What an amazing thriller told through 5 different perspectives. This book was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint. This was my first Kelsey Cox book and it won’t be my last.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

A sweet sixteen party that ends deadly. we've got a guest list of messy women who are each struggling mentally and A haunted house. This book kept me on the edge of my seat gnawing on my finger nails until the conclusion. I will definitely be thinking about this twisty thriller for a long time.

A cliffside mansion with a haunted past. An outrageous, day-along Sweet 16 extravaganza fueled by booze, gossip, and the Texas heat. Practically the whole town is here, watching and judging and sharing stories. But when someone falls from the balcony to their death at the end of the night, did anyone else see it coming?

The story of Sophie Matthews’ unforgettable birthday party is told from four different perspectives: Sophie's childhood best friend, Mikayla; her mother, Kim; her recently postpartum stepmother, Dani; and her half-sister's Irish nanny, Órlaith. Each of them had their own struggles going into the party: Sophie's popular new friends, a devastating reputation, postpartum depression, and the loss of a child, to name a few. But the four are connected by Sophie and her father, Ethan, and all are both reluctant participants and witnesses during the big day.

It starts slowly: A pointed look here, a questionable comment there. But as the revelations begin to hit harder and faster, several lives threaten to unravel— until one finally does.

I wasn't convinced that I was going to like this novel at first, but once the events of the party kicked into gear, this became a quick and addicting read that played with my mind and heart brilliantly! Sure, you may guess at an element or two, but the full picture is quite the ride. There was one particular twist that was set up so well, it sent my jaw to the floor, and I don't generally consider myself an easy reader to surprise.

There's a claustrophobic tension in the way everyone knows everyone and they're all stuck together for the day. It may not work for every reader, but it made me want to desperately flip through until the end. The only minor inconvenience in the storytelling was the flashbacks: They were necessary, but seemed to really lump together in one section.

Four perspectives is a lot, but Kelsey Cox did a great book melding them together to form a cohesive story. I particularly liked the mother characters: Kim, a hot mess with too much to say and a reputation that seemingly doesn't allow her to be taken seriously, is a great foil to Dani, whose attempts to be an attentive and ever-dutiful wife, mother, and stepmother always seem to fall short. None of the perspectives are badly written— Mikayla and Órlaith are very interesting characters, in their own right— but the central theme of messy motherhood for Kim and Dani really stuck with me.

If you love a good, close quarters mystery with a lot of moving parts, Party of Liars was a surprise that will really stick with you! It's a snowball of small tensions that race into a bigger picture that's dark, thrilling and deeply personal for these imperfect but fascinating characters.

Party of Liars is about Sophie Matthews Sweet 16 and what unfolds in the course of one day. right away we know someone is dead.. but who?

I always love a book when rich people are doing questionable things. This was a Mystery/Thriller that was a slooooooooooow burn. AND I MEAN SLOW. This is not how I normally like this genre, however I did enjoy this book. As the story progressed I wanted to see who ended up dead and what actually happened. I enjoyed certain people's POV, but felt other POVs were not needed (KIM!). That ending though did get me, I did not see that coming! I would recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

I have the perfect recommendation for Thriller Thursday! My friends at @minotaur_books shared this #gifted ARC with me digitally a few months ago. It was lost in my overflowing TBR until a couple of weeks ago. Literally from the moment I started reading it, I was hooked. There’s nothing better than going into a book completely blind- no context or expectations- and having it blow your mind.

Party of Liars is a gripping thriller that starts out with a death at a Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen and works backwards through the unraveling of a marriage, the breakdown of new mom’s fragile psyche, and the tension of a teenage friendship. The story is set in a luxurious, possibly haunted mansion, that is ironically located in the relatively small town where my sister in law lives. It even shouts out my favorite coffee shop from my last visit, which made the haunted, ghost story vibes a little creepier for me.

What should be a huge celebration spirals into a gripping murder mystery, and you as the reader have to figure out who is really in danger. You will be guessing until the very end. This checks so many thriller boxes for me:
- Haunted house
- Seriously creepy small-town ghost story
- So many plenty of red herrings
- Classic locked-room murder mystery

Immediately after finishing this, I started searching for more books by @kelseycoxwriter. I couldn’t believe it was her debut. It’s perfect. I’m so thankful I was able to read it early. This will be on my shortlist of recommendations as soon as it released on July 1st!

Do you always read the back of a book before you dive in or do you like to be surprised?

#thrillerthursday #gifted #minotaur #partyofliarskelseycox #partyofliars

Talk about twists and turns! Just when I thought I had figured out what was happening, I was thrown off by a twist. There are multiple POvs to this story, but they are easy to follow. Overall, it was a good thriller and kept me on my toes.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this novel! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and this ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie Matthews is turning 16 and her birthday party is going to be to die for! She and her family live in the deep heart of Texas. Her rich dad, Ethan, with her stepmom, Dani, and Sophie’s new half-sister, Charlotte, live in a newly renovated cliff top mansion rumored to be haunted. Sophie lives mostly with her mom Kim. Orlaith is and older Irish nanny living with Ethan and Dani helping them with baby Charlotte. However, Orlaith gives off some mysterious and strange vibes. Lastly, there is Mikayla, Sophie’s best friend! Ethan has put on an extravagant birthday party for his daughter. Everyone of who’s who is at the party throwing back glass after glass of alcohol and having a grand ‘ol time! Then, just as the cake is about to be cut, a body comes flying over the balcony and lands right on the dance floor!!! The question is, who at that party could have done it?!?!?
This is Kelsey Cox’s first novel, and I didn’t want to put it down! It pulled me in from the very beginning and the twists just kept coming. The ending was definitely a shocker!!! AVAILABLE July 1, 2025

I didn’t love this thriller, but I did really like it. First of all, there are so many characters and points of view that I got lost in those details at the beginning. Secondly, I couldn’t relate to any of the main characters, although there were a host of them. What I liked was the pacing, the short chapters and the tension that the author includes in the story as well as in the lives of the characters. Dani is the new wife of Ethan, a young and beautiful woman who is talented in baking but lacks confidence in the motherhood department. I felt bad for her that she was missing out on bonding with baby Charlotte, but she seemed to be okay with having a nanny, at least at first. The nanny, an Irish woman named Orlaith, presents a sinister factor to the story. I never knew when and where she would turn up and what she would do next. She seemed to resent Dani’s motherhood and marriage. Kim is the ex-wife who is more likely to throw a pity party than anything else. She attends the party because it is her daughter’s Sweet Sixteen party, but I don’t think she was there out of goodwill or love. Sophie is the spoiled little rich girl who has her dad Ethan wrapped around her little fingers and who plays the part of innocence well, but I didn’t like or trust her much because I thought she was shallow. Finally, her best friend Mikayla who has little or no self-confidence in her appearance and does not come from money offers the perfect backdrop for Sophie and her over-the-top party. Mikayla is the one with common sense and the knowledge to watch out at the party. Speaking of the party, the guests are mostly wealthy Texans with nothing to do with their time except gossip and invest money to make more money. Even though this was a Sweet Sixteen party, most of the guests were clients or friends of Ethan, a proud man who wants to show off the house that he just redid, from top to bottom. He seems like a good father and a caring husband, but again, he was a character whom I had little respect or trust for. The first almost forty percent of the book is setting the stage with all of the characters, their secrets and backstories. Most of that part moved at a slower pace than I would have liked, but I understood the reason for it once the death happens at the party. So many suspects among all of those guests! I liked how the tension escalated during the party and that the author provided red herrings, twists and actual clues about the murder that took place there. All in all, it was a good book that I was invited to read. I am not sure I would have picked it up on my own, but I am glad that I read it because I do enjoy good thrillers that are well written. This was a good thriller with some pacing issues for me, but I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes a hidden mystery and a haunted house.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

4 ⭐'s for me!
The amount of drama between the friend groups and then also the families was very entertaining that I didn't want to put the book down. The mystery elements added in with how the nanny came about was very interesting and such a great twist. There were a few things that you could predict but then others you couldn't which made it a fast pasted read for me.
You can picture all these activities actually happening like a typical teenage party movie (with a twist!)
The added seem to be crazy ex-wife didn't hurt either!

The whole town is looking forward to Sophie’s Sweet Sixteen and getting a glimpse of the remodeled mansion that overlooks the town, but everyone arrives with dark secrets along with a gift…

A perfect thriller! This book grabbed me from the start and didn’t let me go until the last page. I know I’ll be thinking about the characters long after reading. As a mother, I loved the explanations of a mother’s love and struggles. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the rug got pulled out from under me. This was a fun summer read and I look forward to more from this author!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing a free ARC for review via NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

This was a really fun and addictive thriller. I was hooked from the very first page. It should be noted though that even though this book is set around a sweet 16, this book includes a lot of "adult" content, so it may not be best suited for younger readers. With that being said, I can't believe this a debut novel! Kelsey Cox is a fantastic writer.

Furthermore, the audiobook version of this book is fantastic! The audiobook is Narrated by a full cast including Dan Bittner; Kate Handford; Pearl Hewitt; Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson. I loved each and every one of these narrators and I thought they were all perfectly picked to narrate this book.

I highly recommend that you pick up this book and pack it into your beach bag this summer!

A rich girl’s Sweet Sixteen ends in muuuurder. because of course it does. A remote Texas mansion, rumored to be haunted. A black-tie guest list full of secrets. A body drops from a balcony before the birthday candles are even lit. Classic locked-room setup. Too bad the payoff doesn’t match the premise.

It wasn’t that the ending was predictable — more like a “…seriously?” moment. The reveal feels less like a twist and more like how weird can we make this.

Most of the characters are unlikeable, which seems by design. When everyone’s a suspect, nobody can be too sympathetic. Fair enough. I did end up with strong feelings toward one character in particular (none of them good), so I’ll give the book credit for that.

Also? If you’re going to dangle haunted house vibes for 300 pages, give me something real. Ghosts. Demons. At least one cursed antique mirror. Otherwise, it just feels like a missed opportunity.

Kelsey Cox’s fast-paced PARTY OF LIARS mixes modern teen drama with the classic whodunnit formula, making for a fun, suspenseful thriller.

The story begins with an over-the-top Sweet Sixteen party held at a newly renovated Texas mansion with a creepy past, adding a sense of unease to the narrative. The glamorous celebration quickly turns deadly when a body "crashes" the party. That one incident triggers a twisty mystery full of secrets, suspicion, and long-held grudges.

The cast of characters is interesting and serves to keep the tension high, making it feel like everyone has something to hide. Cox does a great job layering each character’s backstory and keeps readers guessing with every chapter.

This is the kind of book readers can get pulled into and easily devour in one sitting. It’s engaging, unpredictable, and incredibly entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox. This book was a good story but it didn't captivate me the same way that it has others. The story takes place at a party and various points of view are heard. At times while reading I just got bogged down and it was moving quickly enough for me. It read more like a domestic drama than a thriller in my opinion. It wasn't quite like the description of the book that was given in the synopsis. I did enjoy it, however, it did not fully engage me. A 3 star rating from me. Many have given 4 or 5 stars, so please read their reviews.

“Some parties end with cake. This one ends with sirens.”
Okay, we start with flashing police lights and the hint that something terrible went down at a Sweet Sixteen party in a fancy Texas neighborhood. But instead of spilling the drama right away, it rewinds and slowly builds the tension through multiple POVs—moms, teens, even the nanny. I loved seeing the layers unfold and trying to piece it all together. Everyone’s got secrets.

The structure was really cool. You don’t even hear the word “hospital” until you’re like 73% in, and the actual death reveal doesn’t come until around 90%. It’s a slow burn for sure, but the kind that keeps pulling you forward. I couldn’t stop guessing who got hurt and who was responsible.

Bonus points for the character list at the beginning—super helpful with a big cast. And every character had depth. No one’s totally innocent, and the book does a great job showing both the polished exteriors and all the messy stuff underneath.

If you like layered, character-driven mysteries with just the right amount of rich-people drama and emotional chaos, this is a fun one to pick up.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a fast paced thriller which takes place at a Sweet 16 Birthday party which ends in a tragedy when someone falls from the balcony. We first learn that the house which is located on a cliff is rumored to be haunted by someone known as “The Mother.” That already was enough to grab my attention.

The story is told in multiple POVs which works great with this book as we start to learn a little about each of them and try to decide if they are hiding something. The story is mainly about Dani who is a new mother and it’s revealed that something bad happened weeks back and it is believed to be due to the “baby blues” but could there be a more sinister reason?

The story is told in the present POV which is Sophie’s party and it’s also told in the past which recounts stories that all lead to this day of the party.
What I liked about this story is that it just hooks you and you want to keep reading more to see who fell from the balcony. Did this person fall by accident, intentionally at the hands of another, or did something supernatural take place?

Overall this was a great fast paced thriller which I enjoyed. I did not see that end coming!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books. All opinions are my own.

The short chapters and the story being told from multiple points of view really keeps you engaged. The mansion is rumored to be haunted - is it? Dani may be suffering from postpartum psychosis- is she? Is Kim struggling with more than just her drinking? Is Mikayla just jealous of her friend Sophie, or is there more? What is the nanny hiding? Was the death at Sophie’s sweet 16 birthday party an accident, suicide or murder? Everyone has secrets and is hiding something! Psychological thriller readers take note! This is a twisty, entertaining read!

Today is Sophie’s Matthew’s 16th birthday party. Her dad has spared no expensive and has invited friends and family to his expensive mansion that looks out onto their small Texas town. The mansion was once thought to be haunted but has gone through a full renovation and is now the talk of the town. The party is in full swing when a guest goes over the balcony and secrets and lies could destroy more lives.

This book had me fully immersed from the very beginning. The characters, setting and plot were so well written that I could see everything visually in my head with such detail. The characters were interesting and well developed and wow did it get darker than I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am always a fan of locked room mysteries and this was no exception. Unfortunately a lot of this book was about rich people behaving badly. There have been too many books of this trope lately and they aren't interesting or entertaining.

It had the potential to have a good storyline but everything just fizzled out. Not a favorite.

I received a free ARC of this book and then was never in the mood to read it. I saw a review saying how good it was and I wanted to give it a try before its’ publication day, so I decided to make it my next read.

This book was not at all what I was expecting! I thought it would have more of a YA feel to it, and I’m glad it didn’t. It gets dark, FYI. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the twists in this one.