"Party of Liars" by Kelsey Cox is a captivating thriller with complex characters with a suspenseful plot. Set against the backdrop of a lavish Sweet Sixteen party in the Texas Hill Country, in a renovated mansion rumored to be haunted. As the party reaches its peak, a body plummets from the balcony, plunging the guests into a gripping whodunnit.​
As a first-time reader of Kelsey Cox, I was impressed by her ability to create characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the end. The novel's exploration of themes such as obsession, jealousy, and the facades people maintain was both thought-provoking and engaging. The unexpected twists and the atmospheric setting make "Party of Liars" a standout in the psychological thriller genre.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the book #PartyOfLiars by #KelseyCox. This book is really good with all the back stabbing, revenge and murder. Sophie is turning sixteen and her father is going all out on her sweet sixteen party. Her alcoholic mother is attending as well as her new step mom, who has been having her own issues lately. But just as they are about to blow out the candles, someone falls to their death. Who could it be and why?

This was a great debut, with lots of terrible people and a creepy house.

The story is set around a sweet 16 party, but there's so much more going on. A dad, a daughter, a nanny... a whodunit with a locked room and a paranormal vibe.

Differing POV and a quick pace, I think it's a fantastic book to read by the pool this summer.

I'm curious to see what else this author comes up with in the future!!


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a captivating novel that kept me hooked from the very first page. The story follows a tight-knit group of friends whose carefully curated lives start to unravel, revealing shocking truths and deep secrets.

What truly stands out is Cox's ability to craft multi-dimensional characters who feel incredibly real. Each character’s internal struggle, hidden motivations, and personal flaws make them so relatable and human, which adds layers of depth to the story. The dynamic between the friends feels genuine, and it’s easy to become emotionally invested in their fates. The pacing is spot-on, and the book is filled with just the right balance of suspense, mystery, and emotional depth.

Cox’s writing style is engaging, making the book a true page-turner. If you’re looking for a book that blends gripping drama with moments of introspection, Party of Liars is a must-read. It’s a perfect choice for fans of contemporary fiction who appreciate complex characters and thought-provoking storytelling.

This unfortunately was not my cup of tea. Something about the writing didn’t sit well with me. Others may enjoy it but it was not for me unfortunately.

ARC for review from NetGalley. I was excited after reading this book’s description and being granted the chance to read the ARC. However, the book is extremely slow throughout. It felt to me that about 60-70% of this book was fluff and unnecessary to the overall story. There was a slight supernatural element, but it did not feel like it fit in the story and was underdeveloped as an idea. The last 20% of the book was good and I enjoyed it, but the buildup to get there was drawn out and boring.

I did like the ending, which is why I rating this book with two stars instead of one, but for me I need to be hooked much earlier in the book. Overall, probably wouldn’t recommend, but am grateful for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Southern drama. People behaving badly. Multiple POVs so it’s easy to keep reading and unraveling the story from other perspectives. Perfect for people who liked the Lucy foley book that was about a wedding.

What an edge of your seat thriller! There were times when I questioned whether the payoff would be worth it and boy was it ever! Perfectly balanced perspectives and questions about reliability and everything just culminates into an ending that isn’t only surprising, but makes perfect sense!

We know pretty early on that someone dies at Sophie's 16th birthday party, but we don't know who or why. Is it her mom, who drank way too much to numb the pain of losing her home, family, and livelihood? Is it her stepmother, who's not much older than Sophie and is struggling with postpartum depression? Maybe her dad, who's trying to please all the women in his life. The chapters alternate between characters, and we get to see what secrets everyone is hiding, which really ratchets up the suspense. Lots of twists and turns kept me turning the pages!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dani is a lucky woman--married to a successful doctor, mother to a beautiful baby girl, and beloved stepmother to a gorgeous teenager. Her husband's former wife is an alcoholic, and the part-time nanny is strange. What else is amiss?

As it turns out, quite a bit is not right in Dani's world.

I love the ending.

Party of Liars is a domestic thriller that will keep the reader on their toes. The basic set up is like an episode of White Lotus … someone has died at a lavish Sweet 16 party. The reader does not know who dies until the end. The story flashes back to before the party and it is told from the perspective of 4 women. The current wife, stepmother to the birthday girl …Dani. She is the mother of a newborn and is struggling with that. Kim the bitter ex-wife who is fueled by rage and alcohol. Mikayla the bff of the birthday girl and
Orlaith … the mysterious Irish nanny . Throw in an old Victorian house that may or may not be haunted and the story unfolds through out the party. There are twists and turns that are unexpected and clever.
Thanks to net galley for the chance to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommend!

This was a slow but with a lot of characters and POVS. It had some suspense but really didn’t fulfill the potential in my opinion. Kinda blah

This was a fast, fun, thrilling read. It takes place at Sophie's exclusive Sweet Sixteen party in the beautiful Texas Hill Country (of which I'm very familiar and which added to my enjoyment.) However, the party takes a lot of unexpected twists and turns! I enjoy this type of plot, where a group of people are gathered and mystery and secrets begin to unravel. There are multiple POVs, but I didn't find it at all confusing. I loved it and look forward to more from this author.

This was a fun, quick and thrilling read. I liked the multiple perspectives, and how this book really took place during a Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party. I was expecting a more sinister/ghost story, but overall, this was a very enjoyable book to read that was not easy to put down.

Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday is the event of the season—a glamorous black-tie affair set in her father’s luxurious cliffside mansion in Texas Hill Country. Once rumored to be haunted, the renovated estate now buzzes with celebration, but the festive mood takes a dark turn when a body plummets from the balcony onto the dance floor below just before the birthday candles are blown out.

As the night unravels, the guest list reveals a web of secrets and tensions. There's Dani, Sophie’s self-doubting stepmother struggling with her new role; Órlaith, the superstitious nanny with an eerie sense of foreboding; Mikayla, Sophie’s seemingly shy best friend with hidden depths; and Kim, the sharp and resentful ex-wife with an unshakable grudge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC!

This was an easy binge read with a chilling atmosphere type setting but unfortunately what started strong didn’t end that way. The paranormal aspect lost me and it was more a drama than a thriller

I received a ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I tore through it. There is constant action, constant suspense, constant suspicion. I enjoyed the parts about Dani as a new mother, as it was totally relatable and realistic. I also think it works well that we don't know who falls from the balcony until nearly the end; it makes you read each character's chapters with it in the back of your mind that the character may be the victim.

I found the reveals to be pretty much jaw-dropping, which I always appreciate in a thriller, and I also felt that the ending tied things up nicely without loose threads.

This story had a lot going on! The main event is Sophie’s sweet sixteen birthday party, but the story includes lots of flashbacks to past events. I enjoyed the way it all unfolded.

I was surprised by the twist at the end! It really was the perfect ending to this fast paced domestic thriller!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Party of Liars" and all opinions expressed are my own. I first read this book and then requested the audiobook to listen to. I liked both. The mystical side of the story is what drew me in. The twists and turns kept it interesting. It was suspenseful and listening to the audiobook, even though I knew what was going to happen, it was still really good.

I feel as if this story could be real. It was very well written and executed. Twisty with the perfect mix of OMG and WOW. The multiple POV was done in a way that you were able to keep pace with each character.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a juicy thriller set at a lavish Sweet Sixteen in the Texas Hill Country, where secrets simmer just beneath the surface of every perfectly curated detail. When a body plummets from the balcony during the party, the night unravels fast—and through alternating POVs, we get a front row seat to the drama. From the superstitious nanny to the tense stepmom, the jealous best friend to the bitter ex wife—everyone has something to hide.

I read this during Texas spring, and wow—it felt like I was right there. The setting, the La Llorona vibe, the tension—it all pulled me in and emphasized that sometimes, the scariest monsters are human.. The multi POV was easy to follow, and I was pointing fingers at everyone. So many perfect facades that you just know are going to crack. Because let’s be honest—the people who look like they have it all together? Usually the ones hiding the biggest secrets. This one was definitely a page turner, and I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.