A Long Time Gone by Joshua Moehling is a gripping, atmospheric mystery that explores the dark shadows of the past. Deputy Ben Packard, haunted by his brother’s mysterious disappearance decades earlier, is forced to confront long-buried secrets when new leads surface. As he investigates a suspicious death that may be connected to his brother’s case, Packard faces resistance from those who want him to stop digging. With a tense, wintery setting and a complex protagonist, Moehling crafts a suspenseful tale about family, loss, and the dangerous pursuit of truth. Fans of slow-burn mysteries will find this a compelling and rewarding read.

The story of Ben Packard continues with the third installment of the series. Ben finds himself at a low point in his career when a shooting places him on a leave. Until that is resolved Ben finds himself focused on examining the new information he received about his brothers disappearance that has haunted him for many years. While he is chasing down the clues from the past he stumbles upon a new murder and finds himself left without department support or resources. As we know from the other books in the series, Packard never gives up and does what it takes to insure that the truth is revealed and justice is served regardless of the cost to him personally.

I love this series. It is well written and delivers a well thought out plot from beginning to end. This story was definitely more of a personal nature this time since it examined the disappearance of Packards brother but it showed other facets of his character beside being a deputy but as a son and a brother. The character growth is well written and some new characters were introduced including Ben’s quirky mother. I hope she makes an appearance in the next book. Until then I will be waiting anxiously to see what is in store for Ben Packard.

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange doe an honest review.

A great novel about Ben’s journey to find a killer and what happened to his older brother. A thrilling story, while a bit slow at some points, had good twists and an easy flow.

When I received this book I realized it was the third book in a series so I went back and read the first two before starting this one. You can definitely read this as a stand alone, I just wanted the full picture of who Deputy Packard was and I’m glad I did.

Over these three books I have watched him grow and evolve from everything he has been through and survived. I really enjoyed all three, this one most of all. I am glad that in this one we finally found out what happened to his brother that went missing when they were children.

There is just something so endearing about Ben that you just want to keep following along and watching him solve crimes while navigating life. I don’t know if the author has any intention of continuing any more books with Ben, but I certainly hope so. I do plan to go look for any additional books he may have out since I really enjoy his writing style.

I am really loving the time I’ve been spending catching up with my fave characters and series. This is one of my 2025 reading goals and so far, it’s been going really well. It’s been a while (Jan2023) since I caught up with Ben and the gang in Sandy Lake. They’re all back for this third installment that picks up about six weeks after the last one where Ben lost the election for Sheriff and his nemesis, Dep. Howard Shepard, is now Sheriff. Howard was a pretty worthless deputy and now appears to be just as useless as the Sheriff.

The book summary basically just introduces the different storylines with one being Ben’s continued search for his brother, Nick, who disappeared 33 years ago. This has actually been an underlying theme throughout the series. However, Ben now finds himself with a lot of spare time; Ben shot and killed an active shooter and is on administrative leave. Ben finally opens the box that the former Sheriff, Stan Shaw, left for Ben before Stan died a few months ago. The box was supposed to be the file on the original investigation of Nick’s disappearance. However, all Ben finds is a letter from Stan saying he found a man who apparently had info on Nick’s disappearance and Stan traded the file for the info the man had. This leads Ben to try and find the man based on the few clues that Stan did provide.

There is also another storyline that Ben and his mother, Pam (love Pam!), kind of stumble onto some suspicious findings and info while visiting an old family home and reminiscing of the time Nick disappeared. This leads Ben to begin to suspect that the woman, who owned the house after Ben’s family, did not die from an accident but was murdered and that the initial investigation (by Howard Shepard) was either a lousy and half-@$$ed investigation or possibly a cover up. It’s this storyline that kind of leads Ben down this rabbit hole of another humungous cover up of a multimillion-dollar fraud case.

It’s deep into the second half that all the different parts of Ben’s investigation start to merge and the repercussions are massive and wide spreading with intense and scary scenes for Ben and the gang. The end of the Nate storyline was emotional (at least for me). This is a telltale sign that I have become emotionally invested in the characters. For a character driven reader like me, this makes for a wonderful read.

The continued characterization of Ben along with some of the Sandy Lake crew was well done. I really hope we see more of Pam in future installments; she’s such a great character! The pacing was steady and the storyline very interesting. While there was a lot going on, Moehling managed it very well and the writing was well done. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.4 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #PoisonedPenPress #ALongTimeGone

A fun, fast, thrilling, police procedural. Plenty of suspense. This is actually book 3 in the series but works well as a standalone.

Ben, the main character, is trying to solve his brothers murder. Not able to access his department's resources- as he is on administrative leave for discharging his gun. I also loved the LGBTQ+ representation.

If you like suspenseful series with a strong main character, this is definitely for you. I absolutely love authors like Karin Slaughter and Pat Cornwell- and this book fit right in these lines for me.

Thank you@poisonedpen and @netgalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review .

Joshua Moehling (favorite author) returns with his popular Ben Packard series, following And There He Kept Her #1, and Where the Dead Sleep #2, with his most emotional and BEST yet—the one fans have been waiting for, A LONG TIME GONE #3.

The title, 'A LONG TIME GONE,' hints at the long-standing mystery of Ben's brother's disappearance, which is finally revisited in this installment.

Ben Packard, who lost his older brother, Nick, decades ago when he left on his snowmobile and never returned, is about to embark on a deeply emotional journey. Finally, he will get the closure and answers he has longed for. It's a poignant moment —a journey that will resonate with readers profoundly in addition to the other riveting cases.

About...

We return to Sandy Lake, Minnesota, , where the book opens with a gripping sequence of events. Shepard (Barney Fife) won the election (last book), and Ben happens to be at the courthouse when a shooting occurs. Now, he is on leave due to the investigation, adding a layer of suspense to the story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to unravel the mysteries.

Thirty years earlier, Nick Packard snuck out of his grandparents' house two nights after Christmas and never came home. Ben was twelve and the last family member to see his brother alive. He wanted to go with his brother, but Nick would not allow it, and he said he was meeting a friend.

Divers found the sled three days later in open water near the ice's edge. The previous year, Packard had searched NIck's file and found it was missing from the cold case storage.

It wasn't until Stan Shaw died and gave Packard the box that he realized his former boss had connected him to the boy who disappeared all those years ago. He gathers more information in the letter with an apology and a map. Could it be his brother? Everything is very mysterious.

Since it was January in the middle of the winter and snow, they would have to wait until April or later for the thaw.

In the meantime, Packard's mom, a character full of sass and wit, shows up (and Lordy, that woman is a hoot). She is every gay guy's dream mom, always ready to play matchmaker between her son and Kyle (the bartender). Her presence adds a touch of humor to the story and provides a much-needed break from the intense plot, leaving the readers thoroughly entertained.

The plot thickens as Ben and his mom head to their grandparents' former house while she is in town—only to discover the owner's mysterious death. As the bodies pile up, the case becomes increasingly complex, adding intrigue to the narrative.

Little does he know how the two cases will connect. Then, there is more action, and Ben is caught in the crossfire. Someone wants to keep him quiet the closer he gets to the truth about this case. Someone is hiding deadly secrets much more significant than you can imagine. Follow the money.

From here, toward the end of the book, we circle back to the search for his brother and the mystery. Ben follows many leads and flies to Europe for the first time to gather more information (no spoilers here), but what he learns shocks him and changes everything. A tragedy. Two families. Things he did not know about his brother and those associated with him.

How different would his life have been if he had someone to guide him to live without shame or secrets? Packard will risk everything to catch a killer and reveal the shocking truth about his brother.

My thoughts...

I'd follow Deputy Ben Packard anywhere. Bring on #4! 🎬Please, a TV series or movie! I want a front-row seat.

Ben is my hero, a fabulous, smart, and courageous gay cop. (This sets him apart from the normal series, making him a stand-out character). I love this series! (all 5 stars). I have read them all, and Joshua is one of my favorite authors.

Razor-sharp! Moehling impressively juggles multi-narratives, skillfully blending humor, suspense, action, murder, crime, cop procedural, mystery, and family dynamics with a literary flare— and a stellar cast of characters you are fully invested in. Ben Packard is one of my favorite characters, and the author showcases all his sides, making him highly relatable. You root for him until the end.

I adore Ben's mom, full of sass and wit, plus all the supporting characters. I cannot wait to see what adventure Ben is involved in next.

The atmosphere adds to the story and intensity amid the harsh Minnesota winter. Deputy Packard is an intelligent and courageous gay cop (plus he is HOT), or so I imagine him to be. We also get to catch up with some fun characters (and some bad ones) from past books, which is always a good time.

While this novel can be read as a standalone, why miss out on all the fun and background? Read all three books so you will become a fan for life. I highly recommend the author and series!

Joshua is a master storyteller, and I am a huge fan. Top Books of 2025 and favorite series. Josh, congratulations on being a full-time author! I knew you would be a star since your debut.

Recs...

A LONG TIME GONE and the series is for avid fans of the author—and if you enjoy authors: Lisa Gardner, Lisa Unger, Heather Gudenkauf, Allen Eskens, Karin Slaughter, Mary Kubica, Alice Feeney, John McMahon, Carter Wilson, Christina McDonald, John Fram, and William Kent Krueger— this series is for you with Moehling's signature style.

An Elevator Ride with the Author...

QA INTERVIEW: I am delighted to feature Joshua for my Feb
#AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A where we go behind the book, the series, and up close and personal with this talented SUPERSTAR. Check out my blog on the pub date (Feb 4), or sign up for my newsletter to be delivered to your inbox. It is going to be fun!

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I also ordered the hardcover copy and cannot wait to see who narrates the audiobook.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025
Feb 2025 Must-Read Books
Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A
Top Books & series of 2025

My Reviews:
And There He Kept Her #1,
Where the Dead Sleep #2

Elevator Ride Interviews:
And There He Kept Her #1,
A Long Time Gone #3

Ben Packard is a deputy on leave. He is waiting for his case to be reviewed after he fired his gun in court. He is bored and starts looking into a closed case that doesn't sit well with him. He also finds out that his missing brother's case may finally come to an end when new information comes to light.

I loved the multiple stories, the shady characters, the gay representation and the sad stories that come from the bigotry and hate that the LGBTQIA community encounters every day.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this delightful read!

i new i would be a bit more emotionally drawn to this one. i cannot imagine having a death of a sibling. then a suspicious one. then one you might have ew inffo over and need to solve. no! horrid. and then that drive or decision making becomes something new alltogehter.
would you stop? could you? and in this case will you be forced to?
danger and intrigue was all around in this one. the twist was superb. novels had an era of just doing twist for twist sake. almost to outdo other authors at the time. but when done right, when it fits perfectly like this one... bravo.
i felt so much for our main character. i was worrried at first as ive not had th pleasure of reading the others in the series. but it worked perfectly. and the author does and did a great job of telling me enough of his story and fleshing him out to make me care about him from the very start. hes such a strong yet fragile individual and the kicks seems to keep coming for the poor man. the bodies certainly do.
a brilliant book. and i shall seek out the others.
this author seems to know his craft well. the words, the storyline and the flow just hit a new level. it was talent in these words it truly was. every point hit. every chapter worthy of needing to read the next. brillaint.

A Long Time Gone is the follow up to Where the Dead Sleep that I was hoping for. Where the Dead Sleep was a really satisfying read but left enough questions unanswered that I needed another book. A Long Time Gone delivered. Ben Packard is one of my favourite protagonists. It was really gratifying to learn more about who Packard is. His current case and personal life become intertwined, and I loved seeing how everything threaded together by the end. Established fans and new readers will enjoy A Long Time Gone.

Ben Packard is a Minnesota deputy on administrative leave after discharging his firearm in an active shooter situation. He needs something to keep him busy while his case is reviewed, so he starts looking at a cold case. Suddenly, a death that was ruled accidental, seems clearly to be murder, and when Packard discovers another body, he knows he's on the right track. And then Packard receives some intel about his own brother's disappearance, decades earlier.

Thank you for this arc. this is the 3rd book in this series,and we still focus on his missing brother,the story developes in the other two books more. i like his mother and hope to see more of her. i love the twist, turns, and revelations revealed in the story.

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.

Captivating. Gripping from the beginning. I love books about siblings, and sibling thrillers even more! I loved the dual mystery aspect of this, and I was intrigued by both of them. Lots of twists and turns I didn't expect. Excellent read! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

The third in a series though I read this as a standalone, and then I loved it so much I went back and picked up books 1 and 2. Ben Packard is a gem (though I maybe love his mother even more), the kind of character who definitely deserves a whole series, To hear Joshua talking about his inspiration for Ben and this story, surf to killerauthorclub.com/killer-episodes

Ben Packard is no longer the sheriff. He is a deputy who is assigned to the courthouse to check bags thru the scanner. Doing his duties, he has had to shoot and kill a man who was being sued by another. The dead man decided to take the law into his own hands and he tried to shoot the man suing him. Didn't work out for him. Ben is on leave pending an investigation of the shooting. He is trying to fill his days and not think about the shooting, but that seems to be all he can think about. Then he finally looks into the box that the previous sheriff left for him when he passed away. The box is supposed to contain the files from Ben's older brother's case from thirty years ago. Nick is believed to have drowned in the lake. But when Ben looks in the box it is just blank pages and a note from the then sheriff saying he's sorry. When Ben's mother suddenly visits they go to the home that was his grandparents, and the home where Nick disappeared from and Ben finds evidence that the woman who lived there did not die of an accident but possibly murdered. Now he has something to keep him occupied. But the more he searches, the more he finds strange. And the more he finds leads Ben to know Nick did not drown in the lake. Will Ben find the woman's murderer and also finally find out what happened to Nick after thirty years....

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Ben on duty at the courthouse. The current trial has paused for a break and people are waiting beyond the security check-in. One of the individuals involved in the case has pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot someone. Ben winds up killing that person. Ben is placed on leave until the shooting is reviewed.

During this time, Ben has begun in looking into the case where Nick, his older brother, disappeared and was never found. Ben's mother cane to visit as a result of the shooting, and the two make a trip to his grandparents' old house and learns that Louis, the owner, had died. During Ben's visit he has a strange feeling regarding how the death was recorded. As he started looking into this case, he stumbled upon a major activity that was going on. He got involved and began working to resolve it.

To learn what the case was about, what Ben learned in his search for Nick and how it ll worked out in the end.

The story is well done and it is a definite read. Don't miss out!

Ben Packard had lost out to Howard Shepard for sheriff. Ben was about to fire Howard for violating department policy. Therefore they ended up putting Ben in the security of people coming through the courthouse. During a dispute Ben had to shoot a person that was there in court because he opened fire. So now he is put on leave until the investigation is over. Then of course we have Deputy Jill that is a close confidant to Ben. As Ben is trying to find out who killed an 80 year old woman that had been dismissed as she was drunk. Ben’s brother Nick had snuck out of his grandparents house thirty years ago and they claimed he had drowned but Ben didn’t believe that so that start looking for more clues about his brother. This book will definitely keep you turning pages to find out what is next.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving a honest revie

In rural Minnesota, Ben Packard ran for sheriff but lost and is relegated to being a court security officer. When he has to kill an active shooter at the courthouse, he spends his leave looking into the death of a neighbor while also working to cold case of his brother's disappearance many decades ago. When the neighbor's death appears to be a murder and not an accident, Packard starts to uncover town secrets while figuring out who he can trust.

I really liked the previous book in this police procedural series. I like that Ben is gay, but it is not the biggest part of his character. I like the small-town setting and the concurrent mysteries. This does remind me of a Jane Harper novel (in a good way.) I would recommend this one to lovers of small-town police procedurals and mysteries with interesting and diverse main characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

I love this series. Book three did not disappoint. I love that the books take place in Minnesota, in places I know. I love that the MC is gay and real and a great cop with all kinds of personal struggles and baggage. I love his relationships with his wacky mom, his sassy coworker, his hot crush and his three legged rescue corgi. I love that there’s the ongoing mystery of what happened to his older brother all those years ago (he finally gets his answers) and the current mystery is interesting and compelling. There’s action, suspense, humor and lots of moving parts. Can’t wait for book four.

I read a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley. To be published in February 2025.

“𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.”

Joshua Moehling’s “𝘈 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦” is the third in the Ben Packard series and, while it could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, it resonates more if you’ve already been with Ben on the journey to uncover what really happened the night his older brother, his hero, disappeared.

I first came to know Ben Packard in January 2023 when I read Joshua Moehling’s debut “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘏𝘦 𝘒𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘳,” and I knew from that moment I’d go wherever Ben Packard (and Mr. Moehling) led me. I’ve also encouraged others to go on that journey and will continue to do so as I hope this isn’t the end of Ben (or his mom)!

Though I flew through the pages one cold and snowy afternoon, I was left feeling a little unsatisfied when I reached the big reveal, even after sitting with the story for a while after. I feel I would have enjoyed the story more if the characters of the doctor and his two children were more fleshed out on the page. I think, for me, this would have been best achieved with flashbacks about what led up to Nick’s disappearance and a more in-depth exploration into those involved.

As it is, we are finding out as Ben finds out and in the manner that he finds out. While this story certainly grapples with whether or not it’s better to know the truth or continue to struggle with all the what-ifs and the grief that often comes along with that particular hamster wheel, it’s ultimately, too, about coming to terms with tragedy and how you can begin to move forward in the wake of something that hung so heavily over your life for so long.


Thank you @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the ARC! This one publishes February 5th, so make sure to grab it! You’ve also got plenty of time to dive in to the first two before then too!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#books #bookrecs #alongtimegone #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #januaryreads #joshuamoehling #arcbooks #arcbookreview