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.

This was a fun one! Super bingy, didn’t know what was going to happen and did enjoy the twists. This would be a fun summer read.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for my advanced e copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: July 1, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelsey Cox, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for dropping this eARC widget in my inbox! Party of Liars is out now!

I feel like I'm sensing a theme here in 2025 where there are books that are marketed as X and then you read it and it's nothing like what it's marketed as. Party of Liars is no exception to that. I went into this book with no expectations and honestly tried to shut my brain off for once so I could enjoy the thriller and let things unravel as they come, vs. trying to figure out what was going on and what happened before everything happened. Unfortunately, while I did figure out the ending to SOME extent, it still doesn't change the fact that marketing this as a "pulse-pounding" thriller is doing the book a disservice.

Is it a domestic drama? 100% yes, in my opinion.

Is it a thriller filled with twists and turns? No.

Sophie Matthews is turning 16. Her parents, her psychiatrist father, Ethan, and her influencer stepmother, Dani, decide to throw her the party of the century at their cliffside mansion they call home complete with a DJ, a mocktail bar, and a giant birthday cake made by Dani herself. The guest list? Well, it's mostly Ethan and Dani's friends along with some of Sophie's friends, including her best friend, Mikayla. Also showing up uninvited is Ethan's ex-wife and Sophie's biological mother, Kim. When someone falls to their death from one of the balconies at the party, the question becomes, who did it?

The story is told in 4 POVs: Dani's, Mikayla's, Kim's, and Órlaith, Dani's elderly nanny to her and Ethan's infant daughter, Charlotte. What I thought would be an interesting premise to see a thriller told in four wildly different perspectives ended up becoming its own downfall. Going into this a bit more, there are 98 chapters in this book. Ninety-eight chapters in 320 pages. Some of these chapters were barely half a page long. With that being said, the constantly switching chapters made it difficult at times to feel connected to the story. There's more to it than just that, but the constant paragraph breaks and switches between the characters' monologues of the events happening at the party and flashbacks to things that happened leading up to the party made it even more difficult to connect to the story and feel invested in the plot.

Coupled with this is the fact that I thought that the majority of the plot was just filler. Most of the story felt more like a domestic drama/suspense rather than a thriller that would keep people on the edge of their seats. Most of the story is about the events leading up to the scene of the crime, the characters' backstories, or somewhat mundane events happening during the party, but there was not much to gain from the plot that would contribute to anyone figuring out anyone's motives behind anything, really. Normally, that would result in a big plot twist that people won't see coming, but I had my suspicions about certain people leading up to it, and then when the "plot twist" actually happened, I was so over everything that I just wanted the book to be over.

I know this is from a debut author so I try to give them a lot more grace, but I also felt like the author threw a bunch of things in here that she WANTED to include for the sake of including it, but would never go back to said thing or explain anything about it. I was left somewhat confused as to why it's even there if it wasn't explained as to how this or that happened in the first place.

Overall, while I was super excited to read this, it fell flat. Unnecessary filler and fluff lines, along with constantly switching POVs that didn't fully feel fleshed out, made it an extremely difficult read for me. I know this is a debut author, so there's a chance I'll give future works a shot in the future, but this book didn't work for me. I think going into this book with the idea that this is NOT a thriller would've made it a more enjoyable read for me.

I love reading tales from my home state of Texas. They really draw me in and make me feel as if I am truly there because I can picture the settings and locations. Party of Liars had the perfect backdrop of the Texas Hill Country to suck you right into the thriller of solving a murder at a teen birthday party. You get the typical rich façade of characters with their chaotic relationships and quirks as the story is told through multiple POVs. Kelsey Cox will keep you guessing as more twists and turns come at every corner. Don't wait to put this on your TBR list and get it to the top!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

hank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.

This book was wild. It starts by telling you what happens and then goes back and forth in time. Everyone is a liar in this book! It’s all very suspicious and confusing. I feel bad for Sophie! Everyone is untrustworthy. Everyone is a little insane.

Sophie’s 16th birthday party is a huge bash. Her very wealthy father Ethan is throwing it at their enormous house. Dani, Ethan’s very much younger second wife will be there, after she’s had a few struggling months as a new mom. Kim, Ethan’s first wife, will also be there. Sophie’s recent ex boyfriend Mason is also invited. Pretty much the entire town has RSVPd to this party. And everyone is a liar.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a total page turner! I thought it was going in one direction and then BAM, it went a different way. “Party of Liars” by Kelsey Cox will keep you up late reading. The short chapters will keep you going back for more. I didn’t particularly love any of the characters but one came through as my fave at the end!
I look forward to more books by her! Many thanks to the author, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#PartyofLiars #KelseyCox #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #SummerReads #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInTexas

It’s the day of Sophie Matthews’ sixteenth birthday and her wealthy psychiatrist father Ethan is determined to throw her an extravagant Sweet Sixteen party. His spectacular house, a glass-backed mansion on a hill in Bulverde, Texas, is replete with luxuries like an infinity pool and wine cellar, making it the perfect place to host Sophie and her friends. And why not make it a party for the adults, too, as Ethan invites his many well-heeled friends to attend.

Sophie’s stepmom Dani, is frazzled. Ever since the recent birth of her baby, Charlotte, she’s been feeling increasingly disorganized and distressed. Things keep moving from the places she swears she left them, and she’s been hearing and seeing strange things. Ethan is worried that she’s suffering from postpartum psychosis, and has her in psychiatric sessions with his business partner and best friend Curtis.

But Dani isn’t the only one convinced that something is wrong with their house. Her superstitious Irish nanny Orlaith calls the house a thin place, where ghosts can pass into and strongly affect the real world. Even Ethan’s ex-wife Kim, who originally renovated the once derelict house with him, has strong feelings about the place and its history:

QUOTE
It didn’t take long after we moved in before I heard the story from some of the locals, about the first mistress of the grand house on the cliff. She had lost her baby to one of those terrible diseases–scarlet fever or diphtheria–and, driven crazy by grief and guilt, she threw herself from the second-story balcony. According to local legend, she can still be heard wailing, wandering the woods on windy days and stormy nights.

The Mother, they call her.

[I] didn’t believe in ghosts. But I had felt emotions that were too big for my body, that clawed at the insides of my rib cage, swelled up my throat and into my mouth. Who knows if people can live past death. But maybe pain can.
END QUOTE

Dani is determined, however, to fight through her anguish to make a perfect party – and in particular, an extraordinary cake – for her stepdaughter. She and Sophie have always gotten along, and before she married Ethan, she’d built a thriving Instagram following for her ornate baked goods. She’s going to make sure that this party goes off flawlessly, even if it kills her.

By the end of the night, someone actually will be dead, as buried secrets rise to the fore like specters from a graveyard. Was it murder? Or, as more than one person at the party fears, the result of a phantom presence determined to ruin the happiness of others as her own was once destroyed?

This multiple point of view thriller expertly sets up its scenario before peeling back the many layers and hidden agendas of each of its characters. Everyone’s a suspect, even as the question of who actually died keeps readers guessing for over half the book.

What I really appreciated about this novel, however, was the way it dealt with feminine conflict. The women in this book are more than just the roles they seem to inhabit, whether that be overwhelmed new mom, alcoholic ex-wife, jealous best friend or hovering nanny. This conversation between Dani and Kim, for example, showcases their dynamic in the wake of Ethan’s announcement of a surprise vacation he wants to take Dani on. The ex wife tells the new wife:

QUOTE
[“]Look, learn from my mistake. Speak up now. Otherwise you’ll end up consumed with resentment. If you don’t want to go on this trip, just tell him.” She leans back, takes another drink. “You’re a brand-new mom. He’ll understand.”

Surprise, baby, Ethan had said. That kiss to the top of my head. Had he really thought what I needed right now was a surprise? Maybe he did keep it a secret because he knew I would have said no. Does Ethan always get his way?

Why am I even playing into this? The one being manipulative here isn’t my husband. It’s Kim.
END QUOTE

As the day and the night of the party play out, the secrets of the glass house come to light, proving fatal for at least one person there. Solving the mystery may provide exactly the kind of closure and healing the survivors need, in this smart, compassionate and deeply empathetic look at an over-the-top birthday party gone terribly awry.

This book was so good! It kinda gave Big Little Lies vibes, beginning with an "accident" of sorts at a party and then working backwards to see what led up to said accident.

The characters were interesting and this took us through multiple POVs ( I thoroughly enjoyed the nanny.) There was LOTS of drama; the adults and kids both had their own things going on. Dad trying to give his daughter the sweet 16 of her dreams. Mom having to return to the house she and said dad remodeled only now it and her husband belong to someone else. Daughter being a bit of a brat and the best friend who's just happy to be there?

The last twist I somewhat had predicted but that didn't take away from the story at all. I very much enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise immediately caught my interest: a sweet 16 birthday party that goes completely wrong. You learn early on that someone dies the night of the party, and the narrative jumps back and forth in time from multiple perspectives as you discover more and piece everything together. Every character has secrets, and you're never quite sure if you can trust any of them, which I really enjoyed. The twist was unexpected, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox had such an intriguing synopsis so I just knew I was going to love it!

I mean, just look at it:

It’s a killer guest list...
DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s been plagued by self-doubt ever since the birth of her own baby girl
ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who senses a looming danger in this cavernous house
MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who is not nearly as meek as the popular kids assume
KIM: the cunning ex-wife who has a grudge she can’t let go of...
Everyone is invited in. Not everyone will get out alive.

You're intrigued too, right?

And it all adds up to fantastic characters, a haunted setting, and strange occurrences that unravel into one fun and twisted ride!

Cox crafted a large but manageable cast that was easily defined, with each character feeling all too relatable! This coveted setting created the kind of spooky atmosphere I love within summer thrillers! Unreliable narrators soon became spiraling characters and only added to the chaotic party vibes!

Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson narrated an audiobook that has quickly became a favourite! Their voices were distinct, allowing for these characters to really be the "perfectly" created individuals Cox intended!

Straight up, I'm a huge fan of domestic thrillers, and this is the perfect example of why!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

I devoured this last month, and what a ride! Set in a sprawling, creepy (possibly haunted 👻) mansion deep in the Texas Hill Country, this story hooked me from page one. Years ago, the house gained a dark reputation after a grieving mother jumped from a top-story window. Fast forward to the present: the same house is hosting a glitzy Sweet 16 when — you guessed it — a body falls from the balcony. Cue the locked-room murder mystery vibes, shifting POVs, secrets, and so many twists!

If you love a whodunnit where everyone seems guilty and the house itself feels like a character, this one’s for you!

“Party of Liars” was such a page-turner! It was fast-paced and interesting from beginning to end. I devoured this book in one day. It hits the ground running and never stops. There were so many characters and plots, I couldn't for the life of me think that it would all come together in the end, but it did and so well! I think the cast of characters is what makes this book really standout, plenty of interesting suspects with motive. 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. I was eagerly flipping pages and collecting clues trying to solve the mystery. This story definitely had me guessing for the majority of the book. I absolutely can't believe that this is a debut! I can't wait to see what else comes from Kelsey Cox! I could see this being adapted as a mini-series for cable or streaming. “Party of Liars” is the perfect summer beach read! Thanks to Kelsey Cox, Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press- Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of this book!

4.5 rounded down.

For Sophie Mathews's sweet sixteen party, her dad, Ethan, did not cut any corners. The party is flashy and over the top, and the guest list is filled with everyone close to them in their wealthy San Antonio suburb. It is as picture perfect as their life is. But it seems everyone has something to hide, and before the candles are even blown out in the cake, someone is dead and no one's secrets are safe.

What a ride!!! This was a brilliantly crafted thriller that hinged on well developed character back stories in order to be successful, and it really worked! Told through the lens of 4 different party attendees; Kim, Sophie's mom, Dani, Sophie's stepmom, Mikayla, Sophie's best friend, and Orlaith, the nanny to Sophie's baby sister, this book was not short on characters or perspectives. I will say that the set up was a bit slow (hence the 4.5 instead of 5 stars) as the reader is still being introduced to characters 30% into the book. There are A LOT of characters. So I struggled to get into it, but once all the character building was done, and I was able to see into the lives of these people, I was really able to enjoy it. The last 20% or so is when shit really hits the fan, and the facade of perfection starts to dismantle. I actually felt like this was really similar to the format of the TV show White Lotus. There are a ton of rich people in close proximity, all clearly with their own agenda, but with connections to each other that are largely unknown. Then when everything comes together at the end, you are able to see how all the preceding events lead to a really stellar ending!

"A lavish, Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen turns deadly in this twisty, pulse-pounding new novel — serving up a fresh take on a classic locked-room whodunnit. Let the festivities begin…"

What a debut!! I was creeped out by the superstition and haunting display of imagining things, so it was not easy to put this one down. This beautiful 100 year old home has been completely renovated after being closed up for decades. The back of the house has been demolished and rebuilt with floor to ceiling windows. It is perched above the Texas town on a cliff side which never seems to be a good thing. A tragedy occurred in the house a century ago when a baby died and a woman jumped from a balcony to her death.
A lavish, sweet 16th birthday is about to occur for Sophie. Her dad, Ethan and her stepmom, Dani have planned the ultimate black-tie party. Dani's dream of being a baker has been put on hold while she tends to their new baby, but has taken to social media for an outlet instead. She suffered from postpartum and in the beginning we know she is dealing with mental health issues and the danger of an episode.
A lot of drama impales the characters with regrets, lies, secrets and deception. Sophie's mom, Kim has given into alcohol to minimize her pain and becomes dangerously narrow-minded, spiraling out of control. She has been invited to this eventful party. As the party is underway, a body falls from the balcony. In the beginning, you are not given privy to who it is, so the build is amazing and nail biting. It occurs in parts of Before the Party, The night of, and After with 4 POVs ranging from the stepmom, mother, the nanny, and Sophie's best friend.
The nanny, Orlaith, feels a sense of unease as the house is a combination of psychological factors, unusual noises and events. Her superstitions have her watching closely over little baby Charlotte and the couple.
I could not figure out where this was going. I have read so many books with this premise, but as a debut, nothing quite like this one. This one sends chills up your spine. As tension rises, so does paranoia. Enjoy the ride because it is just that! Outstanding, amazing, shocking....
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this enticing ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 / 5 stars

Sophie Matthews’s Sweet Sixteen is set to be the event of the season – a black-tie party in a newly renovated cliffside mansion in the Texas Hill Country. But before the candles are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the dance floor below.

A fun summer thriller with gothic edges and Big Little Lies DNA, in Party of Lies, secrets run deep, the past is hard to escape, and the truth of what happened that night slowly comes to light.

This book is an immersive, page-turning, one-day thriller, but it’s also layered with family secrets, social tensions, and a deliciously eerie setting that will appeal to gothic-leaning readers. It's the kind of book where you know something terrible has happened, but not to whom or exactly how, and you’re flipping pages to piece it together.

One of my favorite elements here was the house itself. Perched cliffside, one character calls it a “Barbie Dream Home” with an entire wall of windows, making everything visible and inescapable. But under all that glass and light is a cavernous, hidden wine cellar and underground spring. The house’s layered “landscape” reflects the characters’ secrets, the contrast between exposure and what’s hidden beneath, and the past that clings to the walls.

Of the POVs, Dani is definitely the heart of the story (sorry, birthday girl), and felt the most like the “main” character, grounding the tension with emotional stakes. Kim is messy and can be mean, but she’s compelling, especially if you’re listening to the audiobook, where Saskia Maarleveld’s narration makes her sections a standout. And while I won’t spoil details, Mikayla’s storyline offers some of the book’s biggest surprises.

If I had one quibble, it would be the portrayal of a character with a stammer. This is maybe a topic to which I am more sensitive than most, but it was a character detail that felt unnecessary to me.

Still, this is a fun, fast, engaging read perfect for summer – ideal for readers who enjoy Big Little Lies-style layered POV thrillers, crave a gothic edge in their summer books, or are looking for a quick, immersive audiobook. A fun pick for your July reading list.

Make no mistake: Throughout the entirety of this book, I really did hang on every word - even staying up extra late to make it to what was an exciting twist of events. That said, by somewhere around the 70% mark, I was so tired of the back-and-forth chapters that offered perspectives of the main characters that I violated my normal bedtime to read so it would be over almost more than because I wanted to learn the "truth." That writing technique is popular and certainly can be effective, but for me, at least, it also gets very old very fast.

The gist of the whole thing is this: Ethan and his third wife, Dani, are living in an expensive, eye-popping historic home, the entire back of which is a glass sheet that overlooks a steep ravine (think of your doll house as a kid that had no back on it so the contents can be seen and played with). They have an infant daughter, Charlotte, and an Irish nanny named Orlaith, the latter because Dani seems to be mentally unstable - perhaps a bit beyond postpartum depression. Ethan is a psychiatrist with partner Curtis, a childhood friend (kind of surprising that everyone refers to him as "Mr." and not "Dr." - hmmm, is that some kind of clue)?

Ethan's second ex-wife, Kim, is a disgraced veterinarian and mostly functioning alcoholic; together, they had daughter Sophie, who lives with mom and is very popular and drop-dead gorgeous. It's her Sweet Sixteen party at her dad and stepmom's big house that's the focus of the story; besides all three parents, Sophie's long-time best friend, mousey Mikayla, will be there with countless others, some of whom actually wish Sophie well. Not a single character, in fact, is without flaw - apparently, no one nice lives in Comal County, Texas.

And oh, did I mention that the house is rumored to be haunted?

As you might expect - well, I did, anyway - things go horribly wrong at the party almost immediately. Readers don't know exactly what happened, or to whom, though - the purpose of those character perspective switchbacks is to provide hints and clues that will keep us guessing right up to the end. Trust me, it's a doozy - I just wish it had happened a little sooner. But all told, it's a terrific read, and I definitely recommend it. Thanks go to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The setting and premise of this domestic drama/thriller is fantastic! Sophie Matthew is already popular and the Texas-sized Sweet 16 party her dad throws for her in his cliffside mansion in the Texas Hill Country make both teens and adult friend of Ethan Matthews envious. Ethan's young wife Dani is easing back into things after a difficult postpartum recovery from having the couple's baby daughter. She's putting on a brave face for Sophie's sake, but not everyone at the party is a friend. Strange things are going on in the house that is rumored as being haunted and everyone is keeping secrets.

There is a large cast of characters in the book including family friends, work colleagues, the nanny, and teenage friends of Sophie. The story is told from multiple points-of-view with a timeline both before and after the party. While important to the story, sometimes the chapters narrated by the nanny and Sophie's friend Mikayla interrupt the momentum of the story. At the party, there are many people behaving badly, both teens and adults with the liquor flowing and gossip flying.

The reader knows someone will not survive the party, but doesn't know who the victim will be. There is more than one villain in this story, but with one exception, I kept changing my mind about who they were. Some of the characters are manipulative, which was sometimes hard for me to read. However, in spite of a couple of loose ends, I was pleased by the way the story ends and shocked by one of the final reveals.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and SMP Early Readers for the advance review copy. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

This was a fun spin on the locked room mystery! I loved that it took place during a Sweet Sixteen birthday party 🥳

I flew through this book 🙌 I physically read the first 40% and then finished the rest on audio during my drive up north 🎧

I loved the multiple POVs, short chapters, and alternating timeline. So many secrets started revealing themselves and I did not see the ending coming 😮

I had a great time with this debut thriller and recommend picking it up!

The premise sounded great, but alas this one fell short for me. The characters are highly unlikable which in turn fits the title of this book very well. I wouldn't say that I have to have likeable characters in the books I read for it to be enjoyable, but I at least want that "must keep reading to find out who done it" vibe. I just didn't feel that with this book. I listened to the audio and was excited for a full cast narration which turns out didn't make any difference either. I left my star review on Goodreads, but don't plan to post a full review. This book has many rave reviews already and I don't want to deter people from picking this one up. Just because it disnt work for me doesn't mean it won't work for someone else.

I read over 100 thrillers a year and it's rare for me to not have at least some inkling as to whodunnit, but I was honestly surprised by the ending of this book and that made it a lot more fun than I was expecting. Some of the reviews for "Party of Liars" mention slow pacing but I totally disagree. This one kept me reading for hours and I ignored other plans to avoid putting this book down. I've also seen reviews mentioning that this book has too many chapters, and that each chapter is a different POV. Rather than pull me out of the story, this kept me on my toes and the author did a great job of making it work.

While I'm not usually a fan of the stereotypical southern culture "everything's bigger in Texas" and "bless your heart," this book didn't fall into the stereotypes so I didn't mind the setting.

Overall I felt that this book was a thriller with a twist I didn't see coming, so it will be a good fit for thriller and mystery lovers. Because it's about a Sweet Sixteen, I think it will also be a good match for budding thriller fans looking to move up from YA.