For twenty-five years, Diana Ferguson's killer has gotten away with murder. When rookie obit writer Kris Langley investigates the cold case of the artistic young cocktail waitress who was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, she must fight to stay off the obituary page herself.
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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 cold 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.
She 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.
Praise for Twenty-Five Years Ago Today
“Twenty Five Years Ago Today is an intriguing mystery that should not be overlooked.” Midwest Book Review
“Stacy Juba has written a page-turner! This has to be one of my favorite mystery books that I've read this year. The characters are well written and have so much depth that it feels like this has actually happened… Book club groups will enjoy this book because there is so much that happens between its pages.” Book Club Queen
“Stacy Juba does a beautiful job at depicting the emotional complexity of the various relationships … Twenty-Five Years Ago Today is one of those books you pick up and don’t want to put down till the very end!” Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
“Stacy Juba has drawn a believable character and settings. The newspaper scenes are so real I could almost smell the ink...”Patricia Nordyke Pando, Story Circle Book Reviews
"The newsroom staff and their attitudes, trials, tribulations and challenges are as true today as they were twenty-five years ago. The machines are the only things that have changed. Each character has their own story that meshes with all the other characters. I guarantee to all mystery fans that once you pick this book up you will not put it down and will praise the author, who tells me that this is her first mystery novel. Keep up the good work, Stacy. The reading public needs good mystery writers." Mary Lignor, Bookpleasures.com
"The writing was top-notch, the plotting and pacing excellent, the characters - especially the protagonist - carefully and wonderfully drawn. I can't imagine a reader who won't cheer for Kris." Diana Vickery, Cozy Library
“Stacy Juba has established herself as a first class mystery writer. In TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY,Juba skillfully unfolds present-day drama as it relates to the seminal event—the unsolved murder—of twenty-five years before. You will be wondering and guessing right to the end, and the well-drawn characters will make you care about how each is affected.”Jim Ciullo, Author of MARACAIBO andORINOCO
“It isn't often you find a true depiction of a small town newsroom in a novel. This one is authentic. As to the story itself, when you finish this mystery, you realize there was plenty throughout the book to let you discern who done it, but you didn't. It's a fun trip.”John Hourihan, award-winning columnist, Connecticut Post; author of Play Fair and Win and Parables for a New Age
"As she threads a perilous path through seedy dives and wolves in sheep's clothing, Kris Langley never loses her commitment to the truth or her own sense of innocence. Part Jimmy Olsen, part Victoria Warshawski, she embodies the newspaper business's perennial tension between the cold, hard facts and the complex dramas of people caught in the act of living their lives."Russ Olivo, Assistant Editor, Woonsocket Call
"This is not just a murder mystery - it is also a poignant story about the complexity of family relationships, the search for closure and the importance of forgiveness. Each character, and in particular, the heroine Kris, is truly three dimensional and believable, flaws and all. The author also does a great job in capturing the essence of a newsroom, the personalities of staff and the challenges of reporting news in today's world. Once you start this book, it will be hard to put down. There are no loose ends - each character and scenario flows seamlessly into the overall story. Not only will you be surprised at the ending, you will be filled with admiration at how every piece has fallen into its perfect spot."
Bonnie Adams, freelance reporter, The Worcester Telegram and Gazette, and the Town Crier Publications
Professional Reviews
Bookpleasures.com
Newspaper reporters are supposed to do research and print information in their articles that is not only factual but accurate too. But, that is not always the case when looking to increase readership and sales of the paper. All too often when murder is involved the reporters use tactics involving sensationalism, invasion of privacy of the families of the victims and more in order to get their story on page one of their paper and possibly a banner headline. This brings me to my review of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba.
Starting a job as an editorial assistant, Kris Langley learns more than just the inner workings of a local newspaper as the story enfolds. Writing obits, wedding announcements, and compiling events to write in her column, 25 Years Ago Today, she stumbles upon an unsolved murder that occurred 25 years ago and decides to launch her own private investigation and find the killer. The Fremont Daily News is the paper that hired her and Diana Ferguson is young cocktail waitress who was murdered 25 years ago and from the information she finds reading the microfilm on the case she is determined to find justice for Diana and bring closure for her family. But, what she is about to find out will haunt not only the reader but bring up memories from the past that haunt Kris and might destroy her future.
Haunting Kris is the senseless murder of her cousin Nicole Jordan who was killed 14 years ago and whose murderer was brought to justice, but Kris blames herself for what happened and her nightmares about the incident and more are what drives her to try and solve the Diana’s murder.
Diana Ferguson was an artist who loved to paint pictures about Greek and Roman mythology. She even painted one of Pandora’s jar, not box. The picture depicts Pandora opening the jar and all of the evils and plagues of the world poured out, except HOPE. She was able to reclose the lid and keep HOPE safely inside. Which is one of the reasons Kris was determined to find out who killed her and at the same time prove herself as an investigative reporter.
Kris’s sister and mother are both doctors and feel that working in news and reporting it is beneath her and pays poorly. They put her down every chance they get and try to convince her that her life would have been better doing something else.
But, using her intuition, intelligence and creative ideas, our author paints a different picture of Kris and lets the reader know that she is definitely a force to be reckoned with and will stop at nothing to find the answers she seeks. With the help of Diana’s mother, sister, and nephew she learns a lot about the night she was killed and more about those who might be guilty. But, at what expense and at who’s?
Her boss Dexter, the managing editor Jacqueline are at definite odds and although Dexter is a great editor, she is trying to force him out and so is everyone else on staff at the paper. But why?
Getting close to Diana’s nephew Eric, who opposed her every step of the way at first, they venture into Diana’s world and soon have a list of suspects to interview and suspect. Two ex-boyfriends, one ex-boss and one jealous wife who was in the same History Club and classmate, several others who claimed that she had a reputation for dating too many men and more, lead Kris and Eric on a quest that take them back to ancient Rome and Greece and the key to the answers they need.
With the help of Diana’s college professor Kris learns about the History Club she belonged to and the many cultures that influenced Diana’s paintings. Diana Ferguson painted many pictures based on many of the myths in both Greek and Roman mythology. Many of her paintings were inspired by these myths of gods whose lives were filled with human agony, as hers must have been and no one knew. But there a more secrets to unfold based on her paintings and the link between Kris’s obsession to solve this murder and to come to grips with what happened to her cousin Nicole in order to start living her life without her feelings of guilt.
The events that unfold will astound the reader and cause Kris to come face to face with a murderer and possibly destroy the world she is trying to build a family’s hope for justice too. But, sometimes the best intentions are misunderstood and the managing editor of her paper decides that she is detrimental and what happens next is not only unfair but also vengeful.
Threats to her life and phone calls to call off her investigation spur Kris and Eric on in order to find out who this murderer is and the reasons behind the killing. All too often what is evident is right in front of us and we wear blinders in order to hide the truth and not let the light in from the sun to illuminate what we need to see. Kris’s father, her mother and sister live in their own world of what they feel life and reality is. Her sister, Holly in a career she was programmed by her mother to enter. Kris, strong willed and determined to find her own way but guilt-ridden over the death of her cousin which she blames on herself and will not discuss or share with anyone.
Finding out the truth and admitting it are often the same things. Kris finally bears her to Eric about what really happened the day Nicole died. Then, she finally blurts it out to her mother and sister who still remain judgmental and the rift between then gets wider. Not wanting to give up on the Diana Ferguson case she delves deeper into the meaning of a painting that she had done before she dies and realizes the connection to the mythical Furies and their beliefs.
What link do the beliefs of these avenging goddesses have to do with the real murderer? What do Diana’s studying and painting of Greek and Roman mythology have to do with the surprise ending? You will have to read this well crafted, well-researched and outstanding first novel of the newest mystery writer on the block, Stacy Juba. To the great mystery writers of the 21st century, make room for the author of this great book.
One mistake can forever change the destiny of two people and the lives of a family forever. What really happened to Diana and who was responsible? I will not reveal the twists, turns, lies and deceptions that the reader will have to figure out for him/herself to learn the true identity of what really happened 25 years ago to Diana. Is lady justice served for Diana? You decide for yourself.
Do you know where you were 25 years ago? Look back and find out you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find out or not.
Review By Fran Lewis, Bookpleasures.com
TheGenReview.com
The story flows smoothly to its surprise ending, and only then does the reader recognize the hidden clues that have been there all along…This is Juba’s first adult novel, and I found it to be an impressive effort, definitely an enjoyable read. Marlene Pyle, TheGenReview.com
BookLoons
I enjoyed this mystery very much. It is well written and well put together with clues dropped so skillfully, I didn't pick up on them. There is tension and conflict in Kris's job, in her family, and most of all as she deals with the people who knew Diana twenty-five years ago. Edgy suspense and sweet romance make for an enjoyable read. I'll be looking for another book by this first time mystery writer soon. Pat Elliott, BookLoons
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