Cover Image: And There He Kept Her

And There He Kept Her

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Member Reviews

"They thought he was a helpless old man. They were wrong.'

What a FANTASTIC read, an amazing debut, and an exciting new series. First of all, I loved the story. The missing kids, the man with the pink prison cell in his basement. But even more, I loved the characters and the town. Joshua Moehling made the sleepy town of Sandy Lake come alive and I loved meeting its inhabitants, especially Acting Sheriff, Ben Packard. I cannot wait to see what's up next for Packard and the town of Sandy Lake.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling is the first book in the Ben Packard series and what a great start it is. This was an entertaining, gripping, dark and disturbing story. Although this was not an on the edge of my seat read it was well paced and it most definitely held my attention to the last page. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. Recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

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This debut by author Joshua Moehling was a great start into the writing world. It kept me hooked from the start.
The split POV from the cop and villain was a great way to tell the story. I look forward to continuing the series and read another case from Ben Packard.

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I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

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With few exceptions, detective books are not typically my jam. That being said, this one took me by surprise and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I will definitely be reading the next Ben Packard book as well! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Really enjoyed this debut by such a promising author. Perfectly captured the tension and build up the suspense, the story was atmospheric and tense and I couldn’t put it down!

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Thank you NetGalley for this free ecopy.
I enjoyed the read and the main character. However, I was never on the edge of my seat with this one. Usually when I'm into a thriller, I am rapidly turning pages trying to figure out the mystery. This one fell a little flat for me in the excitement department. I would try this author again.

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Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy of And There He Kept Her. I was very intrigued going into this book. The premise sounded like exactly what I like in a thriller. However, for me it was soooo slow. I had a hard time wanting to return back into the story after setting it down. I really believe this has a lot of potential. I would have preferred more suspense. This book is getting a lot of high ratings so maybe I am the problem!

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This is the first book I've read by this author, but I will absolutely be checking out his other work! This was an entertaining and creepy thriller.

I loved the POVs that also included that of the killers as well. It gave the story a much more eerie feeling.

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A small-town crime novel with some tropes, some darkness, and enough intrigue to see through to the conclusion. It wasn't anything shocking or compelling, necessarily, but Officer Packard was likable, and getting the villain's insights throughout the narrative was well-executed. Not necessarily something I'd go out of my way to recommend but it's good enough if you like the genre to power through. 3.25 stars

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Dark and disturbing thriller. Part of a series and it didn’t grab me enough to rush for the rest of the series but a good read all the same. Characters were realistic, storyline made sense.

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This book was such a creepy but amazing read. I loved the plot and found myself unable to put it down.

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What did I just read? If you are looking for a twisty thriller, this book is for you. It is not to be missed. I was on the edge of my seat and could not stop reading it. I recommend this one.
Many thanks to the author, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

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In the vast realm of mystery thrillers, Joshua Moehling's "And There He Kept Her" emerges not merely as a narrative but as an enthralling odyssey into the labyrinth of secrets, suspense, and the enigmatic facets of human nature. From the opening pages, I found myself ensnared in a web of unpredictability, a journey that transcended the boundaries of a conventional mystery.

The plot unfolds with the intrusion of two teenagers into what appears to be a typical house by a remote lake, seeking nothing more than prescription drugs. However, what transpires is a riveting tale where the roles of victim, abuser, and protector intertwine in a dance of moral ambiguity. Emmett Burr, the seemingly helpless old man, unravels layers of a past steeped in secrecy, guarding his truths with unwavering determination.

As former police officer Ben Packard delves into the investigation, the narrative acquires a personal hue. Drawn back to the small Minnesota town of Sandy Lake, Packard's journey becomes a poignant quest for redemption and truth. Moehling skillfully navigates the delicate balance between character intricacies and the relentless ticking of the suspense clock, creating an atmosphere where every revelation feels both earned and shattering.

The narrative progression is relentless, prompting introspection on the profound question of how well one truly knows another. This book, with its relentless pace and piercing insights into the human soul, transcends the realm of a conventional thriller. It's a psychological exploration that resonates long after the final page is turned.

Personally, having delved into countless mystery thrillers, this one stands out. It's not just about solving a puzzle; it's about unraveling the intricacies of our own assumptions and challenging the boundaries of empathy and morality. Moehling, with his deft narrative hand, constructs a tale that lingers in the mind—a testament to the true nature of evil, concealed beneath layers of deceit and revelation.

If you seek a mystery that transcends predictability and demands a reevaluation of your own perceptions, "And There He Kept Her" is a thrilling page-turner that promises an exhilarating and introspective reading experience.

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Really liked Ben Packard, a different kind of Sheriff, this was a fast paced Mystery that had several layers with a satisfying end

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This book introduced Ben Packard, a gay police officer from Minneapolis, who switched to a job in Sandy Lake MN, after his boyfriend is killed while on duty. He takes over for the sheriff who has cancer. Ben has mixed memories of Sandy Lake where his family spent summers in a cabin on the lake, where his brother Nick took out a boat and disappeared - neither the boat nor his body have been found. His divorced cousin Susan owns a restaurant, and has a teenage daughter, Jenny.
The book begins with Jenny and her boyfriend, Jesse, breaking into a remote house, where the owner discovers them, shoots Jesse and puts Jenny into a pink room in the basement.
Ben's job becomes a search for the missing teens, and along the way, he discovers the dark side of Sandy Lake.
In spite of the graphic violence, I found the book compelling. The story and the characters were well developed and the plot was believable, although dark and intense. The author developed the mind set of the villain, his history, and his manipulations to allow the reader to understand why he acted the way he did without excusing his behavior. We are also introduced to several citizens of Sandy Lake with various issues, and certainly to be developed in future books in this series. I have read the second book in this series, and was happy to meet Ben Packard again. Each book can be read as a stand alone, and Ben is the MC in both.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Jesse and Jenny head out to Emmet’s home to find some oxy. Jesse ends up dead and Jenny is abducted. Good writing; but boring story. I was NOT thrilled. The villain was a caricature and there was no twist nor big reveal.

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Book one of a series that is a complete story in and of itself? Thank you, Joshua Moehling!

And There He Kept Her is a thriller with plenty of action, a lot of character building, and a small town where you just know we're going to meet some people. Also in small-towns? Prescription drugs are in demand...and that's how the book begins...

Jesse and Jenny are two teens who break into a home on a remote lake to steal prescription meds they heard the owner had. But the owner, Emmett, is not going to let some kids rob him again. Nor does he want anyone to find out what's in his basement. And so the fun begins.

Ben is the new deputy, returned to his hometown after a personal tragedy. He's on the case while still trying to keep his own secrets close.

This was a page-turner, much of the time. Moments might drag on for a bit, but it's all worth it, since those are the moments that complete the picture of Sandy Lake.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This one took me a while to get into but when I did, I couldn’t put it down! This wasn’t a whodunit, this was a how will they figure it out. I’m ready for the next book bc the author left it with a question I need the answer to.

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An interesting read, the tone of mystery and suspense was well balanced and it contained all the twists and turns I could hope for!

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