Mystery and thriller readers keep an eye open for Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox, which publishes this summer. It was a great read.

This was a fun read and I read about 75% of it in one day! This book is based at Sophie’s lavish sweet sixteen party hosted at her dad’s house, with everyone they know and then some in attendance — including her mom (the ex wife), stepmom, best friend, and ex boyfriend.

The house is known as haunted because 100 years or so prior, a woman fell to her death from the balcony. And in the very beginning you learn that someone falls to their death at the party, but you don’t find out who until the very end. The entire book is set at this one party with some flashbacks.

I really enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it! There are a lot of characters but they were easy to differentiate, and some of the twists really got me.

Read if you love:
-family/friend drama
-baking
-multiple POV
-minor paranormal aspect
-Carola Lovering books

Give me a locked room mystery where everyone is wildly suspicious and I’m immediately in. It just so happens that Cox wrote an actual phenomenal book on top of it being my fav sub category of literature. So bravo, I would gladly reread this in a year when the details get fuzzier with time so I can re-surprise myself :)

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Today is set up to be the Sweet 16 birthday party all teen girls dream of. A pool party at your father’s mansion complete with DJ, all your friends, and a beautiful cake your stepmother made just for you. But there’s one thing that could potentially ruin your special day – the drama that comes with having divorced parents, an alcoholic mother, and adults who always seem more interested in competing to have more and be more than the rest of the community. It doesn’t help that the entire town thinks your home is haunted, too, after a series of mysterious events over the years. Will the party be a success, or will the adults’ drama end in tragedy?

Kelsey Cox brings readers on a Texas-sized thriller in her debut release Party of Liars. Set in her native Texas hill country, this book features multiple points of view through which Cox weaves a disturbing, yet all too realistic, tale of the pressure we experience to fit in with our community. Compromised values, substance abuse, and mental health struggles – all typical taboo topics and all tackled in novel as consequences of that pressure. This is a fantastic thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seat until the final pages!

I give Party of Liars 5 out of 5 stars. I was blown away by the way Cox wove together so many different points of view in a cohesive manner almost as if this was written like a deconstructed screenplay, not a novel. With short chapters, this was an easy read with beautifully built characters and vivid descriptions. While reading this novel, the one thought that kept recurring for me was that book gave me Agatha Christie vibes in such a beautiful way – the beautiful interpersonal stories and peer pressure Cox builds between the characters, the social constructs that provide underlying motivations, and the setting that is as much a character as the people. If this is a debut release, I can’t wait to see what comes next from Kelsey Cox!

With themes of underage drinking and sex, alcoholism, mental health struggles, and professional abuse by a medical professional, this may not be the best book for all readers and should be directed to more mature audiences over 16 years old. However, if you enjoyed thrillers we’ve read previously like Melissa Larsen’s The Lost House or books by Lisa Unger or Julie Clark, this is the book for you! I also think this would make a great mystery or thriller book club selection, too!

I was approached by the publisher with the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. While Thrillers are not my normal genre, I am so glad I got this opportunity to read this great book by a new author. You won’t be disappointed by this book either!

This book was hard to put down. It grabbed me from the beginning and kept me up way past my bedtime because I needed to finish it. This is definitely one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time. The characters were developed, and the twists and turns were truly surprising. Kim was probably the character I was rooting for the most. So happy to have found another author to support!

Thanks to Netgalley for the book to review.

This book centers around a sweet sixteen party that goes terribly wrong. The plot was complexly woven and it was a slow burn read as the book centers mainly on a single event. It was a compelling story with lots of drama.

A guick and easy suspenseful read. I liked that it didn't give away who was murdered in the beginning so as the story went on I kept changing my mind about who the victim would be. At some point, I imagined it could be any of the characters. I also thought it did a good job at giving away the murderer- it also could have been any of the characters.

Only three stars- I felt that a few of the story lines weren't really wrapped up, like the dislike of the nanny and Sophi and Mikayla's friendship. A good read but nothing out of the ordinary.

Wowza! A perfectly crafted multiple-POV psychological suspense story, rich with sizzling characters (all of them hiding something) and a setting as lip-smackingly luscious as it is creepy and sinister.

With a plot that builds, and winds, and re-winds, gleefully delighting in tricking the reader, several times, into what feels like complacency, as the rug is pulled again, and again, until finally, all at once the denouement is revealed — and is nothing at all like what has been imagined.

A first-rate thriller, with an ending only partially guessed by this reader, this is a story not be missed if rascally “whodunnits” are your thing. (And even if they aren’t!)

The story centers on the first-person experiences of four women.

Dani Matthews is a gorgeous new mother, married to the very rich (and handsome) Ethan, who just doesn’t seem to realize she is living the good life with new baby Charlotte and a recently restored glittery mansion high on the hills of Texas.

Ethan’s ex-wife Kim, a bitter, addicted and thoroughly messed-up ex-veterinarian (and the mother to sixteen year old Sophie, a child she shares with Ethan) can only watch from the side-lines as the life she had struggled for is lived by a younger, prettier, other.

Orlaith is a short, talkative and somewhat mysterious Irish nanny, quickly invaluable to the Matthews, yet definitely carrying secrets along with her bushload of stories — each of them more chilling than the next.

Mikayla, best friend to beautiful sixteen-year old Sophie, is used to playing second-fiddle, — a role that comes with its own set of secrets (most of which are now bursting to be told).

As the Matthews prepare for Sophie’s over-the-top and extravagant sixteenth birthday celebration, a perfect storm is brewing. This “Party of Liars” promises to be spectacular, — in ways none of the attendees (and including the reader) could ever imagine.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book All thoughts presented are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc. This is a thriller. It's Sophie's 16th birthday and her dad spend a lot of money on her party. They decide to have the party at his cliffside mansion, which to most was thought to be haunted. So many guests are invited, but not everyone makes it out alive.

I felt very "meh" about Party of Liars. I don't want to harp on it being bad, because it's not, but I felt like it didn't really have a clear genre. Maybe the fact that it's set at a Sweet 16, it seemed silly that all these adults are getting drunk, or honestly. even attending the party. There was like 8 teens and like 50 adult, it seemed like. I think there were two directions Kelsey Cox could have gone in: 1) make it YA - Have the attendees be mostly kids and a murder happens, or B) dive into the thriller genre and make it darker. It sat completely in the middle and I don't see who this book was written for. At the same time, as I wrote in my Goodreads review, I didn't struggle reading this. I just thought it would have a little more personality based on the cover.

Thanks so much for the advance copy!

Full Goodreads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7386856437

Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for this opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review. This book had a lot of potential, but there was a LOT going on. As someone who is from San Antonio, all of the little shout outs were fun, but kind of unnecessary, if I wasn’t from SA, I would wonder why the author kept including random names that had nothing to do with the story.. the 4 povs was a lot to keep up with and each chapter ended with some cryptic cliffhanger line so that got a little tiresome…. BUT I did enjoy the ending and the twist, even if I did see part of it coming. I’d give it a 3.5, I enjoyed it, it was an easy read and well paced. Just a few quirks to work out.

Kelsey Cox’s debut novel Party of Killers absolutely blew me away—this is one of those thrillers you cancel plans for just to keep reading. From the very first chapter, with a body crashing onto the dance floor at an over-the-top Sweet Sixteen, I knew I was in for a wild ride.

What I loved most is how Cox juggles the perspectives—every character, from the calculating ex-wife, Kim, to the mysterious nanny to the teenagers caught in the middle, felt like they had something to hide. Each chapter peels back another layer, and just when I thought I had it figured out, Cox would drop a twist I never saw coming.

The mansion setting, dripping with opulence and secrets, adds this deliciously eerie vibe—like the house itself is in on the lies. And underneath all the suspense, there’s a sharp commentary on wealth, appearances, and how far people will go to protect their version of the truth.

Fast-paced, smart, and seriously addictive—Party of Killers is one of my favorite reads this year. If you’re into dark, juicy thrillers with complex characters and jaw-dropping reveals, do yourself a favor and pick this one up on July 1st, 2025 when it comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this most delicious arc in exchange for this review.

I loved this book! The twist was one that basically punched me in the face when it happened. I love when that happens, it’s so rare that I can’t see what’s coming in a story. This one literally made my jaw drop! I can’t wait to see what else this author can come up with if this was her debut. Wow! She’s definitely one to watch!

Talk about a jaw-dropping whodunnit! Kelsey Cox’s Party of Liars delivers everything I crave in a thriller—secrets, scandal, and a shocking death at a glittering black-tie party.

Set against the backdrop of a sprawling mansion with a sinister history, the story kicks off when a body plunges from a cliffside balcony mid-party... and from there, it’s an addictive spiral of lies, hidden pasts, and cutthroat social games. 🌙✨

The cast is pitch-perfect: A troubled new mom, an alcoholic ex-wife, a nanny who whispers to ghosts, and a posse of mean girls with razor-sharp smiles. No one is innocent, everyone is suspicious, and Cox keeps you guessing until the very last page.

If you love dark, twisty thrillers with major Big Little Lies vibes and a gothic edge, do NOT sleep on this one! 👀

Party of Liars was a thrilling book that had many twists. The story had multiple POVs, but the format was nice and not confusing at all. The middle of the book was a little drawn out, but overall, it was a great book!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced copy!

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a wild ride—think rich people drama meets locked-room mystery with a side of “trust no one.” The tension builds fast, and the writing keeps you hooked without trying too hard. The characters are messy (in the best way), and the setting has that perfect creepy-glam vibe. It’s sharp, fun, and just twisted enough to keep you guessing. Solid 4/5—would’ve been 5 if I didn’t feel personally attacked by how untrustworthy everyone is.

I just finished an early release debut novel “Party of Liars” by Kelsey Cox, and I loved it! I’m a succor for a good thriller filled with plot twist after plot twist, and this book had it in spades!

In short, it’s a story that takes place at a fancy mansion for the owner’s daughter’s sweet sixteen birthday party. There is a murder at the party and no short list of suspects! On top of a long list of suspects, you don’t know who is actually un-alive until the very end of the book!

Lots of personal drama to this story…and I’m here for it! Haha such a great read that kept me guessing the whole way through! Solid 4 stars from me!

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy! I’ll post an updated review closer to the publication date on July 1st, 2025.

I was certainly intrigued by the description of this book but I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did! Kelsey Cox weaved together multiple perspectives and complex storylines to a memorable conclusion. I enjoyed the unreliable narration of both Dani and Kim, relating to the former as a new mom myself ruled by nursing schedules, navigating new emotions, and new roles. As a speech language pathologist, I also appreciated the accuracy with which Ethan’s stuttering was addressed.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and of course Kelsey Cox for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review. Party of Liars will be available on July 1st, 2025!

An impressive debut! I loved the amount of tension in this story, and the little bit of spook/haunted house element had me hooked right away. Definitely a fun one if you like multiple POVs and a mix of teen/adult drama. What kept me reading at a quick pace was the amount of story lines mixing together - and since there are so many POVs, you are left waiting a while until you get back to each character, which keeps up the suspense. I really had blast with this one and would recommend if you are in the mood for a domestic mystery/thriller.

A solid 4 stars -- I really enjoyed this domestic thriller! Loved the setting-- almost exclusively taking place in a glass-box mansion in Texas Hill Country at a sweet sixteen birthday party. There were lots of unlikeable and interesting characters, and I thought I had it all figured out, but it turns out I was only half right (I did not expect the other [icky] twist). I do wish we had some POV of Sophie, and Kim's sections were so cringey and almost unbearable to read as she got drunker and drunker at the party (but in a can't-look-away-from-the-car-crash way). I also loved the folklore/haunted house vibes of "The Mother" (pretty much like La Llorona/ The Weeping Woman).

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable thriller, and I'd recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.