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.

Deputy Ben Packard arrives at the scene of a home invasion. Packard finds Bill Sandersen shot in his bed. Bill has only been married to his new wife Carrie for a few years. He is divorced from her sister Sherri. The sisters have always been in conflict with each other. Bill also plays in a high stakes poker group. Would any of these people want Bill dead. Will Packard be able to figure it out.

Packard will need to run a campain to keep his temporary Chief of Policef job. As some city counsel members want Packard out of that position. Stan the chief of police, chose Packard to be his replacement while he was dealing with an illness. When Stan dies his wife Marilyn is all in to help Packard get elected.

As Packard is working to solve Bills murder, one of the two sisters is also murdered. Now what.
Thanks netgalley

This is rather second installment in a series. It is not necessary to read the first installment to understand and enjoy this book. Ben has a decision to make that causes him internal turmoil. He makes the decision to work on a case in Sandy Lake, a small town with so many hidden secrets. The ending is quick and satisfying. If you like suspense, this novel won’t disappoint.

OOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling from Poisoned Pen Press/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Posting the same Book Report for And There He Kept her and Where the Dead Sleep because they are the first two in the Ben Packard series by Joshua Moehling. Got the first one from the library after learning about this author from NetGalley.

I wasn’t blown away by the first book, and was particularly put off by what I perceived to be sort of a bullying approach the main protagonist had with certain other characters. It was as if he were abusing the power his badge gave him in a way that was particularly petty. But the setting and the backstory kinda hooked me, so I decided to go into No. 2 with an open mind.

And I’m glad I did. The stories were very engaging, and that/those “ending/s”? Wow. Did not see any of that coming. Did I wish Ben Packard had risen above his pettiness a bit more in the second book? Well, yeah. But my hope is that he will grow more mature in future books.

Looking forward to them!

PS
There was just a _little_ too much “Advance Praise” for this book for my taste. Stop at three blurbs would be my guidance, both personal and professional. Otherwise it starts to look like a case of doth protest too much….

DESCRIPTION
“With Where the Dead Sleep, Joshua Moehling solidifies his place as one of the best new voices in the mystery genre." —William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author

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.
________________________________________
Advance Praise
"Small town secrets have never been so deadly in this compelling thriller featuring my new favorite deputy, Ben Packard. The plot will grab you, the characters keep you coming back for more." —Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of One Step Too Far


“In Where the Dead Sleep Joshua Moehling continues the compelling journey of tough as nails and conflicted Deputy Ben Packard as he patrols his old stomping grounds of Sandy Lake, Minnesota. Exploding with secrets, this novel has everything you want in a riveting mystery: a brutal crime, fast-paced action, expertly drawn characters that thrust the story from the page, and a jaw-dropping ending that you won’t see coming. Looking for a new favorite hero to root for? You’ve found him in Moehling’s Ben Packard.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest

“With Where the Dead Sleep, Joshua Moehling solidifies his place as one of the best new voices in the mystery genre. Moehling nails the spirit of small-town life in Minnesota’s unique North Country. His understanding of the darkness that can haunt the human spirit twists his story in wonderfully unpredictable ways. Fans of Walt Longmire or Joe Pickett or my own Cork O’Connor have reason to celebrate and look forward to a long life for Moehling’s series and its fresh, vibrant protagonist Ben Packard.”—William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of the Cork O’Connor series

“Observant and authentic (and funny, too), Where the Dead Sleep is a perfect mystery, the literary descendant of Fargo and Mare of Easttown and an exploration of all the nooks and shadows that make Sandy Lake, MN an ideal place to spend a summer and a chilling place to pass a winter. I’d highly recommended it to every fan of crime fiction, but especially those reading in a lake house just after sunset.”—Adam White, bestselling author of >The Midcoast

“Evocative and charming with a deadpan wit, Joshua Moehling's Where the Dead Sleep is a richly satisfying mystery with fully-drawn characters—especially the winning and deeply human protagonist, Sheriff Ben Packard. Joshua Moehling's skill as a writer and storyteller is evident on every page. I can't wait to read the next installment in this excellent series!"
—Nick Petrie, bestselling author of The Runaway

"Joshua Moehling has quickly become one of my favorite must-read authors and Where the Dead Sleep shows exactly why. The characters are rich, and the small-town setting, where everyone has a secret and everyone is a potential suspect or victim, is brought vividly to life. This is a suspenseful, gut-wrenching page-turner of the highest order. Not to be missed!"— David Bell, New York Times bestselling author of Try Not to Breathe and She's Gone

"When a diabolically wealthy family pits themselves against each other, it's hard to know who to believe, unless you’re Deputy Benjamin Packard. Josh Moehling lays out a deliciously complex plot and turns sleepy Sandy Lake into anything but." —John McMahon, author of The Good Detective

Joshua Moehling does it again and I loved this one more than I loved the last one. I ended up giving this one a 4.5 star and rounding up to a 5.

I loved that it was not just another mystery that Deputy Ben Packard has to solve, but a dive into not only the town, but also the deputy and his own personality and relationships. Ben Packard has to find the murderer of Bill Sanderson, a husband (and ex-husband) to a family of influential people of the town. Packard beings to find out things about the victim and all the people that could want him dead. His current wife, his ex-wife, his best friend and partner, and anyone that he could possibly owe money from his gambling debts.

Not only does Packard have to solve this murder, but he also has to find out who tried to shoot him and run for Sheriff if he wants to keep the job the old Sheriff wanted him to have.

I can't wait for the next installment and hopefully for more information about his missing brother and one of the reasons he returned to the town. The best part of this storyline is that there are not just one straight mystery happening at a time but long running stakes as well as the focal mystery. It makes a mystery all that much better to enjoy.

I fully recommend this series for people who love a good mystery as well as likable main characters. Packard is easily loved as well as his three-legged corgi.

Another hit for this up and coming author.
There was so many twists and turns, I thought I had it figured out and NOPE, I did not.

Loved the small town setting in Northern Minnesota. Love that the acting sheriff is gay and that the author is setting up for a long series of Acting Sheriff Packard.

ONce I started reading, I could NOT put it down.

This is a great thriller that included family trauma, family secrets, and people desperate to keep what they have.

This will be a HUGE favorite of all thriller readers.