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.

Where The Dead Sleep is a good read. It bogs down a bit in the middle, but overall, it's an engrossing read. I liked Ben Packard and I liked the way Mr. Moehling handled the gay issue. I hope readers are not put off by that. The story is too good to have that happen.
I also liked how it ended. This mystery was resolved, but there's still a cliffhanger of sorts. I'm looking forward to following up on that.
I would recommend this book and author.
Thank you for an ARC of Where The Dead Sleep.
#WhereTheDeadSleep#JoshuaMoehling#PoisonedPen

I enjoyed this second book about Sheriff Ben Packard as much as the first. There is a whole new mystery for Ben to solve, plus he is now running for sheriff of his small county in Michigan. There is a lot going on in his life now, but is he ready to let go of his past yet?

I really like Ben. He is good at his job and can not tolerate those around him who are not. He is finally feeling like he has roots in his new community and for the most part the people of Sandy Lake like him as well. Ben has good intuition that doesn’t steer him wrong, and he often gets that gut feeling that his suspects are not telling the truth, or at least holding back on parts of it. He also has a good sense of humor, which he often pulls out when it is needed.

There are a lot of secondary characters that play important roles in both of these books. Of course there are the other deputies who help him solve the murders, but there are some other towns folks as well. Many of these people rally behind Ben when he finally decides that he needs to run for Sheriff in the next election.

The plot of this book is what really shines and makes it stand out as an excellent, well crafted mystery. Just like Ben, the reader is also left with the feelings that not everyone is telling the truth. There are a lot of small town secrets involved in this story, and some have been kept hidden for a long time. The story is mostly told through Ben’s perspective, but there are a few chapters by others, mainly the wife of the murdered man. She was an interesting suspect and character who had the most to lose if Ben solves the case.

This is the author’s second book and it is just as strong as his first. I really enjoy his writing style and his mysteries are well crafted. His characters are realistic and believable and you can root for them when things don’t go their way. The setting of a small midwest town is also well done. There is at least one more book coming in this series and I am hoping that that one will solve one of the cases that has been haunting Ben for most of his life.

I really wanted to love this book because I loved the first one. I feel like it drug out so long and wasn’t as gripping as the first. I’m not sure if I will finish the series even tho I want to know who is responsible for his brothers death so many years ago.

This is the 2nd installment featuring Ben Packard and I wish I'd read the first one (even though this is clearly a stand-alone, I feel like I'd know Ben better). This time he's investigating a homicide as the acting sheriff involving Bill who was married to Carrie (but before that her sister, Sherrie). Now there are discrepancies that make it a harder case to solve; Carrie knows more than she admits, their mother has dementia and takes up a lot of their time, and a hummingbird pin is somehow involved. Sounds convoluted but it all makes sense at the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Well, well, well. Joshue Moehling knocks it out of the park - AGAIN!

When the first Ben Packard novel, 'And There He Kept Her', was released, I had no idea what I was getting into. I requested it on NetGalley and hoped for the best. When Poisoned Pen sent me an ARC, I was excited to have a novel to read over the next few days - and then I read it all in one sitting.

The same happened with 'Where the Dead Sleep', the second installment in Ben's fascinating story. I jumped at the chance to request it on NetGalley and then, when it was sent to me (thank you Poisoned Pen - I love you), found myself pacing the floor for hours as I devoured it.

I wish I could pinpoint exactly what pulls the reader into this all encompassing story. Is it the small town vibes with residents as rich as its history? Is it our charming main character, Ben Packard, navigating life as a gay, small town cop, who just so happens to be harboring a dark secret about his history with Sandy Lake? Is it Ben's dog, Frank? (Absolutely). Or is it the murder mystery of it all that has the reader questioning every little tidbit of information on the pages? Likely, it's a little bit of all of the above.

I can't give enough praise to Moehling for writing this astonishingly compelling novel. I used to think my murder mystery days were done, and then I picked up a Joshua Moehling book. I am so serious when I say every thriller lover absolutely MUST read this series. 10/10, will be reading every installment of this series moving forward.

This is the second book by this author, with a character from the first, and there he kept her, and it is great!!!!

We recall sheriff Ben Packard from ATHKH, and connect with him again as he tries to solve another mystery.

Bill, who is married to Carrie, who is the sister of his first wife, Sherri, is killed in his bed. With great balance, Joshua has weaved their lives, as well as lives in others, into a great mystery book! This is an author I will continue to read!!! Loved both of his books!!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisened Pen for my review in exchange for this book!

Great storytelling and well-developed characters. I was hooked from the first page. Mystery and intrigue all wrapped up in a gripping tale. Definitely recommend.

Ben Packard is back in this captivating second installment. A gay detective, who has been appointed the title of acting sheriff in a rural Minnesota town while his boss undergoes cancer treatment. When a man is shot dead in his bed, and suspicions loom, the investigation takes Packard through multiple possible suspects and quite a few personalities. The town has been rocked with its second large investigation, making the townsfolk question their safety, and doubt looms on how effective Packard is at his job as acting sheriff.
Moehling crafts such an action-packed mystery that entices you to keep reading well past when you should’ve stopped to go to bed. I devoured both the first and second book within a matter of days, and can not wait to see where this series goes (hopefully there’s another one, because I have to know about the cliffhanger we were left with!!)

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Joshua Moehling for providing me with an advanced reader copy to enjoy and review.

What a follow-up to the first in the series! If I wasn’t a fan after book one, count me in for the whole ride now! This one kept me guessing and reading late into the night. And the ending!! Man, I can’t wait for the next one. I love how Ben is settling in and making his home there. This is my new favorite series!

"Where the Dead Sleep" is book two in the Ben Packard series by Joshua Moehling. Deputy Ben Packard caught the case of the death of Bill Sandersen, who died in a home invasion. During the investigation, Deputy Ben Pardard discovered that Bill Sanderson was not as upstanding a citizen as he thought. While investigating Bill Sandersen's death, he was campaigning to be the next Sheriff. "Where the Dead Sleep" readers will continue following Ben Pardard's investigation to discover what happens.

"Where the Dead Sleep" is the first book I have read by Joshua Moehling, and I enjoyed reading this book. I engage with the story from the first page. I loved Joshua Moehling's portrayal of the characters of "Where the Dead Sleep" and their interaction with each other. "Where the Dead Sleep" is well-written and researched by Joshua Moehling. I like Joshua Moehling's description of the settings of "Where the Dead Sleep", which complements the book's plot.

The readers of "Where the Dead Sleep" will understand the issues regarding becoming a candidate for the Sheriff position in Minnesota. Also, in "Where the Dead Sleep", readers will learn about living in rural Minnesota.
I recommend this book.

I requested this book because I read the first in the series and LOVED it! Joshua Moehling did not disappoint. The second book does read a little slower but I really enjoyed it. Deputy Packard gets a call to the scene of a home invasion turned murder. Bill Sanderson was shot twice in his home and his wife was home when it happened. Carrie says that she didnt hear or see anything other than one gunshot. Something doesn't feel right to Deputy Packard but he cant quite put his finger on it yet. Then another body turns up, it's Carrie's sister Sherrie. As the investigation continues it becomes apparent that anyone could be guilty.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

Way to knock the second book out of the park! Just like ATHKH I could not put this down once I started reading. You are instantly put back into the small town of Sandy Lake. Just like the first book there’s many questions you’ll find yourself asking and only a few answers by the end. I cannot wait to see what the third book has for us. The last chapter is just WOW cannot wait for the next one in the Packard series.

It was actually this book that first appealed to me for this series. Being the weirdo that I am about starting the series from the beginning, I read the first installment recently so that I wouldn’t feel like I missed anything when I read this one. Sooo glad that I did because I would have missed stuff. JMHO.

The book summary pretty much lays out the primary storyline about the death of a local resident, Bill Sandersen, who was killed in his bed during a suspected robbery, while his wife slept upstairs. There is also a secondary storyline of Ben, who’s been the acting Sherriff since the previous one was diagnosed with cancer. The Sherriff dies pretty early in the story and the city council decides to put the Sherriff’s position on the ballot in the next election that is a few weeks away. Now, Ben, who doesn’t want the job and definitely doesn’t want to campaign for it, has to decide to either let one of the two idiot candidates who are running for the job win and screw up the department or throw his hat in the ring and suck it up that he is going to be labeled as “the gay guy from out of town”. A town that is VERY red and conservative.

Most of the story revolves around the investigation of Bill’s death. The investigation reveals a lot of dirt on Bill and his life and shenanigans. Bill is not a good guy and there are a lot of potential suspects. Early in the story, there is an attempt on Ben’s life, and, at first, Ben suspects that it’s related to the investigation because Ben has ruffled a lot of feathers and asked a lot of people a lot of questions. Ben has developed a valid reputation as a good investigator in the short time he’s been in town, and someone is getting nervous.

It's well into the second half that Ben discovers new info on Bill, which provides more leads to investigate and the second half has Ben zeroing in on the killer. The end of the investigation was a bit of a mess and while I was a little off on the killer, I had the motive right. I HATED the end of the other storyline, but I guess Moehling had to do that for dramatic effect. That and add to the lead in for the next installment.

Part of me wanted to end the series right there, but curiosity got the better of me. I’m just certain that Moehling had a reason for doing what he did to Ben. I am reminded of something that appealed to me in the first book and now we’re finally getting to see that now and most likely in the next installment. For me, when picking up a story about someone who “returns home” after a long absence (usually decades), I can almost always be certain that there is no good to come from coming home after so long away.

While I understand that these ARC’s from NetGalley are uncorrected versions of the story and that it’s likely there will be grammatical errors in the story, I typically won’t comment on a smattering of errors in the book. Things like that don’t bother me that much. However, what does bother me are glaring errors that make it harder for me to understand whole scenes of the story, to the point that I have to go back and reread something because of poor sentence structure or grammatical errors.

One of the issues that I noticed pretty early in this story is the poor transition from one speaker to another. The quoted writing was poorly written and often the change in speakers was either not clearly identified or not identified at all. The writer/publishers need to go through the whole book and clear up and properly identify those transitions from one speaker to another.

Other than that, I enjoyed the story. Fortunately, it didn’t take away too much from the story, it just took me a little longer to read the book and irritated me a little, especially late at night. I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #PoisonedPenPress #WhereTheDeadSleep

3.5 stars

Where The Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling is the second in the Ben Packard police procedural series. 

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Ben Packard moved to the small town of  Sandy Lake Minnesota to forget the loss of his fellow officer, and boyfriend Marcus.   He needed a fresh start, and although his brother Nick went missing in Sandy Lake, Ben decided he would move back to the area.  Although he hasn't broadcast the fact that he is gay, word is getting around.  He also hasn't let people know of his previous ties to the area.  He's now Acting Sheriff while his boss goes through chemo.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
In the quiet Minnesota Town of Sandy Lake, Ben is called to the house of Bill Sanderson, a car dealer, gambler, and husband who seems to always marry money.  He is dead.  Although his lifestyle seems shady, a lot of people liked him....although it is evident that there was at least one person who thought he should be dead.

The case is rather complicated, and Ben feels he is getting the run-around from a number of the people he is interviewing.

Then Ben's friend and mentor loses his battle with cancer.  This will force Ben to make a decision about his future with the department.

But there is someone else that would prefer Ben leave the area permanently.  The history of this small town has secrets that some do not want told.


My Opinions:
This is an interesting series.  I'm not a fan of books that leave unanswered questions.  I feel that if the author feels he must leave a cliff-hanger, or something that forces the reader to read the next book, it takes away from the book itself.  Every book should be able to stand on its own. 

I admit to liking the first book a little more.  I didn't find this one as "thrilling" or as "action-packed" as the first one.  I missed the excitement.

This book centered a lot on family dynamics, and how the behaviour of parents can directly impact their children.  That was a little dark.

However, Ben is an interesting and compelling character, and we continue to learn more about him with each book.  As well, this book had a really good plot, and although I was fairly certain early on as to the shooter's identity, there was another character that I did not see coming.

Overall, I will continue reading this series.

Wow! This was a great pick up from where ATHKH left off. I love the small town atmosphere and the connections to community. It’s hard to talk about this without giving much away. I see this book showing a different side of Ben and him realizing just how much healing he needed to do. Weather or not he wanted it there are people in this town who love him and care about him and it forces him to look at his self differently, let down some walls and allow people in. But what good is a small town without burried secrets, lies, affairs, someone trying to kill you and a good ole fashioned murder? This book has it all. I’m not going to lie I wasn’t ready for this to end!!! But saw that their will be a third to wrap it all up! And I can not freaking wait to find out what it’s called! So I can try desperately to get my hands on it! Thank you to poison pen press for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC! I loved it!!