“Following Stewart’s impressive debut novel, The Good Ones (2023), this is a breakout achievement. Even dealing with the trickiest family dynamics, a shifting cast of characters, and complex twists of fate, she is in complete command. A captivating, multilayered mystery by a rising star.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Devilish . . . . An intriguing mix of murder, moonshine, and family drama makes this sing. It’s perfect for fans of Kate White and Kim Michele Richardson.” — Publishers Weekly
"Family secrets unravel in Stewart’s (The Good Ones, 2023) second slow-burn thriller. . . . Setting the story in her home state of Virginia, Stewart has done a great job of creating a compelling and atmospheric Southern mystery. Natalie is a flawed but well-intentioned and loyal protagonist, and the relationships between characters are layered and genuine. Fans of Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall (2021) will enjoy this book’s overarching themes regarding family loyalty, and subtle twists will hold readers’ interest through the end." — Booklist
“In this follow-up to Stewart’s acclaimed debut, The Good Ones, tension boils over at an annual birthday summit where a pair of old friends recount past misdeeds for a raucous and appreciative gathering. In The Felons Ball, Stewart paints a lively portrait of small-town secrets and generational entanglements. Stewart is proving herself a master of suspense.” — CrimeReads
"The Felons' Ball is full of secrets—ones that refuse to reveal themselves and ones that refuse to stay buried. It's also full of wit and empathy and characters as real as your own family members. This novel is assured, propulsive, and thrilling, and I tore through it." — Rebecca Makkai, New York Times bestselling author of I Have Some Questions For You
“The Felons’ Ball is literary crime fiction at its best. It’s a tribute to small town Virginia that only someone with deep roots could have conjured; a gripping story of family secrets—and crimes—that only a literary master could have penned. A must-read for connoisseurs of only the finest kind of novels—the ones that stay with you long after you’ve mourned turning the last page.” — Alex Finlay, bestselling author of Parents Weekend
"The Felons' Ball is a striking, absorbing novel about family, secrets, and the implications of loyalty. With her beautiful, immersive prose, Polly Stewart brings a fresh twist to a classic southern mystery tale." — Clémence Michallon, internationally bestselling author of The Quiet Tenant
"In a hamlet famous for its moonshine, secrets are deadly and grudges run deep. Polly Stewart’s The Felons' Ball is a searing, tensile Southern thriller about crime, consequences, and twisty backroads of love." — Margot Douaihy, USA Today bestselling author of Scorched Grace
“Polly Stewart’s The Felons’ Ball takes the best parts of small town mysteries and family dramas chock full of secrets. Featuring both moonshine and murder, the story is a throwback to some of my favorite books growing up while still feeling wonderfully modern. You’ll be thinking about its shocking ending long after you’ve gotten to the last page.” — Kellye Garrett, award winning author of Missing White Woman
“Who can you trust in this small town family drama where everyone has secrets? Sometimes, the past is better left undisturbed. A compelling page-turner that takes family loyalty to a whole new level!” — Maxwell Gregory