Fans of Joshua Moehling’s crime fiction series have been waiting years to witness Ben Packard uncovering the truth about his older brother’s disappearance decades earlier. That moment has finally arrived with the release of A Long Time Gone, the third book in this excellent and unforgettable series.
It’s a bit unusual for readers to become so invested in a character (and that character’s larger storyline arc) so quickly, but Joshua Moehling has an innate ability to home in on the emotional truths within Ben Packard, creating a situation where fans truly care about him—as more than just a fictional character on the printed page. In many ways, it’s as though Ben has become the embodiment of the zeitgeist’s desire for universal respect, dignity, and inclusion of all people.
As A Long Time Gone begins, Ben Packard has just lost his bid for election to be town sheriff and has been relegated to a post checking visitors and baggage as people enter the courthouse. When a tragic incident occurs, Ben finds himself put on administrative leave, allowing him time to dig deeper into the more recent developments surrounding the disappearance of his brother.
Ben’s mother comes to town to support her son and a spur of the moment decision for the two of them to visit Ben’s grandparent’s home—which was sold long ago—results in yet another mystery. The new homeowner died under circumstances that were listed as accidental, but Ben notices some things that cause him to wonder if the woman was murdered.
Much of A Long Time Gone proceeds as a procedural. Ben follows clues in this new mystery that help him to build a case, but the interviews and research he does also help him to understand what happened to his brother all those years earlier. Joshua Moehling is a writer who structures his plots impeccably, with every new development evolving organically and moving the storyline forward in logical manner.
But it is Ben Packard who makes this series shine. History will recognize him as one of the great characters of crime fiction. As an openly gay man, he represents a viewpoint far too often overlooked in the genre. His integrity and professionalism is unparalleled—even with the unique challenges he faces. No matter what Ben is doing, his heart is always in the right place and that is why readers feel so invested and attached to him. Comic relief in A Long Time Gone comes from Ben’s mother constantly trying to show how accepting she is of his sexuality by saying the most inappropriate and unexpected things—often at the worst possible time.
Longtime fans will want to know that answers are finally provided for Ben’s brother’s disappearance and in true Joshua Moehling fashion, it’s a gut-wrencher. In many ways, this is what was needed for the series to be able to move forward. This first trilogy proceeded with the specter of the past hanging over Ben’s head and now that he knows exactly what happened, he can proceed in ways that honor the legacy of his brother.
A Long Time Gone can be read as a standalone, though readers will feel more of an emotional evolution if they follow the series from the start with And There He Kept Her. Either way, the cathartic nature of the conclusion remains successful and most readers will agree that A Long Time Gone is Joshua Moehling’s best book to date, which only makes us more anxious to see what comes next.
BUY LINKS: A Long Time Gone by Joshua Moehling
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
