This book was such a delicious debut! I loved every second of it!

There is a mansion on a hill that the entire town has watched get remodeled. The back of the home is all windows so you can see right inside. To say that everyone wants to get inside this house is an understatement.

Ethan Matthews and his young wife Dani live in this home with their baby. Ethan also has another daughter named Sophie, who he decides to throw a Sweet Sixteen birthday party for. He invites more of his friends than hers to help show off the house. The party is going pretty well with drinks and dancing until a body falls from a balcony.

This story is told from the perspective of these four women.

Dani is married to Ethan and just had a baby. She is receiving messages from someone and thinks she is being stalked but she can’t prove it. She is doing her best to prove she is a good mother who can take care of her baby, run her bakery and prove she’s not crazy.

Kim, Ethan’s ex wife, is bitter about the house since it was her dream house and she helped renovate it and another woman gets to live in it. Since the divorce, she has lost her job, and has turned to alcohol to help her cope.

Mikayla is Sophia’s best friend. She’s been around the family so long she’s basically another daughter. She’s also got a few secrets of her own that she’s hiding.

Orlaith is Dani’s nanny that watches the baby while she works. Only, she’s weird. She’s good though, and the baby loves her. Dani has her suspicions about her but needs her. Orlaith has a different death story for everyone.

I loved the multiple POVs. The flashbacks really seemed to work with this and I loved how every single person had a secret so you really were kept guessing until the end.

Think everything is big in Texas? How about a sweet sixteen party? It’s a riveting tale of family - a father, a daughter, a mother, and a step mother. What lengths will people go through to protect who they love - especially under the bright lights of success. There are secrets to be had in this novel - but there’s also a ton of foreshadowing. Be in the watch for both! Thanks to NetGalley for the read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was a quick, twisty read with good characters, satisfying comeuppance for the villains, and a good dose of weirdness (the nanny! yikes) to give it that little extra gleam in a crowded genre. Some days you want something you don't have to think about too much and this hit the spot. I'll take it!

My thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Party of Liars takes readers to an elite private school where reputations are everything—and secrets are currency. When a party ends in scandal and one of the school’s most envied girls goes missing, a tangled web of lies, rivalries, and hidden agendas unravels among the students left behind.

Party of Liars is a bingeable, clever YA mystery with sharp pacing and a juicy plot. While it doesn’t completely reinvent the genre, it’s a fun ride with enough twists to keep even seasoned thriller fans entertained.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for this ARC! This was a suspenseful novel that I did not see ending the way it did. Kelsey Cox has written a great debut novel that shows how twisted and secretive people can be with their personal lives.

The novel definitely has a strong element of someone is watching you, and the legend is that it’s a ghost called The Mother. But what if it’s one of the very people who you trust explicitly that is doing things to make you lose your mind slowly?

A sweet sixteen party for Sophie is just what Ethan and Dani think will help Dani feel more like herself. She bakes and decorates an exquisite cake for Sophie and what feels like the whole town is invited. Sophie’s best friend, Mikayla, is her right hand friend, but Mikayla has her own dark secret to hide from Sophie. Jealously and a sense of fear keep Mikayla from spilling her innermost thoughts to Sophie, but goodness is she conflicted about doing so.

Sophie’s mother, Kim, is still nursing a grudge against Ethan and all the house has become that she helped start to renovate. The house overlooking the town should be Kim’s and she should be the queen of the house… but she has her own secrets and her own suspicions about Dani and Ethan’s relationship. She suspects Dani is not as crazy as she’s made out to be.

And then there’s the unassuming Irish nanny, Orlaith, that is always watching, kind of like Big Brother. She takes care of Dani and Ethan’s new baby daughter, Charlotte, and is super protective over her. Orlaith shares bits and pieces of her past and regrets, as well as her grief over the loss of her daughter. Is she too protective over Charlottes or does she suspect that there is reason for it?

This story truly had me guessing until all is revealed at the end. The ending was a perfect tie up and made the most sense for the characters involved. I overall enjoyed this novel!

This book started off suspenseful but felt flat about 50% through. There was a lot to keep track of-characters, flashbacks, perspectives it was too much. Then the party, after and before and then the characters random flashbacks were confusing. The plot line from "the mother" and then all of the then drama didn't seem to make sense to me. I DNF at 65% I didn't really care to find the ending.

Loved the setting and the scene building, but I didn't find myself caring enough about the characters. I also found the plot twists to be a little too predictable.

Party of Liars was so consuming in such a good way! It was one of those books I couldn’t put down from the first page and I was desperately seeking time in between responsibilities to try and read. A locked room thriller at a sweet sixteen party in a supposed haunted glass mansion was right up my alley and I devoured it.
There were so many secretive characters to keep track of and tons of tension throughout that built to a treacherous peak someone clearly wasn’t coming away from.
There were some great twists I didn’t see coming whatsoever and the back and forth timeline made things fun to keep up with.
I can’t believe this was a debut and I’m HOOKED and can’t wait to see what Kelsey Cox writes next!
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley.
Publication date 7/1/25

Party of Liars is a juicy, suspense filled thriller that takes place during Sophie Mathews’s sweet sixteen. The party is black tie, the house is a giant glass Victorian, and the vibe is already off before anyone even cuts the cake. Locals think the place is haunted because someone once died there. Then, during the party, someone else falls from the balcony. What should have been the party of the year turns into a full blown mystery.

I couldn’t put this one down. The story slowly peels back each character’s secrets and gets messier in the best way. Sophie’s guests include her best friend Mikayla, who seems way too grounded to be hanging out with rich party girls, her mom Kim, her fragile new stepmom Dani, her dad, and Orlaith, the family’s paranoid live in nanny who thinks every shadow is a bad sign. The characters felt real, flawed, and believable, which made the whole thing even more intense.

We learn early on that Sophie is recovering from a breakup, Mikayla might feel more than just friendship, Kim still has feelings about her ex-husband, and Dani is spiraling into sleep deprived paranoia. Everyone’s got a reason to lie, and almost everyone is hiding something. The house itself feels like a character too, with its glass walls and creepy past. There are whispers of a ghost, strange sounds in the night, a cardinal crashing into the window the day of the party. It flirts with the paranormal without ever fully going there, which I liked.

The ending took a turn I didn’t expect. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say that the biggest liar isn’t who you think, and the fall that ends the party has deeper roots than anyone realized.

If you’re into thrillers with messy families, unreliable memories, and secrets behind every perfect smile, this book delivers. It’s fun, twisty, and full of tension until the very last page. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the copy.

4.5 stars

What happens when you have a Sweet 16 party and there are a few guests with ulterior motives? We have the birthday girl, her best friend, the dad, the dad’s new wife, the mom who’s the ex-wife, and the nanny of the baby. This group with their secrets and grievances makes for a dangerous cocktail resulting in someone’s death. This is mentioned at the start and we have no idea of the victim’s identity.

Told in multiple POVs, in the present and through memories, you feel that tense undercurrent building the longer they’re under the microscope. And one of my favorite tropes, the unreliable narrator makes an appearance.

Highlights:
🍷 Domestic thriller/suspense, multiple POVs, unreliable narrator(s),
🍷 Dysfunction, motherhood, secrets, jealousy, fitting in
🍷Twists, medium to fast paced

Be aware of: alcoholism, gaslighting, stalking, inappropriate relationships

All the actors put in good performances, including one of my faves, Maarleveld. She’s so good with the grittier and slightly unhinged characters. I enjoyed this audiobook immensely. This is the kind of thriller that feels energizing to a reader - where we’re not on steady ground, and none of the characters can be taken at face value as we lurch forward to that dramatic ending. Check this out if you’re craving some suspense!

4.25/5⭐️

This was a solid domestic thriller/mystery. Fast paced, filled with interesting characters which were all tied up together at the end.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ok, wow. 5/5. I thought I was going to hate having so many POVs, but I ended up loving the short chapters and the story told from so different many people. Also, the twist? Amazing. I didn’t guess it at all. Will definitely be reading more books by this author!

I'm always a fan of locked room mystery that takes place over the course of one evening. I found Party of Liars a good thriller. I really enjoyed the different perspectives, and the book spends about half of the book setting up the plot and giving background. After the halfway point it really takes off. While I enjoyed the set up scenes I do wish a bit more action happened to keep me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. The twist happens well into the last 10% which always feels super fast and like we are speeding to the end. All of that being said I did enjoy the different characters and felt certain people got what they deserved! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

If you want a REALLY good "whodunit", Party of Liars is a perfect fit. Almost like a game of Clue, we have a collection of characters all gathered under the same roof to celebrate Sophie's 16th birthday. Sophie is the daughter of Ethan, a handsome and charismatic psychiatrist, and stepdaughter to Dani, a former social influencer who is now Ethan's wife and mother to their baby daughter, Charlotte. All live in the notorious mansion on the hill, a place that stood empty for years because of its dark past but now fully renovated (including the removal of an entire facade to be replaced by glass to replicate a real-life dollhouse.
Poor Dani is having a difficult time, with postpartum depression mixed with a bit of loneliness, she is being to see things, things like the form of a woman in white who hides behind curtains and skulks in the bushes, and most disturbing she is beginning to hear things….like the cry of a baby, a baby that isn't hers.
Dani isn't the only one with "issues". We also meet an assortment of other characters who all seem to be dealing with unresolved anger and bitterness, or a delusional sense of justice.
The evening of the birthday party, a death occurs. Someone plummets from a balcony to the stone steps below. Who is this person? Was it an accidental death? Was it a murder?
Cox writes her novel in a series of chapters, each written from the point of view of a different character. Dani, Ethan, the superstitious nanny Orlaith, Ethan's ex-wife Kim, Mikayla, a friend of Sophie's, could all be the victim or the suspect.
I enjoyed this novel immensely. I especially enjoyed the distinct voice each character brings to their specific chapter. Cox also writes in such a way that it took me a while to determine my suspect (and I'm pretty good at predicting within the first third of a novel…but not this one!!!). Most of the novel takes place over the day, from the pre-party to the party and ultimately the post-party, with flashbacks embedded to build character and motive.
Kelsey Cox is a skilful mystery writer. Her character building, plot construction, and proficiency in creating atmosphere and suspense make this a perfect summer read and one I would recommend to my High School students.

Told from four different women/girls POV the whole book takes place over the course of basically one night at a lavish sweet 16 birthday party (with a handful of flashbacks).

I always love these types of books because I find myself questioning who to believe as the reliable narrator. Not knowing exactly who doesn’t make it to the end of the night, had me wondering who I thought should (or shouldn’t) make it. Plus throw in a recently renovated haunted house and an old ghost story it becomes a character all on its own.

“Maybe places good scares too, retain the faint traces of the things that happen there. If you know where to look.”

Party of Liars is Kelsey Cox debut novel, which is out now. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Thank you Minotaur Books for this eARC copy to read and review.

A gripping and twisty read that kept me hooked from start to finish. Kelsey Cox delivers suspense, layered characters and just the right amount of tension. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

🙋🏻‍♀️For my friends who enjoy domestic suspense with oodles of unreliable narrators.

PARTY OF LIARS by @kelseycoxwriter (Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, Suzy Jackson, Narrators)

🎧Thanks, @minotaur_books for the review copy via #NetGalley and @Macmillan.audio, for the audiobook review copy. #macaudio2025

I love a fun thriller that can keep you engaged, entertained, and appropriately confused/suspicious, without insulting your intelligence while still delivering twists and thrills. PARTY OF LIARS delivered for me.

Here’s the entire premise: at a lavish Sweet 16 party, a body plummets from a high balcony onto the tile below. Through five points of view, we see the events leading up to the suspicious death and what transpires afterward. I loved moving back and forth between these characters, and honestly didn’t know who to trust. They all felt like unreliable narrators, yet they also seemed to be telling the truth. Each narrator delivered a nuanced performance of their character.

We listen as sweet, awkward, wallflower Mikayla, best friend of the birthday girl since forever, tries to have fun at a party full of popular teens and “glossy girls” when all she wants is time with her bestie.

We cringe at the raging thoughts of Kim, mother of the birthday girl and alcoholic ex-wife, stomping (and occasionally tripping) around the mansion she remodeled that now belongs to her ex-husband and his younger bride.

We have the exhausted, younger bride, Dani. A new mom and stepmom, she seems unstable emotionally and psychologically. Is she seeing ghosts and threatening notes, or is it all postpartum psychosis? Is her nanny out to get her?

Oh, the nanny. Mysterious Órlaith with her tragic background and tireless devotion to Baby Charlotte. She sees omens everywhere and believes in the curse of The Mother (a ghost that haunts the mansion).

I liked that until the end, I didn’t know who DIED, let alone how they perished. I didn’t know who to trust or what was going to happen next. I went outside in the Louisiana summer heat to prune bushes just to find out.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox.

Thank you to netgalley, Minotaur books, and the author for the e-arc to review.

I loved this. It's been a while since I read a thriller where the pacing was so well done. I like the way the author gave us new pieces of information throughout the story. The ending was perfect. Thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
💚 dual timelines
💚 large cast of characters
💚 many, many POVs
💚 slowwwww burn
💚 no spice 🌶️
💚 group of friends who-dun-it

Boy was this one a slow burn!! Nothing at all happened until 80% of the way through 👎🏻 The ending was a bit of a letdown, and a little lame to be honest.
The house was supposed to be scary and haunted but in the end nothing actually happened with that?
The one problem I have with these giant cast books is that it does get a little bit confusing trying to keep all the characters apart, and remember who’s POV is even talking. It made it a little tough to like any of the characters because I couldn’t even keep track of who was who.
This one was a little bit too slow for me; I usually prefer some more action in my “thrillers”.