, rich with furtive behavior and morally ambiguous characters. And it’s in these places where that saying, you never really know your neighbours, comes to life.

Kudos to the author for taking a potentially icky premise and burrowing in just enough to keep the pace moving and not enough to make the squeamish put the book down. Ensuring that the reader was both engrossed and invested.

This was great writing but for me it was a little too dark. Dark and gritty! It reveals all the true evil in the world! You guys that LOVE dark thrillers will want to grab this book! I was on edge the whole time!!
I was shocked this was a debut for author, Joshua Moehling for it was creative writing for sure!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really want to love this book but sadly I couldn’t.

I found the book was a super slow burn book and I really lost interest once I knew who and what happened to the teenagers. For me it didn’t feel like a page turner I had thought it would have been.

I found the characters lack personality and I just couldn’t like them. However, I did like the perpetrator side more than I did Packard's story only because I found it slightly more interesting.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a digital copy for reviewing purposes.

*Note because of the negative review I will only be posting my review to Goodreads.

This book is a suspenseful thriller that has the reader guessing, a great read from this debut author!
I thoroughly appreciated the depth of detail contained within the storyline. The characters all have an interesting part to play, a reason for being involved and their history is appropriate.
I particularly enjoyed the method of writing that the author chose, the title tells us what happens, the character’s are all revealing where they fit in, but yet there is still suspense and wonder!
There’s definitely a lot of real life issues covered, in a sensitive and caring manner.
Two teenagers are missing, an old man and a town with secrets make up an exciting and thought provoking adventure!
I’m sure that we’ll hear more from Ben Packard and the townspeople he protects, there’s a series waiting to be developed! .

I appreciate the opportunity given by the publisher, NetGalley and the author, to review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quick read. Good thriller…was surprised to find out it was author’s first book. Impressive!! Lots of different scenarios leading to a great ending.

Solid thriller read, the first in a series with a sheriff in a small town. The sheriff, Ben, is an interesting character who you root for and want to find out more about his backstory and his missing brother. The mystery in this book deals with two teenagers who break into the house of a seemingly helpless old man who has terrible secrets and they have to deal with the consequences. Diverse set of characters, creepy villains, and a good ending but do note that this is a slow burn read. Solid 4 star read.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley For an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

When two teenagers break into an older man's house looking for prescription drugs, they are surprised at how a simple burglary turns into a crazy nightmare. The older man, Emmett Burr has been hiding his past secrets in his basement where the two teenagers stumble into. Former police officer, now detective, Ben Packard is put in charge of locating the missing teenagers.

Thoughts: I didn't love the book, but I didn't hate it. It was overall a very average read. The only character I enjoyed was Ben Packard. He carries a lot of baggage and I feel that the author did an excellent job of conveying his internal struggles. I do wish the book had a twist or more suspense of some sort. From the very first page, you know just about everything that is going to happen. It didn't have me on the edge of my seat or leave me feeling like I just HAD to read one more chapter. I could see the author turning this into a series with the detective, which I would be willing to try another one of his books.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Press Pen for a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent and intense thriller. It all starts with the disappearance of a pair of teens, Jesse an Jenny. Out late one night, looking to get into a little ‘innocent trouble’ but what they wander into is a nightmare decades in the making. That’s where acting sheriff Ben Packard comes in. Dealing with his own loss, Ben has returned home to Sandy Lake, a place that holds some horrible memories for him. He’d prefer to keep his personal life to himself and just do his job. But in a small town, it’s hard to keep anything private. And with the teens missing, the clock is ticking.

I must say I’m shocked this is Joshua Moehling’s first novel. The character’s, especially Packard, are incredibly complex. He completely nails the feeling of small town life as well as addressing numerous serious issues, including prejudices. The town truly felt alive. The plot is wonderfully intricate, with some fantastic twists, and was a joy to read from start to finish. I look forward to more from Joshua in the future. Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of And There He Kept Her.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/and-there-he-kept-her-joshua-moehling/1139582437?ean=9781728247892&bvnotificationId=ce508342-ecc8-11ec-a49c-0e53f222ae71&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/210951933

https://www.amazon.com/review/RZ3AH438HY8JT/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Ok so i wasn't sure if i even liked this story or if i should keep going but i did and it turned out really good! Im glad i kept going. I loved the ending too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

When two teenagers break into a house on a remote lake in search of prescription drugs, what starts as a simple burglary turns into a nightmare for all involved. Emmett Burr has secrets he's been keeping in his basement for more than two decades, and he'll do anything to keep his past from being revealed. As he gets the upper hand on his tormentors, the lines blur between victim, abuser, and protector.

Personal tragedy has sent former police officer Ben Packard back to the small Minnesota town of Sandy Lake in search of a fresh start. Now a sheriff's deputy, Packard is leading the investigation into the missing teens, motivated by a family connection. As clues dry up and time runs out to save them, Packard is forced to reveal his own secrets and dig deep to uncover the dark past of the place he now calls home.

Thank you Net Galley for my copy for my honest review.

Great debut suspense about a gay cop in a small town that has a lot going on. He’s looking for some missing kids that are involved in a small drug deal but uncovers there are some horrible crimes taking place. The main character was very well done.

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Harmless old man? I don't think so! This was a somewhat creepy and dark psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Two teens break into a house to steal drugs, and everything spirals from there. Ben Packard, who has stepped in as sheriff's deputy has a history with the town and his secrets are revealed all while an investigation is going on.

This debut novel is not to be missed if you like crime fiction.

I'm 70% into the book and giving it 5 stars even though I don't know how the book will end. I am enjoying the author's writing style. The character's have personalities and I want to continue in on their story. Readers will be introduced to Ben Packard, the acting deputy sheriff of Sandy Lake. Ben has a history in Sandy Lake, but readers will also find out what heartbreaking events brought him back. My favorite character is Ann Crawford. She is cut throat and I find her to be funny even though I don't think that's how her character is meant to be. Emmett, yes he's the bad guy but I still have a softness for him. The storyline is easy to follow. Although some parts are dark and wicked they are necessary for the intense development of a story that's keeping me on edge. It's obvious as to who is who so there's not much surprise there however I will continue reading to see how the author wraps it all up.

As I'm reading I'm wondering does this author has other books that I need to check out. As I said before I haven't finished reading the book but I have a good feeling I won't be disappointed by the ending.

The premise reminded me a lot of the movie Don't Breathe and I feel like it was definitely inspired by the film (two teens break into an elderly man's home and come across more than they bargained for). However, the book does read more like a police procedural than a horror/thriller with the inclusion of the new sheriff's point of view. The writing style was very engaging and I did feel like the book was an enjoyable quick read. The reveals were dark and disturbing and will definitely stay with me for a long time.

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

Oh Lord! And There He Kept Her by debut author Joshua Modeling begins with the words "4 a.m." Nothing good really happens at 4 a.m.. it is also how late I stayed awake reading this book in one night. From the first page I was hooked and terrified for just about everyone.

Teens Jesse and Jenny sneak into old man Emmett's remote lake cabin looking for pain killers. They figure he's asleep and even if he isn't, he is too large, sick and old to chase them. Boy were they wrong.

Not only is Emmett catching them but you see, Emmett has 20 years of secrets to keep hidden...at any cost.

Deputy Sheriff Ben Packard has a personal reason to find the missing teens and his own hidden secrets. As he gets close to finding them everyone's truth may be revealed with nowhere to hide.

Oh, and one more thing, Emmett has a friend...and he is not as nice as Emmett!

I am shocked that this police procedural thriller, maybe horror thriller is a better description, is a debut novel. It is written with such graphic precise terrifying descriptive prose. There aren't any excessive words. No unnecessary moments. It is a quick sharp ready made scary movie read that kept me reading... until 4 a.m.

I received a free copy of the book from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

" Oh, I don't like it or dislike it. Most of the time, I don't even see it."

This line seems to be a theme for this read. The characters in this book ring true to me in their Minnesota reserve to not see the problems in front of them but to rather remain stoic in their attitudes to the things around them. My Grandmother passed in 2011 and my mom had already been living and taking care of her. Since 2011 not one thing has changed in my Grandma's bedroom. Shirts and bed clothes still lay where they last were cast off. Books, Tums and socks are covered in dust as they've yet to have been even pushed aside in 10+ years. When the character of Gary utters the line above, "I don't even see it", the undercurrents of this story become suddenly personal.

I myself am from Northern Minnesota (and I mean, NORTHERN Minnesota.) So I was bought in the moment Duluth and other small Minnesota towns were named. The idea that getting to "the cities" meant you escaped the trappings of your small town is an idea that still permeates all high school graduates. I know I felt like a real adult when I left my family and town behind to work in California for a multi-media company that specialized in encouraging media. I returned home no less then 5 times over the next 7 years for all different amounts of time and reasons. It's hard to get away when familiarity is available.

A small scene where the Minnesota Twins are brought up and how they'll be playing Seattle was almost as unnervingly accurate as when he brings up "Sarasota." It's a small line but, I live in Sarasota, so I'm a bit spooked.

This was all at once thrilling, scary and heartfelt. Big risks were taken early on and continue in the ways characters who should have no appeal somehow charm you into slightly hoping for a surprise twist to validate your choice to cheer on a seemingly aberrant character.

I feel like there is more to the stories in this town and the ending seemed to leave the door open for further books to explore some mysteries left unsolved. I really enjoyed my time with this book as it brought me to my own life long forgotten since moving to Florida in 2016. I did struggle a bit in the beginning but the currents of this book kept picking me up and bringing me further down the river of unknowns and secrecies.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reading copy.