This book had such a great cast of characters. It was entertaining to slowly learn all of their secrets. I will say some of the plot did not flow very well and the jumping between multiple povs did not help with the flow of the book. If you love short chapters like I do then this one is great. It’s a fun medium paced read with a great twist and powerful ending. I would have preferred to have a main POV instead of all of the jumping around each chapter.

A solid three star read and I will be excited to read any more of her future novels!!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a good audiobook, that i listened to very quickly.

Thank you netgalley for the prerelease audiobook

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this novel, and it was a compelling experience enhanced by the use of five distinct narrators. This multi-voice narration added depth to the storytelling and helped clearly define each character’s perspective, making the plot easy to follow.

While the story maintained my interest throughout, the middle portion did feel weighed down by excessive detail, which slowed the pacing somewhat. Though marketed as a whodunnit, the suggestion of a haunting introduces a misleading supernatural element that ultimately diverts from the true nature of the mystery.

The narrative centers around Sophie, a 16-year-old girl caught in the complexities of a blended family. Her parents, Ethan and Kim, are divorced; Ethan now lives with his new wife Dani, and they share a young daughter. Órlaith, the nanny, is a non-negotiable fixture in Ethan’s household, while Mikayla is Sophie’s loyal best friend.

At the heart of the story is the question: who is pushed over the balcony—and why?

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

I sometimes get lost in audio books, as my mind wanders more than when reading physical books. Not with this intense story though! The storyline was gripping, characters were interesting, overall great and highly recommended.

Party Of Liars
By Kelsey Cox

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: June 30, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This one started a little disjointed, like the legend of “Bloody Mary” that we all learned in middle school but couldn’t pinpoint the catalyst for.

Was it going to be a ghost story?

By 30% in, I was hooked by the back-and-forth POVs, anxious to know WHAT was going to happen, and WHO is was going to happen to.

Then everything fell into place and the twists were well done.

What a great ending. Resolved. Mostly.

Party of Liars is a fantastic choice if you are looking for a full cast audiobook with a strong production quality and a twisty story in a suburban setting.

To me, this story was very reminiscent of other one night party trope books, however it does do a lot of delving into the past so it does not read all on the timeline of the party. If you like suburban mom drama, this will appeal to you. It is also packed with twists at the end, similar in some ways to Alice Feeney's style.

If you've never read a book in this little sub-genre, give this audiobook a try. On the other hand, if you have read a few of this particular mystery trope you may feel confident to skip this one.

I loved how this audio had a whole cast for each character. It really felt like I was listening to a movie. This was a very thrilling ride and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat.

WOAHHHHHH. I really, really, really, loved this one! Really, really. Fantastic thriller. The multiple POV's were well done! You can't trust anyone....

Party of Liars delivered exactly what I look for in a binge-worthy thriller—short, punchy chapters, multiple POVs, and shifting timelines that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The structure worked beautifully, with each perspective peeling back a new layer of tension and intrigue. I loved how the story unfolded like a puzzle, with twists that genuinely surprised me and moments that made me question everyone.

The drama surrounding Sophie’s lavish Sweet 16, combined with the eerie undertones and emotional unraveling of the adults, made this book compulsively readable. I especially appreciated the balance between the teenage drama and the much darker, more complex issues simmering in the background.

That said, I found myself wishing for just a bit more—maybe 25 to 50 more pages. It wasn’t so much one storyline, but I felt like there was room to dig deeper into a few areas: perhaps more context from the dad’s POV, a deeper look into the nanny’s past, or further development with Dani and her therapy sessions. That extra context could have added another emotional punch.

Still, this was a super engaging read and a strong recommendation for fans of domestic thrillers with layered characters and unexpected turns. Can’t wait to see what Kelsey Cox writes next.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This audiobook was fantastic. The novel explores the dark undercurrents of familial relationships and the lengths individuals will go to protect their secrets.

This book was a very tense and interesting thriller. Having the different and distinct narrators really helped tie all of it together. This book was very compelling and kept me guessing until the very end. Each narrator really brought a lot of character and depth to the performance. The story and the narration kept me engaged and I definitely will be recommending this.

✨ PARTY OF LIARS ✨⁣
⁣
I was so excited to pick up Kelsey Cox’s PARTY OF LIARS once I saw that cover. I had a feeling this would be in the same vein of Lucy Foley meets Shari Lapena, and I definitely got similar vibes.⁣
⁣
PARTY OF LIARS sets the stage for a glamorous Sweet 16 in the Texas Hill Country—but the night spirals into chaos when a body crashes onto the dance floor before the birthday candles are even blown out. The story unfolds through multiple POVs and a dual timeline that slowly reveals which guest won’t survive the night—and who might be responsible.⁣
⁣
I ventured into this book via audiobook and while the setup promises a juicy locked-room mystery, the pacing was too slow for me. That being said, the full-cast audiobook brings energy to an otherwise drawn-out night, making it a better fit for newer thriller fans or readers who enjoy a slow-burn suspense. I did have to alternate listening speeds based on who was speaking, but overall I would give this author a try again. This book is perfect for new thriller readers trying to break into the genre. STARS: 3, PUB: 7/1

3🌟

At first, I was worried that this would feel too YA, but the story seemed to focus just as much, if not more, on the adults. I was pretty invested in the story for most of it.

Unfortunately, I just didn't connect with most of the characters. The kids all seemed spoiled, and the adults were all a mess. I did want to give the nanny Órlaith a hug and share a cup of tea with her, though, just listening to her stories.

I also wasn't too fond of the ending. There were some twists, sure, but a couple plot points were left unresolved in an unsatisfying way.

This multi-POV novel was narrated by several people: Dan Bitter, Kate Hanford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson. Keeping the younger characters' voices separate from the older ones made sense, plus Órlaith is Irish.

Recommended for fans of domestic mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

A little celebration never killed anyone... right?

A lavish, eerie and potentially haunted McMansion in the Texas Hill country. A sweet sixteen birthday party hosting more adults than teens, pretty much all of them behaving horribly and hiding dark secrets. A superstitious Irish nanny obsessed with death. What could possibly go wrong? Tell that to the person who falls to their death before the cake has even been cut...

"Party of Liars" introduces its readers to a big cast of complex female characters who each get to tell their own points of view: birthday girl Sophie, her mom, Kim, and her stepmother Dani; Sophie's best friend, Mikayla; and Órlaith, the nanny of Dani's baby girl, Sophie's half-sister. The author did an excellent job of flashing them out, alternating their different voices, and giving them each very distinct personalities. Despite the many people at the party to keep track of, I found it easy to follow the narrative and tell everyone apart.

The story takes place mostly at Sophie's birthday party, with a few flashbacks thrown in. This gives the story an air of locked-room mystery, which I enjoyed. That being said, the book seems to follow a fairly common formula, and there were no real mysteries in there. From the identity of the deceased to the despicable backstory that leads to the death, it all came together exactly like you would expect.

Despite not having the most original setup, it was an overall enjoyable read despite the often unlikeable characters. I could, however, have done without the dirty old men side story.

"Party of Liars" is a debut novel. While it was less heart-pounding than I expected, I really enjoyed the author's writing style, and would love to read more of her books in the future.

I listened to the expertly produced audiobook version which features five different narrators, all of whom did an excellent job.

Many thank to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Party of Liars" is slated to be released on July 1, 2025.

In this domestic thriller, a large cast of characters come together to celebrate the lavish sixteenth birthday party of Sophie. Ethan, her father, has invited all of his friends and hers to show off his newly renovated mansion. Her mother Kim is bitter and angry, her best friend Makayla is jealous and not as innocent as she appears, and the nanny is obsessed with death and not wanting to leave the family anytime soon. Dani, Ethan’s new wife, is unstable and it’s hard to know if what she’s seeing is real or imagined. At the end of the night, someone won’t make it through the party alive.

I was lucky enough to receive this book in several forms. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. it was narrated by Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson. I really enjoyed the multiple narrators, It created an immersive experience that felt like experiencing a movie with the full cast and sound effects.

Thank you to Minotaur books for the digital arc and print arc. This was a good thriller with excellent potential. It really kept my attention and the multiple narrators helped create a rich tapestry of storylines that created one interconnected tale. Everyone comes across as unlikable and suspicious, making it hard to know who to trust as well as who to suspect. My only critique keeping this from being a five star read was that I felt that the haunted house storyline could have been left out as it felt like it was a bit unfinished and didn’t add as much to the plot as the other storylines did. However, it was still a very enjoyable and fast-paced read that is an exciting page turner!

Strong debut by Kelsey Cox!

While the premise/plot line isn’t necessarily original, and the ending left a bit to be desired, I was entertained the whole way through. I liked the upper/upper middle class Texan setting (fresh off the heels of binging Ransom Canyon on Netflix) and really appreciated the cast narration from the audio version. It’s always so much more engaging when you get some variety in that aspect.

Had it been a little less… tropey (young aloof new wife, alcoholic bitter ex, shrink husband, shady teens, etc) and had the conclusion really delivered this could have been a 5 star novel but considering it’s the authors first, I’m hopeful more innovative stories will come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A ghost story, several walking red flags in the shape of men, four unreliable narrators. This story sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down! I loved the twists and turns, and the resolution. Perfect for fans of The Guest List. The narrators of this audiobook were perfectly cast and really brought each character to life. I loved how each narrator (as written) was unreliable in their own way and revealed twists and turns as the story progressed.

I enjoyed this book, all these characters and a bit of a mess. I didn't know where this was heading, defintely was shocked. It was a good time!

What a party... scheming adults and naughty teens combine at Sophie's Sweet Sixteen. I was guessing who was going to be the one dead at the end for the whole book! It's gripping and fun.

Thank you, Kelsey Cox & Macmillan Audio, for this ALC of Party of Liars

Narrated by:
🎤 Dan Bittner
🎤 Kate Handford
🎤 Pearl Hewitt
🎤 Saskia Maarleveld
🎤 Suzy Jackson

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘴 had everything I look for in an audiobook thriller - great narrators and an amazing plot with lots of twists and turns.

It was slow-paced, but it was a great story that unraveled piece by piece. Don't let the number of narrators bother you - it's super easy to follow.

This book seriously made my day! I hope to see more thrillers from Kelsey Cox in the future. 😀

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘴 will be released July 1st.