Series: Ben Packard #3
By: Joshua Moehling
Narrator: Linda Jones
Dreamscape Media
ISBN: 978-1728279008
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: 2/04/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
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.
About the Author
Joshua Moehling is the author of the Ben Packard series. The first book, AND THERE HE KEPT HER, was a Barnes & Noble monthly Mystery/Thriller pick and a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBTQ+ Mystery. His second novel, WHERE THE DEAD SLEEP, was described as “a well-paced whodunit” and “devastating” by The New York Times. Joshua lives in Minneapolis and works in the medical device industry.
Connect with Joshua:
Exceptional Authors.
Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
Behind the Book & the Author
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
Q&A Elevator Ride with
Joshua Moehling & A Long Time Gone
The popular Ben Packard Series
Welcome to the first February 2025 #AuthorElevatorSeries! Special guest author and fan favorite Joshua Moehling joins us for the second time (first was with his debut, #1 in the series) with his popular Ben Packard series (#3), the highly anticipated novel A LONG TIME GONE. (I love this series!)
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. Now, decades later, Packard will risk everything to catch a killer and reveal the shocking truth about his brother.
Join us as Josh shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from this talented author.
Welcome, Josh!
Behind the Book
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for A LONG TIME GONE?
While hunting for answers into the thirty-year-old mystery of his brother’s disappearance, Ben Packard comes across the death of a local woman that didn’t get the attention it deserved. There’s a connection between these crimes and someone is willing to kill to keep Packard from the answers he seeks.
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
Dark, emotional, funny
Q. BEN PACKARD: We cannot get enough of Ben Packard! (love) This time around Ben is finally getting some answers about his past for an emotional journey. For readers who have not read the series, tell us more about this fascinating character.
Ben Packard moved to a small town in northern Minnesota seeking to outrun the trauma of losing someone close to him. He has a connection to this small town—it’s where his brother disappeared during a family holiday thirty years ago. As a gay man working in law enforcement in a rural setting, Packard struggles to meet the demands of his job and build a life for himself in a setting where he’s both an authority figure and an outsider.
Q: The inspiration for the character, Ben? Do you see a bit of yourself in him?
Packard is 10 years younger than me, a foot taller, and way better looking. Our sense of humor might be similar.
Q. RESEARCH: Any fascinating research for the novel, or anything you learned along the way?
I learned that a body’s blood alcohol level can go up after death as the blood ferments. Yeeech.
Q. SERIES: Please DO TELL us there will be more books in the Ben Packard series. Any hints?
I just finished the first draft of the fourth Ben Packard book. It opens with a tornado. I have a contract with my publisher for three more books after the fourth one. Two will be Ben Packard books and one will be a standalone.
Q. WRITING: Do you have a favorite chapter or scene in the novel you enjoyed writing the most?
I really liked writing the scenes between Packard and Detective Easton. They have a history and Packard has to face up to some bad behavior on his part.
Q. TAKEAWAY: What important message, theme, or takeaway would you like readers to be left with when reading your book?
I teased out developments related to the mystery of what happened to Packard’s brother across the first two books. He finally gets all the answers in this book. I hope readers feel the resolution was worth the wait.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to add that we have not covered today?
Judy, I’m a huge fan of your author elevator series and am absolutely thrilled to go on another ride. Thanks for having me back.
Always a pleasure, Josh! You know I am a huge fan. YES! So excited there will be more Ben Packard. Now, we need a TV series or movie. Readers, continue reading below for more up close and personal with Josh.
Behind the Author
CURRENT STATE?
Minnesota
ZODIAC SIGN?
Scorpio
FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU RESIDE?
The seasons
YOUR FAVORITE GO TO DRINK OR FOOD WHEN THE WORLD GOES A LITTLE CRAZY?
A burger and a beer
MORNING/NIGHT PERSON?
Morning
FAVORITE HOLIDAY OR SEASON?
Summer in Minnesota
FAVORITE TV SERIES? (Or Movie/Video) binge-watch, series, etc.?
We just rewatched The Durrells in Corfu. It’s such a charming and funny show. The books by Gerald Durrell are great, too.
MOST MEMORABLE PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED?
We went to Mexico City last year and I loved everything about it.
YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?
My office or at Panera on Saturday mornings with my writing pal and fellow Minnesota author, Gretchen Anthony.
A CHARACTER YOU HAVE WRITTEN THAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?
Writing Ben Packard’s mom in A LONG TIME GONE was a lot of fun. I love her ability to make Packard cringe.
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A BOOK, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE OF YOUR CURRENT CHAPTER?
Living the Dream
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
Riding my bike, going to the gym, reading a good book
DESCRIBE ONE THING ON YOUR DESK, CURRENTLY?
A deck of cards. I play a lot of solitaire when I’m procrastinating.
HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
6 (2 unpublished, 3 published, 1 first draft)
YOUR FAVORITE APP?
New York Times Games
A FAVORITE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE?
Once Upon a Crime
THE LAST BOOK YOU RAVED ABOUT?
The Future was Color by Patrick Nathan
Thank you, Josh, for spending time with us today!
I concur, I love Ben's mom.
BEN PACKARD SERIES
My Reviews:
Praise
SheReads Most Anticipated Thrillers of 2025
"The third in Moehling’s Ben Packard series is far and away the best...It’s amazing how Moehling keeps all these narrative balls in the air, but even more amazing is how they eventually come together. For those who love classic mysteries, police procedurals, and family drama."
― First Clue Reviews
"Intense and gripping. Joshua Moehling writes a captivating tale...Despite this being the third book in the series, it works well as a stand-alone, although if you haven’t already read the first two books, you’ll almost certainly want to add them to your reading list."
― Mystery and Suspense Magazine
"A big thriller with an even bigger heart! Moehling deftly weaves together a riveting present day crime with closely held family secrets and sins of decades past, proving once again that the most compelling thrillers are written about the ones we love but fear we will never truly know."
― Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Still See You Everywhere
"Joshua Moehling is a star! This book is the proof of his singular talents: a superb and gripping story with immersive setting and unforgettable characters, all gorgeously structured and beautifully written. Only Moehling can craft such an entertaining page-turner of a mystery, an outsider's tale, with life-changing themes and surprising solutions―A Long Time Gone is ultimately and uniquely heartbreaking, redemptive, and rewarding. Standing ovation."
― Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of One Wrong Word
"An engrossing, multi-layered mystery and deftly crafted police procedural. Moehling's authentic small town drama and vividly drawn characters hooked me from page 1 until the completely satisfying―completely unexpected―conclusion. I can't wait to see what Deputy Packard does next!"
― K.T. Nguyen, author of You Know What You Did
"In his third Ben Packard novel, Joshua Moehling takes us into this protagonist's tragic past, adroitly peeling back the layers of his brother's disappearance thirty years ago. With great skill, he evokes the snow-encrusted terrain and characters in his fictional Minnesota town, Sandy Lake, balancing humor with intense detective work. Above all, Packard, a gay man and member of law enforcement, defies stereotypes of police and gay men; he is a new sort of law enforcement hero, rich with complexity and fresh in his perspective; it's a thrill to follow his journey through this series!"
― John Copenhaver, award-winning author of Hall of Mirrors
"On top of being everything you could want in a mystery―riveting, layered, unfolding in surprising yet inevitable ways―A Long Time Gone is a gorgeous story of loss and redemption that broke my heart, then put it back together. It’s been a long time since I’ve loved a character like I love Ben Packard, with his deadpan humor and warm heart. Moehling is a literary star with a gift for observing and conveying humanity, and he’s written a mystery of the highest order."
― Ashley Winstead, author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour
"With A Long Time Gone, Joshua Moehling returns with the highly anticipated, hard-hitting third installment of his beloved Deputy Ben Packard series. Moehling has once again penned a thoroughly engrossing police procedural with all the trimmings: intrigue, suspense, memorable characters, shining prose, and an ending that is equal parts heart-stopping and heart-tugging. A Long Time Gone firmly secures Moehling’s place as the newest tour de force in the thriller genre."
― Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest and Everyone Is Watching
"The latest book in the Deputy Ben Packard series delivers everything I’ve come to expect from Joshua Moehling: an intricately plotted and deftly executed story, an empathetic, queer detective who fights to stay connected to his values, beautiful writing, and a Minnesota town with buried secrets. Moehling is a must-read for me and A Long Time Gone is simply unputdownable."
― Hayley Scrivenor, internationally best-selling author of Dirt Creek and Girl Falling
"With a page-turning plot, vividly drawn characters, and a compelling, gay protagonist with a dry, deadpan wit, A Long Time Gone is the kind of book you don’t just read but devour. Set in a Fargo-esque town, Ben Packard investigates a brutal crime while also unravelling the mystery of his brother’s disappearance decades earlier. Sharp, complex and emotionally powerful, I love everything about this series."
― Christina McDonald, USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author of What Lies In Darkness
"A Long Time Gone―unflinching as a Minnesota winter―is equal parts compelling mystery and riveting family drama, and I’d follow its hero, Deputy Ben Packard, anywhere. His relentless pursuit of the truth will keep you hooked from start to finish."
― Jess Lourey, Edgar-nominated author of The Taken Ones
"In the dark, icy heart of a Minnesota winter, Deputy Packard, a smart and courageous gay cop, embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about his brother's disappearance. A Long Time Gone is an atmospheric, gripping, and emotional mystery about the intersections of family, memory, grief, and healing. Joshua Moehling's novel dives headfirst into the raw pain of the past, the dangers of today, and the ghosts who haunt us from within."
― Margot Douaihy, bestselling author of Scorched Grace and Blessed Water
"Ben Packard is one of the best new mystery series on the market and each book just gets better and better. In the third installment, two cold cases intertwine to reveal a suspicious death and the devastating truth about Packard’s past. At turns harrowing and laugh out loud funny, action-packed and deeply personal, A Long Time Gone hits on every level. If you’re not reading Joshua Moehling yet, clear your schedule and start today!"
― Mindy Mejia, USA Today bestselling author of To Catch a Storm and Everything You Want Me To Be
"My first Ben Packard mystery won't be my last. The twin mysteries that haunt this complicated, demoted deputy hooked and held me through its emotional end, so much that I plan to rush back to book one."
― Kelly J. Ford, Anthony-nominated author of Real Bad Things
Meet Joshua on Tour!
My 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.
Audiobook...
I read the book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Linda Jones for a stellar performance, elevating the novel and bringing the characters to life. Listeners will be hooked from beginning to end.
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.
Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC via NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. I also ordered the hardcover copy.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025
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Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A ride with
Joshua Moehling
AND THERE HE KEPT HER
BEHIND THE BOOK & THE AUTHOR
