Cover Image: And There He Kept Her

And There He Kept Her

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Wow what a debut from this author! I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire thing. I thought the writing was excellent and the story was dark! If that's your thing, then this book is for you!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review! This debut novel was dark and delicious! I enjoy police procedural books and this has some of that in it! Quick wild ride!

Was this review helpful?

I was hooked from the first page, kept me interested right until the end. Would definitely recommend.

———————————————

When two teenagers break into a house on a remote lake in search of prescription drugs, what starts as a simple burglary turns into a nightmare for all involved. Emmett Burr has secrets he's been keeping in his basement for more than two decades, and he'll do anything to keep his past from being revealed. As he gets the upper hand on his tormentors, the lines blur between victim, abuser, and protector.

Unrelentingly suspenseful and written with a piercing gaze into the dark depths of the human soul, And There He Kept Her is a thrilling page-turner that introduces readers to a complicated new hero and forces us to consider the true nature of evil.

Was this review helpful?

I am not sure how I feel about this book. The writing is very good but the story is depressing and made me feel “dirty”. Filthy protagonist physically and emotionally. He seemed to have a spark of kindness in him towards his captive, but he was holding a teenager captive so that negates any goodness. Too many cookie cutout characters. I just didn’t enjoy this book. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I received a free digital ARC from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Teens Jenny and Jesse are missing and Acting Sheriff Packard is on the job. Jenny’s mom is Packard’s cousin and they haven’t really connected since he moved back to the small town of Sandy Lake, Minnesota where they used to vacation as kids. Packard has his own secrets, but he is good at his job and has a lot of ideas about the trail of drugs that must have got Jenny and Jesse in trouble.

I was very pleased with this crime thriller. I enjoyed being in the dark mind of the killer as well as Sheriff Packard as he navigates a heavy work load and unravels the clues before him. The secondary characters where very well drawn out. I loved Gary! I will definitely read a sequel with Packard because I became invested in him and the town. Hopefully, there will be more edits before publication because I noticed several errors in this advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?

This was just mediocre to me. I didn't love it or hate it. It kinda fell in the middle. The plot was OK, but I couldn't really connect with the characters. I'm not saying it wasn't good, but it just did not stand out as phenomenal to me.

Was this review helpful?

I love a small town narrative story and I thought this one was excellent. The setting is superb and the story, not a whodunit but a race against time to stop yet more loss, is cleverly plotted and full of deeply drawn characters of the morally ambiguous kind. This looked to be a thriller and the title sounded like one as well. If one goes into this book expecting that, one will be disappointed. So, kids Jesse and Jenny break into old man Emmett Burrs house intent on stealing some narcotics. What they didn’t expect is for Emmett to be home when they did it. This is when it gets crazy. Emmett seems like a harmless old man however, he has many secrets buried in his basement and he is determined to keep them hidden. Simultaneously, Ben Packard is a friend of the family of one of the missing teens and is put in charge of the investigation. Sheriff Packard is an engaging character who is relatable and focused, dealing with loss of his own in more than one way. He also manages to avoid all cliche which is a huge plus

I don’t want to give too much away but I thought it was an interesting read. I liked the different perspectives of the characters and I was fully invested in the deputy finding the missing teens.

Was this review helpful?

WOW! What a great first novel by a debut author. I was hooked from the moment the two youngsters went down the stairs.
This is a deeply disturbing thriller that will keep you wanting more and more.
I loved that the acting Sheriff was a gay man with a past. I thought that was a brilliant addition and really nice to see in the storyline.
The drugs were part of the story but NOT the central part, which is another breath of fresh air.
The location, Northern Minnesota...I am guessing Hibbing, Chisholm, I know the Iron Range was also a great addition to the thriller market.
However, I wanted more detail about how Carl and Emmett met and how they first began their crimes.
I wanted to know more about how Sam was going to hurt Jessies sister.
There was some loose ends that really needed to be cleaned up to make this a SPECTACULAR story.
However, overall you won't be sorry to pick up and read this book.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. While I would say it’s not for the faint of heart or those just transitioning into the thriller genre as it has its graphic moments. It kept it edgy & on my toes.
The character development had you questioning your own beliefs of a real villain. Once an even more “evil” villain is unveiled does it make the other villain good??

Synopsis: Packard is a cop who lost his brother at Sandy Lake years ago, he returns to wash away old wounds just “in time” to be the head sheriff when 2 teens go missing again. It’s up to him to connect the dots in this small town while confronting his own demons of his past & present.

The cover art was stellar & a great depiction for the story. (The major bonus was the corgi!!)

Was this review helpful?

I loved reading this book! I found the writing to be very insightful and interesting. I was intrigued by the premise and I enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

Was this review helpful?

I was immediately dragged in and couldn't put it down. The first few sentences are magnetizing, definitely an amazing recommendation.

Was this review helpful?

Once again we have a decent plot overwhelmed with WOKE issues – none of which have anything to do with the plot.

Also the characters simply don’t make sense. A lot of it is that the characters have been caricatured to the point of disbelief or painted as some sort of zebra changing its stripes. There’s an old curmudgeon who’s retired from producing hard core porn and is now raising rescue dogs in the grandest and cleanest of circumstances. There’s a 400 pound bad guy with multiple health problems who is not only going up and down stairs to his basement, but walking quite a distance up and down hill – or around town, shopping. Then there’s the policewoman who’s barely 5’ tall. And on and on.

It was a good story. I’m sorry I can’t give it a better recommendation.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Just finished this book and what a great book.. When two teenagers break into an old mans house looking to steal his prescription drugs they both get more than they bargained for.
When they are both reported missing it is up to Ben Packard to find them.
It is the first time I have read a book from this author and would do so again.

Was this review helpful?

The disappearance of two teens, a sheriff and a desperate mother looking for them. Time is of the utmost importance because one of the teens has diabetes and needs insulin. This book takes you through the twisted thoughts and happenings of a small town and how you don't always know your neighbors.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a refreshing change from everything else has been published lately. It drew me in from the beginning and the multiple view points was actually a refreshing change from other books with multiple view points. After reading this book, I truly hope that Joshua Moehling turns this into a series because it left me wanting more at the end because I need to know if he dives into his brother's unsolved disappearance and I want to know more about him and if he finds true happiness with his dog and his lover.

Ben Packard is the acting sheriff in a small town and is tasked with finding two missing teenagers. With not much evidence to go on, he uses any and all resources within reason to get the job done, while keeping secrets of his own. Flash to Emmett Burr who's house was recently broken into, who took matters into his own hands and defended his property the only way he knew how. Now Emmett also has secrets. Secrets he doesn't want to get out because if anybody knew what he was hiding, he'd be done for. Can these secrets be kept? Can Packard find these missing teens?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Heart stopping and terrifying from the first page. This book has everything one could ever want for a fast paced rollercoaster of a read. Characters you empathize with, ones you are not sure of and some you really hate. All crafted by an amazing author. This book literally gave me chills. The suspense was almost to much at times, I had to keep reading to make sure that this wasn’t the end for one of those characters. The way this crime ties together is nothing short of amazing. The finale is incredibly intense. And yet there is sympathy for the devil here. What a masterpiece.

Was this review helpful?

I think I was not in the right headspace reading this...or maybe thrillers simply aren't my cup of tea in any case. Felt like it was just ok, didn't really put much thought into it.

Was this review helpful?

Two teens - Jesse and Jenny - are missing.

Emmet Burr has a secret.

So does Deputy Sheriff Ben Packard. That secret has to take the back seat as he races against time to find the kids who have gone missing on his watch. His character was definitely a highlight for Ken

This debut novel is fast paced, rich in character and and thoroughly engaging. I loved that it took place in a small town because the connections and recognizing everyone by their last name made sense. There are definitely some gritty, triggering moments but necessary to highlight the depth of the crime/criminals.

I hope this is the first in a series featuring our Deputy Sheriff.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance e copy in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

Woah, fasten your seat belt, you're on for quite a ride. The story is like a puzzle where each piece of information just unlocks another puzzle. Small town drug dealers, robberies, shootings, serial killers - it has it all. Packard, the cop, is an interesting character and I think we're going to see a lot more of him. It's a great read.

Was this review helpful?

For those who like dark and twisty, HERE IT IS! I will have to say that this book read like it was a series book. How they talked about some side stories made me believe there was another book out there to read and I had missed this huge "other" story. But alas...the was a debut novel. The story revolved around two missing teenagers, Jessie and Jenny. Jessie, the school drug dealer, was sent on the mission to procure some prescription meds from an elderly man, Emmett Burr. Little did they know that Emmett was in wait for them after being robbed and fleeced in the past. What they also did not know is that Emmett had a twisty past himself.
Acting Sherriff Ben Packard had moved to this small town to try to get his life back in order. He was dealing with some demons from his past, as well as the new case of his cousin Jenny and her boyfriend Jessie missing. I never like to get too deep into the weeds on the plots, as that is a beautiful gift for you to unwrap, but every character is wonderful. I LOVE GARY!!! Y'all....Gary is a hot mess! I really enjoyed this book and I hope it is followed by a sequel, as I have more questions!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to preview this book for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?