A Long Time Gone

A Long Time Gone is the third book in the Ben Packard small-town, police procedural series. 

The book has a slow burn start that centres around two mysteries. The first is the cold case involving Packard's older brother who has been missing for decades. The second begins after Packard is put on leave after a shooting incident. He has a lot of time on his hands as the powers that be investigate, but he doesn't stay idle for long. His mother would like him to focus on his non-existent love life, instead he focuses on a suspicious death of an elderly neighbour that pulls him down a rabbit hole of murder and greed. 

The heart of this series is Ben Packard. He's a strong main character with a mysterious backstory. He's a gay copy in a small town (that isn't openminded) and he's got a strong crew around him with his mom adding great levity with her funny quips. 

This was an easy book to sink into and it starts off strong. The pacing wanes a bit in the middle and while the story kept moving, the tension seemed to be replaced by a lot of character introductions and the story got a bit convoluted for me. Things get back on track with a great twist towards the end when the energy ratchets up for a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to seeing where this series goes next.

Note: The books in this series can be read as a standalone.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the complementary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Joshua Moehling

Genre: Suspense

Series: Ben Packard 3

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

First Published: February 4, 2025

Read: Jan 29 - Feb 6, 2025

Book Description from GoodReads: 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 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.