THE GOOD ONES

“A young mother vanishes from her Appalachian hometown leaving little more than rumors and blood-stained carpets in her wake. Her overeducated and true-crime obsessed childhood friend is left to uncover what really happened in this stylish and totally compelling mystery that is as concerned with finding a missing woman as it is with challenging our assumptions about motherhood. I loved it!” — Darcey Bell "Polly Stewart's THE GOOD ONES is a fantastic achievement. A classic Southern Gothic tale told through the prism of modern-day sensibilities. Not to be missed." —S.E. Cosby, author of Razorblade Tears "THE GOOD ONES is a haunting, gorgeously rendered portrayal of the scar tissue that grows around ambiguous loss, and the ways our lives can be defined by a person's absence as much as by their presence. 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 More Than You'll Ever Know "I can't stop thinking about Polly Stewart's THE GOOD ONES. Smartly suspenseful and knife-sharp, this thriller explores the way our mistakes refuse to stay confined to the past tense. Stewart upends our understanding of how we fit into the stories that surround us – both the ones we tell ourselves and the narratives others spin for us. 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 "Polly Stewart's stunning novel THE GOOD ONES is reminiscent of Gone Girl with elements of Yellowjackets thrown in. This book dives straight into the heart of Appalachia, unearthing teenage tensions and full-grown fears which connect in ways I never saw coming. Fans of Megan Abbott will rejoice in this intricately textured addition to the rural noir canon." — Eli Cranor, author of Don't Know Tough and Ozark Dogs “An unsettling mystery about a young mother's disappearance and the cost of centering ourselves in someone else's story. Dark, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, THE GOOD ONES kept me turning pages late into the night.” — Alison Buccola, author of Catch Her When She Falls “Sharp, smart and often sexy, The Good Ones is a knockout. Lauren Ballard's disappearance may be the core of this story, but it's the many raw secrets of Tyndall County that make this novel unique, clever, and compelling.” — Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Revelators and The Heathens "THE GOOD ONES by Polly Stewart is 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, fully immersing us in a world of wealth and power in a small town, where the line between love and hate closely bleeds together. And just when you think you've figured it all out, Stewart wallops you with a mind-blowing ending.” — Samantha M. Bailey, USA TODAY and #1 national bestselling author of Woman On The Edge and Watch Out For Her “Smart, dark, and suspenseful, The Good Ones skillfully navigates the sharp edges of small-town secrets that cut deep. A beautifully written mystery that'll keep you guessing til the end.” — Laura McHugh, award-winning author of What's Done in Darkness “Bold, beautiful, savage and stunning. The Good Ones is a taut thriller, an elegant exploration of loss and the haunt of past mistakes, and a true page-turning mystery. I adored it.” — Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin At The End “An irresistible mystery, superbly crafted with all the stealth and intrigue of the best Southern Gothics.” – Anna Bailey, Sunday Times bestselling author of Tall Bones “A startling, riveting tale about female friendship, past trauma, and the secrets we keep. Breathlessly entertaining and sharply incisive, Polly Stewart's debut is a must-read.” — Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit

Optioned in a pre-empt by MGM with a multi-part television series in mind

“A promising slice of psychological suspense . . .[Stewart's] messy, endearing lead and swift pacing make for a . . . thrilling ride. This should please fans of Megan Miranda and Megan Abbott.” — Publishers Weekly “Not without its moments of welcome suspense and it will attract and engage the ever-increasing audience for domestic suspense.” — Booklist

UK: Constable/Little, Brown;