Damn, this book was phenomenal! I'm a huge fan of Ben Packard's character, and this is one of my favorite series. I've been in a huge reading slump with eyeball-reading (nonaudio books), and this book got me out of it.

The story begins shortly after the events of the second book (Where the Dead Sleep) ends. Packard lost the sheriff's election and is now working as court security. After events transpire at the courthouse, Packard finds himself in the middle of multiple mysteries that lead him down a rabbit hole of crime, secrets, and murder. I know that Packard is a fictional character, but if I was ever in trouble with the law, I would want him on my side. He will do anything to uphold the law and bring justice to those that are cut down by people in power. Also, we get to meet Packard's mother, who quickly became one of my favorite characters.

Joshua Moehling's writing is a tour de force! He is one of the best best mystery/thriller authors writing today. I'll read every book this man writes. He has this ability to hook the reader from the very beginning and keep their attention through the book's entirety. He has created something truly wonderful with Ben Packard. As a reader, I feel completely immersed in this world almost like I'm part of Packard's inner circle. I always feel like I'm riding a rollercoaster of emotions reading these books to the point where I am fully invested in the lives of Packard and those close to him, which I believe is a testament to how talent Moehling truly is. I highly recommend this book and this series. If you are not reading these books, then you are totally missing out on something truly great. Read it now!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Joshua Moehling for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this series so much!! I think this might even be my favorite of the three! My friend got me into reading the first one and then I was hooked!!

The journey of Ben Packard and was a roller coaster! Starts off with a bang right from the beginning. I was truly hooked and couldn’t put it down. I felt so many different emotions. I laughed my butt off in certain parts, I was in the edge of my seat with anticipation.

I loved that his mom was involved in this book and her constantly trying to get him to meet someone and have fun in more ways than one. You can truly see how much she loves her family.

Packard had to navigate through the aftermath of the election and be thrown into a crappy job. Which causes a bunch of different things go into motion. Seeing how everything from the past and the future all connect in some sort of way. So many questions popped up and I loved how they were all answered!

I do hope there will be more books in the future. One of my favorite thrillers.

Book #3 didn’t disappoint! It wasn’t my favorite book in the series though. The first 20% I kept wanting to put the book down. I’m glad I pushed through!

There is a lot going on in this book. Ben Packard has some free time on his hands. I’m not going to say why, because that would be me dipping into spoiler territory. After many years, he is finally investigating the disappearance and presumed death of his brother. He receives some information which may help his family to finally give his brother’s body, a final resting place. But winter isn’t going to let go of its grip easily, and the death of an elderly woman soon has him investigating a murder.
Both cases kept me glued to the pages of this book. The reason for the woman’s murder was so sad, as was what happened to Ben’s brother. Ben is progressing as a character in each book, and though I was so happy to get to read an earlier review copy, I can’t believe it will probably be 2026 before another book is published.

In the dark, icy heart of a Minnesota winter, Deputy Packard, a smart and courageous gay cop, embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about his brother's disappearance!! Good book!! I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! This book has suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a good who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I had the absolute pleasure of being able to read this book early thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

A Long Time Gone is an extraordinary tale that grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go. The story centers around Ben Packard, a deputy haunted by the disappearance of his older brother many years ago. As he grapples with a a new set of circumstances, new clues surface regarding his brother's fate, reigniting a decades-old mystery.

Moehling's masterful storytelling weaves together layers of intrigue and emotion. The character of Ben Packard is exceptionally well-drawn, his determination and vulnerabilities making him a protagonist you root for relentlessly. His quest for answers leads him not only to confront his own past but also to unravel a web of deceit and danger surrounding a suspicious death. The plot twists and turns with every chapter, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final revelation.

"A Long Time Gone" is a testament to Moehling's skill in crafting both suspenseful crime fiction and deeply resonant human drama. It's a novel that lingers in your thoughts long after finishing, leaving you yearning for more from this talented author. Highly recommended!! I cannot wait to read more about Ben Packard!

An engaging police procedural with lots of detail about a cold case and the ins and outs of discovering what really happened to Ben's brother on the night of his disappearance. I would have liked a bit more interiority from the main character, more psychological growth as a result of the events he learns about but I enjoyed the narrative and the writing style and found this an engrossing story with a surprising secret that Ben is finally able to uncover after following clue after clue, leading him all over the map.When we learn what really happened on that fateful winter's night, it comes out of left field so not really a "figure it out from the clues" type mystery but one that is satisfying none the less