Haley and Tiffany are best friends. They are very different personalities. Haley is the good girl, while Tiffany is more on the bad side. They meet for drinks and run into Tiffany's boyfriend, who is black. There aren't many black people in Grand Trespass, so there is a lot of talk in the community about that.
Tiffany catches up with her boyfriend and they leave. The next morning, Tiffany is not to be found. There is an investigation started to find her.
Haley works at a diner and has a co-worker named Erica that seems to be all by herself, in her heart and with other people. They slowly start to become friends. Erica thinks that her mother left her and went to New York to publish a novel that she had been writing.

There are so many things going on in this little town. People's lives are delved into and some are heart-breaking, some muddied, etc.

I found this book to be a little confusing. It was a good story, but there were so many characters thrown in at random times that I had to keep reminding myself of who was exactly who. Think I may read the second in this series and give it a try. ( )

The disappearance of a young woman stirs the little town of Grand Trespass. Strange things take place and the person responsible is right under their noses. Disturbing story.

I had trouble with the downloading of this book and almost gave up on it. I am so happy I kept trying to get it to open! It was an incredible read! It is definitely not a book for everyone. Warning here...if you can't read about children having a horrible life then this is not the book for you. For me, I know life is not pretty or easy for everyone. As I was reading this book I kept thinking, (and saying out loud),...left turn. That is my expression for something unexpected. Never Smile at Strangers is filled with left turns. Nothing was hidden yet it was. An amazing feat for an author. I would explain that contradiction but I would rather you just get real comfortable and start reading. Be prepared to read until the end. I couldn't stop which led to supper being prepared by my other half and reading in bed. I have started book two, Ugly Young Thing, and have anxiety over the wait for book three, Don't Say A Word, (coming in May and already pre-ordered!). If you are looking for a good thriller give this a try. ( )

The story is told from several viewpoints. The murderer, who I did not figure out at all, his sister Allie, Haley who is the best friend of the first girl that disappeared and Erica who worked with Haley and Tiffany. The story tells of their life in a small Louisiana town. There is a lot of drinking, fooling around, sneaking around and suspicion. Trying to figure out who done it kept me on my toes. It was not the person I thought it was during most of the book, which always makes it a good mystery for me.

Several people are missing and/or murdered and the sherrif and detective are not really able to figure out who done it, or if the girls have just run off. The FBI finally gets called in and things start to unravel for the culprit.

I read the second book in the Grand Trespass series before this one and I actually liked it more. This one was a good read and I wish I had read it first before Ugly Young Thing.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Very dark, multiple murders, A serial killer. Did not hold my attention. It was a struggle to keep reading to the end. The writing style of letting you hear the thoughts of the perpetrator while reading of the results of his actions I found interfering to the flow of the story. ( )