This is the third book in the series. And what a great read.We pick up from the second book where Ben Packard has lost his bid for sheriff and been demoted to court security. But life will be anything but dull, a man is being sued for a piece of land and he doesn't take it too kindly. He brings a gun into the court house and tries to shoot the plaintiff. Unfortunately for him Ben has to take him out, in the aftermath Ben is put on suspension till he is cleared of wrong doing.With some time on his hands he keeps looking into the death of his brother.
Moehling is a great writer with many twists and turns, great character development and adds visual depth to his writing.Love the characters and that life doesn't get wrapped up in a bow. Its messy just like us.

This is the third book featuring Ben Packard and it’s another fantastic read.
I have been lucky enough to have been sent all of these books as early e-books and I managed to get a physical copy of book one. I will eventually add physical copies of books two and three to my shelves.
If you like a good thriller with a very likeable main character who’s trying to discover what happened in his past as well as cope with life in a new community then pick up these books.
Books one and two are available on kindle unlimited.

3.5 Stars – A Solid but Conventional Thriller

I went into this book with high expectations based on the hype and glowing reviews, but I have to admit I was a bit underwhelmed. That’s not to say it was a bad book—far from it. The plot was well-constructed, the pacing kept me engaged, and the ending wrapped things up neatly. However, as a police procedural thriller, it was very familiar, and nothing about it truly stood out as exceptional.

The snowy, small-town setting adds to the atmospheric tension, and the intertwining of past and present crimes creates an engaging narrative. While much of the story followed a well-worn path, it did have a nice twist that added some intrigue. If you enjoy solid, traditional crime thrillers, this one delivers. Just don’t expect it to break new ground.

Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Poisoned Pen Press, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

"A Long Time Gone" by Joshua Moehling is an outstanding addition to the Ben Packard series. The writing is exceptional, skillfully weaving together the plot of Packard’s brother’s disappearance and the intense circumstances that lead to his administrative leave. The suspense is palpable, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to discover what would happen next.

The characters in this book are truly multidimensional. They are well developed, and the dialogue feels natural and engaging. I appreciated the perfect balance of humor interspersed throughout the story, which made me chuckle even amidst the more serious moments.

As the story unfolds, the mystery surrounding Ben’s brother’s fate is heart-wrenching. The emotional depth of this discovery left me with a heavy heart, highlighting Moehling's ability to evoke strong feelings in his readers. Overall, "A Long Time Gone" is a gripping read that expertly combines suspense, character development, and a touch of humor. I highly recommend it! 4.5/5 ⭐

Thank you to Joshua Moehling, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to be an advance reader.

God, I love these Ben Packard books. Auto-request, every single one. Between each one, I somehow forget how much I enjoy them, then it's like a punch in the face when I start a new one.

Where to begin? The characters, the small town, the mysteries, the resolutions. This book absolutely kept me on my toes, kept me turning pages late into the night, but was also incredibly beautiful. The story of Ben's brother - heartbreaking. Loved this whole thing so so much.

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

The 1st book hooked me, the 2nd did not disappoint, the 3rd book I loved, loved, loved.

Ben Packard is demoted to court security after loosing the election for sheriff and you call tell he hates it. When a shooting occurs in the court house and Ben is put on administrative leave the twists & turns begin. It seems like there are multiple plots, but they are entwined together and bring clarification of things that happened in the previous books, including finding out what happened to his brother who disappeared 30 years ago.

This series/author have become my favorite mystery/suspense series. Hopefully this is not the last that we see of Ben. I recommend that you read the series in order to get the full picture of the characters and storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy provided for an honest review.

A Long Time Gone is the third book in the Ben Packard series. It can be read as a standalone but the two previous installments are worth reading. The series, a police procedural has the added attraction of characters that are so authentic, they jump-off the page. The action starts rolling in the first chapter when Ben, demoted to a courthouse deputy is involved in a shooting. He finds himself waiting for his departments investigation, temporarily suspended from his duties. With time on his hands, and some new clues, Ben investigates a cold case, the disappearance of his brother. Ben also finds himself skeptical of a woman's accidental death and begins uncovering a web of crime. There are many police procedural series, but the excellent plot, pacing and characters land this series on the top for me. The story is riveting and the end was perfect. I am anxiously waiting for book four. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rounded to 4.5 stars.

This fantastic series appeared on my radar before the first book in the series released, and I have been an avid reader of each new book in the series, never getting enough of this complicated officer of the law and the background issues in small town Sandy Lake, Minnesota.

There are some series where books can be read standalone and you can jump in anywhere without finding it too hard to pick up the thread. This isn’t one of those: you need to read the books in order to fully grasp what is happening, because small town mystery elements run through each book but also as an overarching storyline throughout the series.

Ben Packard is such an intriguing character to follow. He’s got a clear moral compass, yet has struggled with his own sexuality and internalized homophobia. As a gay man who works in law enforcement, he felt unable to come out while working in Minneapolis and dating a fellow officer, leading to complicated feelings of grief upon the man’s passing. This was his impetus for moving to Sandy Lake, a small town where he spent summers at a lake house with his family until his brother disappeared one night.

Upon his return to Sandy Lake as acting sheriff, he started tracking down the lead of what might have happened to his brother all those years ago. In this book, everything changes. At the beginning, Packard is no longer acting sheriff and has been demoted to court security officer by Shepard, a deputy who didn’t really meet the standards and capabilities to meet the demands of his new role as sheriff.

The book starts out with Packard working his usual shift at the courthouse, when chaos breaks loose and he’s forced to shoot someone in the lobby of the courthouse. While the department investigates, Packard is placed on leave and makes it clear that so much of his identity is wrapped up in his job when he isn’t able to just relax and enjoy some time off. It doesn't help that his mom comes to town and he spends a few days hanging out with her, only to embarrass him by making comments about his lack of dating life and suggestions for who he could ask out on a date. I also really loved that this book incorporates some really witty lines and conversational banter, some of which made me laugh out loud and startle my dogs.

As his free time drags out in front of him, he tries to find ways to fill the large open spaces in his schedule—working out, walking his three-legged Corgi named Frank, only to realize that this would be the perfect time to look at the file the department kept on the cold case of his brother’s disappearance. Nick’s disappearance was long thought to be an open and shut case, with the snowmobile by the lake, and one glove on the shore of the lake, and Nick thought to have fallen through the ice and drowned in the lake. Except, his body was never found, and new information has come to light which may direct searchers to find Nick’s body.

Packard is forced to cool his jets on that case, and finds himself doing a fair bit of introspection over the course of the book. I liked that he never lets a petty behavior slip at work, and stays professional and focused on his goals throughout. Even as he’s given an intentionally terrible, boring job, he still treats it as just as important as when he was acting sheriff. But in this story, we get to see a side of him where he continues to maintain cordiality and professionalism even when speaking to a superior who he doesn’t respect. It made me like him even more, as the kind of guy who can both talk a good game and back it up.

Over the course of following up the new leads, he steps right into another case that someone doesn’t want him investigating. I got pretty caught up in both mysteries, and while the mystery of what happened to Nick was something I wanted to know after reading about him for years, I was also quickly sucked into the current investigation that Packard stumbles into. Despite the scheme being quite complex, it was presented slowly enough for a reader like me to follow all the moving parts.

This is such a great story, and I really liked the way that readers are treated to a bit more of Packard’s emotions and how the past has impacted him in ways he is only beginning to realize. I always like seeing a character slowly peel away the layers and reveal more of who they are over the course of a series, and Packard is a character who is a genuinely good guy, so naturally I want to see him solve every case he comes across. But I’ll have to settle for knowing what happens to Nick and then come up with the most wild ideas about what is going to happen in the next book, because I really hope there’s a next one. I highly recommend those who enjoy reading police procedurals without seeing toxic masculinity from everyone with XY genes, queer people thriving in traditionally queerphobic jobs and locales, and settings that evoke a cold winter with heavy snow, and those who simply enjoy a well-written mystery.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s the third in a series and you really learn to love the characters of this small town. Ben Packard is a cop returning to the town where he grew up and also where is older brother disappeared many years ago. I loved to read more of the town characters and the people he works with. There is a mystery that he’s trying to solve while trying to get the answers for his family. I liked that part but I really wanted the answer from his brothers disappearance and we did get that. I would definitely read more by him!

ve this whole series but this one, the third book in the series, is my favorite. Ben Packard is a wonderful, multilayered protagonist with a slightly inappropriate (and hilarious) mother. All of the characters are well developed except perhaps Lady Gaga Pinot Grigio Margaret Ann String Cheese Reid. But she is a dog so I’ll give the author some leeway on that one.

This could be read as a standalone as the author does give plenty of backstory, but the first two were so good! Do yourself a favor and read them in order. There is a long standing mystery solved in this title that we’ve been wondering about since book one.

I hope the author continues this series for a very long time. I will be waiting patiently for book four.

Moehling is such a talented storyteller. I always look forward to reading his books. This book is super immersive and dark. I could not stop reading. Perfect setting for this time of year making it a chilling read for winter.

After a shooting, Deputy Packard is on leave with a lot of time on his hands. He uses the time to chase leads on his brother's case now that some new evidence has come to light. In the midst of his search, he stumbles upon another suspicious death.

I have really enjoyed reading about Ben Packard and I hope to see the series continue! I enjoyed the pacing and the deeper dive into Ben and his family.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Long Time Gone

This book was executed perfectly with a mind blowing twist. Joshua Moehling is a force to be reckoned with and is about to take the internet by storm with this sure to be bestseller.

This is also the concluding book 3 of 3 in the Ben Packard series. If you're asking if this book can be read as a standalone, the answer is yes. However, why would you want to skip out on two banging pieces of this incredible series?

Equal parts family drama as it is police procedural.

Im typically someone who shy's away from procedurals as I get pretty bored pretty easy but this was never the case with Moehling behind the pen.

This book needs to be on everyone's wish list.

Check out this teaser :

It's time to put the past to rest…

Ben Packard was just a boy when his older brother disappeared. Ben watched him walk out the back door of their grandparents' house and into the cold night.

His brother was never seen again.

Decades later, Deputy Packard finds himself with too much time on his hands. A shooting has him on leave and under investigation, and all he can do is dwell on the past. For the first time in years, new information about his brother has surfaced that may lead them to the location of a body.

The midwinter ground is frozen solid. Worse, Packard is cut off from department resources. As he strikes out to finally uncover the truth behind his brother's disappearance, he stumbles on a separate, suspicious death. A tenuous connection exists between the two cases, and as Packard starts to dig, he meets fierce resistance from friends and foes alike who want him to stand down.

The winter is long and cold. By the end of it, Packard will risk everything to catch a killer and reveal the shocking truth about his brother.

3.5 stars. I don't think I would have read this if I realized it was third in a series, since I usually like to start from the beginning, and I did feel like I was missing some back story here. But overall, you can understand this story without having read the previous books. Pretty good mystery here--I liked that it was based on a recent Minnesota fraud scandal, as I enjoy ripped-from-the-headlines stories, especially if they're local. Ben Packard wasn't a hugely compelling character to me, but again--I might feel differently if I'd known him for two books already, and I did start to get a better sense of him towards the end as the storyline about his missing brother wrapped up. I may go back and read the earlier books and see if I can connect with the series better that way.

I absolutely love this series! I will never miss a Ben Packard police procedural book! I'm hoping it doesn't stop at 3 for a trilogy, although I could see how the author wrapped up somethings nicely. Ben's mother is HILARIOUS! While trying to figure out what happened to his brother, he stumbles upon another mystery and cold case...go figure! Get ready for another wild ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is just an awesome addition to an equally awesome series!! I love Ben Packard! I was so excited to see this become a series. This is Book 3. I suppose it can be a standalone, but you will miss all the great character development and motivation understanding. Ben is a deputy in Minnesota. He walks to the beat of his own drum and does things his way, which is usually the best way. He will beat a case to death until he solves it, which can rub people the wrong way. He also manages to be totally likeable (at least to me) while doing this. Ben has run for Sheriff, lost and is now checking bags at the local courthouse. Ben stumbles upon a suspicious death case while investigating the case of his missing brother who disappeared as a teen. What follows is just a good old-fashioned mystery without all the smoke and mirrors and AHA! moment plotting that we get so often now. I loved it! I hope there is a Book 4, but this is a nice ending. Also, the atmosphere alone is worth the read. I am over here in Texas where we freak out if the temp gets down to 30. I loved reading about a Minesota winter!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Joshua Moehling and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other social media and retail sites upon publication day of February 4th, 2025.

I can’t not love a Ben Packard book. It’s just impossible. The dialogue, the sass, the characters and all the different walks of life one encounters just in Sandy Lake, Minnesota makes me want to visit the state. The mystery that unfolded all just from Packard trying to find out what happened to his older brother nearly 30 years ago makes me think he’s either the luckiest or unluckiest man in the fictional world. Imagine just trying to do your job and people make it about themselves and you trying to ruin their lives? I’d like to thank NetGalley and Joshua Moehling for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Can’t wait to see what else lies in store for the Packard Pack! Ben’s mom is most definitely my spirit animal now. What a wingman!

Ben Packard is a great detective, a great brother/son and a great man. In this edge of your seat installment, Packard is reeling after he’s involved in a shooting. While on leave he stumbles upon a suspicious death that leads to more dead bodies. His methodical approach solves the mystery. This installment of the series also finds Ben uncovering the truth of his brother’s disappearance. With his usual calm demeanor and dry wit, this was a pleasurable read.

Ben Packard, after losing the election for Sheriff, is stationed as a guard at the courthouse. When one of the party of a trial opens fire on the other, Ben in caught in the middle and is forced to kill the armed man. While on administrative leave, he picks up the case of his brother who went missing decades before. This is the third in the series and I feel it just gets better with each book. Packard is a likeable character and I look forward to more books to come.

3.5 STARS - A Long Time Gone is the third book in the Ben Packard small-town, police procedural series.

The book has a slow burn start that centres around two mysteries. The first is the cold case involving Packard's older brother who has been missing for decades. The second begins after Packard is put on leave after a shooting incident. He has a lot of time on his hands as the powers that be investigate, but he doesn't stay idle for long. His mother would like him to focus on his non-existent love life, instead he focuses on a suspicious death of an elderly neighbour that pulls him down a rabbit hole of murder and greed.

The heart of this series is Ben Packard. He's a strong main character with a mysterious backstory. He's a gay copy in a small town (that isn't openminded) and he's got a strong crew around him with his mom adding great levity with her funny quips.

This was an easy book to sink into and it starts off strong. The pacing wanes a bit in the middle and while the story kept moving, the tension seemed to be replaced by a lot of character introductions and the story got a bit convoluted for me. Things get back on track with a great twist towards the end when the energy ratchets up for a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to seeing where this series goes next.

Note: The books in this series can be read as a standalone.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the complementary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

Review posted on blog and social media - Feb 7, 2025