Twenty-Five Years Ago Today
by Stacy Juba
Published by Mainly Murder Press, LLC
ISBN 978-0-615-29011-9
Reviewed by Marlene Pyle
For twenty-five years, Diana Ferguson’s mother has not known who killed her beautiful twenty-one year old daughter. Someone wrapped her lifeless body in a garbage bag and abandoned her in the woods behind the local college’s baseball field. The police have been unable to find her murderer. Diana’s relatives are sure it was her ex-boyfriend, but there is scant evidence to connect him to the crime and no arrest has ever been made.
Kris Langley is a rookie newsroom assistant, with little experience in journalism. Her family is not especially pleased at the low level job she has accepted, and her new boss already seems to hate her. Meanwhile, the resident playboy reporter is busy hitting on Kris and all she wants to do is prove herself as a real writer. She stumbles across an article about Diana’s murder and is intrigued enough to begin digging into the story. Diana’s mother is grateful for Kris’ willingness to help, but it soon becomes apparent that someone else wants Kris to stay out of it. She is determined to learn the truth and quickly becomes enmeshed in the lives of the Fergusons, especially Diana’s attractive nephew, Eric. But her search could cost her everything.
They say writers should write what they know, and as a long-time newspaper reporter, Stacy Juba has done just that. Her depiction of a small town newspaper feels real, and even her minor characters are well-developed. The story flows smoothly to its surprise ending, and only then does the reader recognize the hidden clues that have been there all along. She has created an interesting main character with a rich background that could easily carry another book. This is Juba’s first adult novel, and I found it to be an impressive effort, definitely an enjoyable read.
Copyright ©2009 Marlene Pyle
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION
I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.