I can’t believe Party of Liars is a debut! This thriller is full of drama, secrets, untrustworthy characters, and gothic vibes! The tension was palpable! I raced through this book to find out what happened, and my theory was so wrong! I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next!

When Ethan’s daughter Sophie is turning 16 he wants to do something big for her so he throws an elaborate party at his mansion. But everyone there is dealing with something. His wife Dani is trying to navigate being a new mother and post pardum depression she was diagnosed with. Mikayla, Sophie’s best friend, who just doesn’t feel like she fits in and who has a secret of her own. Sophie’s mom, whose alcoholism has caused her to lose almost everything. And the nanny who is trying to deal with her own grief and keep her ward safe.
This book was told between multiple POV but it just made the story the amazing reading experience it was. There was a good amount of twists, including not even knowing who had fallen until towards the end. If you like books that are suspenseful and a quick read this is a book for you.
Thank you for Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I googled twice because I was wondering how I've missed this author before. I was shocked...THIS was a DEBUT?!!? Phenomenal. I couldn't put this one down. The suspense and drama from beginning to end kept me fully engaged. I especially loved the setting and short chapters. I liked the multiple POV narration from the 4 women.

Regret, Redemption, Mental Health, Wealthy people, and don't forget Orlaith the nanny! I feel like everyone had baggage to unpack in this one & it was SO good. The cast of characters and the drama made for the recipe for a perfect thriller. This was a perfect book to read during Summer.

Everything is bigger in Texas and this book proved that. This author is definitely on my radar now!! I will happily devour another book by her!

This book had me hooked from the beginning . It was a page turner and I did not see the twist coming . The situation with Mikayla I found a bit odd how it ended.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 - This was a super quick and fun read. It was a page turner from the start. I loved this debut story and would highly recommend to those who are fans of Freida and Jeneva.

It was a little predictable in my opinion, but a good palate cleanser between my fantasy books.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a long, drawn-out story. It is a character driven tale that moves slower than a slug. There are multiple points of view along with their backstories and inner thoughts. The point of view seemed to switch every three pages. There is no excitement, mystery, tension, or intrigue. There are hints of intriguing things, but they never materialize. Instead, we get lengthy discourses from characters. I kept reading in the hopes that something would happen. The ending was anticlimactic and disappointing (talk about a letdown). The author seemed to be following a how to book because her writing was formulaic (the same thing chapter after chapter). Party of Liars has too many characters, genres, and ideas. Add in the lethargic pacing and you have boredom. I wanted mystery, thrills, and chills, and, instead, I found myself drifting off to dreamland.

It's not really what I expected. I thought it was interesting that there were different POVs, especially from people you wouldn't necessarily think would be from them, but there were way too many chapters. It felt like a lot of the story wasn't very relevant or even needed. Some things just didn't make sense to me.

This book follows the perspectives of four women and alternates between the present day at a 16 year olds birthday party, and various flashbacks. The birthday party takes place at a legendary mansion in Texas. When a body falls over the balcony, we slowly learn who was killed and who is the killer.

I enjoyed this way more than I originally thought after reading the first few chapters. It took awhile for me to get invested but it picked up about halfway through and then I didn’t want to put it down. The characters felt so real and I even had my jaw drop at some of the reveals! It got way darker than I expected and handled some heavy topics in a respectful way.

I felt the four perspectives could get a bit repetitive, as sometimes you’re hearing about the same situation multiple times. I really enjoyed the authors writing style though and I will definitely read more from Kelsey Cox in the future!

"They can't see outside anymore. But they can hear it. The scream. Just long enough for a body to fall through the air."

It's Sophie's 16th birthday and her father and his new wife are sparing no expense in giving her the best party possible. As alcohol is tossed back and tensions rise, everything comes to a head as the birthday candles are about to be blown out and a body falls from the balcony.

Kelsey Cox hits us with a lavish, drama-filled thriller with her debut PARTY OF LIARS!

Her rotating POVs all offer fresh takes and add to the tension of the story, while also allowing the reader to question everyone's intentions and their truths.

The rich people behave poorly and the teens party as teens do, creating a fever dream within the story that you know is going to hit a pitch - but you aren't sure when, who, or why.

I enjoyed the lore surrounding the house and its evolution into the "Dollhouse" and was very much unsettled as the story progressed.

Highly recommend picking up this debut and I'm really looking forward to what Cox comes up with next!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the early copy for review - this book is out now!

In Party of Liars, Kelsey Cox delivers a gripping, twist-filled family drama where secrets simmer beneath the surface and nearly everyone has something to hide. Set against the backdrop of a birthday celebration, the novel wastes no time in unraveling a web of deceit, betrayal, and long-buried truths—most of which are shared by blood.

The pacing is sharp and deliberate, with each chapter peeling back another layer of the family’s carefully constructed facade. Cox excels at building tension, creating a sense of claustrophobia within the party setting as the lies begin to unravel. The dynamics between characters are complex and believable, making the drama all the more engaging.

With unexpected turns and a steady build-up of suspense, Party of Liars keeps readers guessing until the final reveal. It’s a cleverly crafted tale of dysfunction, deception, and the devastating consequences of keeping secrets—perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with a sharp edge.

I was engaged from the first chapter. Entertaining, kept me on the edge of my seat & guessing the entire time. It begins with a death at Sophie’s sweet sixteen party. The party guests include Sophie’s friends, her parents, and parents’ friends. It’s a stylish and lavish event— drinks are flowing, gossip is in full force, and no one can really be trusted.

Great debut and looking forward to more from this author! Thanks to the publisher for this great read!

Party of Liars is a dark suspense novel. The story twists and turns to keep you scratching your head as to what is actually happening. The characters are not very likable from the beginning of the story on. Ethan is the rich boy that seems to have a sense of entitlement and flaunt his wealth. Ethan and Kim’s daughter Sophie’s 16th birthday is where all the drama comes to ahead. Dani is the new trophy wife but things don’t seem right with her. Orlaith is very secretive as the nana and Kim is the bitter ex wife. The story is told in alternating points of view building in suspense until the shocking truth is finally revealed in spectacular fashion. My voluntary and unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

I couldn't put this down!! The short chapters, rotating POV between multiple characters (none of which are the birthday girl) and you can't help but wonder which one is the culprit, and which one is the victim. Is it the overly chatty nanny, who seemed to have her eyes on nannying for the Matthews family from the start? Or the best friend of the bday girl who happens to be crushing on the same guy she is? Or the bday girl's mom, the ex-wife, who is an alcoholic and seemingly unstable? Or is it the step-mom, who just had a baby but has been having visions and hallucinations in the home? I loved how fast I flew through it, how I really couldn't sense who was at fault, and of course the twists at the end. Definitely recommend this thriller for your summer tbr!

Kelsey's debut novel Party of Liars is an instant hit! What I figured would be a fun popcorn thriller turned out to be so much more, and I couldn't stop listening.

Gothic vibes, haunted houses, betrayal and lies, yes please!
It's faced paced, with short chapters that are Before and After the death, on the day of the party.

Told in multiple POV from 4 women with flashbacks, foreshadowing and time jumps which all added a level of surprise.

There were so many red herring distracting away from the real villain and I'm almost sure you will be as fooled as I was!

I especially loved the urban legend, and the touch of paranormal. It just added so much to the overall story.

This was such an impressive debut!

📚: Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
⭐️: 2/5

Unpopular opinion alert: this book did not do it for me.

Without spoilers, this ended up being incredibly predictable with breadcrumbs of twists dropped miles away. (No red herrings found here.) The plot comes together in a predictable way, but for the majority of the read feels disjointed, like ships passing in the night with little connective tissue other than the obvious. (Again, predictability.)

Add in one annoying unanswered plot hole at the end, and I find myself disappointed in this highly anticipated summer read.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Party of Liars is out now.

Everything is bigger in Texas, including drama at a lavish Sweet Sixteen birthday party for Sophie Matthews! Just when you think the elaborate three-layer birthday cake should be the star of the show, a body tumbles from a balcony above and crash lands on the dance floor.

This juicy, suspenseful story is told from four points of view:
• Dani – Sophie’s stepmother and new mother to baby Charlotte, struggling with postpartum anxiety. She’s married to Ethan, who used to be married to:
• Kim – a bitter Betty of an ex-wife, fueled by grudges and alcohol
• Orlaith – the superstitious and suspicious Irish nanny
• Mikayla – Sophie’s bestie who is definitely hiding a big secret

The pace is propulsive, with the POVs alternating between very short chapters. The reader doesn’t know who the dead body is and how they came to be plummeting to their death, but there are plenty of red herrings along the way that kept me guessing the whole time. I wanted all the answers, and when they came, I was shocked by the big reveals!

~ set in Bulverde, Texas
~ a sweet 16 gone awry
~ a scream and a thud 😳

My exact notes from the first few pages of Party of Liars. This perfect poolside read had me hooked from the beginning!

There's a lot to entertain here, from catty high school friendships and a bitter ex-wife to a creepy nanny and an unsettling online fan. Not to mention the newly renovated, STUNNING home that comes complete with a wine cellar in a literal cave and its very own "Mother."

Each chapter just gave me so many questions, and EVERYBODY was a suspect! 😅

Read this if you like:
• Locked-room mysteries
• Creepy nannies and a haunting home
• Over-the-top parties in Hill Country, Texas
• Stories that touch on very serious topics
• Book club reads that entertain and provide much discussion

Many thanks to @minotaur_books for the complimentary copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and provided voluntarily

A decadent Sweet Sixteen set against the eerie backdrop of a Texas mansion turns into a chilling night to remember in this deliciously twisted locked-room mystery. It's a Killer Guest List is as much about buried secrets and family tensions as it is about the glittering chaos of privilege gone awry. With a cast of sharply drawn women each nursing wounds, watching their backs, or planning their next move this tale crackles with suspicion and suspense from the first page to the shocking drop from the balcony. Atmospheric, tightly plotted, and gleefully sinister, this one kept me guessing and gasping until the very end.

Thank you NetGally for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book got me out of the reading slump I have been in for two months. It kept me interested, it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen, and it especially kept me questioning who was the bad guy in the story. It was fun and easy to read.

Party of Liars tells the story of a sweet sixteen party turned deadly from different POV mainly Dani, Kim, Mikayla, and Orlaith. Someone died at this party and only towards the end of the book do we find out who did it, however before finding out who died the book navigates us readers through the party and the hours prior to the murder. If I had to summarise this book I would say the core of this book is to show a mother's love and how far a mother would go to protect her child.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book it got me out of a reading slump and I found it such an easy read, I love short chapters, and a fun whodunit.

I give this book 4.5 stars, rounded up as there are no half stars here.

This is Kelsey Cox debut novel and I will definitely be on the look out for her next books, as I truly enjoyed this one.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.