Polly Stewart grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she still lives. She has an MFA in fiction and a Ph.D. in British literature from Washington University in St. Louis. Her short fiction has appeared in Best New American Voices and Best American Mystery Stories, and her nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times, Poets & Writers and CrimeReads, among other publications.
A fantastic achievement. A classic Southern Gothic tale told through the prism of modern-day sensibilities. Not to be missed -- S. A. Cosby, author of RAZORBLADE TEARS A haunting, gorgeously rendered portrayal . . . A riveting, unflinching exploration of adolescent female friendships, small-town pressures to conform, and the true crime lover's tendency to conflate empathy and voyeurism, The Good Ones drew me in from the first lines and still hasn't released me, days after finishing. I envy readers opening Polly Stewart's beautiful, assured novel for the first time -- Katie Gutierrez, author of Radio 2 Book Club pick MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW Smartly suspenseful and knife-sharp . . . In these pages, those who stay behind have as many secrets as those who go missing, and I couldn't stop reading until I'd untangled every mystery -- Sara Flannery Murphy, author of GIRL ONE A stunning achievement. With gorgeous writing, a compelling, flawed protagonist whose journey is so authentic, and an intricate mystery in which everyone is a suspect, this debut is captivating. The twists and turns are seamless and subtle . . . a mind-blowing ending -- Samantha M. Bailey, author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE Reminiscent of Gone Girl with elements of Yellowjackets thrown in -- Eli Cranor, author of DON'T KNOW TOUGH Stylish and totally compelling . . . as concerned with finding a missing woman as it is with challenging our assumptions about motherhood. I loved it! -- Darcey Bell, author of A SIMPLE FAVOR Sharp, smart and often sexy, The Good Ones is a knockout . . . the many raw secrets of Tyndall County that make this novel unique, clever, and compelling -- Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of THE HEATHENS Dark, suspenseful and thought-provoking . . . kept me turning pages late into the night -- Alison Buccola, author of CATCH HER WHEN SHE FALLS