Where Mystery Meets the Mundane

And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling: A (very delayed) Review

Wow, what a stunning debut. 

When I first came across this book; the title alone had piqued my interest. Once I started, I couldn't stop. It took me a minute to pick it up, and I'm so mad at myself for waiting so long. 

"And There He Kept Her" follows a case of mysterious disappearance in the small town of Sandy Lake, Minnesota. While I see some mention that the book didn't pick up, or that it seemed too slow paced, that's actually what I loved about it. In a way it was mundane, just like a small town would be. We learned about the eccentric personality of the locals and we learned how they interacted with each other. Every one knows every one in a way, and it made sense. 

While I wasn't on the edge of my seat; I was nestled in the story. I wanted to know what was going to happen, because I was never really able to predict it, but the temporal flow of everything didn't have me on sharp edge. I liked this, and I would say this leans more toward being a mystery than a thriller. 

Each character introduced had a distinct personality and something that made them flawed, in a major or minor way. I loved this because that's what made them so human. Even our "hero", Packard, isn't without his own faults. 

I really, really enjoyed this and can't wait to see what will become of Packard in Moehling's next book. 

★★★★½ 

2023: The Year in Reviews

If you’re reading this, welcome, and Happy New Year 🎉🎇🎊 If the best you can say is you’re glad 2023 is in the rearview mirror, well, give yourself a pat on the back for persevering. You made it through another year, and that’s something worth acknowledging as an accomplishment in itself. Throughout the year, I’ve read some amazing books, and I love to celebrate those that left a lasting…

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And There He Kept Her

Title: And There He Kept Her Author: Joshua Moehling Genre: thriller Thank you, NetGalley, for this book I love discovering new authors, and I am happy to say Moehling is one I’ll read more from. I’ve already downloaded the next book in this series. This story follows Ben Packard, who returns to the town he and his family used to visit during the summer. Also, the town where his brother went…

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REVIEW

Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

Ben Packard #2

Intricately plotted, well crafted, excellently written police procedural and murder mystery that allowed me to catch up with Detective Ben Packard as he navigates the waters of being acting sheriff in a small town with more than one person who would rather not have him in the position. As Ben works to find and then put the puzzle pieces of the case together, he runs into many clues that may or may not be important in determining who killed the first victim. Doggedly he pursues the clues with the assistance of his team making diagrams and notes to try to put it all together in a cohesive manner.

When a bullet comes through the window of the house he is visiting, he wonders if it was meant for him or someone else and was the shooter the same person that killed Bill or someone else? Who is telling the truth and who is not? What facts are important? Who is the killer and what is the motivation? And…where is that key to the puzzle that will ultimately cause all the pieces to finally fit together perfectly to expose every aspect of the case that begins with the death of Bill Sanderson?

Detective Ben Packard is an intriguing character. He has suffered loss, works hard, is a good friend, great team player, has a strong moral compass, is compassionate and kind to underdogs, is great at puzzle solving, knows who he is, is invested in settling in Sandy Lake as he rehabs the home he purchased, grew up in a loving family, Lost his brother decades ago…in Sandy Lake…and would love to close the old cold case for his family, owns a three-legged Corgi named Frank, is doing his best to be an efficient and effective acting sheriff.

The way this all came together with the clues, hints, twists, turns, assaults, dysfunctional family issues of the Gherlicks gradually being exposed, and other pertinent matter being unearthed in a complex crafty way had me eagerly waiting to see who the bad guy was and then wondering if perhaps there was more than one. The ending is not a cliff hanger, but it does have me eagerly waiting to read book three in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

A small town's dark secrets turn deadly... 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.

And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling | ARC Book Review

And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling | ARC Book Review

Title: And There He Kept Her Author: Joshua Moehling Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Published Date: June 14th, 2022 Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult fiction Source: Netgalley and Publisher Rating: ★ ★ ★ .5 Goodreads Summary: They thought he was a helpless old man. They were wrong.When two teenagers break into a house on a remote lake in search of prescription drugs, what starts as a simple…

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Read of And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling (2022) (304pgs)

Near the start of the twentieth century, the U.S. government actively suppressed Native customs and language while it continued to disregard treaties and push the tribes off their land. Indian kids were sent to boarding schools where they were forced to speak English and beaten when they didn't. A hundred years later, the number of motherfuckers sitting around, thinking up new words for shit is pretty small. They only meet once a year. They're a little behind.

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currently reading: "And There He Kept Her" by Joshua Moehling and re-reading "Breaking Point" by Pamela Clare

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Title: Where the Dead Sleep

Author: Joshua Moehling

Deputy Ben Packard is called to the scene of a murder and finds Bill Sanderson shot in his bed. While Bill was well-liked, he had a penchant for making bad decisions, leaving behind bad debts and an unstable love life. Everyone is a suspect but there are no clear motives.

To make matters worse, the Sheriff’s department experiences a heartbreaking tragedy, and Ben now has to decide if he wants to run for Sheriff, a job he isn’t even convinced he wants. The small town of Sandy Lake has a long history with deep-rooted secrets, and as an outsider, Ben bas only touched the surface. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more his life is in danger.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Ben Packard is a fantastic character and really makes a name for himself amongst the citizens of Sandy Lake. I think this series is off to a great start, but I will note that ai didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first. It was a bit less suspenseful and didn’t grab my attention as much as I’d hoped it would. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth reading!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a copy of this book to review.*

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4-4.5 stars)

And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling

a lot of physical description immediately after introducing each character or place

two chapters in and i’ve checked like three times to make sure this isn’t the second book in a series because of the brief summary given to each character that sounds very “don’t you remember what happened last book”

given the amount of detail regarding the placement and structure of the town, i figured that either Sandy Lake, Minnesota is a real place or the author planned out a town and a map to go with it. Sandy Lake IS a real place, but its a Native American village with a history of government caused tragedy (surprise surprise). Big Sandy Lake, on the other hand, seems to have a whole lot of summer recreational attractions so id bet that the author vacationed there and is now placing the story in a familiar place

if i had a nickel for every story i’ve read where the protagonist is a cop whose big open secret is that he’s gay, id have two nickels

the gun is a very roundabout way of linking the Big Bad, it’s not a mistake he made and it’s made both important and not. it should either be dropped or played up. it’s just kind of a loose end, a tool to move a character in place and then forgotten

okay so the ending is very much giving off “let go of the past and move on to the future” vibes so why does he name the dog after his grandpa commit to the vibe or perish

overall, it’s the authors first book and it shows. a few ends tied in, a bit more “show don’t tell” would be nice, but it’s a fine starting point

04 - Solace House by Joy Ellis (4/5) 🎧📘

07 - And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling (4/5) 🎧📘

11 - All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham (4/5) 🅱📘

14 - The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin (3/5) 🎧📘

25 - American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (3/5) 🅱📘📚

26 - Stranger in the Woods by Anne Taylor (2.5/5) 🎧📘

Hello!!! 10, 17, 20? 📚❤️

Oh hi Hannah! Hope you're doing well and life's treating you kind ❤️ 10. What was your favorite new release of the year?

Oh it's got to be Promises of Gold by José Olivarez. I loved Citizen Illegal and was so excited for this collection and it didn't disappoint. His skill of romanticizing the mundane is something so rare to find with his contemporaries right now. 17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

I ended up finding a second-hand copy of The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan at a used book sale and I was surprised by how much I loved it.

I thought it was going to be a collection with the occasional gem but I loved so many of the passages. My favorite is unabashedly and I think about it often.

I also ended up loving a crime drama from debut author Joshua Moehling called And There He Kept Her but I've already rambled on about that one in a review lol 20. What was your most anticipated release? Did it meet your expectations?

So, a little earlier in the year, I came across an NPR article about a 1950s singer-songwriter named Connie Converse who went missing in the 1970s. I found her story so interesting, compelling and honestly quite heartbreaking. Not too soon after, I learned there's a book detailing her life and possible disappearance and I'm about to start it. I'm excited to learn more about this woman and I'm hoping it doesn't leave me disappointed.

Review: Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

Title: Where the Dead Sleep Series: Ben Packard: Book Two Author: Joshua Moehling Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Length: 316 Pages Category: Murder Mystery Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: 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. He’s simply the investigator Sandy Lake needs, because he’s the investigator…

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Posted @withregram • @judithdcollins What a fabulous month of READING AND BOOKS released in JUNE. 📚 Check out my June newsletter Here: bit.ly/June2022WrapUpJDC or 🔗 in bio. June is also #audiobookmonth note all the audiobooks (see icon) which I enjoyed. Special thanks to all the fantastic narrators! Many thanks to all the publishers and #NetGalley for ARCs. This list does not include the other books I read in June, only the ones released in June. What were your favorites in June? June 7 It All Comes Down to This | Therese Fowler 5 STARS 🎧 The Gatekeeper | James Bryne 5 STARS 🎧 June 14 And There He Kept Here | Joshua Moehling 5 STARS 🎧 Local Gone Missing | Fiona Barton 4 STARS The Beach Trap | Ali Brady 4 STARS 🎧 The Hotel Nantucket | Elin Hilderbrand 4 STARS June 21 The House Across the Lake | Riley Sager 4 STARS 🎧 No Place to Run | Mark Edwards 3 STARS 🎧 The Lies I Tell | Julie Clark 4 STARS With Friends Like These | by Keri Beevis 4 STARS 🎧 June 22 The Outcry Witness | Aime Austin 5 STARS Nicole Long Legal Thriller Series .05 June 28 The Second Husband | Kate White 4 STARS 🎧 June 29 Major Crimes | Aime Austin 5 STARS Nicole Long Legal Thriller Series #1 June 30 The New Neighbor | Miranda Rijks 4 STARS 🎧 #june2022books #jdcmustreadbooks #summereads #beachreads #bookreview #netgalley #bookinfluencer #bookstragrammer #bookstagram #bookreviewer #mysteryandthrills #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #sfloridareader #thrillersofig #bookblogger https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfe0Vyco9Uz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

REVIEW

And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling

Small town murder mystery that presents a new main character and town that both have plenty of potential to provide much fodder for future stories. This debut author is one I would gladly read again.

 What I liked:

* Knowing what happened to Jenny and Jesse from the first chapter

* The writing, plot, pacing, and overall story

* The small town setting

* Deputy Ben Packard, acting sheriff and investigator: from a bigger city, chose to move to and work in Sandy Lake County after losing someone important, has secrets, a bit of a loner, works hard, interesting, would like to know more about him

* Jenny: Kidnapped sixteen-year-old, Ben’s niece, person being looked for throughout the story

* Susan: Jenny’s mother, Ben’s cousin, chef-cook, restaurant owner, a bit different – on the spectrum perhaps, might be a recurring character

* The diversity of the staff that Ben works with – some will no doubt show up in future books if this becomes a series – really liked Kelly(dispatcher) and Jill Thielen but others will play their parts as the team becomes more known over time

* Gary: dog rescue owner with an intriguing past – would love to know more about him

* Some of the quirky characters

* Learning about Nick’s brother who went missing decades before – will Nick find out what happened to him if the series progresses?

* That it was so easy to dislike the bad guys though they were rather stereotypical in some ways.

* The police procedural aspects of the story

* That Jenny’s storyline was tied up in a neat bow at the end with no dangling strings

* Knowing that there is plenty of ground laid for another book if the author and publisher decide to provide one.

 What I didn’t like:

* The people I was meant not to like and the crimes they committed

* Some of the parents parenting

* Having to wait for book two…if this IS a series

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

 Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 4-5 Stars

      BLURB

 They thought he was a helpless old man. They were wrong. When two teenagers break into a house on a remote lake in search of prescription drugs, what starts as a simple burglary turns into a nightmare for all involved. Emmett Burr has secrets he's been keeping in his basement for more than two decades, and he'll do anything to keep his past from being revealed. As he gets the upper hand on his tormentors, the lines blur between victim, abuser, and protector. Personal tragedy has sent former police officer Ben Packard back to the small Minnesota town of Sandy Lake in search of a fresh start. Now a sheriff's deputy, Packard is leading the investigation into the missing teens, motivated by a family connection. As clues dry up and time runs out to save them, Packard is forced to reveal his own secrets and dig deep to uncover the dark past of the place he now calls home.

And There He Kept Her- Book Review

Hi! And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling is a thriller revolving around two missing teenagers and the police investigation into it. Sounds like it could be the beginning to a great thriller, right? And it probably was for a lot of people if I were to guess from the multiple 5 star reviews on GoodReads. On the other hand, I decidedly did NOT enjoy it.

I know, yet another disappointed review from me. I wouldn’t blame you if you choose to skip through this one but if you do want to know why I didn’t enjoy it, scroll down. I’m going to do my best to explain why constructively so here goes.

The Plot/Summary

They thought he was a helpless old man. They were wrong.

When two teenagers break into a house on a remote lake in search of prescription drugs, what starts as a simple burglary turns into a nightmare for all involved. Emmett Burr has secrets he’s been keeping in his basement for more than two decades, and he’ll do anything to keep his past from being revealed. As he gets the upper hand on his tormentors, the lines blur between victim, abuser, and protector.

Personal tragedy has sent former police officer Ben Packard back to the small Minnesota town of Sandy Lake in search of a fresh start. Now a sheriff’s deputy, Packard is leading the investigation into the missing teens, motivated by a family connection. As clues dry up and time runs out to save them, Packard is forced to reveal his own secrets and dig deep to uncover the dark past of the place he now calls home.

Book Review-

The book started off slow but seemed interesting which made me want to keep reading. And I really wanted to enjoy it, I did. But I wasn’t able to enjoy the storyline or even like the characters (not even one).

My main issue would be the lack of suspense in the story and that I couldn’t connect even remotely to the characters. The facts are laid out to you right at the start so I was definitely expecting some unique aspect as to how the story would proceed but I ended up skimming multiple chapters just so I could get to the end.

Now, about the characters. They were definitely well-drawn up but there was no relatability to ANY of the characters that make me want to root for them, feel sorry for them or even hate the bad guys (which, by all means, I should but I was genuinely just indifferent).

I really didn’t enjoy this book but it did have a few aspects I liked (like Frankie- dogs are ALWAYS redeeming) so all-in-all I would give this read 2.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my free e-ARC of this read in exchange for my review. (This book was published earlier this month.)

The world was hers for the reading.

-Betty Smith

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