I. AM. ACTUALLY. SO. StUPID.
Where the Dead Sleep became available on Libro.fm and I was so confused the entire time... because I felt like I was missing something. turns out I was... because this is a freaking sequel. UGH. Dumb.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

If the 2nd installment in this series is any indication of what to expect....I will be a raving fan for years to come. Moehling has created characters that I can wait to learn more about & a setting that makes me want to return soon! Certainly one of my top books of 2023!

Description
A small town's dark secrets turn deadly...

When an early morning call brings Deputy Ben Packard to the scene of a home invasion, he finds Bill Sandersen shot in his bed. Bill was a well-liked local who chased easy money his whole life, leaving bad debts and broken hearts in his wake. Everyone Packard talks to has a story about Bill, but no one has a clear motive for wanting him dead. The business partner. The ex-wife. The current wife. The high-stakes poker buddies. Any of them—or none of them—could be guilty.

With a mile-long list of suspects but no clear motive, Packard digs into the investigation to find himself center stage and a half step behind in a town where no one ever left. There's a hidden history to Sandy Lake that Packard, ever the outsider can't see. Here, bad blood and old secrets run deep. He’ll have to solve a high-profile murder and, as a gay man, offer up his private life for public scrutiny in a county election to keep his job.

An attempt on Packard's life means he's getting uncomfortably close to the dangerous legacy of the quiet Minnesota town. And someone will do anything to keep it hidden.

4.5! It's been a long time since I've read a thriller that has gripped me from start to finish, especially one where I didn't guess any of the outcomes. I loved Ben Packard as a main character, and I loved all the side characters he worked with. The Gherlick family was completely messed up and made me hate them all, which was exactly the point.

The plot was great! I felt invested from the start and was so curious where it was all going. I will say I didn't realize this was the second book in a series before starting it, so there were a few things mentioned that would have made more sense with the context of the first book. But I didn't actually feel like I missed out on anything vital. I'm still super interested in going back to read book one because I loved Joshua Moehling's writing. There are some spoilers in this book, though, so I recommend reading them in order lol!

My only con to this book was that it felt like a long read. The pacing was great, and I never felt like I was bored with the plot at all. There was lots going on to keep me invested, but not too much that I was overwhelmed by trying to keep it all straight. I just felt like it took me a long time to get through this book, especially because I was so curious about what was going to happen next! I also hated the cliffhanger ending, but I'm also so excited now for the next book in this series!

Overall, I loved it, though, and would highly recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Press Pen for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I had high hopes for this one but sadly decided to DNF at 170 pages. I kept pushing and hoping for it to get better but it was an extremely slow burn and felt like I was going around in circles.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the copy of this book!

I really enjoyed And There He Kept her - it was so spooky and a really well-paced thriller. Where the Dead Sleep is Ben Packard Book 2, so I was very excited to read it, but unfortunately, it's just very slow. DNF @ 20%.

I am liking this series. The crime was way less creepy than the first book. Love the side characters, can't wait for it to continu

I'm from a small town and the author captured the way crime is handled there perfectly. Secrets abound and if you get too close to the truth, people try to warn you away in any way they can. The mystery keeps you guessing throughout the book.

Character driven mystery, procedural with the main character Ben Packard Deputy, acting sheriff makes you care. He is someone you would want as your brother, husband , lover or best friend. This is multi layer with twists, turns and some heart stopping moments.The ending had me hurting for Ben and energized as to where we are going in book 3. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions #WheretheDeadSleep #JoshiaMoehling #PoisnedPenPress #NetGalley

Sheriff Ben Packard is back (woohoo!!!!!) in another gripping and hard to put down book which takes place in a small town in Minnesota with big secrets. This is the second book in a fabulous and exciting new series featuring acting sheriff Ben Packard and it does not disappoint. This can be read as a stand-alone but do yourself a favor and read the first book, And There He Kept Her. You will be happy you did!

Deputy Ben Packard received an early morning phone call that brought him to a crime scene where Bill Sandersen was found dead in his bed after being shot. Thus begins an investigation that will have Packard wading through family secrets, lies, deception and a slew of suspects.

Packard also must make a tough decision in this book- to step down as acting sheriff or enter the election to become the next sheriff. Moehling did a great job showing Packard's reasons for stepping down and his concerns about running. I could feel Packard weighing his options while I read.

This was a riveting book, and I was lucky enough to have the audiobook as well which made for an immersive reading experience. I thought the narrator did a fantastic job and put me right there in the action working the investigation along with Packard.

Like the first book in the series, this was a well written, well thought out, perfectly paced police procedural that kept me engaged and turning the pages. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

#wherethedeadsleep #NetGalley #JoshuaMoehling #PoisonedPenPress #DreamscapeMedia

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was a fan of Joshua Moehling’s first Ben Packard book, And There He Kept Her, so I was super excited to read the next installment. This one wasn’t as dark as the first, but I still really enjoyed it. I thought the mystery was solid and I’ve really grown to like Packard as the character. I read some reviews that said they could’ve done without the whole sheriff election, but I think it’s going to be a really important aspect as the series continues so I didn’t mind it!

4 solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press & Netgalley for the ARC!

Loved it. Packard is a great character and this is a wonderful follow up to And There He Kept Her, which I also loved. This has the makings of a very enjoyable series. Moehling is a must-read for me now.

The second Ben Packard book finds the deputy investigating when a man dies in a small town. Seemingly no one has a motive to want him dead. I didn’t really connect with this one, especially the writing style. I hadn’t read the first one so maybe that would’ve made a difference!

I love Ben Packard and his corgi so much. Ben is just a good person, good morals, wants to do right by others but still has a backbone. He’s great. However, I felt totally unattached to this slow burn mystery and all the other characters. Unlike the first book, I just wasn’t quite hooked.

The second book in the Ben Packard series is every bit as good as the first one. A police procedural with lots of unexpected twists but what really got me engaged was how well developed characters were. This is a character driven murder mystery that I couldn't stop reading. I read it straight through in one setting. Although it is part of a series, this one could easily be read as a stand alone. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced reader copy.

I dnfd this after a couple of chapters, because I realized that it was a sequel in a detective series. I don't typically like detective books, but maybe I'll try to read the first one and get back to this.

PUBLICATION DAY: August 15, 2023

Acting Sheriff Ben Packard is back for another twisty investigation in Sandy Lake. This time, a man has been shot to death in his own home. Although the victim was certainly a bit shady, was there a reason for murder? And if so, who would have done it? Navigating tragic news, political bureaucracy and his quest for justice, Ben is a busy man keeping everything on track. Will he solve the case and save the day???

PROS and CONS:
Ben Packard is a great character - a gay law enforcement officer in rural Minnesota - not the type of character you run into every day. While not quite as spellbinding as the first in the series (it spent a lot of time setting up for the next one), it’s still a solid mystery and I’d love to read another!

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…murder and intrigue in Minnesota - then this one’s for you!

4 Stars

Joshua Moehling has become one of my favorite mystery writers. He pulled me in with And There He Kept Her and kept me with Where the Dead Sleep. So many twists and secrets between the victim, Bill Sandersen, his wife Carrie, his ex-wife (and Carrie's sister Sherri, and the women's mother Mary. If you like, S A Cosby, Walking tall's Buford Pusser or are just a fan of crime novels, read this book. I love Ben Packard and can't wait to see what happens next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

When a call brings Deputy Ben Packard to a home invasion, he finds Bill Sanderson shot in bed. Bill is a well known local and everyone has a story about him but no one has a clear motive to want him dead. Packard has a choice to either step away from the job or run for Sheriff amidst tragedy in the department while the small lake town’s secrets turn deadly.

Unfortunately I didn’t get attached to the MC of the story and it certainly took me far too long to get through the book. At no point was I invested in what was happening or why. Maybe I should have read the first book but it didn’t feel like you needed to read the first one to be able to understand what was happening in this one. It did not work for me but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is nothing not to love about Where the Dead Sleep.

Wonderfully developed characters that will remind you of folks in your own hometown. A tightly wound plot that ever so slowly unravels. Questions and mysteries everywhere. Everyone is lying, but is it a harmless white lie or the real deal? Villains and good guys and quirky co-workers and flawed peripheral-to-the-story folks. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this fast-paced murder mystery.

My only complaint is I quickly realized this was part of a series and I had clearly missed out on a prior book. That didn't quash my enjoyment of this one in any way, but I felt I had lost some minor background puzzle pieces. Only makes me want to go in search of more books by Mr Moehling.

This is a good police procedural. I didn’t like this one as much as the first book, but I still am enjoying the series and look forward to what is coming next. This book kept me guessing until the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to honestly review.