Poisoned Pen
Published May 26, 2026
Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
This is the fourth book in the series, although it is the first I’ve read. It reads just fine as a standalone in terms of plot, but I wasn’t able to tell if my difficulties connecting with the main character, Ben Packard, were because series readers will have already developed a relationship with him or if it came down to his actual personality. In this book, at least, he is very straightforward and non-emotional. Some of this may also come down to his being a part of the gay community with its own cultural characteristics. I will have to continue with the series, or go back to earlier books, to find out. This will not be a hardship since I very much enjoyed this book.
There are two main plot lines that converge satisfyingly in the end. One follows Packard’s investigation into the murder of a woman in a rural Minnesota town that has been devastated by a recent storm, and the other follows the shady characters in a cash-only roofing company that is taking advantage of the storm damage to find work. Interspersed with these threads are details about Packard’s love life, past and present, and the frustrations of working in a small town political environment with an elected sheriff.
The plot is quite complex as alternating chapters deal with the two central plot lines. The author masterfully weaves all the various details together without dropping the pieces. If anything, the conclusion is so tightly woven that it felt a bit like a bow being tied with the final threads. This complete resolution will appeal to some and will feel unrealistic to others. Moehling, thankfully, does not leave a cliffhanger for the next book, plot-wise. He does leave an open end to Packard’s relationships, however.
The writing about the setting transported me to the hot, sticky, muggy, uncomfortable summer in the Midwest. With damage from the storm all around, the characters are often dealing with no air conditioning as the oppressive weather exacerbates discomfort and causes tension to boil over. The atmosphere felt real to me and added to the depth of the book.
This is a well written book that has made me want to explore more of the Ben Packard series.