A party in a mansion on a hill is the setting for this thriller. The characters include Dani, the owner and the wife of Ethan, mother of Charlotte; Orlaith, Charlotte's Irish nanny; Ethan, Dani's wife; Kim, Ethan's ex-wife; Sophie, Ethan and Kim's 16 year old daughter, and Mikayla, Sophie's friend. The story is told in turns by each of these characters except Ethan. Ethan and Dani are opening their home to envious friends to celebrate Sophie's birthday. We know that sometime during the party, a person falls from the balcony and dies. We also know that almost every character has a dark past/current life. This is a very compelling story as we hear from each character and try to find out who died and what happened. It is an immensely easy-to-read book, and I loved it! Highly recommend!!

I am still processing the ending of this book and wow I applaud the author because I had so much doubt and suspicion with absolutely everybody in this book, I loved the ending and not at all what I guessed. Such a great thriller that kept my attention and honestly never wanted to put it down. 5 ⭐️

How can a book that makes you so angry be so infuriatingly good? This story made my blood boil with sheer rage. It’s tense and immersive, like you’re experiencing everything right alongside the characters. A slow-burn, but highly addictive and worth every page.

The POVs were perfectly chosen. Each character with her own inner demons, unable to trust her own senses. The twists were perfectly revealed, and I absolutely loved how the story came together at the end. This is so much more than a suspense/psychological thriller - it’s female rage and motherhood in its rawest, truest form. I could not put this one down!

Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I recommend this book if you are looking for a locked room mystery with multiple POVs and short chapters. I didn’t know who to trust! The only aspect that I didn’t like about this book is that we didn’t find out who was murdered until 93% in, which made the ending feel quite rushed.

Do not quite this one. It's super slow, but it can't be skipped to the end. It's a build on each page worth reading.

It's hard to review this one without spoilers, so I will focus on what I felt. Will I recommend it? YES! It's super slow building. Instead of the classic build of whodunnit, we get the "death" happening close to the end. We live with these characters without knowing who to trust, who is going to die... but we can't stop reading because there's nothing we can do, and holding that to that idea, the end gains a deeper meaning. Because there's nothing we can do until it happens. Very good ending and novel.
My fav character: Órlaith

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is an absolutely gripping and thought-provoking read that had me hooked from start to finish. The author masterfully creates an intriguing story filled with suspense, drama, and a touch of mystery. The plot is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing, and the pacing is spot-on—just the right balance of tension and revelation.

The characters are complex and well-developed, each carrying their own secrets and motivations that unfold throughout the book. I found myself invested in their journeys, even when some of their actions were morally ambiguous. The relationships between the characters are intricate and add depth to the story, making it not only a thrilling ride but also an emotional one.

The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because there were a couple of moments where the pacing slowed down a bit, and some plot threads felt slightly underexplored. But overall, Party of Liars is an impressive, addictive novel that I couldn’t put down. Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful, character-driven stories with plenty of twists.

Wow!! This book took me by surprise! It wasn’t on my radar but the publisher reached out to offer to read an ARC of this debut author and boy am I glad I said yes!

Admittedly, it took a bit to get into and because I didn’t read the description in full carefully I had a very different concept in my head going in. The book is told in a multi-POV as well as multi- timeline format. There are a total of 5 POVs but primarily it’s 4 women, Dani, Kim, Órlaith, and Mikayla with only 1 chapter being from Ethan the MMC, taking place either Before, after, or during a 16th birthday party.

The birthday party is for Sophie who is the daughter of Kim and Ethan, step daughter to Dani, and best friend of Mikayla. Órlaith is the Nanny for Sophie’s half sister, Charlotte. On the surface the plot can seem confusing with all the POVs as well as timeline jumps but it was smartly written where it flows beautifully.

For the first half of the book I was thinking that it was a solid 4⭐️ story but after the 50% mark I couldn’t put the book down! Many times in thrillers I figure out the twist early on but with this I was so engrossed in the book that I didn’t even think about what it could be as I was enjoying the ride because there were many pieces to be sorted including who the victim was. I loved getting to know so the various flawed characters as well as the psychology of what was going on.

I can’t wait for this book to come out on July 1, 2025 because despite having the ebook ARC copy, I want the physical to reread, I enjoyed it that much.

I am so thankful to have gotten the ARC for free from Minotaur Books, an imprint of St Martins Press through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

From the moment Sophie Matthews’ extravagant birthday party begins, you know something isn’t right. The cliffside mansion—recently renovated after being abandoned for years—sets the perfect eerie backdrop for a night filled with dark secrets. And when a body suddenly falls from the balcony, the festivities take a deadly turn. But who among the glamorous guests had the motive to kill?

What I loved most about this book was its cast of suspicious, complex characters. Everyone has something to hide—Dani, the insecure new stepmother; Órlaith, the nanny with an eerie sixth sense; Mikayla, the underestimated best friend; and Kim, the vengeful ex-wife. Each perspective peels back new layers of tension, making you second-guess every assumption. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, another clue flips the entire narrative.

The pacing is pitch-perfect—every chapter builds on the suspense without unnecessary fluff. The writing is vivid and cinematic, making you feel like you’re right there in the grand ballroom, watching the mystery unravel under the glow of chandeliers. And the ending? Let’s just say it’s chef’s kiss—completely unexpected, yet so satisfying.

Whoa. What a wild trip this book took me on!! A fancy, drama-filled, crazy trip. A Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen? A possibly haunted mansion? A dead body crashing the party? To say I was instantly sucked in would be an understatement!!

The whole thing unfolds over one night, which made it feel super tense and super atmospheric. The multiple POVs gave all the juicy details, and led me in completepy wrong directions!

Big thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book? This was good. Think like Clue vibes, but leading up to the crime, not after the fact. And that ending really did something for me.

Trying to unravel the events of the day while also figuring out what's real and what isn't was a fun ride for me. Orlaith is a weird nanny with creepy anecdotes nobody asked for. Kim is a raging alcoholic who can't let go of the past. Dani is suffering from post-partum anxiety and feels like she's losing touch with reality. And Mikayla is the best friend with a slew of her own secrets.

Whose body fell from the balcony? Was it intentional? Which of these four were involved? Is the house truly haunted? I needed all of the answers and was never disappointed.

Wow, what a ride. A fancy, drama-filled, absolutely unhinged ride. A Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen? A possibly haunted mansion? A dead body crashing the party? Yeah, I was hooked.

The whole thing unfolds over one night, which made it feel super tense and almost claustrophobic—in the best way. The multiple POVs gave all the juicy details, and let me tell you, these characters have baggage. Family drama, friendships on the edge, grudges that run deep—it’s all here. And while I did guess a few things, there were still some twists that totally got me.

It’s not perfect (a little slow at times, and I wish the haunted house angle went further), but overall? A fun, dramatic, and totally binge-worthy read.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

At first I wasn’t sure what I thought about this book. It started off a bit slow and I was confused where it was going it wasn’t until about halfway where I could not put it down. I finished it in hours.

I loved al the different storylines going on, and the multiple POVs. So much going on at once and everything wrapped up better than I could’ve hoped.
The motive, the secrets, the delusion. So good.
The ending was something I did not expect what so ever.
It was something suspenseful and I was kept on my toes.

Really really enjoyed this book.
Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this in advanced in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks for the review copy, This is an over the top sweet 16 party. The book is full of tension. People will love the suspense.

I loooooooved this book. I love multi POV and I love a plot that’s kind of like a bunch of puzzle pieces coming together. My pet peeve is when mysteries have loose ends, and this didn’t at all. Every character’s mystery was concluded, all the questions were answered. That’s not to say anything about this book is boring, because it isn’t. I guessed a few things correctly before they happened, but in a way I didn’t mind, and I was totally surprised by other things. Kelsey Cox had me on my toes. The setting adds a lot to the story and the lore about it being haunted adds a fun splash of spookiness. The dynamics between the characters are well written and believable while being fraught with tension and underlying issues. The themes are dark but not as dark as other mystery/thrillers I’ve read. I was lucky to read this book early through Netgalley and I think people will really love it when it hits stores this summer. I’m looking forward to whatever else Kelsey Cox writes in the future.

Ethan, Dani and baby Charlotte live in a renovated 100 year old home in Texas. Some say the house is haunted. They are throwing a sweet sixteen party for Ethan's daughter Sophie and have invited half the town to the party and to see the newly renovated home. Also invited to the party is Kim, Ethan's ex wife and Sophie's mother. After the party has been going on for hours and just as the elaborate cake is brought out tragedy strikes the party.
This is told in multiple POV's including Dani, Kim, the nanny and Sophie's best friend Mikayla. It turns out that several people at the party are not who they seem to be. Who fell from the balcony and what exactly happened ?
I did enjoy this book and I liked reading about all the different points of view. My favorite character was Dani and I would've liked to hear more about her love of baking.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.

Party of Liars is the perfect thriller/Mystery for those who love playing detective. This story takes place in Texas at the remodeled mansion of Sophie's father. Right before she blows out the candles, a body drops from the balcony. What was supposed to be the best sweet 16 party a girl could want turns into a nightmare. With a group of suspects and crazy twists turns, this book will keep you guessing.

I am new to thrillers and this was the perfect book to start out the season. I loved how the author told this story. I was guessing constantly. One minute I think I have figured out who the bad guy is then the next, I'm trying all over again to figure out the mystery. This story had the perfect amount of suspects to go along with a spooky atmosphere of a supposed haunted mansion. I really enjoyed this story and I find that this would be the perfect read for any YA lover. If you are looking for a great thriller with lots of unexpected twists. this book is for you!

A Party…a Past…and many many lies. What more could you ask for in a book. This was a super fast ready with very short chapters. Good characters and a twisted storyline. You don’t have a clue where it is going to end and who did what.

This one had a great premise but was just okay for me. I hated literally all the characters and really didn't care what happened to any of them. It was hard to feel sorry for them in the resolution. Sorry, not for me. Others will enjoy it.

I feel somewhat ambivalent about this book. I am not always a fan of multiple points of view, and I think there could have been fewer of those in this book with the same effect. On the other hand, the unsettling setting of shadows and hidden faces that surround the huge and dramatically situated mansion near Bulverde, Texas is carefully described and draws in the reader.

The characters center around two groups: teenagers and adults who are intertwined, as the reader ultimately understands, by their relationship to one person. There are themes that are well drawn, including postpartum depression, alcoholism, medication as a forced form of treatment by psychiatrists, the compelling and conflicting friendships of women, teenage sexual drama, parental/child relationships, and a homicide (classified as an accidental death). The ultimate reveal of the source of the mystery is shocking and well described.

The author does an excellent job of intricate description, and the creepy scenes throughout the book are definitive and effective.

I'll be interested to see what the author produces if she writes another book. This was a good first effort.

Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Satisfying easy read of a white lady thriller. One major red herring early on was kindof annoying when the related twist was revealed, but still a good example of the genre and I would happily devour more from Cox.