Where the Dead Sleep – Joshua Moehling

This is the second novel in a series revolving around Detective Ben Packard, acting Sheriff of Sandy Lake, a small town in rural Minnesota. A fairly new officer to Sandy Lake, he finds himself designated as acting chief when the Police Chief has to step aside for cancer treatment, much to the chagrin of other members of the department.  Ben is also gay, having moved back to the town of his childhood after his partner, another cop, was gunned down. As their relationship had been secret, he had to mourn privately, and felt the best thing to do was start anew elsewhere. His other reasons for returning to Sandy Lake become clear in the latter part of the novel. 

Ben is called to the scene of an apparent robbery gone wrong, leaving the homeowner, Bill Sanderson, dead of a gunshot wound in his bedroom, his distraught wife, crying on the couch. As Ben gently questions the wife, he learns that the couple sleeps separately, and that after hearing a loud ‘bang’, she went to her husband’s side of the house, finding him dead in a pool of blood. As Ben continues to gather information, he learns from a deputy that the victim used to be married to his wife’s sister – and that there is no love lost between the two women. 

As the investigation ramps up, Ben uncovers more questions than answers – and plenty of suspects.  Meanwhile, he receives a call that his mentor, Sheriff Shaw, has lost his battle with cancer, bringing the probability of an election to fill the now vacant Sheriff position. Initially Ben is not interested – knowing he will be subjected to public scrutiny – but with some soul searching, along with heavy pressure from friends and colleagues – he relents and throws his hat into the ring.  But can he solve this murder and prove that he’s worthy of the position? 

While the ending was a bit surprising to me at first, I then realized that it was the perfect set up into the next adventure for Ben. Sheriff Shaw has left Ben a little something that rocks Ben to his core…  While the backstory is revealed at the novels end, the contents of the package will fuel this series for books to come, I suspect! I adore Ben’s character and all of the small town drama, and the intricacy of these plots is fabulous! I cannot wait for the next installment! An absolute must read series!! 

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!