Thank you Netgalley for my copy! I am obsessed with Ben Packard and love every story we get. This one gives us even more background into his life and I honestly cannot get enough. Suspenseful, excellent writing and entertaining!

I absolutely adore this series - mainly because of Ben Packard being one of the best characters I have interacted with in recent mystery novels.

I was personally stoked that in this 3rd installment we get to look more closely into Ben as a person. Moehling introduced from book 1 that Ben Packard's brother went missing when he was younger and that they have never solved the case. This book focuses more on Ben personally going through the motions to find his brother and the killer. He risks everything to find the answers of his missing brother while on leave.

I can't wait to read more from Joshua Moehling and continue the story of Ben Packard. This series is an A+ mystery thriller in my eyes.

I recommend this series to those that enjoy murder mysteries, which multiple storylines happening at the same time. Joshua Moehling has done a beautiful job by making his storytelling realistic and showing not only the life of Ben, but the lives of the cases that he is solving throughout the books.

Deputy Ben Packard is back! Given the amount of set up that was introduced in book two I thought for sure book three would be all about Ben's brother, Nick. For me the story started off slow and the first half of the book is mostly the building of a case in a death the department has already deemed solved. It took me a while to get invested in this separate case as I went in with the assumption we would be looking for anything related to Nick's disappearance. Several of the town characters were very unlikable and this also hindered my interest in the new case. This is genius writing on Joshua Moehling's part as I got caught up in my extreme dislike of these characters instead of paying attention to the details and solving the crime, so I was quite surprised by who did it when everything came together. Very clever! Packard's mom was a pure delight and her comments and actions made me laugh. There is a lot for Packard to overcome in this story, both personally and professionally, and he does so with grace and intelligence. I have really enjoyed this series. I can't quite decide from the book's ending if there will be a fourth book. If there is, I'll be ready to take on new cases with Ben!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll never tire of Ben Packard. He’s a new favorite character for me in the thriller/mystery genre and this third book just sealed the deal. I loved the mystery aspect of course but I also thought Ben’s mother was such a fun addition, his interactions with her left me smiling. Ben as a character is done so well, the LGBTQ rep is awesome and the books, while being gritty and dark, are also eased by Ben and his wholesomeness. Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book, it is part of a series and so engaging and fast paced. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Highly recommend.

I gave a five star review to the first book in this series. I knew I would enjoy this one. I felt like this was two books in one because there were several separate mysteries to be solved.

Ben works through some of his trama from the last book with his therapist. In an odd way it helped me process some issues I was dealing with. His metaphors were relatable and enlightening. the book that keeps on giving lol.

One thing I dislike is the use of last names for the characters. It gets confusing for me.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

A Long Time Gone is the third installment in the Ben Packard series. Spoilers will be ahead for the previous two, so please stop reading if you haven't read those yet.

We find Packard at his new post, now working security detail at the courthouse after losing the sheriff election to Shepherd. During a break in a trial, he is forced to fire his weapon, killing the offender and placing him on leave while he's investigated.

During this sudden burst of free time, he decides to look into his missing brother Nick's case and look into the information given to him by the previous sheriff. While investigating, he discovers that a previously declared accidental death may have actually been a homicide. He opens up the door to something bigger than he could have ever thought possible in his little town.

I really love this series, and I'm glad that we finally get to see Nick's disappearance truly investigated. And I'm glad that we got to meet Ben's mom - boy was she a hoot. There's plenty of suspense in this one, and twists that I didn't see coming. I really hope that we end up with another Packard novel at some point!

This book is part of a series and gave some great background into Ben’s history and life. I like this series as a whole and this book was not exception. It was an intriguing mystery/thriller with the typical characters one would expect.
Solid book, and I’m excited for the next.
B+/3.75 ⭐️

A Long Time Gone by Joshua Moehling is the third in the Ben Packard police procedural series. 

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Warning – Contains spoilers from previous books)
Ben Packard moved to the small town of  Sandy Lake Minnesota to forget the loss of his fellow officer, and boyfriend Marcus.   He needed a fresh start, and although his brother Nick went missing in Sandy Lake, Ben decided he would move back to the area.  Although he hasn't broadcast the fact that he is gay, word is getting around.  He also hasn't let people know of his previous ties to the area.   While his boss was on chemo, he took over the role of Acting Sheriff.  He now has a new boss, and has been demoted to Deputy.



My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
After losing the election to Shepard, Ben is demoted to court house security.  While on duty there,  a man starts shooting, and Ben kills him.  He is now on administrative leave while they figure out whether the shooting was justified.

As he has time off, he starts looking into the decades-old disappearance of his brother, as some new information has come to light, which may lead to the location of Nick's body.  But he will have to wait until the ground thaws.

In the meantime, he finds another suspicious death, which may or may not be related.   He is sure the woman living in his grandfather's old house was murdered, but at the time, no one investigated.   His efforts now are being blocked.  Ben just digs deeper.

His investigation leads to more bodies, and if he isn't careful, he may be next.



My Opinions:
I am starting to enjoy this series.  The last book had me wondering, but this one cemented my interest.

I really like Ben, and his mother was a hoot in this one.  With each book, depth is added to Ben's character, and to those surrounding him.  I am glad that he learned more about his brother.  Part of that was a surprise!

I was happy to see that there was more action in this book than the last, and the plot was quite good.  It was quite complex, and although I knew the involvement of some,  I did not identify the main perpetrator, so that was really good.

Overall, these books are a fast and entertaining read, and I will be continuing with this series.

I have not read the others in the series so I was missing some pieces but was able to follow the main story line of Ben trying to solve a new murder and the disappearance of his brother. The pacing of the book was fast enough that it kept me enterained.

I didn't know this was the third in a series. While I'd prefer to have read the others first, I don't believe it took away from this book. Ben Packard is a likeable character who is devoted to his career and to find out what happened to his brother Nick who went missing 33 years ago. Ben finally gets the closure he's been searching for.

Thank you Dreamscape Media & Joshua Moehling for this read!

I was lucky enough to get both the ebook and audiobook of this so I alternated between the two.

I haven't read the other books in this series but I felt like I was able to join in with this book without being left too far behind. I do feel the others would obviously give better pictures of the characters and world but I still enjoyed this book as a standalone!

The plot was good and I was intrigued about the unsolved case and how everything was connected! I feel the character building was good and I felt part of the team trying to find the answers.

The narration was well done and really bought this story to life!

Despite being a bit slow in some places the pace was fast enough to keep you hooked from the start. Overall an enjoyable read and I would definitely pick this series up from book 1 to get the full effect but you can still pick this up fine as a standalone.

I really enjoy the Ben Packard series! This is the third book in the series and it tied a few things together nicely. You receive answers for a couple of questions from other books while still getting the feel of a new case. The author does a great job creating character develop and plot lines that you keep you interested.
It's been years since Ben Packard's brother went missing. There was no indication that what happened to his brother would come to light. Packard finally found where his brother's body could have been buried, but it's the dead of winter so they will have to wait until spring to see if it's true. This left Packard with more questions than answers and he's hating his duties at the courthouse. After an officer involved shooting, he is officially on leave. But he can't just sit around and do nothing while they complete their investigation. He just happened to stumble on a murder that needs investigating and he finally has a clue about what happened to his brother. Packard is determined to find the truth even when no else is.

Moehling is one of my favorite finds for 2025. I read his previous 2 books before picking this one up and I am glad I did. Moehling's protagonist is a Minnesota deputy who is tormented by the loss of his brother thirty years ago. As he attempts to seek answers, he uncovers some small town corruption that has him fighting for his life. Moehling writes with heart and conviction. His characters leap off the page and the mystery itself is a damned good one. I will enjoy selling this series. Fans of Steve Hamilton and Paul Doiron should enjoy this.

Thank you to the author, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting, I had several familial health challenges to contend with in the past months.

This is the third in a series, and the first book I have read by this author. Set in small-town Minnesota in the depths of winter, the main character is a local policeman - recently demoted from acting sheriff to deputy - who gets caught up in a shooting at the local courthouse. Step by step, one thing leads to another and new facts turn up about an intensely personal mystery - the disappearance of the deputy's brother as a young teenager. This all happens against a background of rot, corruption and greed, which also comes to light as we dive deeper into the developing and multiple mysteries. Both the main and the secondary characters are finely drawn and the plot is classic police procedural, with a strong personal element - I ended up quite taken with the deputy and his family, I do love insight into the personal story of main characters. I need to go find the first two books in this series!

A Long Time Gone by Joshua Moeling was well written. I gave it a 5 star review! I love the way the author developed the characters in the story. The Packard family lost their son/brother and needed answers as to what happened to him the night he disappeared. I like that this story was not the main focus but was still concluded at the end of the story. A lot of action took place in the sleepy little town called Sandy Lake. Bodies kept turning up dead with the victims being shot in the head. Leaving this all to ex sheriff, Ben Packard to solve the crime. Packard had been put on leave from the sheriffs office so he had nothing better to do than solve the mystery of the death of an 80 year of lady who’s death was said to have been caused by an accident. When Packard realized this was no accident, that’s when the story started to unfold. One clue led to another, leading Packard to the murderer of 3 people in this town.

If you’re looking for easy read, with lots of twists you should read, “A Long Time Gone!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Sometimes taking a risk was the only option."

"A death under mysterious circumstances. An empty bank account. A missing employee. These were not coincidences."

Ben Packard couldn't help himself. Though on administrative leave after a shooting incident at the courthouse, the clues to a death in his old house, the last place he saw his brother Nick alive over 30 years ago, had him investigating a closed case classified as accidental.

So begins the extraordinary 3rd, and I hope far from the final book, in the Ben Packard mystery series, A Long Time Gone. Since book 1, genius author Joshua Moehling, has intricately crafted, not just detailed suspenseful mysteries, but a beloved grab your heart character in Ben Packard.

Ben's been demoted to Deputy from Sheriff after losing the election in his small conservative town. He knew a gay sheriff would be a hard win this time around. But he's distracted, not only with a suspicious death, but with new leads to what happened to his brother the night he disappeared. There has been hints in the previous 2 books, but when the truth is revealed, it's one of the most heartbreaking moments I have experienced in literature.

I am so grateful that voice actress Linda Jones is once again our guide for the author's masterful storytelling. She knows Ben and relays his pain with raw emotion.

If you have read or listened to the previous books this story is essential. If this is a new series for you, enjoy bingeing the life of this gentle giant and his 3 legged Corgi, Frank. I just hope it's not a long time gone before my next Ben Packard fix.

Book 1. And There He Kept Her
Book 2. Where The Dead Sleep
Book 3. A Long Time Gone

I received a copy of this book/ audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own.

★★★★★ 5 star review!
𝑨 𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒖𝒂 𝑴𝒐𝒆𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈
Book 3 of the Ben Packard Series

✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 :
-police procedurals + crime fiction
-3rd book in a 5☆ series
-well developed characters
-LGBTQ+ rep
-witty, likable MC
-meddling moms
-3 legged corgi named frank 🐶

✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 :
There’s a new sheriff in town, but it isn’t Ben Packard. I absolutely loved returning to Sandy Lake, Minnesota. This third installment picks up right where the 2nd left off, with the perfect combination of mystery & small town drama.

Ben Packard is one of my most favorite main characters to read about. He is so easy to root for. I love his dry humor & his honest, straightforward approach to his police work. We get introduced to some interesting characters too - I loved his mom & of course Frank the 3 legged corgi!

You wouldn’t expect for the end of a crime thriller to give you the warm & fuzzies, but there’s just something about Ben Packard & Sandy Lake that just feels comforting. I loved the way this story came together. Although the ending was very satisfying, I really hope we get another book!

I have to mention - these are some of my favorite crime thriller audiobooks. Linda Jones is the perfect narrator for these stories, I loved listening to every one of them.

Dare I say 𝑨 𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒏𝒆 may be my favorite of the series? Granted, all them were 5 stars, but still!

Thanks to @netgalley, @poisonedpenpress, @dreamscape & @jmoehling for the opportunity to read + listen to this arc!

Snow can hide a multitude of secrets.

The ugliness of barren ground. Footprints, made by any number of creatures. Patches of ice. Entire frozen lakes, even.

Small towns are no slouches at hiding secrets, either.

Keeping things from outsiders, sure... but also, sometimes, from others within the community... when someone decides they don’t need to know.

Joshua Moehling’s latest entry in his Ben Packard series, A Long Time Gone, sees the small-town cop dealing with way too many secrets in the midst of another frigid Minnesota winter.


Recently an acting sheriff—but since demoted to deputy status, and assigned to the inglorious job of metal-detector duty at the courthouse—Deputy Ben Packard has had better days (months, years), than today.

The day he’s confronted with a desperate man who’s somehow managed to sneak a gun into the courthouse... and aims to use it, in the name of “justice”.

Ben does what he has to do—preserving as many lives as he can—yet still winds up in the doghouse, again, on leave pending the findings from the investigation into his heroic actions.

And it’s within that murky state of disillusionment (with the system), that a new issue arises.

Or... make that, a very old issue, once again rearing its head.

Ben learns of new info regarding the decades-old disappearance of his older brother... still unsolved.

It’s a wound that his family has never “gotten over”... one which splintered his parents’ marriage, and left him and his remaining siblings in a state of confusion and loss.

An old detective, now dead, left behind a clue that could point to a buried body.

But there’s only so much that a downgraded deputy—on indefinite leave, no less—can do, only so many favors he can call in.

Capricious fate is hardly done tormenting Ben, though.

An elderly woman—someone who’d purchased Ben’s grandparents’ home after their passings (but was really only known to Ben’s mom)— had met her end by falling down a set of steep basement stairs.

Ben only learns of it when his mom is visiting, and wants to visit the home she’d grown up in.

And what they find, the remnants of the scene of the tragedy? Don’t add up at all, not to Ben.

The problem is, that case is closed—“accidental death”—and everyone Ben talks to seems determined to keep it that way.

With the department’s files and databases off-limits, during his absence—and the new sheriff (who beat Ben in the election) dead-set against him—Ben’s options are limited.

But what no one seems to appreciate about Ben is how resourceful and determined he is...


A Long Time Gone is the first time I’ve read Moehling—but it certainly won’t be the last.

It’s actually the third in a series, though, so I (briefly) wondered if I’d feel as though I’d been dropped into the middle of something, but that wasn’t the case, at all. A Long Time Gone can easily be read on its own.

And reading it, I highly recommend, because this is a really good book.

Ben is a fully-realized character... middle-aged, not too young or too old. (And by that, I mean he’s already lived plenty... but also realizes he still has a long way to go.)

He’s also gay... which is dealt with realistically. Does he face ostracism and bigotry in the small town he’s relocated to? Absolutely, every day. Did he also have issues with publicly acknowledging his orientation when he was previously a detective in Minneapolis? Yep, that, too.

It’s a sensitive portrayal of how middle-America views and reacts to “other” lifestyles and preferences... from the viewpoint of someone just trying to live his life.

It’s also a real look at family—particularly, one that’s been splintered by tragedy—and how people try to make sense of their new realities, and of trying to still be a part of the world.

Drama. Sadness. Selfishness. Brutality. Grief. Frustration.

And, in those pockets in between, moments of joy and freedom and redemption.

In short, there’s nothing I don’t recommend, wholeheartedly, about A Long Time Gone. This one is so worth your time.
~GlamKitty

[My sincere thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are, as always, entirely my own.]

Really enjoyed this book, and I sure hope this isn’t the end of books in the series! The main character is one of my favorites, and I love his interactions with the public.