I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is wonderful. This is the second book in a series but I didn’t know that until I had already started reading and while I’m sure there is background I missed out on, I didn’t feel lost. I loved the storyline but even more so, loved the author’s writing style. I will be going back to read the first in the series and whatever else the author writes!

This is the second in the Ben Packard series. Ben is a sheriff in a small town.

Bill Sanderson is found shot in his bed. This is a mystery with a lot of intrigue.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for an audio ARC of this book for an honest review.

Acting Sheriff Ben Packard has his hands full investigating the murder of a popular local while simultaneously dealing with the next election for Sheriff. As per usual in small towns, every bit of the mystery Packard untangles leaves him with more questions.

This one was definitely much slower than the first in the series, but there was a lot I liked. I especially liked the way the book started with Packard's one night stand with a good-looking man *without* making it a huge deal. I absolutely love when books write LGBT characters exactly as you'd write straight characters, without making a big deal about their sexuality. Not because it's a big deal but rather the exact opposite-- should be a totally normal storyline and I love when it's done as such! Later in the book Packard's sexuality becomes a little bit of big deal but overall, I thought the author did a great job making life normal for him. I wish we saw more stories like that.

The case on this one was also good, if a little wacky, but again I really enjoyed it! It reminds me a little of a slightly-less nefarious version of Linwood Barclay's Promise Falls. Highly recommended for all mystery readers.

I didn’t know this was a second book in a series but that being said it did not take away my enjoyment of this at all. This was a fast paced police procedural. The characters were likeable, the plot was interesting and I was not expecting the twist at the end! When I book surprises me like that, I’m always in to read more that author.

A perfectly paced police procedural! The characters are well-developed though not necessarily likeable. None of them are whom they appear to be. This provocative, somewhat dark and twisted story grabs you from the first page and keeps you guessing until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

✦Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling✦
★★★★★ 5/5 stars!

Pub Date: August 15

✦ Synopsis
Ben Packard, still acting-Sheriff of the rural Minnesota town of Sandy Lake, is back & on a new case. A early morning call during Labor Day weekend finds a man shot in his bed. The business partner, the ex-wife, the current wife, the high-stakes poker buddies - any of them could be guilty. While trying to get to the bottom of this, Ben must juggle his very public job with his personal life, & decide if he wants to subject himself to the scrutiny of an election to keep his job as sheriff or step down into the role of detective.

✦ My Thoughts
I loved And There He Kept Her (a 5☆ read for me in January), so of course I was so excited to get my hands on the sequel! This book has it all - murder, mystery, suspense, small town drama, blackmail. Those who enjoy police procedurals & crime fiction will love the investigative details. I really enjoyed the character development in this one. I was just as invested in the characters as I was the action. The plot twists & red herrings kept me guessing until the very last page! The cliffhanger of an ending left me eager to return to Sandy Lake in a 3rd book for more of Ben Packard’s story.

Linda Jones is the perfect narrator for these stories. It feels like listening to an episode of a true crime show, & she has a way of differentiating each character in a way that makes it so easy to follow along. I would listen to anything she reads!

thanks to Joshua Moehling, Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press & Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read & listen to this ARC! ◡̈

Review of Where The Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

And There He Kept Her was one of my favorite books last year, so I was absolutely thrilled to be approved to read this one. I had a digital and audiobook copy, and I mostly listen to the audiobook on this. I finished it in two days and I really enjoyed it overall. I was so excited to have the same main character now acting sheriff Ben Packard back in this one. I love his character and I love the small-town setting. I hope that this author continues to write books with this main character in this town. I have to admit I did like this one slightly less than And There He Kept Her but I wasn’t at all disappointed by this one. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Synopsis:

When an early morning call brings Deputy Ben Packard to the scene of a home invasion, he finds Bill Sandersen shot in his bed. Bill was a well-liked local who chased easy money his whole life, leaving bad debts and broken hearts in his wake. Everyone Packard talks to has a story about Bill, but no one has a clear motive for wanting him dead. The business partner. The ex-wife. The current wife. The high-stakes poker buddies. Any of them―or none of them―could be guilty.
As the investigation begins, tragedy strikes the Sheriff's department, forcing Packard to make a difficult choice about his future: step down as acting Sheriff and pursue the quiet life he came to Sandy Lake in search of, or subject himself to the scrutiny of an election for the full-time role of Sheriff, a job he's not sure he wants.
There's a hidden history to Sandy Lake that Packard, ever the outsider, can't see. Bad blood and old secrets run deep. But an attempt on Packard's life means he's getting uncomfortably close to the dangerous legacy of the quiet Minnesota town. And someone will do anything to keep it hidden.

Ok this was… really good. I’m a sucker for a good “who dun it” and theres nothing I hate more than an unreliable narrator and lately Ive been reading a LOT of those it seems so this was a breath of fresh air. The MC was phenomenal.. he was brilliant and so easily likeable. I loved that he lives in a small town and deals with all that small-town stuff. The support characters were done so well- they were there to actually add support but didnt outshine the MMC.

The ending I didnt see coming.. which really is what marks a brilliant murder mystery, right? There were a few times I thought I was going to have to give this book a 3 star review because I was sure I’d figured it out pretty quick.. but I was super wrong both those times. The red herrings are real and theyre sooooo well done!

I cant wait for the next book in this series, and im going back to read the first one for sure!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Where The Dead Sleep
By: Joshua Moehling
Narrated by: Linda Jones

Publication date: August 15, 2023

The second book in the Ben Packard series.

The case we are following is of a local well loved man who is found murdered in his home by his wife. Ben Packard is faced with finding his killer. While this is happening Ben also has to decide if he will stay on as a detective or run for sheriff.

Let me start off with what I liked about this book:
- [ ] The narrator was really good.
- [ ] Getting more on Ben Packard’s background story and character development
- [ ] The pacing of this book was really good
- [ ] The twists in the case

What wasn’t my favorite:
- [ ] The final who done it was kinda obvious.
- [ ] Some of the characters decision making was annoying.


Overall I would recommend this book if you are a fan of detective thrillers!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me this ACR in exchange for my honest review

Joshua Moehling has become an auto read author with the release of this second book of his. With this book, we get to know Ben Packard as well as the town of Sandy Lake so much more. Moehling has done an excellent job of creating unique and well-developed characters that I can't wait to read more about. The mystery is well executed, and the suspense keeps me turning pages. I can't wait to see what Moehling does with Ben Packard next!

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Joshua Moehling for the advanced copy of Where the Dead Sleep in exchange for my honest review.

I'm glad I had the audio to supplement the eBook for this one. I enjoyed the narrator and some of the chapters got kind of long so it was nice to be able to break it up a little.

I absolutely loved this book and Deputy Ben Packard is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite protagonists. It's also fun that this takes place in small town Minnesota and my hometown even got a little mini name drop in this one!

I thought the pacing of this one was great and I could not put it down until I figured out what the heck was going on. There was one final big twist that I definitely did not see coming.

Based on the ending of this one (no spoilers) I think it's safe to say we'll be seeing more of Packard in the future. I was pretty bummed about one aspect of the ending but I'm hoping it'll get made right in book(s) to come!

Where the Dead Sleep will be on US bookshelves August 15!

Enjoyed this book. But also found it kind of slow. I wondered why the audio was a female & not a male considering the main character is a male. But the narration was fine.

I felt like the story was a bit predictable and didn’t really have my heart racing to finish.

Even still i am looking forward to the next in the series! I hope the case is a better one tho. Ben Packard is a great character and i want to see what’s next for him.

When I tell you, I could not devour this Audiobook fast enough!!
I appreciated character develop and characteristics. I could really feel like I was standing in front of the Sherriff! While I can definitely see this as being a standalone, I will be looking more into this series & this author.
DEFINIETLY check this out if you like small town mystery/Thriller/Crime stories!
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to be able to listen to this audtiobook!

Thank you to Libra.fm, Simon Audio, Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC/ALC!

Deputy Ben Packard is back, still acting as sheriff while his beloved mentor is nearing the end of his life. An early morning call leads Packard to Bill Sanderson shot dead in his bed. His wife, his ex-wife, business partner and poker buddies all have interesting things to say about Bill. Packard can’t determine if any of them are telling the truth or if none of them is. Meanwhile, an attempt on his life lets him know he’s getting dangerously close to the truth. While deep in the trenches of this crime, Packard is also forced to decide if he wants to step down from his position as acting sheriff or run in the upcoming election.

When I read Joshua Moehling’s previous book, And There He Kept Her, I was immediately drawn into the crime at the center of the book and more so, the character of Ben Packard. A gay police officer in a small, old fashioned town, Packard kept his personal life close to the vest. But in getting to know him - the simple life he lives with his beloved three-legged dog, his dedication to serving the people he has sworn to protect and now, the secret from his past - I may a bit in love with this character! Can you say “book boyfriend”?! LOL All of Packard’s fabulous qualities aside, the mystery at the center of this book kept me guessing - I couldn’t figure out who was responsible for killing Bill but it all came together brilliantly. And left on a bit of a cliffhanger, I hope there is going to be more Ben Packard in the very near future! On audio, Linda Jones perfectly brought these characters to life!

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Where the Dead Sleep
Ben Packard #2
By Joshua Moehling
Narrated by Linda Jones
Poisoned Pen Press - Book
Dreamscape Media - Audiobook
Pub Date 15 Aug 2023
Thriller
Rating: 4.5/5

Where the Dead Sleep is the second in the Ben Packard series, but can be read standalone. Where the Dead Sleep follows Deputy Ben Packard investigating a murder in the small town he moved to after a devastating loss. Additionally, he must make the tough decision whether to run for sheriff or continue his job as a detective. The first book in the series is titled And There He Kept Her. The police procedural series is twisty and intriguing.

In the wake of Bill Sanderson's murder in his bed, Ben Packard returns to solve the case. Uncovering the mystery of who killed Bill is a priority for Ben, and he is determined to find the clues that will lead to the perpetrator. Could it be Bill's ex-spouse, his present wife, his business acquaintances, or his high rolling poker opponents? Despite the fact that no one has a clear motive, everyone is suspect.

Thank you Joshua Moehling and Poisoned Pen Press for the gorgeous book copy sent to my house. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sharing the audiobook with me. In this audiobook, the very talented Linda Jones narrates the story with a voice that masterfully transports you into the story. Moehling's writing is very enjoyable for me since I enjoy intricate mysteries. I'm eager to read more.

This is the second in the series but can definitely be read as a standalone! This follows Deputy Ben Packard as he investigates another case in his town and must decide if he wants to run for Sheriff or have a more quiet life.

And There He Kept Her was one of my favorite mysteries of last year and I do enjoy Joshua Moehling's mysteries. I loved seeing more of Ben's personal life - learning more about the accident that destroyed his family growing up and also navigating being a deputy as a gay man in a small town. The whole case of his debut was very cut and dry - everything was laid out at the beginning and it was just seeing Ben solve the case. However this book was meant to have more twists and secrets and while entertaining, it also read a bit slower and more predictable to me. The ending is believable and I'm definitely going to continue with the series and with following Ben's story! Recommend if you enjoy police procedural stories.

I was well into this book before I realized it was book 2. I’m usually very strict about not listening to books out of order but I was far enough along and I wasn’t having any problems following the set up so I kept going.
It was difficult for me to get into the story, however, because of the narrator. She is fine, but it’s a male main character so it makes zero sense to use a female narrator. This is such a rare occurrence in audiobooks that I don’t understand why this choice was made? I won’t be continuing with the series because of the narration.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this advance audiobook copy for review.

Set in a sleepy Minnesota town, police deputy Packard returns to us in Moehling's next book 'Where The Dead Sleep', now faced with a murder, stolen jewelry, and family secrets that just can't stay buried.

THOUGHTS:
- I received the audiobook ARC, and it was incredibly well narrated!! If you like a slower paced murder mystery - I think Where the Dead Sleep would be a perfect commuter's next listen!! All of the characters were so well done and I could see every moment of the story line!!

- I read the first book in this series and thought it particularly gruesome. While I think Book #2 for Detective Packard isn't as gruesome, there are definitely moments that had me squirming in my seat after listening?

- The mystery and storyline didn't feel particularly racing against the clock or urgent. Taking place over a month, it was interesting to watch the pieces come together but I wouldn't say the 'twist' was particularly shocking.

NOTES:
- LGBTQ+ themes
- CWs: Child abuse, cheating etc.

**Thank you to Dreamscape Media & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I previously left my review for the ebook version, which I will copy.
I did read and listen to this book, I found myself shutting off the audio portion to only read instead. The narration was good but it wasn’t great. It was read in a way that lacked the depth of emotion from the words on the page. My own internal narration held that depth and that contributes directly to the terrific writing of the author.

4 stars for the narrated version/5 stars for the physical.

Ebook review:
Ben Packard, gay acting sheriff extraordinaire, returns and we were able to get to see more of him as a person in this book, compared to the first in the series and I fell in love with him even more.

In a way, this could have been the first in the series, that I can now imagine becoming a lengthy police procedural series with a perfunctory thriller edge.

Stony Brookes town is shown to have an extremely wealthy community as well as a shady community and Ben is not only trying to solve a high profile murder, but his mentor and friend has passed and now he must decide if he should enter the race to become the official Sheriff in town.

This book captivated me from the start as it was not only full of thriller goodness, but it also contained the heart of what lays beyond Ben Packard.

Thank you PoisendPenPress for my gifted copy. Thoughts are my own.

Have you read Joshua Moehling’s debut novel, And There He Kept Her? If you have and you enjoyed the crime thriller, then you should check out the sequel, Where The Dead Sleep.

I actually liked the sequel more than I did the first book. Both books follow Sheriff Deputy Ben Packard, who works in a small and typically quiet town. The sequel picks up where the first book left off. The current investigation is into a home invasion that resulted in murder.

Overall, this series was just ok to me. I rated the first book 3 stars and the sequel 3.75 stars. I believe that overall most people will enjoy the read. I just read tons of crime thrillers and this series does not blow me away. Beware, the second book does end on a cliffhanger.

Thank you to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Where The Dead Sleep ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.