"I suppose you always get caught, one way or another. Karma has a way of evening the score."

This brief adage is brilliantly proven in Britney King's latest psychological thriller, Passerby.

As is the modus operandi of Ms. King's writing, Passerby is a world-class roller-coaster ride. A ride that is full of unexpected early ups and downs. A building of expectations for what is ahead. Then a long and slow climb up an incline of intrigue. Followed by an unexpected plunge into a chaos that leaves your heart in your throat. Finally, multiple sharp twists and turns before coming to a satisfying finish.

The setting is Jester Falls, a sleepy Southern beach town. Ruth Channing manages Magnolia House, the town's historic and most popular bed and breakfast which Ruth and her two brothers own.

The intrigue begins when one of the brothers, Davis, shows up with an exquisitely beautiful young woman, Ashley Parker, who he picked up hitchhiking. Ruth is immediately suspicious about and distrustful of Ashley Parker. Nothing rings true about her. Suspicious events, including deaths, begin to occur soon after Ashley arrives in town.

As is the case in many Southern towns, the Channing's have a historical feud with another family, the Holts. An incident at the annual Watermelon Queen Parade on the night that Davis and Ashley arrive in town leads to a fistfight between Davis Channing and Bobby Holt, and things accelerate from there.

Britney King excels at developing her female protagonists in all of her novels. Like her now-deceased mother, Ruth Channing is a former Watermelon Queen and a beautiful woman now seasoned by life's experiences and perhaps overly fond of tequila. Ruth has a romantic past with multiple men in town, most notably, a handsome cowboy-type intellectual named Cole. Ruth and Cole and have had an on-again, off-again relationship for years. Cole and Ruth's older brother, Johnny, are best friends.

Ashley, a decade or so younger than Ruth, is a perfect antagonist. Both women are beautiful, intelligent, cunning, and driven to accomplish their goals. Ruth is driven to protect her family and keep them together, while Ashley is equally driven to tear them apart.

I seem to always fall in love with Britney King's female protagonists. Ruth is no different. I love her wit, self-deprecating humor, and most of all, her wicked sarcasm.

As additional characters and personal agendas are introduced, the roller-coaster ride becomes increasingly dangerous. And from the reader's perspective, even more interesting, intriguing, and unpredictable.

Even when new and unexpected revelations are made, don't think that the surprises are over. There will be more to come.

The finish is satisfying and includes a final interesting coincidence. Or is it a coincidence?
Passerby meets or exceeds the high standards that Britney King has set in her numerous earlier works. If you liked her earlier books, you will love Passerby. If Passerby is your first Britney King novel read, you have a real treat ahead of you in reading her earlier masterpieces.

I received an advanced reading copy (ARC) in return for an honest review. I voluntarily and enthusiastically provide this review.