Book Review: Twenty-Five Years Ago Today

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today
Author: Stacy Juba
Pages: 262 pgs
Reading Level:
Published: October 27th 2009
Review Source: Author

Summary: (from goodreads) Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence.

Now an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling "25 Years Ago Today" items from the microfilm. She grows 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 atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology.

Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana's suspicious nephew, Eric Soares - until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them.

Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday's headline is tomorrow's danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris's present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.

Stacy Juba is a new author to me and I am glad I had the chance to read an arc copy of this story. 25 Years Ago Today is a murder mystery with a splash of romance and a surprise ending. Stacy Juba does a wonderful job giving you just enough details through the book to keep you guessing all the way to the end. This is what I totally love about murder mystery novels. It was a little slow in the beginning and then it picked up and I couldn't put it down.

Kris Langley is an aspiring writer with a troubled past. Kris’s cousin Nicole was kidnapped and murdered when they were just little girls. Kris feels guilty because she wasn’t with Nicole the day she was kidnapped and it’s because of her guilt that Kris feels compelled to help out the family whose daughter was found murdered twenty-five years ago. I really enjoyed all the characters in the book, I just wished there would have been a little bit more romance between Kris and Eric. 

The ending was unexpected and totally caught me by surprise. I would love to see this book be the beginning to a series and maybe see Kris uncover more cold cases with Eric by her side. I can't say much more about the story cause I don't want to give away the ending. Stacy Juba did a wonderful job and I absolutely recommend reading this book.