Twenty-Five Years Ago Today

Oh my goodness! Talk about not being able to put a book down! I opened the book at 3 p.m. and was hooked by the end of the first chapter. I tried to put it down after the 4th chapter, but was back in less than an hour since my mind wouldn't let it go, "Who did it? What would she find? Would she fix her family? What was going to happen!?" I finished it by 10:30 that evening, extremely satisfied, not only by the surprise ending (I haven't been surprised by anyone but Agatha Christie, ever!), but also by the changes in relationships between the characters. The characters were alive and real, not seeming to be written at all, but lived. If I talk anymore I'll ruin the ending for you. READ IT!! It's excellent!!!

Kris Langley has returned to her home town of Fremont, Massachusetts, and taken a job as editorial assistant and obit writer for the local paper. Part of that job is writing the "Twenty-five Years Ago Today" column, and while compiling items for the column from the paper's microfilm archive, she stumbles on the story of an unsolved murder. Diana Ferguson, a 21-year-old cocktail waitress, never arrived home one night after work at Rossi's Bar, and was found dead in the woods near the local college a few days later.

Kris doesn't use the story, out of sympathy for the family, but she can't let go of it. She blames herself for the kidnapping and murder of her cousin when they were twelve, and solving Diana's murder feels like a chance to show more make amends. But as she digs into the mystery, she finds herself in conflict with her family, her boss, and the murdered woman's handsome nephew, Eric Soares.

Kris's difficult relationship with her family feels painfully real to me. There are times I want to smack her sister, or tell her it's time to stop worrying about whether her mother thinks she's worthy. The sparks that fly with Eric, both of conflict and of attraction, grabbed me right away. The mystery itself is nicely complex, with multiple plausible suspects, evidence the police overlooked for entirely believable human reasons, and a killer who is not at all obvious, but who is in plain sight, with evidence and motive the reader could pick up on, if thinking it all through carefully, significantly before all the pieces fall into place.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author. show less

Stacy Juba's story, Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, was a fast, but well-paced thriller. The main character, Kris, was easy to relate to having been greatly affected by losing a close family member, much like the family (the Fergusons) whom she hopes to help by solving the murder of their beloved Diana killed 25 years prior. I found that I couldn't stop turning the pages and finished this book in less than two days. While most may think to describe something as limiting as negative, I think that Juba's limiting the reader's focus on the small town of Freemont and Kris' world was a smart move. There were so few people to encounter and suspect that with all alibis seemingly intact, it made it even more of a mystery. Juba's writing style was show more also appealing and always both direct and descriptive, while always thorough with painting the characters. Even by the time I was midway through the book, I felt such sympathy for Irene (the victim's mother) and hoped that Kris would soon find out who killed Diana. show less

Kristine Langley is obsessed with murder. This obsession stems from a tragic and traumatic event that occurred when she was twelve-years-old. Kris has always blamed herself for her twelve-year-old cousin's disappearance and brutal murder.

For the past two decades, she has kept a guilty secret to herself: she was actually the last person to see Nicole alive; and a childish argument was the reason why Kris had left her cousin to walk home alone. She has allowed the guilt of her actions that day pervade every aspect of her life. Her family may never realize the full extent of Kris' guilt, but she is determined to find some way to make amends for her mistake.

Kris has since become an editorial assistant and obituary writer for a Massachusetts show more newspaper. She enjoys her job - for the most part - and the schedule works very well for her. While compiling items from the microfilm to run in the "Twenty-Five Years Ago Today" town history column, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder. She grows increasingly fascinated with the case of a young cocktail waitress who was bludgeoned to death and dumped in the woods.

Determined to solve the case and thus atone for Nicole's death, Kris immerses herself in the decades-old mystery of what happened to twenty-one-year-old Diana Ferguson. As Kris investigates the case further, Diana becomes more to her than just a murdered cocktail waitress; she was also an extraordinarily talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings based on Greek mythology. The more that she learns about Diana, Kris begins to feel a deep connection to her.

Yet there is also a certain amount of backlash to her sudden interest in such a cold case. Not only does Kris face resistance from her own family as well as her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana's hostile and highly suspicious nephew, Eric Soares - who is beyond certain that Kris only seeks to exploit his family for the sake of getting a story. However, as time passes, she and Eric can no longer deny the chemistry flaring between them.

Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday's headline can easily turn into today's obituary notice. Because discovering what actually happened to Diana Ferguson on that long-ago night could be dangerous. Finding out the truth about what happened that night twenty-five years ago may just shatter Kris' present; costing her everything that she has come to cherish: her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.

I have had this book on my TBR pile for quite some time. I actually don't know why I have waited so long to read it. This is the second book that I have had the pleasure of reading by Ms. Juba, and must say that I absolutely loved the story and characters. I really found myself connecting with Kris and many of the other characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading intriguing character-driven mysteries with fast-paced plots. I give this book an A+! show less

Twenty Five Years Ago Today is a solid and intriguing contemporary mystery by Stacy Juba.

Kris Langley is an aspiring newspaper journalist, working as an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper. She is also in charge of a "25 Years Ago Today" column, and one of her duties is researching the archives. One day she comes across an unsolved murder mystery, that happened exactly 25 years ago. The murder victim was Diana Ferguson, a 21 year old cocktail waitress. Her body was found dumped in the woods. Unfortunately, despite various suspects, no one was ever actually charged with her murder.
Kris knows how it feels to have someone close to you brutally taken away, so she sympathizes with Diana's family. She decides show more she wants to try and solve the case and bring peace into their lives.
Kris starts to investigate the case on her own, without the approval of the managing editor, who surely wouldn't like the idea. She gets close with the victim's family, winning their trust and affection. With every moment she grows more and more desperate to solve the case.
Things get even more complicated when she meets Eric Soares, Diana's nephew, as the two of them are undeniably drawn to each other.

You won't regret picking up a copy of it. It's a fast-paced and engaging read, with just the perfect blend of mystery, drama and romance. It's definitely a page turner, I had trouble putting it down and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Stacy Juba did an excellent job immersing the reader. She kept me guessing who the murderer was till the very last pages , and just when I thought I had it all figured out, there came yet another twist, completely throwing me off! The ending caught me by surprise and was absolutely unpredictable!
I especially enjoyed the occasional sprinkle of Greek mythology, it most definitely added to the whole story, making it even more captivating. The main characters, Kris and Eric, were very likeable and real. The chemistry between them was simply fantastic, yet the romance didn't take over the book. It was just a perfect amount of sexiness to keep me interested, but not enough to make me frown - just the way I like it :)

To sum it all up: I had a great time reading this book. It is a perfectly balanced novel, that has it all: action, unsolved crime, thrilling twists, interesting mythology facts, romance, family drama and more! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy it! show less

Taking a job she has no experience with, Kris Langley is glad to be home. Editorial assistant at a newspaper was not her original plan. However, due to an opening and her preference for the four-midnight shifts, she was hired on the spot. Her mother is embarrassed at her chosen career, being a Doctor she finds Kris’s new job writing obituaries and finding fluff articles for the paper a step down. Never close, Kris is further ostracized away by her cold behavior. Her father though is as proud as punch, he has always been behind her choices, and lending her an ear whenever possible.

On a twenty-five years ago feature Kris comes across an unsolved murder case. Asking questions and finding no real answers, Kris researches further. As she show more learns more about the murder, she oversteps the scope of her job by contacting the murdered woman’s family. Finding a family still reeling from the pain of the loss even after twenty-five years, she agrees to look further.

Kris’s cousin Nicole had been murdered when she was twelve years old, and Kris blamed herself, having been the last person to see her. She understands the pain involved with this unsolved case.

As Kris starts to ask questions and unravel some of the clues it is not long before she is on the trail of a killer. As the clues begin to build Eric Soares, the nephew of the murdered woman feels as though Kris is taking advantage of the family. As they meet and discuss the issue, he finds himself more drawn in, helping in whatever way he can to help. Kris also has the help of Dex Wagner, Editor in Chief and when she runs into problems, she asks for his help. When the paper discovers what they are up to, Dex is asked to resign and Kris loses her job. Who will follow up and find the killer? How will Kris resolve both her feeling on the murder and her issues at home?

In Twenty –Five Years Ago Today, Stacy Juba has put together a story rich with life and pain. Kris is a damaged young woman still on the verge of self-discovery. She has carried a secret since the murder of her cousin when they were young girls and has been unable to forgive herself. Her family situation has been tenuous at best, and she has never been able to live up to her mother’s expectations. Her sister is everything her mother envisioned, so Kris relies on her father. The family is fractured and with the lack of communication, it appears it will remain that way. Kris feels that if she can find the murderer then she can relieve some of her perceived guilt from her cousin’s death.

Kris’s Mother is a strong woman and is not sure how to react to Kris. They are nothing alike and she is aware that something is eating at her, but can find no way to alleviate that pain. This pain has become a type of contention between them only further escalated by the comfort her mother feels around her sister. Kris feels left out.

This is a story of murder, but also the story of hope. Well written, the drama and the story flow is excellent. I love a good whodunit, and this story does not disappoint. The characters are wonderful, people you would meet anywhere. Kris is bold and intuitive, and yet she still has a vulnerability that draws you in. And what good is a great mystery without a love story. This book has it all.

This book was received as a free e-book from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material. show less

Twenty Five Years Ago Today is a contemporary mystery by Stacy Juba. Haunted by the murder of her cousin, Kris Langley is drawn to a twenty five year old unsolved murder case she discovers in the local newspaper archives. Diana Soares was 21 when her body was discovered in the woods and despite the police identifying several possible suspects, her killer was never brought to justice. Intrigued, Kris approaches Diana's family and offers to investigate. Her good intentions become complicated when the investigation takes an unexpected turn.The plot is solid, with the conclusion a striking twist. I did feel that the story needed more tension to sustain momentum as I didn't feel the suspense began to build until more than halfway through. show more Kris has an interesting background which works as a catalyst for this story. I thought this was an interesting layer to her character but I admit I didn't really warm to her. I felt there were some inconsistencies in her personality and behaviour that were minor but they niggled me, particularly her actions when she identified the killer. The other characters that take part in the story are developed well, though I found it difficult to distinguish between Cheryl and her mother on occassion. Kris's family members and their dynamic add interest to both her character and the storyline.The relationship between Kris and Eric provides a romantic subplot and I appreciated the epilogue that gave some closure to that thread.The author has worked as a reporter and uses her experience to flesh out the details of the newspaper office and Kris's role as an editorial assistant who writes mostly obituaries and community announcements. I liked Juba's "25 Years Ago Today" segments that headed each chapter, and how the book was concluded through a series of "articles". Twenty Five Years Ago Today is a solid mytery debut by Stacy Juba and the E edition offers some interesting bonus features. The author has included two essays on writing the book, an interview with her main character, book club discussion questions, and original scene altered by the editing process. There is also an excerpt from Stacy Juba's newest novel Sink or Swim, an excerpt of Hit List by Darcia Helle and a short story, The Artist by Maria Savva. show less