⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

• fast paced police procedural/mystery
• small town vibes
• fun twists along the way

Don't sleep on this book! Packard is such an awesome, dynamic character. Love rooting for him personally and professionally. I had to keep reading to figure out what was going on with this police case. I loved the first book and this one and I cannot wait for the next one!

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

I actually really enjoyed the storyline of the book, and the twists in the reveal. However, I didn't realize that this is the 2nd book in a series - which wouldn't normally be a problem - but the plot from the previous book was mentioned ALONG WITH THE CULPRIT. Now I guess I don't need to read the 1st book, which is a bummer. My other issue is that a couple of other mysteries were built up throughout the book, but then the book ended with a cliffhanger and no solutions.

Where The Dead Sleep is the second book in the Ben Packard series by American author, Joshua Moehling. Two deaths in Sandy Lake in early September keep Acting Sheriff Ben Packard busy in entirely different ways. Sheriff Stan Shaw, the man who appointed him, has finally succumbed to cancer, and the chair of the board of county commissioners informs Ben that his position will be up for election in November.

While many in the town expect he will put himself forward as a candidate, campaigning as the new, gay guy, kowtowing to the commissioners for funds if he wins, and being at the whim of the voters at the end of each term, doesn’t appeal; he’d prefer detective work to paperwork; bureaucracy and personnel. But the pressure from colleagues and friends, including Stan’s widow, intensifies when their worst-ever deputy, a lazy man whose only encyclopaedic knowledge is town gossip, throws his hat in the ring.

The shooting of Bill Sanderson keeps Ben and his team well occupied: within hours he realises he has a case involving two sisters, a family fortune, a shared husband and an angry best friend. He’s also trying to discover what the victim did with the twenty thousand dollars he withdrew from a joint account.

He gets to do plenty of detective work, but despite potential suspects having alibis that are shaky, vague or non-existent, there’s nothing solid enough to pin down any of them. But as bits of information slowly filter in, Ben is quite convinced that the widow knows a lot more than she’s telling. A narrow miss at an expensive lake residence has Ben wondering if the bullet might have been intended for him. And then there’s another murder…

Sequels can be hit or miss, but Moehling is on a winner here: this one is tightly plotted, includes money and gambling and theft and infidelity, and has enough red herrings and distractions to keep the reader guessing right up to the dramatic climax. Ben Packard is a complex and appealing character, a diligent cop who acts with integrity while trying to keep his sexual preferences and a certain traumatic family incident under the town’s radar.

Moehling again gives the reader plenty of support characters with good intentions tempered with very human flaws, and a couple of really nasty characters whose attitude will chill to the bone. Mentions made of the case in the series debut will count as spoilers for first-time readers of Moehling’s work.

There is a generous dose of humour, some of it quite dark, both in the dialogue and the people and situations Ben has to sort out. The final pages will intrigue the reader into eager anticipation of the third book, on which, it is fervently hoped, Moehling is hard at work. Addictive crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen

Ben Packard is officially one of my favorite detective characters of all time! This book really leaned into everything I enjoyed about the first. Packard got more character development and made more of his place in Sandy Lake. He showed more layers than just 'cop.' However, that hard law enforcement edge is still there and seen every minute of his investigation. This new investigation dives deep into the secrets that small towns and their residents can hold, with complicated family relationships, small town gossip, and an abundance of secrets. I always love a rich-people-behaving-badly plot and a everyone-is-lying-and- keeping-secrets-but-no-one-knows-the-whole-truth plot, and this book combines both in a dramatic, twisting mystery. As for the ending of this book, I am still screaming. Packard may have finished another investigation, but there is still lots going on in Sandy Lake. I cannot wait to see how his story continues. Overall, I highly recommend reading this book.

Ben Packard will have to make a potentially life-changing decision, and soon.
But crime in Sandy Lake isn’t on vacation and soon he must figure out why someone killed Bill Sanderson. Bill, I hardly knew ya, but what I did discover, frankly did not make me very sad that you were gone. A gambler, a drinker, oh, and a man who married, then divorced one sister(Sherri), only to marry another sister(Carrie). So why is the ex-wife sadder than the current wife? Just what kind of a house were Carrie and Sherri raised in? Honestly, this is not my idea of a picture perfect family.
Still, I may not have liked the victim or those around him, but I had my suspicions about whodunnit and why. I was semi-correct. I guessed the who but not the why.
And There He Kept Her is the first book in this series, and the mystery was much darker. Where the Dead Sleep reveals much more about Ben and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his brother many years ago. Even though the murder is solved, there are several other loose threads that the author plays with before ending this story. I am super excited to see where the third book goes after enjoying the time that I spent with Ben.
Just as an aside,seriously Sherri and Carrie’s last name could be dysfunctional. Wait until you learn what pushes the sisters buttons! I’m so grateful that I am an only child. Hopefully, I will see Ben again next year. Another page flipper!
4.5 stars.

Where the Dead Sleep is the second book in the Ben Packard series, a more conventional whodunnit than its predecessor and one that will have you gripped from page one.

In this book, we have a home invasion, resulting in murder with no apparent motive, a wife who is hiding things, and some dark secrets that might come to light with investigation. More than that, there seem to be other forces at play, forces that don’t want Ben in town, that go to lengths to scare him off.

If you like your mystery stories to be fast paced, maybe not full of action, but with enough of it to keep you on your toes, then this is a series you should be reading. With the ending of this one, you’re left on just enough of a cliffhanger that you need to know what happens next and, more pressingly, why it’s all happening (my personal guess relates to involvement in Ben’s brother’s disappearance).

So, should you be looking for more LGBT mystery novels (frankly, a severely under-resourced genre!), then you should give this series a go. Get yourself hooked on the goings on in a small Minnesota town, you know you want to!

Man I really don’t know how I feel about this one. I didn’t see a lot of things coming and was very surprised by Paul. .pts of twists and turns and just sadness at how much a family can hate and destroy each other, I kind of hate the ending because it feels so unresolved and I want answers for packard. I know this is the second book in the series but it was first for me, I immediately downloaded for first so guess that means u liked it,

Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

Loved this second installment in the Ben Packard story. This time, Ben is acting sheriff/detective and he’s investigating the death of a man named Bill Sandersen. The dynamics between the people closest to the deceased are what drive this story to its ultimate, explosive conclusion. Yet, the author leaves us one last breadcrumb to continue Packard’s story into the next chapter of his life. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but this was an excellent sophomore novel to follow up And There He Kept Her, Moehling’s debut.

I am so grateful to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for early access to this novel and for the opportunity to share my review!

Another 5 star read from Joshua Moehling!

Another thrilling murder mystery from Joshua Moehling that had me on the edge of my seat. Moehling has a way of capturing the dark and seedy side of small town life that grabs my attention and keeps me turning the pages.

I picked up Moehling's debut novel without knowing it's just a first book in a series, but there was enough clues it was written with a sequel in mind. I enjoyed a lot of things about And There He Kept Her most of all the people of Sandy Lake, the way he writes small town community, but I wasn't enamored with Ben Packard, the titular character of the series because he was a too safe, too bland for me. And that kind of left me on a fence about the series.
I am so glad I picked up Where the Dead Sleep because Joshua Moehling just did a lot more of everything I liked and improved on things I didn't. This was a very well crafted and perfectly balanced detective novel that manged to keep me well past my bedtime to finish it.

Bare bones:Ben Packard, acting sheriff of Sandy Lake county is called on a scene of a murder of Bill Sandersen. On a first look it seems like home invasion went wrong, but Bill was a known gambler and a grifter who used to party all the time with his ex wife only to marry her sister when her trust fund dried up. With investigation pointing to several suspects Packard also has to deal with the death of his mentor Stan Shaw who brought him to Sandy Lake and the upcoming elections for the new sheriff.

So, here is the thing: the mystery in previous book was definitely more shocking and the crime was more evil and disturbing comparing to this one. But it is exactly why I liked it so much- for a small town like Sandy Lake is, it fits to have more of petty and money motivated crimes with dumb criminals who make mistakes and not only serial killers psychopaths and big twists at the end. It is such a straightforward crime with a straightforward investigation that should have brought results sooner if Packard wasn't swamped with work or distracted.
It's these flaws, this humanity in his characters, that Moehling, in my opinion, does best, not just with side characters or Packard's colleagues. So often in mysteries detectives are having some kind of issue, addiction or some kind of trauma, but they are excellent in doing their job, they are great detectives. Ben Packard in contrast is so decent, to the point of being boringly perfect and yet, he can make mistakes. And so can other people in Sandy Lake, no matter how smart they consider themselves to be and sometimes it leads them to the path of crime. Even in his debut novel Meohling depicted the killer as an old man who has troubles walking, a pathetic picture all around. It's not a characterization in a service of some crazy plot, it's just a regular life stuff happening in a small city that runs on gossip mill, family legacies and genuine community.
This is is such a well constructed novel, with just the right amount of investigative work, side drama with election and overreaching arc of Packard's missing brother, sprinkled with some great scenes of friendship and support he gets from his friends. I know I mentioned that already, but author's effort to put a better, more assured story out that elevated every element is noticeable and quite probably my biggest takeaway aside from enjoyment.
Great sequel, recommended.

Where the Dead Sleep by J. Moehling, published by PPPress, is the second stand-alone in the Ben Packard Series.
Deputy Sheriff Ben Packard who just solved the last case wants to take a breather. The bachelor enjoys his single life and the annual Sandy Lake festival.
But the next murder case is just around the corner.
Just like the previous book, this is a thriller of its finest.
The book kept me in suspense, breatlessly sitting on the edge of my seat right from the start til the last page. A well rounded story, a pleasure to read.
This dark read, is literally unputdownable, ticked all my boxes. The writing is excellent, the story complex, outstanding, suspenseful, thrilling to read. I recommend the book.

The second book featuring sheriff Ben Packard, and it surely was a thrill ride again! Now, my favorite detective will always be Ann Cleeves' Vera for sure, but Packard might just take second place. He is intelligent, kind and hands-on and I can only imagine him as being really cute as well.

After featuring the incredible Emmett Burr in the first book, we are now confronted with a very dysfunctional family in small town Sandy Lake, and all their secrets come above water after the dead of Bill, a car salesman who married both sisters - not at the same time mind you. Ben Packard has a lot to do, as he also needs to secure his position as sheriff, and still has to solve the disappearance of his brother. If anything, I wish this thread would have been explored further, as we now have to wait for the third installment to get more info on what really happened. I can't wait !

I strongly recommend this book if you like procedurals that take place in a small town location, a quiet pace where the emphasis is more on character building rather than fast paced car chases. Absolutely worth it !

A sincere than you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Where the Dead Sleep – Joshua Moehling

This is the second novel in a series revolving around Detective Ben Packard, acting Sheriff of Sandy Lake, a small town located in rural Minnesota. A fairly new officer to Sandy Lake, he finds himself designated as acting chief when the Police Chief has to step aside for cancer treatment, much to the chagrin of other members of the department. Ben is also gay, having moved back to the town of his childhood after his partner, another cop, was gunned down. As their relationship had been secret, he had to mourn privately, and felt the best thing to do was start anew elsewhere. His other reasons for returning to Sandy Lake become clear in the latter part of the novel.

Ben is called to the scene of an apparent robbery gone wrong, leaving the homeowner, Bill Sanderson, dead of a gunshot wound in his bedroom, his distraught wife, crying on the couch. As Ben gently questions the wife, he learns that the couple sleeps separately, and that after hearing a loud ‘bang’, she went to her husband’s side of the house, finding him dead in a pool of blood. As Ben continues to gather information, he learns from a deputy that the victim used to be married to his wife’s sister - and that there is no love lost between the two women.

As the investigation ramps up, Ben uncovers more questions than answers – and plenty of suspects. Meanwhile, he receives a call that his mentor, Sheriff Shaw, has lost his battle with cancer, bringing the probability of an election to fill the now vacant Sheriff position. Initially Ben is not interested - knowing he will be subjected to public scrutiny - but with some soul searching, along with heavy pressure from friends and colleagues – he relents and throws his hat into the ring. But can he solve this murder and prove that he’s worthy of the position?

While the ending was a bit surprising to me at first, I then realized that it was the perfect set up into the next adventure for Ben. Sheriff Shaw has left Ben a little something that rocks Ben to his core... While the backstory is revealed at the novels end, the contents of the package will fuel this series for books to come, I suspect! I adore Ben’s character and all of the small town drama, and the intricacy of these plots is fabulous! I cannot wait for the next installment! An absolute must read series!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

Blog will publish August 10th

🚨 Book Review 🚨

Last year, Joshua Moehling's debut book was one of my favorite reads. I was so beyond excited when I was approved for an ARC of the next book in his Ben Packard series.

This was a definitely an entertaining thriller that kept my attention. I just wish it had been darker or had the gritty feel that And There He Kept Her had. I really like the main character, detective/sheriff Ben Packard. Having LGBTQIA+ rep and police procedural mixed together makes for some great reading. I love that our MC doesn't have the stereotypical traits of most detective/cop characters and can't wait to see what comes next in the series.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the eARC!

This publishes Aug 15th and is definitely worth a read!

#NetGalley #WhereTheDeadSleep #ARC #review #reading #thriller

A wonderful followup to And There He Kept Her. Ben Packard is a character you are constantly for, one you wish you could meet. Moehling has created a place that is like a character itself, and characters that are always intriguing. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Joshua Moehling has instilled a love of thrillers in me. He has a promising career ahead of him.

This book was definitely a step up from the first one in my opinion. A lot heavier tones and overall deeper and darker for sure. I was so excited to read more about Ben Packard, and I enjoyed reading his story again. I couldn’t get enough and was on the edge of my seat-if you’re looking for a bingeable story look no further!

I found a lot of this book to lean towards the cliche. It felt like reading the novelization of a procedural crime drama at time, with heavy-handed descriptions. I like the small-town setting, but that's about it for this one.

How excited was I to get the second installment featuring acting Sheriff Ben Packard. This person!!!!

We catch up with Packard again in the midst of solving another crime in a small town in the Midwest. Bill has been killed but who did it and why?(every time they said who killed bill, I thought of the "Kill Bill" movie) This book reads like following an actual crime scene. You have the forensics and then the detective work and the author just writes it brilliantly, it feels like you are watching a dateline to see how it all comes together. There are red herrings but ultimately the forensics and detective work figure it out. Along with that storyline you also have the plot of Packard running for Sheriff, While I didn't like the politics of it, I thought it was an integral part of Packard's journey that ran alongside the main storyline/mystery. The author left Packard's story line open enough that I have a sneaky suspicion we will have a book three and I can't wait!!!. I hate to compare authors as all works are different, but this series is feeling like Karin Slaughter's Grant County Series and I'm all in.

I do feel like the first book was more gritty and darker than this one, but that's ok because each one had a different feel and worked for me as a reader


Thanks so much to Netgalley, the publisher and author for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

PS please let me read the third when it comes out

Fast paced with an incredibly gripping plot. I really enjoyed this authors writing style, so much so that I'll definitely be picking up a copy of And There He Kept Her

“Where the Dead Sleep” by Joshua Moehling is the second of Ben Packard series. I really like the main character and the learning more of his backstory. The plot of this book wasn’t as exciting or thrilling as his first. It seemed more like a character study than a mystery. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.