Long Since Buried (A Dakota Killer Thriller Book 1) by Angela Grey and Paige Peterson is a gripping mystery that blends past and present in a way that keeps you hooked from the start. When writer Laci arrives in a small town to research her birth family for a book, people can’t help but notice how much she looks like Sydney Bisak, a girl who was murdered decades ago. The resemblance stirs up old ghosts and, before long, Laci realizes that digging into the past might put her in danger. Strange things start happening, anonymous threats pile up, and soon it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want Sydney’s story to come to light. The town has spent decades burying its secrets, but the more Laci pushes, the more cracks begin to show. Even the friendly local investigator, who has ties to the case, might not be as trustworthy as he seems. Grey and Peterson build up the suspense brilliantly, making you feel the weight of the town’s dark history with every twist and turn.

Angela Grey and Paige Peterson have created an eerie, small-town atmosphere that adds to the tension, making everything feel quiet, isolated, and full of people who know more than they let on. The story moves between past and present in a way that keeps you guessing without feeling confusing, and I loved how every character had just enough depth to make them seem like a potential suspect. The mystery unravels at a perfect pace because just when you think you have it figured out, another layer is revealed, making it impossible to put the book down. Laci’s connection to Sydney adds an emotional depth that makes the stakes even higher, and I found myself completely invested in both their stories. Overall, Long Since Buried is the kind of thriller that keeps you up late turning pages. I highly recommend it as this series is going to be a must-read for mystery fans everywhere.

Long Since Buried (A Dakota Thriller Book 1) by Angela Grey and Paige Peterson is a mystery whodunnit that will keep readers guessing throughout. When Laci went to Watertown, South Dakota, looking for her birth parents and seeking answers to why they gave her away, little did she realize she would be stepping into a long-buried thirty-year-old mystery. Not only does Laci discover she actually had an identical twin sister that her mother didn’t give away but that the sister was abused by her stepfather and died under mysterious circumstances, aged just twelve. Despite Sydney’s death officially being recorded as a suicide, Laci believes there is more to this story than meets the eye. Horrific events in Watertown since her arrival confirm that her sister was brutally murdered and Laci intends to find the culprit. 

Long Since Buried offers an interesting premise, based on an adopted twin sister discovering her heritage and searching for the killer of the sibling she never knew. Authors Angela Grey and Paige Peterson have approached this narrative through two intertwined protagonists and distinct time frames. We join Sydney and discover her world of hurt, bullying, and parental abuse and then follow her in the days up to her murder as she searches for a way out of her horrific situation. Thirty years later, we also join Laci as she searches for answers to the mystery of who killed Sydney and why. This two-pronged perspective gives the narrative much more depth. The authors do an exceptional job of providing “red-herring” suspects all through the story and then ultimately eliminating them from consideration. I particularly appreciated Sydney as a character, watching her try to cope with adolescent angst even as horrific things were happening in her home life and at school. This was a gentle, simple read that I recommend.

Long Since Buried by Angela Grey and Paige Peterson tells the story of Sydney, who allegedly took her own life thirty years ago. In the present day, Laci learns that she had a twin sister, Sydney, who died at the tender age of twelve. Adopted as an infant, Laci went to Watertown, South Dakota, to find her birth mother and uncover the details surrounding Sydney's death. The residents of Watertown are taken aback by the striking similarity between Laci and Sydney. As Laci digs deeper into the circumstances of her sister's death, she begins to suspect that Sydney was murdered, and she is determined to find the person responsible. One by one, people start to die, and the people of Watertown blame Laci for meddling in matters that do not concern her. It was clear that someone was intent on keeping the truth hidden, no matter the cost.

The plot of Long Since Buried by Angela Grey and Paige Peterson was captivating and intricate. It felt like a thrilling ride filled with mystery, hidden truths, and danger. The story was overflowing with nonstop action until the final chapter. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, experiencing a constant sense of suspense. The characters were well-crafted and believable. The writing style was compelling, making it easy to immerse myself in this small town. The story was superbly written and kept me engaged from the very first page to the last. It was impossible to guess who the killer might be. The discovery of the killer's identity was a major shock, and I truly did not see it coming. I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to the next one.

Long Since Buried by Angela Grey and Paige Peterson is a gripping mystery/thriller that uses two timelines. Sydney Bisak’s point of view represents a past that foretells a tragic future versus that of Laci O’Neill’s present-day investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sydney’s death. The story is set in charming Watertown, South Dakota. When it came to the mysterious death of twelve-year-old Sydney, the tragedy was ruled as a suicide. Thirty years later, Laci decided to learn more about her family by following her birth mother who had worked at the lakeside resort in Watertown. This unexpected visit not only shocked her mother but also caught the townspeople off guard because Laci eerily resembled the long-buried Sydney, her twin sister. As Laci’s inquiry into her background and Sydney gets deeper, a series of deaths and threats occur. Is it possible that she has opened up old wounds and caused hidden resentments and anger to resurface? Is there a secret that reveals the truth behind Laci’s family and Sydney’s passing?

This easy-to-read, well-written, and moderately paced mystery thriller has characters rich in back stories, flaws, personal demons, secrets, alibis, and actions that create red herrings and invite speculation. The first-person point of view easily evokes empathy for the main characters. The intriguing plotline offers surprising possibilities, permutations, and unexpected details and events that mystery fans will enjoy. The well-chosen settings create an initial smokescreen that blurs the reality of people and events. What you see is not always what you get. Interspersed in the narrative are themes of deception, abuse, hardship, revenge, and grief mixed with slightly more positive ones like family history, identity, relationships, and friendship. Long Since Buried by Angela Grey and Paige Peterson is an exciting page-turner that every whodunit fan should read.