Big thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!!

3.5 stars. A Long Time Gone delivers solid small-town suspense with a gritty atmosphere and a compelling lead. Joshua Moehling has a good handle on tension and setting, but some plot points felt a bit too familiar, and the pacing dragged in places. Still, it's an engaging read with enough twists to keep you turning the pages. A decent follow-up for fans of his first book, though it doesn’t quite surpass it.

3.5 stars - If you haven’t read the Ben Packard series yet, what are you doing with your time? I started 2024 by reading the first book in this series so I figured it was only fair to have my first read of 2025 be Moehling’s latest release! Ben Packard has become one of my favorite MC’s and I just want to read more (I”ll be waiting for book four now lol). While A Long Time Gone did have a slower start than the other two books, it still remained strong in what I’ve grown fond of in Moehling’s writing: character development, a captivating mystery, and an atmospheric setting. I highly recommend this series!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

No matter what you try to do in your life, sometimes unfinished business and mysteries in your past need to be solved and taken care of. Otherwise it will keep haunting you. Ben was just a young boy when his brother disappeared in the middle of the night. Blaming himself for not staying with his brother to see where he went, the guilt starts weighing him down even more when a murder happens in his old childhood home. The same home that his brother disappeared from. Now working at the town's police department, Deputy Ben Packard wants to not just solve one murder but rather two murders. The problem is that he's put on leave and no one believes him that the latest death has anything to do with a murder but rather an accidental death. Going "rogue" on his investigation, he's able to talk with people from his past and find out interesting clues, some that has now put him in line of a shooter who has it out for him. Great! Now another mystery to solve or are they all someone connected?

A Long Time Gone is a great read and I love the character of Ben Packard. Not realizing it was a third book in a series, I'll be going back to read the first two books and it's a series I definitely want to keep reading in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Joshua Moehling for this book. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read more of the series!

This book started out with a bang. Literally.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well was written--or mainly how there was such focus on understanding Packard and how his past played into unfolding the truth.

The three-legged corgi was...well...different. However, I enjoyed this story. I also didn't know it was part of a series and I am looking forward to reading the previous books.

A Long Time Gone is the 3rd book in the Ben Packard series and one of my highly anticipated reads of 2025 🎉.

Deputy Packard finally gets answers regarding his brother Nick’s disappearance thanks to his mentor and the former sheriff, Stan Shaw who died of cancer. In the letter, the former sheriff gives Packard details on his efforts to solve his brother’s cold case, and Packard is left with more questions than answers. He soon embarks on a mission to find his missing brother once and for all.


I love this author’s writing and how he writes Ban Packard’s character. You can’t help but fall in love with Deputy Packard! We got to meet Packard’s mom, and she was so much fun! I enjoyed how the author added another storyline, and I was satisfied with the way it wrapped up. I am normally not a fan of series, but I have loved all three books. If you are looking for a new series, look no further!

This book completely blew me away. The story is raw, intense, and beautifully written — it stuck with me long after I finished. Joshua Moehling has such a powerful voice that brings the characters and their struggles to life in the most real way.

The emotional depth and the way the plot unfolds kept me hooked the whole time. It’s tough, honest, and unforgettable. Highly recommend for anyone who loves stories that hit deep and stay with you.

The only thing wrong with Joshua Moehling’s series about small town Minnesota deputy sheriff Ben Packard is that “Long Time Gone” feels like a finale. I hope it’s not. In three books, I’ve become very attached to Ben, who is gay (not a big deal) and marked by tragedies, including the disappearance of his brother when he was a kid and the death of his partner in the line of duty. He can’t, though, triumph over a rigged election for sheriff that left him demoted and insulted. Read all three (“And There He Kept Her” and “Where the Dead Sleep”) in order, and thank me later..

Reviewed in print and online for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Where to begin? This was my most anticipated read for the year! I fell in love with the Ben Packard series. This story unfortunately was my least favorite of the three. It is good and I’m glad to finally know what happened to Nick. I really disliked what happened to Nick and wish the author had taken another route. Other parts fell flat for me… I missed some of the quirky characters from books 1 and 2! I want the charm of the small town that I felt from the other books. The good news is, I would read anything by Moehling! I just had maybe too high of hopes for this particular ending…

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

This is quickly becoming a series that I can't wait to read the next installment. Ben Packard is a character you just can't help liking! Keep the books in this series coming!

Description
Ben Packard was just a boy when his older brother disappeared. Ben watched him walk out the back door of their grandparents' house and into the cold night.

His brother was never seen again.

Decades later, Deputy Packard finds himself with too much time on his hands. A shooting has him on leave and under investigation, and all he can do is dwell on the past. For the first time in years, new information about his brother has surfaced that may lead them to the location of a body.

The midwinter ground is frozen solid. Worse, Packard is cut off from department resources. As he strikes out to finally uncover the truth behind his brother's disappearance, he stumbles on a separate, suspicious death. A tenuous connection exists between the two cases, and as Packard starts to dig, he meets fierce resistance from friends and foes alike who want him to stand down.

The winter is long and cold. By the end of it, Packard will risk everything to catch a killer and reveal the shocking truth about his brother.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


A Long Time Gone is the third installment in Joshua Moehling’s Ben Packard series, blending mystery, emotional depth, and small-town intrigue. 

Deputy Ben Packard, currently on administrative leave, revisits the decades-old disappearance of his brother, Nick. As he delves into this cold case, he uncovers a separate, suspicious death that may be connected. Set against the backdrop of a frigid Minnesota winter, Packard navigates personal and professional challenges, confronting long-held secrets and community tensions.  

Moehling crafts a compelling narrative filled with suspense and heart. Packard’s character is both relatable and endearing, especially with moments of levity provided by his interactions with his quirky mother and his loyal three-legged corgi. 

This novel stands well on its own, offering a satisfying mystery while also providing depth for series fans. Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven thrillers with a touch of warmth and humor.

❤️shaye.readss

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
An intriguing mystery with emotional depth

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Cold case investigations
Small town secrets
Character development
Police procedurals
Slow burn mystery

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
LGBTQIA+ rep
Thriller with depth

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
There were a lot of subplots
Resolution felt a little rushed

A Long Time Gone by Joshua Moehling is an engaging read that effectively captivated my attention throughout. Though this was my first experience with the author and the Ben Packard series, I found myself consistently intrigued by the unfolding details and eager to discover what would happen next. While some elements felt somewhat predictable, the strength of Moehling's storytelling kept me immersed until the end. Overall, a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC!

I have loved this series and was super excited to read the conclusion to Packard's missing brother case. The main mystery has its twists and turns, and the writing is beautiful and authentic as usual. I enjoyed Packard's scenes with his mother! However, I ended the book feeling disappointed.

One of the reasons why I enjoyed this series is the positive portrayal of a gay protagonist, a man who has past trauma but is trying hard to move on and embrace life with a new home, new friends, even new lovers. So to have all that be undone by a typical 'bury the gays' trope ending feels so outdated. Do we really need yet another story of gay boys being killed for being gay? All that mystery only to end with homophobia? Yes, this still happens. But in 2025, I want joyful queer stories, not something that could have been written in the 90s. Not to mention, the portrayal of Iraqi and Muslim people is so tone deaf, in this current climate where the US government is not only attacking foreign Middle-Eastern countries, but also immigration and LGBTQ+ laws right here in the United States. To have a great buildup of a missing brother mystery over 3 books, only to end like this is such a letdown.

Also, it was completely unnecessary to mention George Floyd to make the point "not all cops are bad". Why was this even included? Packard can talk about his struggles as a cop who killed a man, without evoking a real-life murder as a comparison. It makes me view him less positively because the self-pity is so misplaced. Just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the digital copy to review.

This is one of my favorite series that honestly just gets better with each book. I love Deputy Ben Packard and love that this book focused on his brother and what may have happened to him. I loved the multiple storylines, and the resolution was very well done here. It is not necessary to read the prior two books ahead of this one, but I do recommend it for the best reading experience. This is also the more emotional one so it helps to have the backstory I think. Overall this was such a great book, and I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so much.

Book 3 of Ben Packard, deputy. Totally enjoyed reading A long Time Gone. Ben’s brother, Nick, died mysteriously and it has haunted the family for some kind of closure. On leave for a shooting, Ben ends up finding dead bodies and a whole new mess to investigate.

Deputy Sheriff Ben Packard has certainly gone through a lot since returning to Sandy Lake at the behest of its dying sheriff Stan Shaw. Packard just couldn’t say no when his mentor asked him to take on the role of acting sheriff. After Stan passed, Packard was persuaded to run for sheriff himself. He looked like a lock to win, until perhaps his worst deputy was induced to run against him. Unfortunately for Packard, former Deputy Howard Shepard had some powerful backers:

QUOTE
And now Shepard was his boss.

After being sworn in, Shepard hired a new chief deputy then reorged the entire department, taking Packard off investigations and putting him in charge of court security. His new responsibilities included maintaining order and decorum in courtrooms, transporting inmates from the jail, screening entrants, and maintaining a high level of safety and security for those conducting court business.

The job was as far down the hierarchy of responsibility from acting sheriff and lead investigator as Packard could get. Packard knew it. Shepard did too. He called it cross-training. Everyone else saw it for what it was: a power play.
END QUOTE

Being the conscientious sort, Packard performs his duties, no matter how lowly, with aplomb. But after he’s involved in a shooting on the job, he finds himself placed on administrative leave. This gives him plenty of time to look into the real mystery that’s been plaguing him for almost thirty years: what happened to his older brother Nick, who disappeared from Sandy Lake when Packard was twelve. Packard was bequeathed the case files on Stan’s passing, but critical information is missing, information that Packard is determined to track down.

Complicating matters is the arrival of Packard’s mom Pam, who flies in from Arizona after hearing that there’s new information on the disappearance of her eldest son. Mother and son decide to revisit the lakeside house where they last saw Nick, which Packard’s grandfather sold quite some time ago to his neighbor Louise Larsen. Pam hasn’t seen Louise in a while, but is anticipating a friendly reunion. The Packards are thus surprised to learn that Louise fell down the basement stairs to her death several months ago. At least, that’s the official story. Packard isn’t so sure that it’s the truth.

The more he looks into the unattended death, the more danger he unexpectedly finds himself in. Could what have happened to Louise somehow be intertwined with what happened to Nick? Or is there yet another twisted web of crime lying beneath Sandy Lake’s tranquil surface?

While I didn’t love this third Ben Packard novel quite as much as its immediate predecessor, Where The Dead Sleep, I greatly enjoyed getting to spend time with our protagonist as he finally gets to the bottom of the mystery that’s defined both his and his family’s lives for so long. I also enjoyed spending time with his friends and allies again, as well as meeting brand new characters who will hopefully figure in future installments too.

But most of all, I loved Packard’s deadpan sense of humor. It’s not easy being gay in rural Minnesota, but Packard defuses any tensions with both self-respect and finesse, as here, where Packard interviews a witness while accompanied by the rookie Deputy Reynolds:

QUOTE
“How long did Tess live there?”

“About five years. I think she came up from the Cities. She was in a relationship or getting out of one. She’s like you,” Mike said, sticking out his hand and shaking it side to side.

“Like me?” Packard questioned. “She’s a sheriff’s deputy?”

“No. She’s… You know.”

“Tall? Really fit?”

“No. She likes women. Sexually.”

“That’s not like me at all,” Packard said.

Reynolds dropped his head and put a hand over his mouth to hide his laughter.

“You know what I mean,” Mike said.

“I know what you mean.”
END QUOTE

Packard’s stoic nature and self-deprecating sense of humor serve his commitment to justice well, even as he deals with the chaos brought into his life not only by his line of work but by the turmoil of both his family and romantic lives. Joshua Moehling has created a wonderful hero for the 21st century, and placed him in excellent plots that keep the reader intrigued right to the very last page. I’m looking forward to reading more.

I did not realize that this was part of a series prior to requesting. This one is good but since I havent read the first 2 books, there were spoilers.. I would have to read the first 2 to decide which book is the best out of the three.

A Long Time Gone; Ben Pachard #3.

It's Gripping. It's Tense. It's captivating. It's perfectly planned.
I will be totally honest, This was my first Netgalley book and did not realize it was part of a series. I had to go read the other two first! Man was I happy I did so! SO GOOD! Joshua Moehling just has a way to make you fall in love with Ben! Ben's quirky relationship with his mother is definitely the most entertaining part of this novel! His mother's character is able to bring welcome moments of levity against the more dark and serious themes.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read "A Long Time Gone".

“𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫.”

Joshua Moehling’s third Ben Packard book is equal parts gripping mystery and compelling family drama.

Packard dives into two parallel cases: the suspicious death of the owner of his grandparents’ house, and the long ago disappearance of his brother, Nick. I think Ben Packard might be one of my favourite characters ever created for crime fiction. He’s relentless in his persuit for the truth, loyal, strong-willed, intelligent, and is learning to be vulnerable and open up with those who care the most about him. Moheling has such a talent for creating a cast of characters that I’m interested in; Sandy Lake feels like a real place filled with people you could actually meet (for better or for worse), with many that I have grown to love - the power of strong character development. Pam, Packard’s mother, is hilarious and offered some needed levity (who doesn’t want their mother involved in their sex life?!). Although the story seems more character-driven this time, Moehling still keeps the action moving with cliffhangers in the form of remarks that Packard makes, making you want to turn the page to find out why. Both cases had me invested, though I especially was hoping that Packard would gain closure on Nick’s disappearance. The resolution did not disappoint, and is both powerful and emotional. It’ll be interesting to see how Packard moves forward next.

A Long Time Gone is another strong entry in a series that continues to deliver. If you haven’t prioritized meeting Ben Packard yet, you need to. I’m already anxiously awaiting book #4! Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I liked that there were two mysteries going on here but I didn't like the culmination of the cold case. It was kind of meh, like he was forced to have a resolution for it and it didn't seem well done. Finally learned Thielen's first name is Jo! 🤣 And I didn't know until this book that Ben had other siblings besides Nick, the one that went missing 30 years ago. I swear he never talked about them in books 1 and 2.