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!!

Joshua Moehling is a new author to me, but this book is the second book in the Ben Packard series. I was a little worried in the beginning that I would be disconnected from the book and the first one, but that was the furthest from the truth. This author made sure you weren't left out at any part.

Ben Packard has been named acting sheriff of Sandy Lake and he has to head up the investigation into a murder. He arrives on the scene and nothing looks right. In the midst of the investigation, the community board has decided that the town needs a permanent elected Sheriff, so elections are underway. Packard goes back and forth about whether to run and then is convinced to enter the contest.

Through twists and turns, the investigation gets more confusing when another body turns up. The Gherlick family holds a lot of secrets, and they all come to light with these two murders in a small town.

Moehling makes you not want to put this one down and now makes me want to read the first book. Where the Dead Sleep comes out August 15, 2023, so preorder your copy NOW!

#wherethedeadsleep #NetGalley

Thank you Poison Pen and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. This is the second book in the Ben Packard series. I have not read the first one but I certainly will be going back to read it after having read this one. Detective Packard has been promoted to acting Sheriff of a small town as the present Sheriff's health is deteriorating. The story line is fast paced and seldom has a lull in it. It caused me to have strong feelings towards some of the characters good and bad which for me means the author has done a great job building the characters and their backstories. Packard has been called out to a scene on his day off. William "Bill" Sandersen has been shot dead in his bed with supposedly no direct witness. Packard has to figure out - was it his wife, who was asleep upstairs, his EX-wife, his mother-in-law who has dementia, people he worked with, a friend he stole money from or another who did the deed. It might have been someone totally out of the realm of thoughtful possibility. Then on top of it all, Packard is semi-forced into running for Sheriff permanently while heading this investigation. It is never what it seems and the ending will throw you for a loop you didn't expect. I thoroughly enjoyed this first outing with this author and will following his books from here on out.

Book : Where the Dead Sleep
Author : Joshua Moehling
Pub Date : 15 Aug 2023

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Do you love :
- Police Procedurals
- Detective books
- Investigative books
- Multiple POV

Then this book is a must snag!

I am a HUGE fan of police procedurals, detective and investigative books. I actually read this book as a standalone book and was not confused and still caught on to what was going. So if you haven’t read the first book before this one you will be just fine.

I loved the story line of Sheriff Ben Packard trying to solve a case in a tiny little town and it is more so a who-done-it case, it was full of me questioning and trying to figure out along with the MC the entire time. The storyline is perfection, the plot perfection, characters are fantastic, this book was all around such an amazing read! The authors writing is always fantastic.

Absolutely a must have book on your shelf or kindle. Put this on your TBR if you haven’t yet.

I’m a big fan of police procedurals and Where the Dead Sleep is a well done one. It’s the second in the Ben Packard series. But I hadn’t read the first and it worked fine as a stand-alone. Although, as much as I enjoyed this, I’ll probably try to go back and read the first.
Ben Packard has been the acting sheriff for over a year now, as the sheriff is dealing with cancer. On a rare day off, he’s called to investigate the murder of a man shot in his bed. And boy, does this man have a history. He’s the ex-husband of one sister and the current husband of another. He’s also a known gambler and has stolen from his business partner.
Ben is soon not only dealing with the investigation but needs to make a decision about whether to run for sheriff. As a gay man in a red -state-small-town, he’s not sure if he’s up for the scrutiny. Moehling has done a good job of creating not just Ben, but all the characters.
The story moved at a steady pace, the storyline was nice and taut. It flips between various POVs, but mostly Ben’s. I was engaged from beginning to end. The ending was well thought out and believable. This is definitely a series I will keep up with.
My thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy of this book.

So Good!

I had the pleasure of getting an advanced readers copy of Joshua Moehling’s book And There He Kept Her. I absolutely loved it, so I was really excited for the next installment. While I think this second book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading them in order. Deputy Packard is such a likable character. He’s so smart and compassionate. He approaches his job with the utmost integrity. He’s definitely the star, but he’s surrounded by well developed characters. The three sisters in this book are so entertaining. They take sibling rivalry to the next level. Their antics kept me fully engaged in the storyline.

There is plenty of suspense and mystery to keep it interesting. Every time I thought I solved it, a new twist was thrown in. I was guessing up until the very end. Following Packard’s journey to try to make the leap from interim sheriff to elected sheriff is a great layer added to the story. I love how this story ends with hints of more cases for Packard to solve. I am anxiously awaiting what comes next for Ben Packard.

Moehling blew me away again with another five star read. Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Joshua Moehling for this advanced copy to review. #wherethedeadsleep #NetGalley.