Where the Dead Sleep

• Author: Joshua Moehling
• Genre: Mystery/Thriller
• Publication Date: August 15, 2023
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Series: Ben Packard #2

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CONTENT WARNING: homophobia, murder, blood, death, suicide, racism, xenophobia, bullying

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 I read the first book in this series, I didn’t know it was going to be a series, but I fell in love with Acting Sheriff Ben Packard and the small town of Sandy Lake. There’s little I love more than reading about a small town full of secrets, and I was thrilled to discover that not only is this a series, but that we haven’t discovered the last of the secrets in Sandy Lake.

In this book, someone shows up shot to death in his bed, with his wife, Carrie, unharmed. When Packard arrives to investigate, he discovers that he’s got his work cut out for him. Bill got along with everyone, but gambled and had trouble staying faithful. There’s no shortage of suspects, but there’s no motives to be found. His ex-wife, Sherri, who happens to be Carrie’s sister, his business partner, the people he played poker with, and even unknown people could be responsible for the murder. But wait, there’s more! There’s a race for sheriff going on, and while Packard would clearly be the best candidate for the job, he isn’t sure he wants to run—the stress of dealing with the job, the fact that he wouldn’t be able to devote all of his time to investigating, and the potential of public scrutiny of his sexuality when it doesn’t have any impact on his ability to do his job are all factors preventing him from throwing his hat in the ring. And on top of all of that, someone makes an attempt on his life during the investigation.

I enjoy Packard’s character. He feels like the kind of guy you’d find in Anytown, America, almost as if you’d run into him in a local gas station while crossing the country. As a realistic character, he’s complex. He’s completely devoted to his job, and he’s trying his best to settle into the town. Despite his prior family ties to the town, he’s not accepted as a local. I enjoyed watching him thaw out the locals and get them to warm to him through his combination of being down-to-earth, honest, and straightforward with them. He also struggles with some elements of internalized homophobia, which are exacerbated living in a small town compared to his years living in a city, combined with the “boys club” environment of the police, where it isn’t as widely accepted to be gay as in other careers. 

This is an exciting and engrossing series. The plots are so intriguing and keep me flipping pages waiting for the next unexpected twist, that each time I finish a book I’m ready for the next one to come out immediately. I enjoy the characters, and love how the side characters have their own personalities and don’t feel like they’re just thrown in there as filler. This is one not to miss, and even if you didn’t read the first book, this one works pretty well as a standalone.

People who have sat around with me while I’m reading, especially when there’s a surprising reveal, a shocking plot twist, or an unexpected event often look up in alarm when I gasp audibly. The gasp factor is directly related to the number of times I audibly gasp during a reading, and there isn’t an upper limit.

Gasp Factor: 5