Never Smile at Strangers (Grand Trespass Series, #1) [Kindle Edition]

Jennifer Minar-Jaynes (Author)

Book Description

KINDLE BEST SELLER!

- Mystery, Thriller and Suspense
- Mystery and Thrillers
- Suspense Thrillers and Mysteries
- Thrillers
- Suspense

Please note that "Ugly Young Thing," the second book in the GRAND TRESPASS SERIES will be released on April 2013. If you would like to be notified once it launches, please go to http://www.Facebook.com/NeverSmileatStrangers and hit "Like" or email Jennifer at [e-mail].

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 question: Do you ever 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's affair with the missing girl—a relationship that supposedly ended shortly before Tiffany’s disappearance. What’s more, she comes to the realization that someone is watching her family 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.


PRAISE FOR "NEVER SMILE AT STRANGERS"


"Jennifer Minar-Jaynes' debut novel Never Smile at Strangers is a gritty, atmospheric Southern thriller that keeps the heat and the tension cranked high right to the end. Small town secrets, fully-realized characters, and a truly twisted killer keep you turning the pages. Minar-Jaynes has an unerring instinct for the perfect detail that draws you in and won't turn you loose."

— J.D. Rhoades, Shamus nominee & author of The Devil’s
Right Hand, Good Day in Hell, and Safe and Sound


“Never Smile at Strangers is an irresistible debut packed with surprises. Her set-up is riveting, the plot loaded with twists and turns that leads into an effective and logical conclusion. Add this to prose that is fresh, interesting, and innovative, and you have one of the best debut novels that's sure to please readers for years to come.”

— Michael Laimo, author of Dead Souls
and Deep In The Darkness

“Solid, effective throughout. Dark emotions ranging from grief and loneliness to insanity are vividly brought to life with entirely believable insight… immediately sucks us in, sustains the suspense and keepers the reader involved. . .”

— Reader from Atchity Entertainment International

“Combines the best elements of mystery and suspense—intriguing characters, compulsive plotting, first-rate storytelling. A terrifically impressive debut.”

—David Angsten, author of Dark Gold and Night of the Furies

"Jennifer Minar-Jaynes is a welcome addition to the family of thriller writers."

—Robert S. Levinson, bestselling author of Where the Lies Begin, Ask A Dead Man, Hot Paint


- Mystery, Thriller and Suspense
- Mystery and Thrillers
- Suspense Thrillers and Mysteries
- Thrillers
- Suspense
- Serial Killer Fiction
- Louisiana Mysteries

Product Details

• File Size: 410 KB
• Print Length: 332 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0984817301
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0068RVK2Q
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,239 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 108 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tense and truly frightening December 8, 2011

By beanie

Format:Paperback

I finished reading this book at 2 AM on a Tuesday night, because there was no way to pull myself out of the story without finishing it. Fans of mystery novels and tension-filled psychological thrillers will genuinely enjoy reading "Never Smile at Strangers." Minar-Jaynes has combined everything I loved about the old "Fear Street" novels with everything truly scary that keeps me awake at night now. There is something chilling about the darker side of humanity, and Minar-Jaynes does an excellent job of reminding the reader of exactly why parents tell their children not to talk to strangers. The characters' fear is honest, and their pain and confusion can be felt in the writing. Furthermore, she has tapped into what makes "mystery" novels so compelling when they're done right- the suspense in this book is incredible, and the ending was like the explosive final scene of a movie that no one can stop talking about. I give major kudos to Mrs. Minar-Jaynes for writing a book that deserves front window-status in any bookstore.

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! November 21, 2011

By Family of six

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was just what I needed! Jennifer has developed a great novel that brings the small town of Grand Trespass alive!

I absolutely loved how the author developed each of the characters. Especially when it comes to the killer! Rarely does the reader get to spend so much time in the mind of the antagonist and I absolutely loved it!

If you are looking for a good mystery/ thriller then this is the book for you. This book was very hard to put down and now that I have finished it, I wish that I had more to read by this author!

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A lot of characters, not enough depth March 3, 2012

By Lady ReadsaLot

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I appreciated the fact that the author kept you guessing until the end, but with so many characters it made the misdirection easier. That being said, the ending wasn't a real surprise. It was a bit neat and 6 weeks after the final showdown there was a too much "happily ever after..." for such violence.

There was some depth to a few of the characters, but I was expecting more from the detective/police side. The former football playing detective has less then a suppporting role which I found disappoiting. There wasn't much detecting going on, just a lot of speculation by the amateurs. It was interesting having the killers perspective coming through at times.

More About the Author

Since graduating from Old Dominion University with a B.S. in Health Sciences and a minor in Management, Jennifer Minar-Jaynes has made her living as a content manager, webmaster, news publisher, editor and copywriter.

In '04, Jennifer founded www.WritersBreak.com, which became widely recognized in the writing world and went on to be named a 'best website for writers' by "Writer's Digest" magazine.

After moving from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles in '05, Jennifer quickly traded in her conservative business suits for jeans and t-shirts and added screenwriting and freelance writing to her repertoire.

In 2010, she gave birth to two beautiful boys, Christopher & Ryan. Christopher has a congenital heart condition called hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, a CHD that she plans to write about in the near future.

In 2011, she published NEVER SMILE AT STRANGERS, which quickly rose through Amazon's ranks and has made several bestsellers lists. Its sequel, UGLY YOUNG THING, will be published in April 2013.

Minar-Jaynes can be contacted at [e-mail], http://www.Facebook.com/jenniferminar and http://www.facebook.com/neversmileatstrangers.