Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Jaynes
About the Book
WHEN TEENAGE GIRLS VANISH in what was once considered a safe, Louisiana bayou town, the lives of four desperate young locals take unexpected turns, begging the crucial question: Do you every truly know those closest to you?
When nineteen-year-old Tiffany Perron vanishes from rural Grand Trespass, Louisiana, best friend HALEY LANDRY’s relationship with her boyfriend becomes increasingly strained. To make matters worse, her impressionable younger sister BECKY has begun idolizing an impetuous, seductive 15 year old who’s encouraging her to do dangerous things.
Meanwhile, ERICA DUVALL, a reclusive 19-year-old aspiring writer, befriends Haley. Ten years earlier, Erica’s mother abandoned her, leaving her with the womanizing used car salesman father she loathes. She’s decided to write a novel based on Tiffany’s disappearance; a novel that she hopes will lead to a reunion with her estranged novelist mother.
RACHEL ANDERSON, a 36-year-old mother of two, is having trouble coming to terms with her husband, TOM’s, affair with the missing girl—a relationship that supposedly ended shortly before Tiffany’s disappearance. What’s more, she comes to the blood curdling realization that someone is watching her through the large back windows of her house.
A DISTURBED MAN also lives in the area. Ever since his mother’s murder four years earlier, he’s been raising his insolent teenage sister, ALLIE, who sleeps with truck drivers for money. He considers women to be dangerous—and his world revolves around his fear and hatred for them. He’s terrified of his sister, knowing she’s intent on pushing him over the edge.
My Review
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book found its way onto my reading list in a very unusual way. Jennifer befriended me on Goodreads because we read the same books. At the time I didn’t realize she is an Author and when I found out I went to find her books and she writes the type of books I read so Never Smile at Strangers went on my reading list.
I found the book a little slow going but you really get to know the characters. The characters are all likeable even the ‘bad’ ones. The suspense builds slowly through the book it is not fast paced but still keeps you turning the pages and I love the short chapters. The ending is a real curve ball so totally unexpected that it earned the 5th star. I will definitely be reading book 2.
About the Author
Jennifer is a novelist, wife and mommy to the most wonderful twin boys on the planet.
While earning a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and a certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she did a little bit of everything to pay the bills. She has been a gas station attendant, waitress, a dancing waitress, beer girl, shot girl, bartender, closing coordinator, executive assistant, medical assistant, EMT, content manager, webmaster, news publisher, editor, copywriter, weight loss coach and publishing consultant.
However, through it all, what she really wanted to be was a novelist.
It’s been a very long, and sometimes difficult road, but in 2011, she finally began living her dream with the release of her debut thriller, Never Smile at Strangers. To date, Never Smile at Strangers has earned a place on the USA Today Bestseller’s list, the #1 spot (across all categories) in the Barnes & Noble’s Nook Store, has graced the Top 5 in the mystery/suspense category in the Kindle Store multiple times, and has appeared in the Top 25 in the Kindle Store (across all categories).
In 2014, Thomas & Mercer acquired the rights to Never Smile at Strangers and re-released it January 2015. They also bought the rights to her second novel, Ugly Young Thing, that released in March 2015.
She loves to connect with her readers. You can find her at www.ProjectJennifer.com, www.Facebook.com/NeverSmileatStrangers and www.Twitter.com/jenniferjaynes7.
