Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC.

Wow! For a debut novel, this had me on the edge of my seat.

This thriller/mystery novel is a little darker than I expected but found myself gripped after we see what happens in the first chapter. This was very well written and found myself easily picturing certain scenes within the book.

For me, this was a definite page-turner and found myself eager to jump to the end to see if the characters make it, but held myself back to read the entire book.

I look forward to reading more of Moehling's novel's as they come.

I almost could not get past the first two chapters. The opening was way too long (with the main action at the very end of it), and I did not like that a stray bear was shot and killed.

But as I learned a little bit more about the protagonist in the second half of chapter 2, it just clicked. Interesting characters, good tempo. I thought the book was a solid detective story, and I recommend this book to those who love a good mystery/suspense/thriller read, and I look forward to Ben Packard in Book 2 of the series.

If I really had to take the whole experience into account, then the rating is more like a 4.5 star.

This is a great debut! Packard and his new corgi frank need to be back for more adventures. The author does a great job of introducing the characters and getting to them is good fun, tho Emmett and Carl could use some manner! Gary is a hoot as well! Looking forward to the sequel!

Loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. Kudos for a debut novel. I loved the characters and the writing style. Definitely recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, wow, wow! This book was unputdownable! Creepy and chilling and yet I couldn’t stop reading. Shocked this is a debut novel. I hope this turns into a series cause I can’t wait to read the next one. Loved how each character was thought out and how well the storyline flowed. Thank you for introducing me to Joshua Moehling and his work! Again, can’t wait to read the next one!

This new to me author caught me off guard in thinking it would be a detective mystery, The cover drew me in, and the premise of the story made me want to read more. Sure, we know the incident that sparks this thrill ride right from the start. Two young kids attempt to steal some drugs from an overweight old drunk that Jesse and Jenny think will be a breeze. They soon discover that is far from the truth.
A new deputy sheriff, Ben Packard, is related to the missing teen Jenny. Susan is Packard's cousin who is mom to the missing girl, and part of his past he wanted to forget. He is on the case to find Jenny. Unfortunately, secrets from the past have a way of coming to light.
Emmet Burr was a complex character. A monster in disguise, but long retired from past activities. calls upon his accomplice Carl to assist with the problem at hand. Never have I hated a character, but I grew to feel empathy for the same character despite his past evil. This author has a way of writing that doesn't excuse but explains the changes in an individual that makes you care. A true gift.
Although this is not a real twisty story or a shocker at the end, it is a solid read that makes you want more. Great premise, solid characters, and enough mystery to keep me wondering, "what happened to his brother all those years ago?". Joshua Moehling sets this up for a series and one I want more of.in the future. Kudos to this debut novel and new author. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a fresh new take in this genre.

#NetGalley, #PoisonedPenPress, #AndThereHeKeptHer

Sheriff Ben Packard is back in a familiar town. As the acting Sheriff, he has a lot on his plate. An interesting thriller that was well written and the characters were diverse. Hoping more from this author!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

They say that “kids will be kids”, but, really… what does that even mean, any more?

It was one thing, when people rolled their eyes and (mostly) looked the other way at kids cutting classes, going out drag-racing, sneaking cigarettes (or now, more likely some prescription pills) from their parents’ stashes, or having a little party and raiding the liquor cabinet when the folks were out late. Everybody has to grow up… and doing that means doings some certifiably dumb, or dangerous, or whatever-other-terms-the-adults-in-question-deem-appropriate stuff.

No matter what the “stuff” is, one thing is certain: no kid, in the history of ever, wants to get in trouble for doing it.

But here’s the thing [at least, I think; my only kid has fur, so I’m no expert, here]: some of the stuff parents get mad about is of the “do as I say, not as I do” or “because you’re not old enough” variety… while some of it falls under the “because that’s crazy-dangerous” header.

Joshua Moehling looks at one way the latter can go, in his brilliant new debut thriller, And There He Kept Her.
_______________
When some local kids in a teeny-tiny Minnesota town decide to start looting out-of-the-way (meaning, in the boonies) houses for prescription drugs, it’s a safe bet that things won’t end well… but how not well turns out to worse than anyone could’ve imagined.

Emmett Burr—the very picture of Grumpy Old Man… completely-unlikable, morbidly-obese, and riddled with a veritable cornucopia of debilitating health issues—wouldn’t seem like much of a threat to most people. (If nothing else, you’d take one look at him, and just know you could outrun him… even, most likely, if you had a broken ankle.) But there’s more to Emmett than first (or second, or even third) appearances would suggest… and for the teens foolish enough to decide that robbing him in the wee hours of the night, while he’s at home (presumably asleep), was a good idea? Well, Emmett would beg to differ.

Emmett, you see, has secrets… and not just the I-watch-porn-in-my-underwear-in-broad-daylight kinda secrets (which, yeah, pervy and gross, but not really soooo bizarre). No, Emmett—in his way-out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere ramshackle house—has a whole big terrifying thing that no one else has any idea about.

Well, except for Carl, that is—Emmett’s repulsive neighbor who shares that thing, and has some plans of his own, once Emmett enlists his aid to help deal with those uninvited guests.

But let’s get back to those foolhardy kids-will-be-kids teens… who, as far as everyone else is concerned, mysteriously disappear into thin air.

When a woman walks into the tiny Sandy Lake police station to report her daughter Jenny’s disappearance, it doesn’t take long before acting sheriff Ben Packard—the newish-to-town deputy currently promoted to “acting” status while the real sheriff battles cancer—goes on high alert… partly because he previously spent several years on the job in Minneapolis, and knows of “bad things”, and partly because he happens to be cousins with Jenny’s mom. [Even when family isn’t close, it’s still something, you know?]

With little to go on—no real clues, only a few, cryptic cell phone texts between Jenny and her also-missing boyfriend, Jesse, and limited GPS tracking data—Ben and his little team start making the rounds of the “usual suspects”: school friends, relatives, known ne’er-do-wells, and so on.

And of course, while the search goes on, so does normal Sandy Lake life… including a decades-long feud between a fabulously-flamboyant, gay trucker/dog rescuer, who moved back into the area many years ago, and his widowed, bible-thumping neighbor, who’s sure that the man living on the next property over is the Devil Incarnate… a situation which Ben finds particularly awkward, having personal issues of his own, in this arena.

With every minute that goes by meaning another minute closer to bad news for Jenny and Jesse, though, Ben realizes that it may be necessary for him to face his own demons—the painful personal history which found him fleeing life in the Twin Cities for a deputy job in Podunk—in order to understand how the villain thinks… and to figure out who the villain is.

But when it comes to a bad guy like Emmett Burr, not even an experienced cop such as Ben can be prepared for the reality of the situation.
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I can’t remember the last time I read a book in one day. I honestly can’t. And yet, that’s precisely what happened with And There He Kept Her. I devoured this impossible-to-put-down tale, which kept getting better, the longer I read.

Moehling clearly has a firm grip on creating compelling characters, and in this, his first published book, he creates several… and one way he does that, is by giving us both a different kind of hero and a different kind of villain.

Ben Packard is a complex, likable, and believable man, and his pain and shame are palpable. Emmett Burr, on the other hand, is… well, not so likable (at all), but is, likewise, exceptionally well-drawn. We get to see how each of these very (very) different men have gotten to the places they are when we meet them… which also forces us to ask ourselves, if maybe we shouldn’t try a little harder to look beyond the surface, beyond only the right now of everyone, because there is always a whole world of stuff that’s happened, which we know little or nothing about, making each of us who we are as we show up, today. [Seriously, the fact that we might walk away feel a measure of compassion for Emmett is a darned impressive feat, on the author’s part.]

I would absolutely love to see more books about Ben Packard—a fascinating hero unlike any I’ve read before… and that, right there, may be the best recommendation I can give this wonderfully-compelling thriller, which gets my top marks for a Seriously Great Read.

Pick up a copy of And There He Kept Her when it releases on June 14. I don’t think you’ll be one bit sorry.
~GlamKitty

Thank you to Net Galley for an early digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rounded up. What made this a four star read overall for me was the same thing that made some others rate it lower - I liked the character development and background information on Packard because I think it’s being set up for a series. You know the bad guy pretty much from the start, the book is more of a slow burn will they/won’t they figure it out in time. I enjoyed the process and getting to know all the players. And I couldn’t believe the author actually had me feeling sympathetic towards Emmet for a hot minute - that’s some magic right there. Looking forward to what comes next for Packard and Sandy Lake.

If you're looking for a tense, unputdownable book, this is it!

This compulsive and clever police procedural has a multi-layered plot, atmospheric setting, well-drawn characters and is simply great storytelling. Set in a small town in northern Minnesota, the story follows acting Chief of Police Ben Packard as he tries to find two missing teens whose plan to break into a house goes very awry.

There is a myriad of secondary characters that have great depth and readers witness their strengths and flaws which give a clear idea of life in this small Minnesotan town. But it is Ben Packard who stole the show. He's a complex guy who is dealing with his own emotional baggage, keeping parts of himself that he's not ready to share with others and the man has integrity up the wazoo. I lurrved him!

I also enjoyed the use of multiple POVs and despite knowing the identity of the culprit, Moehling keeps readers on their toes and gives great fodder for book discussions as readers root for Packard's race against time to find missing teens. There are no dull moments, the pacing is fast, each character and subplot is well thought out and snippets of humour help to add bits of light to this darker read.

And There He Kept Her ticks alllll the suspense boxes! Dark, wonderfully complex with a deliciously disturbing vibe, Moehling has written an exceptionally good thriller in this debut. I truly hope we get to see more of Ben Packard.


Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for my complimentary digital copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

Fantastic debut! I read this whole book in one day. I loved the characters and how realistic the book was. Seriously dark and creepy. I really hope there will be a sequel!

Wow. This book was not at all what I expected. While it started out a bit slow & I couldn’t quite figure out where Moehling was going with the story, it quickly picked up pace & before I knew it, I was completely engrossed in wanting to find out the fates of missing teenagers Jenny & Jesse. The unsung hero of the plot - acting sheriff Ben Packard - also endeared himself to me, as I found myself rooting for him to succeed. My only disappointment was not finding out the true circumstances surrounding his brother’s disappearance, which would make a great topic of discussion for book clubs.

If you’re a fan of thrillers & mysteries, add “And There He Kept Her” to your list!

I felt like I was reading a future movie in this book. It opened up with two kids who broke into a home, the man found them and shot at them. Then we meet the top players on the book, the new sheriff in town Ben Packard and then later on a retired serial killer Emmett Burr. There is something very sinister going on in this town and it involves drugs, and two missing kids, what the heck is going on here? How does all of these connect? The twists and turns on this book kept me glued on to find out what happened. I love how the perspectives are from a man’s point of view, it gets graphic at times, loved the way the author did that. Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Interesting plot about a retired serial killer and a deputy sheriff who has secrets of his own. I liked the small town of Minnesota location and all the searching fir the missing teenagers. The killer was a gross character and fit a certain evil incarnate.
It’s a different sort of read, from a male perspective so it gives readers an angle that sometimes isn’t often explored.

Thank you to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me read an early copy of And There He Kept Her!

I can’t believe that this is Joshua Moehling’s debut! It was so well written, grabbed my attention from the start, and flowed smoothly. I loved how it focused on a small town, with a plethora of characters, that all intertwined together in one way, shape, or form. The thriller aspect kept me turning the page to find out if Packard would ever find Jenny.

I’m hoping this is either the start of a duology, or standalone series because I need more of Packard and to know what other cases he can solve.

As I read this novel, I had a lot of issues with one of the narrative characters. From the beginning, Emmett is clearly a “bad guy.” He shoots two kids (somewhat justifiably, as they were breaking and entering), then keeps the girl in his already set up (but not recently used) basement torture cell. Through his narrative, we learn about Emmett’s past, and how things have changed for him since he last used the room.

Throughout, I found his narrative very unpleasant, and argued with myself as I read. It wasn’t that I didn’t think “bad guys” could have depth, or that readers could come to understand what drives them. I have read other books that present the narrative of the “bad guy” and not had this feeling of ick. It wasn’t until I finished the book, and gave it more thought that I began to realize what was really bothering me about this narrative voice.

In current day, Emmett is old. Once he has the girl locked in his basement, we follow his thoughts as he realizes he is too old (and too fat) to properly enjoy this captive he has accidentally acquired. As a reader, I felt as if I were being asked to have sympathy for his inability to enjoy this girl in the ways he would have in the past. We are then presented with another “bad guy.” Carl is Emmett’s friend, and his accomplice. Carl is presented to us as a “real bad guy,” one who is far more aggressive and violent toward the girls that have spent time in the basement. As a reader, I was now asked to consider that Emmett wasn’t such a bad guy after all, since Carl was so much worse.

Again, it wasn’t this degrees of evil that made me dislike the narrative. What I eventually realized was bothering me about this dynamic is that the level of evil is solely determined by the ways in which these two men abuse women. There was a feeling here (most likely not intended by the author, but provoked in the reader nonetheless) that some types of abuse toward women are okay, while others turn you into the bad guy.

I expect that many female readers might have the same response to this narrative, even if they can’t quite explain why the story feels so gross.

This was really a page-turner from the start. The opening chapter is so descriptive, I couldn’t wait to learn what led to that scene.
After wanting a clean break from his Minneapolis police job, & seeking a fresh start, detective Ben Packard is serving as the acting sheriff in the small town of Sandy Lake. Turns out it’s not so simple.
Sandy Lake has an interesting set of characters. When two local teenagers go missing, the investigation takes some unexpected & chilling turns. Seems everyone’s life is messy in some way, & most are good @ hiding things they don’t want others to know. Intertwining story lines, messy family connections, & ghosts from the past all add up to an intriguing puzzle to solve. I felt like the clock was ticking the whole time.
The attention to emotional detail, & the various points of view, makes this so much more than a police procedural. I found myself case-solving, even when I put the book down. I felt like I’d been tagging along with Packard during his investigation, & his personal life. He’s an easy man to like, & I had no trouble identifying with his frustrations, loneliness, & regrets.
The insight into the mind of evil madness is unsettling, but interesting. For much of the book, it seems like every chapter reveals a new layer of despair or evil, but the subtle humor & honest personal connections that peek through the gloom make the ugly parts bearable.
The ending leaves me hoping there will be more Sandy Lake cases for Packard & company to tackle.

I was able to read an advance copy of And There He Kept Here & this is my voluntary honest review.

A thriller set in the area of MN known as “up north.” If you know, you know. A small town sheriff deputy returns to the place of his youth to reclaim his youth, find himself, and look for a couple of missing teens. There are many twists and turns which keeps this story moving. The culmination of events wraps up quite neatly, but also allows for the possibility of a sequel in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. I highly recommend this for a debut thriller read, and it has some comparison to a John Sanford or William Kent Kruger blend of styles. Big potential for future thrillers.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Pub-date: 14 June 2022

Thank you @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for my advanced copy.

This was a gritty crime novel set in a small town where everyone knows everyone.
The book starts off with a bang, as we are thrown into the action, when two youngsters meet up in the middle of the night with the intention of breaking into the house of one of their neighbours.

The why and the how is up to the local deputy sheriff to figure out, as all traces of the two teenagers disappear that night.

Ben Packard, the sheriff’s deputy, was a great character. He struggled during most of the story to keep a certain secret about himself, only to discover that everyone had already figured it out!😂

I would have loved to give this book a higher rating, but even though there is nothing negative about it, it just failed to wow me.
It felt like something I’ve already read. The fact that we know from the start what happened to the kids and who is responsible for it was a little bit of a letdown for me.

I don't necessarily need twists or red herrings in all my books, but there should be something to keep me glued to the pages.

However, I think it’s a great debut with some disturbing elements in the culprit’s basement and a ‘baddy’ I won’t easily forget. I suspect this is the start of a series! I will definitely keep an eye out for future releases by this author!

I was pleasantly suprised by this author. At first I thought it'd be too graphic or gruesome but once I pushed past the first couple of chapters, I got to know the characters. The storyline was interesting and I could easily picture what was happening. The suspense kept me wanting to read more to find out if the main character would make it. Really well done.