Twenty-Five Years Ago Today [Paperback]

Stacy Juba (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2009

Should we dig for the truth when Pandora's Box is a coffin of buried secrets? For twenty-five years, Diana Ferguson's killer has gotten away with murder. When rookie obit writer and newsroom editorial assistant Kris Langley investigates the cold case of the artistic young cocktail waitress who was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, not only does she fall in love with Diana's sexy nephew, but she must also fight to stay off the obituary page herself.

Thousands of readers have been riveted by Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, a novel that reviewers and book bloggers have called:

• "Intriguing and captivating." Fresh Fiction
• "One of those books that you pick up and don't want to put down until the very end."  Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
• "A gripping murder mystery with a touch of romance." Tifferz Book Review
• "A perfectly balanced novel that has it all: action, unsolved crime, thrilling twists, interesting mythology facts, romance, family drama and more." Bookish
• "A great book and anyone who is looking to get lost in a good mystery will definitely enjoy this one." Beck's Book Picks

Award-winning writer Stacy Juba published her first book, a young adult novel, with Avon Books at age 18 and she hasn't stopped writing since. Her recent mystery novels for adults include Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim. She is also the author of the patriotic children's picture book The Flag Keeper, which teaches children about U.S. flag etiquette, the children's picture book Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise, the upcoming paranormal thriller Dark Before Dawn, and the upcoming young adult hockey novel Face-Off.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This has to be one of my favorite mystery books that I've read this year...Book club groups will enjoy this book because there is so much that happens between its pages. --Book Club Queen

Ms. Juba takes control and leads her readers the direction she wants them to move in and you won't be able to figure out the ending until she is ready for you to. All in all, this is a wonderful book. --Lynn Cunningham, Fresh Fiction

About the Author

Award-winning writer Stacy Juba has published books for all ages. Her recent mystery novels for adults include Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim. She is also the author of the patriotic children's picture book The Flag Keeper, which teaches children about U.S. flag etiquette, and the children's picture book Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise.

Stacy has written more than 2,000 articles and won over a dozen writing awards, including recognition from the New England Press Association, Parenting Publications of America, Suburban Newspapers of America and the Stuttering Foundation of America. She is also a winner of the American Cancer Society New England Chapter's Sword of Hope Media Award. Her young adult novel Face-Off, about twin brothers competing on the hockey rink for their father's approval, was published by Avon Books when she was 18 years old under her maiden name, Stacy Drumtra. After years of working as a reporter, Stacy now concentrates on writing fiction and freelancing. She is also one of the moderators and resident authors at Bestseller Bound, a message board forum that connects small press and independent authors with one another, readers, book bloggers and reviewers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Mainly Murder Press (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615290116
• ISBN-13: 978-0615290119
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,587,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thousands of readers have been captivated by the books of Stacy Juba. Stacy published her first book, a young adult novel, at age 18 and she hasn't stopped writing since. Her recent mystery novels for adults include Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim. She is also the author of the patriotic children's picture book The Flag Keeper, which teaches children about U.S. flag etiquette, the children's picture book Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise, the paranormal young adult thriller Dark Before Dawn, and the young adult family hockey novel Face-Off.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Acting on Instinct, January 3, 2010

By 

Story Circle Book Reviews - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twenty-Five Years Ago Today (Paperback)

Kris Langley has a journalist's instinct and that instinct senses a story. A novice editorial assistant on a small town Massachusetts daily Kris's duties are the boring ones. She writes the obituaries and comes up with items for the "Twenty-Five Years Ago Today" column. That's when her instinct comes into play. When she reads about the long ago murder of a young woman and learns from her editor-in-chief that the mystery was never solved, she can't leave it alone. She launches her own investigation without telling the overbearing and critical managing editor, Jacqueline McCormack (Kris thinks of her as "corporate Barbie") who surely would tell her to back off.

As Kris gets more involved in her investigation, she begins to relive her own personal tragedy--the murder of her cousin and dear friend years before. Kris has always felt, but never spoken of her feelings of guilt because the two had quarreled and parted on that sad afternoon. The memories come alive as she investigates and becomes involved with the family of the girl in the story.

Things get complicated fast. Kris's own conflicted family doesn't think much of her journalistic endeavors, and her doctor mother and sister let her know. She finds a new romantic interest and won't let her story alone no matter the cost.

Stacy Juba has drawn a believable character and settings. The newspaper scenes are so real I could almost smell the ink--and feel the animosity between Kris and Bruce, the pushy crime reporter who'd like to see Kris on a date but not nosing into his territory.

Kris manages to get herself fired, but after she figures things out, she gets back her job, and we can assume (and maybe hope?) she's ready for another crime-laden reporting adventure.

by Patricia Nordyke Pando
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing mystery that should not be overlooked, December 11, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twenty-Five Years Ago Today (Paperback)

Some secrets are best left covered. "Twenty Five Years Ago Today" follows Kris Langley as she tries to advance her career by looking deeper into a long forgotten case. But she soon finds that maybe it was unsolved for a reason, as beneath the surface the case is not what it seems. Even submerged for decades, those behind the case show why it has remained unsolved. "Twenty Five Years Ago Today" is an intriguing mystery that should not be overlooked.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, March 23, 2010

By 

BookAddict (FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Twenty-Five Years Ago Today (Paperback)

This book has it all - mystery, suspense, drama, deceit, and a sprinkle of romance. The characters sparkle with life. For me, this was one of those books where the characters became like friends I was rooting for. Right from the start, I was pulled into the story and taken for a wonderful ride.

Stacy Juba is a terrific new voice in fiction. She's at work on her next novel and I can't wait to read it!