Ben Packard is back! In Joshua Moehling’s third installment, A Long Time Gone, we get to delve into Packard’s past and present thoughts more intimately making him more relatable. While it’s the third in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

When Ben was just a boy, his older brother disappeared after sneaking out on a winter night and never returning. Years later, Ben now a deputy is on leave from work after a shooting. Left with nothing but time on his hands, he can investigate the new information that might finally bring his brother’s body home. One suspicion leads to another and soon Ben is back in action, putting everything at risk to learn the truth.

Easy to read and hard to put down, A Long Time Gone brings deeper character development and interesting sub plots. I can’t wait for the next in this series.

Ben Packard has become one of my favorite fictional characters, so when I saw this 3rd book coming, I had to get an early copy. Ben lost the election to be sheriff, so now he is working court security and dealing with Howard Shepard as the new sheriff. Shepard is dangerous because he is a poor sheriff, and the town will pay the consequences. At any rate, Packard shoots a man at the courthouse who pulls a gun. He is placed on administrative leave with far too much time on his hands, but it is also the perfect time to investigate the cold case of his older brother's disappearance. While investigating on the side, Packard stumbles into a mystery involving two suspicious deaths, fraud, and local politics. So, so good! Might be my favorite in the series so far.

Such a great book. So much to be figured out. Very intriguing. Love the characters and the storyline. Loved it!

"A Long Time Gone" by Joshua Moehling is an outstanding addition to the Ben Packard series. The writing is exceptional, skillfully weaving together the plot of Packard’s brother’s disappearance and the intense circumstances that lead to his administrative leave. The suspense is palpable, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to discover what would happen next.

The characters in this book are truly multidimensional. They are well developed, and the dialogue feels natural and engaging. I appreciated the perfect balance of humor interspersed throughout the story, which made me chuckle even amidst the more serious moments.

As the story unfolds, the mystery surrounding Ben’s brother’s fate is heart-wrenching. The emotional depth of this discovery left me with a heavy heart, highlighting Moehling's ability to evoke strong feelings in his readers. Overall, "A Long Time Gone" is a gripping read that expertly combines suspense, character development, and a touch of humor. I highly recommend it! 4.5/5 ⭐

Thank you to Joshua Moehling, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.

I was so excited to see that Moehling would be continuing Ben Packard’s story after the first two installments. I plowed through the first two, and this one was no different. I read this book like my life depended on it! Moehling’s storytelling is a magnificently thought out maze that I want to immerse myself in again and again.

The third installment in this series, A Long Time Gone, picks up after the local Sheriff’s election. Packard is given a rare opportunity to look into his missing brother’s case and stumbles upon a conspiracy that leaves a trail of bodies that Packard can’t help but follow. I really enjoyed being in Packard’s head again, so much so that as soon as I finished the book, I went to Moehling’s social media to see if he’d expressed any interest in writing a fourth installment (spoiler alert: he has)!

Being an avid mystery reader, I was pleasantly surprised to find out this mystery is told from the perspective we (us mystery readers) rarely gain insight to: the police! The market is oversaturated with novels that include a main character who’s addicted to painkillers or suffers from some other sort of “let’s-make-the-main-character-unreliable” affliction. Moehling does not buy into these mystery stereotypes.

Packard is a well rounded character with flaws that even he admits to having throughout the series (especially in this installment). Packard’s character arc is definitely the most polished in this book, forcing him to face his past, his family, and the choices that led him to becoming a detective.

I would be happy to continue reading Packard’s story, and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment, and the next, and the next, and the…

This book took a bit of time for me to really get into it...but then it moved along at breakneck speed!

This is the first book in this series I've read, so coming in with no knowledge about Ben Packard or his history, I felt like something was missing...at first. As the story went on I was pleasantly surprised that everything began to make sense to me.

Mr. Moehling took a disjointed, and kind of difficult to follow story (IMHO) and made it work. The crime that is being perpetrated now somehow allows Packard to look at his brother's disappearance from a different direction. Loved that.

Packard's mother is a hoot and I loved the scenes she was in. A bit of lightheartedness while dropping clues that Ben didn't remember.

Since A Long Time Gone is book #3 in this series, I'm heading right out to find the first two books and get to reading!

I'm very happy to have gotten in on the ground floor of the Packard series. I've enjoyed all 3 books and am excited to see what the future holds for both author and character.

My vote for "best in series" is no doubt the first, "And There He Kept Her." But the two follow-ups are superb. Mr. Moehling is a wonderful addition to the thriller/mystery line-up.

Packard's mom's sexual gestures are a bit startling and, at least in my opinion, out of place. Pantomiming giving a blow job, poking her index fingers together, and putting an index finger into a closed fist, while I guess meant to be humorous, tended to yank me out of the narrative and make me ask, WTF?

Otherwise, a really-good mystery, whose twists and turns, and Packard's quick-wit, will keep me coming back for more.

While not quite as good as the first two, A Long Time Gone grabbed me right away and did not let go! With smart, gorgeous writing and a solid mystery, Moehling weaves a complex web of storylines and characters, offering more depth than your average thriller. Plus, the wry humor added a warm touch to counter the chilly Minnesota locale. I’ll be sharing with my fellow thriller lovers that the first two in the series were amazing as well! 4.5 / 5 stars. Thank you very much for the opportunity to read the ARC.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Ben Packard is back in the third installment of the series….and I absolutely devoured this book! I love this crime fiction series, and although this book is a bit slower moving than the previous two in the series, it is because Moehling dives deeper into Packard’s back story and personal life (which I loved!) Moehling delivers with this grippingly tense and suspenseful crime fiction read🙌🏻 I absolutely adore our protagonist, Ben Packard, and grew to love him even more in this book. In this book there are two mysteries centered around the disappearance of Packard’s brother, Nick, as well as the death of Louise. I found myself to be fully invested in both of these mysteries as well as the twists and turns surrounding them. I always enjoy Moehling’s writing, plots, characters, and his storytelling. I highly suggest picking this book up, but I suggest starting with book one and two in the series first to get more background on Packard (plus both books are amazing as well!)

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Crime fiction and police procedurals
✦A bingeable, suspenseful, and twisted book
✦A fun and well developed protagonist who you find yourself rooting for
✦Great character development, amazing writing and storytelling

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5/5

I've been thoroughly enjoying the Ben Packard series. This latest book in the series was just as amazing as the first and second. This one kept my attention, and I found it hard to put it down. This has become one of my favorite book series and I look forward to seeing what Packard gets up to next!

Wow!!!! This is my favorite story in this series. I love Ben Packard! He is such an awesome character. This story, woah! Talk about intense! Fantastic plot. What a great murder mystery! Full of suspense, heart, intrigue, and lots of twists. This story kept me anxious to the end. Fantastic!

A Long Time Gone by Joshua Moehling is the third installment of the Deputy Ben Packard detective series.

When I picked up this book I hadn’t realized this book was part of series, and was concerned that it would be difficult to follow or it would be confusing learning and keeping track of recurring characters. I was grateful to find that this was far from the case- recurring characters were brought into the story in a way that wouldn’t be distracting for someone who’d been reading the series and in an informative enough way for people just jumping in.

By the first chapter, Moehling wastes no time diving into the action. This seems to be the pattern as each twist and turn of the plot was introduced with explosive intensity that keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next. As Packard pours himself into an impromptu investigation he unveils deeper and deeper levels of conspiracy that lead to the unveiling of detailed cover-ups, high dollar fraud and multiple gruesome deaths, all while being called back to the mystery of his own brothers disappearance.

The only thing that got in the way for this being essentially perfect for me was how each lead ended. At the end of the story, no perpetrator was left alive (including within the unveiling truth of his brother’s demise) and the one that is was not heard of again. I wish something had been done differently with any of the antagonists but other than that small issue, I felt the book was overall engaging and satisfying.

I would recommend this series to anyone interested in classic detective style novels, and it doesn’t hurt to sprinkle in the inclusion LGBTQ+ characters for those who seek out that material.

Thanks to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress I had the honor of reading A Long Time Gone by @jmoehling before its release date.

YOU GUYS. You. Freaking. Guys. This was even better than I hoped it would be. When I tell you Ben Packard sits beside Will Trent as an absolute favorite book character, I am not exaggerating. He’s THAT good.

Raw and gritty, Moehling’s books get to the heart of what it means to be fully human in every sense. These books may stand out from others in the genre due to the fact that the MC is a gay detective, but let me emphasize that Ben’s sexuality is the least interesting thing about him. He is a multifaceted character that I fall in love with every time I read one of these books. This one in particular.

If you’re a fan of Karin Slaughter, trust me when I tell you, you’ll be a fan of Joshua Moehling. He brings the same heart, twists, and page-turning intrigue that’ll keep you reaching for his books whenever you see them. He’s also just a really cool human who doesn’t get annoyed when I keep messaging him while I read 😂

My most anticipated release of the year! I am not particularly fond of series, mostly because it usually picks up on supporting characters view points for the addional books in the series, but this series is PERFECTION! I read "And There He Kept Her" and "Where The Dead Sleep" back to back at the beginning of 2024 and have been waiting since the summer when I found that book 3 was coming.

Packard…WOW, what a protagonist! I was swept up in the entire story and his character: devoted, accountable, detailed-driven, caring, but desperate for answers. Packard is completely devoted to his career. You never doubt that he would get to the bottom of what happened but with each twist and turn, I kept thinking this may never end. I only foresaw one twist of the many twists and turns. I secretly hope this isn't the end of his story…let's not forget to mention his mom. She is the mother we all wished we had and is funny. Her love for her child exudes unconditional love.

Thank you so much for the ARC and the chance to work with you.

First off make sure you read the first 2 of this series before this one. With that being said this book was confusing and really slow paced for a thriller. While I appreciate the advance copy I struggled with the writing . The premise sounded so good but the execution fell flat

I really enjoy reading this series. Joshua Moehling blends crime, suspense, and Ben's personal story into the story. In this story Ben visits the house of his grandparents only to learn the owner has died by falling down the steps. After looking at the house Ben does not believe she fell. Also, Ben is still searching for his missing brother.
This story is the kind of book I love. It will keep you turning the pages to see what trouble Ben will get himself into next. I would highly recommend reading this series.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JoshuaMoehling and #PoisonedPenPress for a copy of this book.
#ALongTimeGone

I loved Ben Packard from the moment I started reading Where the Dead Sleep, and I’m so happy to say that the third book in this series is as good as its predecessor (I haven’t read the first one). And if you haven’t read the first two books, they’re pretty good and easily readable as standalone.

Joshua Moehling’s writing is very accessible, and therefore, I flew through the pages. This series is comparable to Lev C. Rosen’s Andy Mills series and William Hussey’s Scott Jericho series. All three series have a gay detective focused on solving a mystery while, at the same time, more and more about the detective’s personal life comes to the surface.

So, I loved meeting Ben’s mom and learning more about his backstory, especially the disappearance of his older brother Nick at seventeen and the way Ben tends to push his feelings aside by working more instead of finding a hobby or connecting to other people.

There was one thing, one tiny thing, or I should say one person, who I wanted to see more of, and that person was Kyle. Sadly, he only made an appearance at the start and the end of the story. Overall, I highly recommend this book or the whole series!

Ben Packard returns in A Long Time Gone resuming his police officer duties but now working at the local courthouse. After an unfortunate incident that ends in a fatal shooting during a court hearing one morning, Packard is placed on leave. He begins to research his brother Nick’s unsolved disappearance after new information comes to light. Packard was a child when his teenage brother left home and never returned, and a body was never found.
Packard is also working on a newly developed mystery in town involving an elderly woman who lived in his family’s home after they vacated when he was a child after Nick’s disappearance. He suspects her fall down a flight of stairs was not an accident and may be connected to a much sinister crime.
Both mysteries set Packard on an emotional, dangerous, and tumultuous journey that he has to prepare himself for.
This was a 4*read, thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the E-Arc and the chance to review it!

I am definitely a fan of Ben Packard, and I really enjoy this series! In this latest book, there are really two different crime strands at play, and both of them kept me on my toes and wanting to know more. Moehling is great at executing his plot, and even though there are many pieces, it all makes sense and is easy to follow along with. I wish a little more had been done with the storylines around his romantic life as it felt unresolved in the end (but maybe that is for the next book which I am definitely going to read). If you are looking for a strong detective series to start, then I would definitely recommend this one!

I made it to 34%. Unfortunately I just could not get into this one. I love Ben Packard but I was not able to get hooked in.