Never Smile at Strangers

Haley’s father was killed in an accident almost a year ago.  With her mother is still grieving, Haley was left to be responsible for her younger sister, Becky. One night, her best friend, Tiffany convinces her to go out for a while.  Tiffany’s secret boyfriend, Chris, shows up and starts an argument with her in the parking lot.  Haley walks home.  The next day, Tiffany’s mom calls because she never made it home.  The local authorities and small town gossip is stating that she is just another run-away, so no one does too much investigation into her disappearance. 

Becky befriends a pretty, skinny girl named Seacrest and they begin hanging out every day.  Haley befriends a girl named Erica, and they also start hanging out every day.  Haley is still worried about her missing friend, but she is sure that she is dead, or else Tiffany would have called her by now.  Another woman from town disappears a few months later, and this stirs up the FBI and local authorities to re-think Tiffany’s disappearance, and they began a manhunt for the missing women. 

One night while walking through the woods, Erica notices a man nearby where another body was found earlier that day.   She begins putting the pieces together to figure out who the kidnapper could be.  

This book talks about one of the things I sometimes question myself, how well do you really know the person(s) that you allow yourself to open up to and trust?  Is your best friend really capable of doing something you’d never imagine?  Can your husband really betray your trust when you think he hangs the moon?  No one ever really knows a person’s deepest thoughts, so therefore no one can truly know what someone is capable of, until it’s too late. 

I found this to be a fast read, and enjoyable.  I like trying to solve the crimes before the characters in the book are able to put it together.  

A couple quotes that caught my attention:

“We’re not meant to be happy.  Not really.  It’s just a concept someone made up to make us miserable.”

“I wouldn’t talk to her too much if I were you.  You could catch stupid.”  This made me LOL

“You’re supposed to feel it so you can get past it.” Referring to feeling pain.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

“Show them your weaknesses, and you’ll be forced to own them.  That’s all they’ll be able to see in you.”