Series: Ben Packard #2
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Release Date: Aug. 15, 2023
Purchase Link: Amazon
Special thanks to the publisher for an arc.
Review:
WHERE THE DEAD SLEEP is book #2 in the Ben Packard series by author Joshua Moehling. Ben is acting sheriff in a small town in Sandy Lake, Minnesota where's he's struggled to be accepted as a gay man not originally from there. Things get complicated when he's called out to investigate the death of Bill Sanderson who died by gunshot while lying in bed. There are three distinct and convoluted suspects, and it's Ben's job to sift through the family drama, lies, secrets and sparse evidence to reveal the truth. Meantime, Ben has some big life decisions to make. Should he run for sheriff in the next election? While he prefers being out in the field, the other two candidates are poor choices plus they can make his life miserable if in power. Ben Packard is a man with a lot on his mind and some life altering decisions to make.
Author Joshua Moehling has penned another riveting police procedural in the series. The story is character driven, unfolding mostly through Ben's point of view. Ben is a well fleshed out, intriguing character with great instincts and sense of self and a wry sense of humor. While locals are leery of him, readers will find him sincere, likeable and intelligent. WHERE THE DEAD SLEEP is well paced with a twisted plot line that keeps readers turning the pages. The book can be read as a standalone with no issues as the author does a great job of including backstory, including appearances by a character or two from book 1, WHERE HE KEPT HER. Highly recommended to fans of psychological thrillers and police procedural stories. I'm looking forward to book #3!
Synopsis:
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.
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.
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