[3.5 stars]

Dani and Ethan Matthews are hosting a lavish sweet sixteen for their daughter Sophie (Dani's step-daughter) in their newly renovated cliffside mansion. However, the party is more for Ethan than it is for Sophie. The house is packed with people coming and going, mostly strangers. However, not all is as it seems. Dani is a new mother and is experiencing what her husband is calling postpartum psychosis. She's seeing people on their property at night, is getting threatening messages left on the porch, and has an overwhelming feeling someone is out to harm their newborn daughter. The party heightens these fears for Dani, and she spends the entire night looking over her shoulder. Sophie and her best friend Mikayla are happy spending time with the small group of teenagers who are attending. Mikayla is not part of the in-crowd and comes across as the meek, undesirable friend. Mikayla is hiding her own secrets, secrets that can destroy Sophie's life and her valued friendship with her. Throw in the seemingly suspicious nanny and Ethan's grudge-holding ex-wife, and amplify the tension of the party. Despite all the weird happenings during the party, things seem to be going well. That is, until someone falls to their death from the balcony. With a party full of secrets, anyone can be the suspect.

I love locked-room mysteries and thrillers, but this story had a few too many characters to keep track of at times. I also felt that the beginning was on the slower side, which made it difficult for me to get invested in the storyline. However, I will say that the last 25% of the book blew me away. I did not see the twists coming! Just when I suspected one thing about someone, I was proven wrong. I was a little disappointed with the ending, too. I felt like something was missing to tie the before and after together. If the ending was a little stronger, this would have easily been a 3.75. However, I do think this is a worthwhile read. It will keep you guessing and make you second-guess some of the relationships you have, too.

I was generously give a copy of Party of Lies by Kelsey Cox from NetGalley and St. martins Press.

This book was recommended to.me but I wasn't sure I would be into a book about a sweet 16, but I was wrong.

This book has a lot of characters to keep straight, but the ending will have your head swimming in how they all fit together. Highly recommend for adults (a little much for young adults).

🥳 A perfect summer thriller for a weekend away or by the pool. Thank you to @minotaurbooks for my #gifted copy— and congrats to Kelsey Cox on her debut novel— this is out today!

🥳 This is centered around a lavish Sweet Sixteen party in the Texas Hill Country. It’s set up a bit like ‘White Lotus’ — you know someone’s going to be dead by the end but you don’t know who or why, and everyone’s hiding something.

🥳 The writing is super engaging and it’s fast-moving. I actually read the bulk of it during a long travel day, and never got bored or felt the need to switch to something else.

🥳 I happened to predict the big twist at the end so it wasn’t such a jaw-dropper for me, but the rest of the book was entertaining enough on its own!

Wow! This book had me staying up late and not wanting to put it down. I love the characters in this book. The twists and turn kept me turning pages with the need to know what would be happening next.

From the very first time I was introduced to each character, I knew there was more to what was shared. Kim, Mikayla, Dani, and especially Órlaith all had more to what they appeared to be. I could not wait to find out what they were hiding, what their histories would share, and what their future would be. These women are all complex characters with something to hide. I could not wait to see how their stories would play out.

Party of Liars is a phenomenal thriller book. It is a must-read and I cannot wait to read more from Kelsey Cox.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
#sixtyfifthbookof2025 #arc #partyofliars

CW: death, alcohol abuse, child sexual abuse, gaslighting, revenge porn, women being drugged

From Netgalley: Today is Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday party, an exclusive black-tie bash in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where secrets are as deep-rooted as the sprawling live oaks. Sophie’s dad has spared no expense, and his renovated cliffside mansion—once thought haunted and shuttered for years from outsiders—is now hosting the event of the season. Then, just before the candles on the three-tiered red velvet cake are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the starlit dance floor below.

My thoughts: This was a dark story. No one was exactly reliable, but the multiple perspectives are fully fleshed out. The story made me feel like I’d been drinking and I think that’s the point. You aren’t supposed to know who to trust. I liked that we start the book knowing someone will die but we don’t know who or why. As you get closer to the climax it gets more manic and then, whoa, what a reveal at the very end. This was well executed and although the actions of one of the characters are utterly despicable, I enjoyed the story and finished it in less than a day. It tackles tough subject matter, but it’s worth the read.

Thank you to @minotaur_books and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date 7/1 /25)

I completely understand what Kelsey Cox was aiming for with this story and the intention behind the choices made. I also appreciate the story she wanted to tell and loved the exploration of how far a mother will go to protect her child. Unfortunately though, I really did not like this one.

Personally, I felt that the pacing was all over the place. It started off pretty slow, and continued to be extremely slow until the last few chapters and then it just kept going...additionally, the story got more predictable the longer it went on. At first I was pretty intrigued and was looking forward to seeing where the story would go, but as it continued each new "reveal" felt so obvious far before it was going to come to light. I also hated one of the main plot devices that was used, and truthfully, it felt like an obvious cop-out to me. I literally said to myself "oh no, please don't tell me that [redacted] is [redacted]" and in fact, I was correct and at that point I just rolled my eyes and was looking forward to it being over.

I think that this one could've been really interesting, but sadly, I just couldn't wait for it to be over

I knew Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox was going to be the story of the summer!
I devoured it!
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced thriller debut.
It has a great characters, mystery and intrigue.
Full of drama, secrets, and suspense.
The author also does a good job of slowly building the story and really honing in on who the characters are and their interpersonal relationships. I appreciated that Kelsey Cox took time to build the narrative and really made the story feel believable.
Overall, this book is easy to get into and once you're in it keeps you invested.
Loved this debut and can’t wait to read her future work!

I thought Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox was YA at first, because it centers around a Sweet Sixteen party, but the story is primarily told through the viewpoint of adults. TBH, enough of the story is told through the teens’ eyes that Young Adult readers are likely to enjoy it.

It’s got sort of Rebecca vibes. Not in the wife-locked-in-the-attic sense, but the house seemed to be as much a character as a setting, and there was an undercurrent of uncertainty that nothing and no one was what they seemed.

There’s the first wife, mom of the 16-year-old whose party we are attending. The friends she had before the divorce have turned their backs on her. She burned her bridges and is bitter and resentful. Perhaps.

There’s the young second wife with a new baby and a raging case of postpartum depression. Maybe.

There’s the elderly Irish nanny who is steeped in superstition and cautionary tales. She’s a Godsend to the family and comes highly recommended by a neighbor. Or does she?

And of course, the infinitely patient, hard-working husband who knows what’s best and just wants everyone to be happy. So it seems.

And the house…old and creepy, loaded with stories of hauntings and curses, now modernized to feature so much glass it's like the lives inside are on display.

Read Party of Liars on the beach if you like, or wait for a rainy day with high winds that whip branches across your windows.

I received this advance reader copy of Party of Liars from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a wild ride. Just when I believed I understood the author’s direction, she would unexpectedly take me on a different path. Each character harbored their own struggles and hidden truths, drawing me into the plot with each page I turned, propelling me forward at an increasingly rapid pace. The writing was exceptional, with the pacing perfectly balanced throughout the book.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

‘Party of Liars’ is a twisty summer thriller that delivers all the drama, secrets, and suspense you could want, wrapped in the glitz and glam of Texas high society. Though it’s centered around a sweet sixteen party gone horribly wrong, don’t let this deter you, as this is very much an adult thriller, with adult themes.

Told through multiple points of view, the narrative flows seamlessly and is easy to follow. Each character has a distinct voice, and despite the large cast, I never felt lost or confused. Cox does an excellent job keeping the characters - and their secrets - clear and engaging.

The setting is classic thriller recipe: a creepy, isolated mansion on a hill, where rich Texans gather to celebrate, drink too much, and, of course, behave badly. Think family feuds, backstabbing friends, and long-buried secrets waiting to explode. While there are a few slower moments, but they pass quickly and often deepen the suspense or reveal something juicy about the characters.

If you’re looking for a fast, fun, and suspenseful read to devour poolside or in a single weekend, ‘Party of Liars’ is a perfect pick. It’s a well-crafted, character-driven mystery with just the right amount of scandal and tension to keep you turning pages.

This book was fast paced and the story line was interesting. I mostly listened to an audio of this, although I did read some parts. Unfortunately, I found that there were too many perspectives, which felt like 1 or 2 too many. I think with that many perspectives it can be difficult to fully develop all the characters and the story line... it just felt disjointed at times. Did the book keep me engaged until the end, yes. Did I like the characters, not really. Although my jaw did not drop at the end, I also was not bored by an easy to predict book. I think if you are looking for something fast paced and interesting, this is a good one. But if you want a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I would probably skip this one.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

I love when authors throw you a bone at the beginning of the book and somewhat let you know what happens at the end, but then spend the rest of the book dispensing little hints and bits of action that lead eventually to that end. This author did that very well. This was a locked room type of mystery where you learn a little about all the characters involved and then have to wait to see how it plays out while all the characters are together.

The setting added a lot to the story. There is a Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party that takes place in an old (supposedly haunted) house redesigned into a mansion where the entire back side is glass, including the outside deck. Just that sets the scene for something stupendous.

This was my first book by this author. I really enjoyed how involved she kept me in the story.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a multiple POV locked room mystery, sent at a party in a haunted mansion. While there are no major surprises, there are a couple fun twists in this novel. Starting with a slow burn, it gradually increases through a great pace.

I had the opportunity to read the ARC and listen to the audiobook at the same time, and was able to seamlessly move between the two. The cast of narrators did a fabulous job in engaging the listener throughout. I highly recommend this one.

Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Jul 01 2025

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Party of Liars is a twisty locked room thriller by Kelsey Cox. Party of liars follows four women at a Texas sized sweet sixteen party: Dani, the new stepmother, Orlaith, the superstitious Irish nanny, Mikayla, the birthday girls best friend, and Kim, the ex-wife. Kelsey does a good job of weaving together these four women’s POVs before, during and after the deadly sweet 16 party. The characters were well written and well developed. I loved the haunted history behind the house; it did a good job of adding to the tense atmosphere, and it was like the 5th main character. This was a slow burn thriller, the author did a good job of building the tension. So much so that once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down, I had to figure out what happened. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. Reading this book made me a little anxious, which I loved when Im reading a thriller. Thanks NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read! I didn't know what to expect from this and despite the unlikeable characters I absolutely flew through this trying to get to the big reveal. Overall a super fast paced read that was perfect for my summer beach bag as a thriller lover!

This is a great locked room mystery. I really loved the multi POV and I highly recommend the audio book if you enjoy them. The full cast narration was absolutely superb.

Party of Liars is full of high drama and is a perfect guilty pleasure.

I loved the great dedication "For Mom and Dad, who made me feel brave enough to try, safe enough to fail, and strong enough to try again"

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Publishing for the ARC of "Party of Liars" in exchange for an honest review.

Tore through this one in a couple of days. How could I not? Spend one wild night with wealthy, heavy drinking adults and their equally booze-guzzling, ragingly hormonal teenage sons and daughters? And all of them crammed into a huge cliffside house said to be haunted by a terrifying ghost? I couldn't RSVP fast enough.

We're out in the Texas suburbs where psychiatrist Ethan Matthews is throwing an all day-and-night Sweet 16 bash for Sophie, his daughter with ex-wife (and disgraced, struggling alcoholic) Kim. Sophie lives with Kim, since Ethan continues residing in the legendary, historic mansion that he and Kim painstakingly restored and renovated. (With the back wall taken out and replaced entirely with glass, like a life=size dollhouse). Ethan now uses Sophie's celebration as an excuse to show off the vast house, his new young trophy wife Dani and their new baby girl Charlotte.

Let the revels commence, with the house literally filled to capacity with friends, neighbors, Sophie's high school coterie........and possibly, "The Mother", the scary wraith who supposedly haunts the house.

As the liquor flows freely, everyone's closet skeletons come out to play - hidden romances, resentments, rivalries, all out hatreds, not to mention ominous signs of an otherworldly presence. Cleary, someone might die, , but at whose hands? 'The Mother'? Or is there a real life flesh and blood monster on the guest list?

Great nasty fun, all the way through, with every chapter designed to raise your suspicions and sense of dread in all directions. (or should I say misdirections. ) And capped off with a perfect, satisfying twist. Crash this party ASAP.

I liked the premise - but once I started reading it just felt like it wasn't for me. I struggled to get invested with any of these characters

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur, St. Martins and the author for the arc!

Once I cracked this one open … there was no stopping! From the exciting opener to the climactic ending … I was here for it!

I love a book where you just don’t know what to expect & I felt this one 100% fit into that category! There were so many paths this story could have taken … haunted house, murder, family drama with dark secrets, teen drama with plenty of angst, adults behaving badly … all of the above? I won’t spoil it for ya, but I don’t think you will be disappointed!

There’s a lot we don’t know until the end, including who took that dive off the balcony … and trust me when I say my pages couldn’t flip fast enough to get to that reveal. Several clues are dropped throughout the book & I think I suspected each & every person at least once as I did my own sleuthing. And when that reveal hit, it was satisfying!

The whole journey is fast paced, addictive & binge worthy! Thriller lovers go grab this one now!

Wow. Wow wow wow. This was such an incredible mystery/psychological thriller, and a debut at that. Party of Liars takes place over the course of the evening of sixteen-year-old Sophie's extravagant Sweet Sixteen and is told through the eyes of four women: Mikayla, Sophie's best friend who is worried about losing her best friend as she becomes friends with the cheerleaders and the football players; Kim, Mikayla's mom who is trying to do her best after her marriage imploded; Dani, Sophie's dad's twenty-seven-year-old new wife and new mother to Charlotte, who is having a tough time being a new mom; and Órlaith, Charlotte's nanny.

The actual death doesn't take place until the very end of the book, so not only are you trying to figure out who did it, but also who the "it" is. Lots of chapters end on cryptic cliffhanger statements, which irked me a little as I was reading, but by the end, I couldn't put the book down. There are so many twists and turns and times that I literally gasped. At first I thought all of the switching POVs would be hard to follow, but each character and voice was pretty different, and they were all so interesting. The reveals of each character's history and motivations had me gasping, and all of the puzzle pieces fit so well in the end.

It was more of a psychological thriller than I expected, because there were things that were creepy and messed up and unsettling. But it was so well told and had me on the edge of my seat. Definitely recommend this to anyone in the mood for a fast-paced mystery/thriller about good people and bad people doing a lot of bad things (for good, of course).