“Where the Dead Sleep” is lighter fare vs the first book in the series “And There He Kept Her”. Our protagonist, acting sheriff Ben Packard is investigating the death of Bill Sanderson. He was found dead in his bed by his wife. The entire town is perplexed with who would want to kill the local car salesman with a penchant for gambling and drinking. This novel is a family mystery filled with manipulation, vengeance, and sisterly vindictiveness.

I would’ve preferred the plot to be a bit darker like the first novel. I really enjoyed the evolution of the northern Minnesota town towards members of the LGBTQ community. Ben Packard is smart, kind and a strong, moral character. Readers can’t help but like him and root for him.

My favorite part of the book is Sherriff Packard’s reminiscing about the death of his brother Nick who went out into the snow one evening and never returned. Moehling hints at a backstory that will surely develop into the third book in the series and I can’t wait. I’m ready for a twisted backstory for Nick. Moehling’s first novel was darker like Karen Slaughter and this second novel was closer to a plot line of a Megan Miranda book. Go darker with book 3, Josh. We can take it and will eat it up with a spoon. 3.75 Stars

The also listened to an ALA (advanced listeners audiobook). It was excellent. The narrator had a calming voice with good intonation. As a Minnesotan, I was very glad that she didn't "Fargo-esque" the voices and make the characters sound uneducated. It was a very easy listen and I didn't catch myself having to relisten to passages to follow along with the plot.

This is a well done police procedural crime novel in a small Minnesota town. Ben Packard is the acting Sheriff investigating a murder that also appears to be a home invasion - but not everything is as is appears. I read Moehling's first book and had high hopes for this one; and I wasn't disappointed. Well written, great plot, good characters - there are references to his first book but reading that is not necessary to pick this one up. And there's a good lead in to the next installment.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at around 20%. The first book of the series was absolute fire, this one very slow and just kind of boring. Maybe it gets better later but I wasn't interested to find out.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Acting Sherriff Ben Packard of Sandy Lake, Minnesota, has his hands full solving the murder of a man who was shot to death in his own bed as well as running for the position of Sheriff after a tragedy leaves the position vacant.

Bill Sanderson’s death is surrounded by a cloud of lies, deception, and family secrets. Bill had gambling debts, was investing in a business venture with a friend, and his personal life was complicated, to say the least, and Ben discovers in the course of the investigation. Who wanted him dead and why? Was it a burglary gone wrong or was the motivation more personal? The narrative follows Ben as he tries to unravel small-town secrets and find the killer all the while trying to navigate the internal politics within his department and people who would rather see him fail at his job.

Joshua Moehling’s Where the Dead Sleep is a well-paced and tightly plotted police procedural. The author does a wonderful job of setting the scene with the small-town secrets, an interesting cast of characters and quite a few surprises along the way. Though not entirely unpredictable I enjoyed the build-up to the finale. This is the second book in the author’s Ben Packard series. As in And There He Kept Her, I really enjoyed the procedural aspect and liked how the protagonist’s character arc is being developed. In fact, I enjoyed this installment more than the first book in the series, I look forward to the next book in the series, especially for the unraveling of a decades-old mystery from Ben’s past.

Though this book is the second in a series it would work well as a standalone.

I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Linda Jones who has done a decent job of voicing most of the characters. I do think, however, the narrator was trying a bit too hard while voicing the Indian character. But I guess that’s more of a personal observation and overall, I did enjoy listening to the audiobook.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy and to Dreamscape Media for the ALC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

4.5⭐️

This is the first book I’ve read by Joshua Moehling, but it certainly won’t be my last! Not only is acting-Sheriff Ben Packard trying to solve a convoluted murder mystery involving two sisters who share an affinity for the same man (!), he’s also busy mulling over a decision to run for sheriff and learning there may be more to his more brother’s cold-case disappearance than he previously knew.

The book ended on a cliffhanger, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

Thank you to @netgalley, @poisonedpenpress, and @joshuamoehling for the opportunity to read this #eARC in exchange for my #honestbookreview! This is available now!

Detective Ben Packard is back and this time he’s investigating the murder of Bill Sanderson. Sanderson is a used car salesman married to Carrie and divorced from Carrie’s sister, Sherri. As Ben works to untangle the messy maze of Bill’s murder, he also finds himself campaigning to run for Sheriff. Will Packard and team crack the case before someone else gets hurt?

Holy bananas, this needs to be added to everyone’s carts, TBR, Library hold list, etc! This was so good. I admittedly put it off for a little while because the first book in the series, And There He Kept Her, while absolutely great as well (and I do recommend you read it first for the background, though not essential) was a bit on the darker side and I was not in a mental headspace for dark. But this one was absolutely the perfect balance and once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. It’s got it all - narcissistic behavior, a major conspiracy, small town politics, love triangles, random hookups with band members, and, of course, more Frank! I highly recommend.

TWs: cheating, narcissism, child and spousal @bu$e, alcohol and drug use, murder, collusion, and robbery

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 5.25/5

When Bill Sanderson is found shot to death in his bed over Labor Day weekend, Acting Sheriff Ben Packard is sent to investigate. The two main suspects are Carrie, the wife, and Sherri, the ex-wife. Also known as the Gherlick sisters. As Packard struggles to find the truth behind this case, tragedy strikes again and he is forced to decide whether to run for Sheriff or step down. Will the scrutiny involved in running for such a position be worth it, or will the openly gay acting sheriff decide that in such a red-leaning, small-town, it is best for some things to stay quiet? And what secrets will he uncover about the murder, the Gherlick family, and his small town in the process?

I would rate Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling 4 out of 5 stars. The main character, Ben Packard, was very likable. Moehling did a very good job of developing each of his characters, giving them depth and backstory whether or not they were likable. I enjoyed the character interactions as well and how involved Packard is shown to be in the Sandy Lake community. Definitely enjoyed the many plot twists that tended to keep me on my feet. This book is fun to read as a standalone, but it is also the second book in the Ben Packard series (which explains some of my initial confusion while reading the book). Will definitely go back and read the first one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I need to admit that I have not read And There He Kept Her, Joshua Moehling's first novel. But I do intend to purchase that book and rectify my mistake. His second novel, Where the Dead Sleep, has the same police detective protagonist, Ben Packard, who assumes the leadership position in solving the strange murder of a local man, who was shot, while in his bed and seemingly, while he was awake. The plot, itself, is complex, with many lies, half-truths, and many possible suspects to keep the investigation muddy and interesting.

Where the Dead Sleep, is carefully crafted and keeps readers interested and guessing. There are plenty of red herrings and multiple mysteries and multiple suspects, but as the story unfolds, Moehling eventually begins to eliminate suspects, as do readers. One ending, and there are multiple endings to consider, is not a complete surprise. Where the Dead Sleep does provide resolution for two mysteries, neither of which are unexpected. When the novel ends, two mysteries remain unsolved, awaiting a third novel from Moehling. As with most well-crafted mysteries, it is the journey that matters most, not the end, and this is one author who possesses the talent to make the journey rewarding.

I do recommend Where the Dead Sleep with 5 stars. Thank you also to the author and publisher, Poison Pen, for providing me with this ARC to read and review. Obviously, I really enjoyed this novel. Thank you also to NetGalley for providing so many wonderful novels.

Deputy and acting Sheriff Ben Packard is back with another mystery to solve in Sandy Lake. Bill Sanderson, a local who once was very wealthy, is shot in his bed. There is a list of people who would want to hurt Bill, including an ex-wife, business partner, and his current wife.

I loved this author’s debut novel, AND THERE HE KEPT HER, and when I heard there would be another Ben Packard story, I waited anxiously to be approved to read and review WHERE THE DEAD SLEEP.

This book blew me away! I am not normally a fan of police procedurals, but I am here to say the author nailed this one! The pages aren’t filled with boring details that make you want to skip ahead. There is just enough detail to keep you interested and wanting to solve the mystery along with Deputy Packard. The pacing was perfect and the character development spot on. I am a huge fan of Ben Packard’s character, and I cannot wait to see where the author takes him next!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC,

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this read. Well after reading the first book to this series, "And There He Kept Her", I was interested and reading this. This is a bit different, still has some humor and put a greater focus on Ben in this one. If you were interested in number 1, this will be a good read for you.

Fresh off solving the Emmett Burr case (book 1 - And There He Kept Her), Ben Packard, acting sheriff of Sandy Lake, gets a call of a home invasion. But the home evasion turns to a murder investigation when Packard finds Bill Sanderson shot dead in his bedroom. The suspect list is lengthy: his wife, his ex-wife, his business partner, his gambling problem. But deep into the investigation, Ben uncovers bad blood and long-buried secrets in this small town.

What I loved:
✨Rural setting - Moehling nails all the feels of small-town Minnesota - gossipy townspeople, long-standing family history, rich out-of-towners, and local bars.
✨Ben Packard - I loved him in book 1, struggling between a private gay man and being a public servant. But I think in book two, Ben feels a bit more settled, ready to take on Sandy Lake. Moehling creates excellent character development throughout the series. You can read book 2 as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading in order to see Ben’s growth.
✨Mystery/police procedural - so many suspects and very few clues. But Ben’s ability to puzzle the pieces together smoothly drives the story's pace to the point that l completely lost track of time and devoured the book in 24 hours.

Highly recommend this series - fast-paced, strong character development, suspenseful mystery with multiple twists, and book 2 includes some dry wit humor. Plus, the ending sets up book 3 perfectly! I cannot wait.

This is the second Ben Packard novel and I felt it could also be read as a stand-alone.

Ben is the interim sheriff of a small town. The story starts with him getting called to the murder of a man shot in his bed. The whodunit part of the story was solid and entertaining.

Ben has a lot of balls in the air, this murder and trying to decide if he wants the job permanently being two of them. The story is told in multiple POV, which I liked.

I liked this story and am invested in Ben, would definitely recommend!

Last summer I read and loved the first book in this series - And There He Kept Her - and continue to recommend it to my library customers. This second installment in the series features a great main character in police detective Ben Packard, but this small-town suspense story it fell short of my expectations.

This wasn't a slow burn read. Instead, I'd describe it was more of a story that took waaay too long to get going because it wasn't until almost 50% in that the story took off. There were some good twists, but the storytelling felt convoluted with too many subplots and extraneous secondary characters. I wasn't drawn into the suspense, and it ended up being a book that took me a long time to finish.

Thank goodness for main character Ben Packard because he was the highlight of the book for me. He's a good guy and a good cop who just happens to be gay and I will read the next book in this series simply based on his character.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

This was the first book I have read of Joshua Moehling. This book is the second in the Ben Packard series. But I hadn’t read the first and I think this was good as a stand-alone. I will be reading the first one now just to keep up with the series. I will be reading the rest as he write them. The story moved at a steady pace and the story line was really good. This book pulled me in and held me until the end. I would definitely recommend this book!


Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

WHERE THE DEAD SLEEP is book #2 in the Ben Packard series by author Joshua Moehling. Ben is acting sheriff in a small town in Sandy Lake, Minnesota where's he's struggled to be accepted as a gay man not originally from there. Things get complicated when he's called out to investigate the death of Bill Sanderson who died by gunshot while lying in bed. There are three distinct and convoluted suspects, and it's Ben's job to sift through the family drama, lies, secrets and sparse evidence to reveal the truth. Meantime, Ben has some big life decisions to make. Should he run for sheriff in the next election? While he prefers being out in the field, the other two candidates are poor choices plus they can make his life miserable if in power. Ben Packard is a man with a lot on his mind and some life altering decisions to make.

Author Joshua Moehling has penned another riveting police procedural in the series. The story is character driven, unfolding mostly through Ben's point of view. Ben is a well fleshed out, intriguing character with great instincts and sense of self and a wry sense of humor. While locals are leery of him, readers will find him sincere, likeable and intelligent. WHERE THE DEAD SLEEP is well paced with a twisted plot line that keeps readers turning the pages. The book can be read as a standalone with no issues as the author does a great job of including backstory, including appearances by a character or two from book 1, WHERE HE KEPT HER. Highly recommended to fans of psychological thrillers and police procedural stories. I'm looking forward to book #3!

This is the second book in the Deputy Ben Packard series. I definitely think it can be read as a standalone. I didn't read the first but listened to this on audiobook and I loved it. I'll have to get to the first at some point. Narrated by Linda Jones, and she was really good! This is a Police procedural thriller with lots of small town secrets. It takes place in Minnesota . I liked that this was more than a gritty crime mystery. It also dives into Deputy Ben Packards personal life as well. He is investigating a murder/home invasion on a man who was a gambler. His wife and ex wife are sisters and he also has a business partner who he has stolen from. The murder could be any of these people. He's also debating on running to become the full time sheriff. But as a gay man in this small town red state, he's not sure if he should just step down or run.

This was a good pace book with lots of suspense and even had some funny lines. I really enjoyed this one.

Out NOW.

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley and librofm for the gifted copy and audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Deputy Ben Packard is back and I am so happy about it!!

When Bill Sanderson, a beloved local who left debts behind, is found shot in his bed, Packard has no clue who actually wanted him dead. While he's investigation, a terrible incident at the Sheriff's office leads Packard to question if he should run for office or not. As he contemplates his place in Sandy Lake, secrets of the small community come to light that he never expected to find.

I really love Ben Packard, and I would probably read anything with him in it, but this case was truly a great one to watch unfold.

Where the Dead Sleep is a fast-paced mystery. Joshua Moehling is an expert storyteller. Packard is a character that the reader will quickly become attached to and anxiously awaiting the next book. I highly recommend any book written by Joshua Moehling.

Joshua Moehling vaulted his way into my must-read category with his debut thriller And There He Kept Her. This wasn’t accomplished with excessive theatrics or grandiose characterizations, but with a solid police procedural, the highest of stakes, and a dedicated and tenacious Deputy Ben Packard, Sandy Lake’s acting sheriff. Ben is back to prove he’s not a one-hit-wonder in Where the Dead Sleep. He does nothing but solidify the truth that when a mystery needs solved, he’s the best man for the job.

Whereas book one in this series was a nail-biting race to save a young woman’s life, this installment is more sedate, a classic murder mystery rather than a story fraught with terror. Bill Sandersen was shot dead in his bed, in his home, with his wife as the only witness. And, at first blush, perhaps the only suspect. The challenge in this case is a seeming lack of motive, a dearth of solid evidence, and the fact that the deeper Ben digs, the more convoluted the investigation becomes. He’s clearly being stonewalled by the Gherlick sisters; and their mother, who has dementia, is a less than reliable source of testimony, which doesn’t lead Ben any closer to the truth. If he’s going to solve this case, it will take diligence and focus. Too bad there’s a special election on the near horizon. Oh. And someone’s trying to kill Packard too.

Moehling tosses out breadcrumbs to keep readers on the trail as Ben navigates everything thrown at him as well as everything he must dig deep to uncover. Top of the list, of course, is finding a killer, and that means digging into Sandy Lake’s past. As a man whose only connection to the area is the long-ago vacations with his family—until tragedy struck—Ben doesn’t have the advantage of an insider’s trust from the townspeople. He’s simply trying to keep a low profile and do his job to the best of his abilities, but the rumor mill is going to grind, regardless. Deciding to run for office when Sheriff Stan Shaw ultimately succumbed to cancer wasn’t a decision Ben made lightly. It most assuredly did open up a can of worms, though, leaving Ben suspended in the midst of a mystery he may not be able to solve.

Deputy Ben Packard doesn’t rely on flash and bang to carry a story. He’s far removed from the snarky, posturing, tough guy cop stereotype. Ben is smart, he’s steady, and he’s dedicated to his duties. He’s the investigator Sandy Lake needs, because he’s the investigator who’s not going to stop until he solves a case. Whether the townspeople know this is another matter. Time will tell how politics and underlying, not to mention underhanded, agendas influence everything in this insular community as things move forward. One thing is certain: there’s bound to be much more criminal intrigue.

Readers who love an excellent investigative mystery should visit Sandy Lakes, Minnesota. The best part is you can do it from the comfort of your favorite reading spot.

I loved And There He Kept Her, so was excited to read this latest instalment. Can happily say it did not disappoint!

Ben Packard is back and fast becoming one one of my favourite detectives. While this is a follow on from his first, I feel it can be read as a standalone - although you’ll be missing out on a great book IMO!

Highly recommended if you’re a fan of crime procedurals and thrillers. This is masterfully written, with red herrings aplenty and a colourful cast of characters. Fast paced and totally compelling.

I was grateful to have the e-arc and ALC to go between. I loved the audio narration by Linda Jones. Can’t wait for the next instalment 🤩

Many thanks to @poisonpress and @dreamscapemedia for advance reading copy and ALC 💌