The Felons' Ball - by Polly Stewart (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In their younger years, Trey Macready and his best friend Ben Marsh were distributors and enforcers for the local distillers who made their small hamlet of Ewald, Virginia, the moonshine capital of the world. But that was years ago, and now the only tie to their criminal past is the Felons' Ball--Trey's annual birthday party where they regale the crowed with tales of their youthful exploits. But when Ben is found dead after Trey's fiftieth celebration, it's clear those connections may not be past at all. Finding Ben's body propels his much-younger secret lover, Natalie--Trey's daughter--to search for Ben's estranged son, Lanny, and to find the truth about his killing"--

Book Synopsis

"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 critically acclaimed author of The Good Ones returns with an edge-of-your-seat thriller about a powerful Southern family whose dark secrets set in motion a chain of events with deadly consequences.

In their younger years, Trey Macready and his best friend Ben Marsh were distributors and enforcers for the local distillers who made their small hamlet of Ewald, Virginia, the moonshine capital of the world. But that was years ago, and now the only tie to their criminal past is the Felons' Ball--Trey's annual birthday party where they regale the crowed with tales of their youthful exploits. But when Ben is found dead after Trey's fiftieth celebration, it's clear those connections may not be past at all.

Finding Ben's body propels his much-younger secret lover, Natalie--Trey's daughter--to search for Ben's estranged son, Lanny, and to find the truth about his killing. Her quest will lead to a battle with a police department that refuses to ignore her family's history, and to form unexpected connections with Hardy, the sheriff investigating the case, and her brother-in-law Jay, who had a very public fight with Ben on the night of his murder.

When Jay goes missing on the morning he planned to meet Natalie, she begins to wonder if her mother was right . . . and if the past should be left in the past.

Review Quotes

"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

"If you follow every twist and turn of Southern true crime stories -- looking at you, Murdaugh family murder fans! -- you really should check out The Felons' Ball (Harper) by Polly Stewart. A sharply observed and intricately plotted mystery set in the author's native Virginia, The Felons' Ball feels like a modern classic, awash in family secrets and moonshine." -- Boston Globe

"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 Felon's Ball is an engaging mystery about family secrets, facing the past, and the choices you make." -- San Diego Book Review

"A gripping exploration of how old wounds fester, how illicit pasts haunt the present, and how far individuals will go to protect--or uncover--the truth. If you crave a novel full of twists, turns, and emotionally resonant characters, this is a gripping mystery thriller you won't be able to put down." -- MSN.com

"Stewart does a fabulous job of melding the crimes and the family. I didn't manage to find the right person in the who dunnit. (which I always appreciate!) The Felons' Ball was the first book I've read of Stewart. I would happily read her next book." -- A Bookworm's World

"Stewart has created a compelling family story that may have readers picking up that phone to call or text a family member whether to finally share a secret or just be there for support." -- Woman Around Town

"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