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.

This is a slow burn full of intensity and an ending you do not want to miss. I loved the creepy feel of the house and the folklore about the ghost. Now, it does have quite a few characters but the author and the narrators did a great job keeping these separate for the reader.

I loved the guessing game surrounding Dani. Is she officially crazy, does she have postpartum depression, is her husband making her crazy, or is the ghost doing all of this?? This created so many possibilities and I enjoyed wondering where this story was leading the reader…then there is another a twist!!!

This story is narrated by Dan Bittner; Kate Handford; Pearl Hewitt; Saskia Maarleveld; Suzy Jackson Now, being the pharmacist that I am, one of the narrators pronounced Midazolam incorrectly and another pronounced it correctly. I think all publishers should contact me for correct pronunciation from this southern pharmacist😂😂😂. But, like I said before, these narrators helped keep all the points of view straight in the reader’s head. And the one that was the voice of the nanny…NAILED IT!

Need a guessing game…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

What an excitingly fresh take on the classic locked-room whodunnit! Party of Liars is set at a lavish (but possibly haunted) mansion during Sophie Matthews’s equally lavish Sweet 16 party. The party hosts are Sophie’s father, Ethan, and his young wife, Dani, who also happens to be a new mom to Sophie’s half sibling. Other main players present are Sophie’s struggling alcoholic mother, her troubled best friend, and the mysterious new nanny who senses something off about the house. It is unclear who dies at the party until close to the very end, by which point so much tension was built up that I think my head might have exploded had the reveal come any later. Add in a few twists I didn’t see coming, and this book was thoroughly enjoyable & unputdownable from beginning to end!

I was fortunate enough to receive both an ARC and ALC of this, so I tandem read and listened. While I loved the many narrators (one for each main character), it was still initially hard for me to keep track of who was who without also having the written book in front of me. I can’t say I was a big fan of any of the characters, but when they are all potential murder suspects that didn’t bother me too much! Plus, I love a good unreliable narrator and this book gives us an entire cast of them, all done exceptionally well. There is a strong theme of motherhood and it’s darker, more taboo side woven throughout the story which I absolutely couldn’t get enough of.

Looking for a twisty and super original locked-room mystery/thriller? This is the ticket!

Big thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted eARC & ALC!

'Party of Liars' has a different structure than most who-done-it mystery thrillers. You know from the beginning that someone has died. However, you don't know who until around 90% in. There are so many secrets and twists within the book, it could be any of the 5 characters narrating the book, or someone else entirely. Shorter chapters rachet up the tension. A dual timeline before and after the party both foreshadows and gives background. This is a great thriller. The audiobook version has an excellent ensemble cast. 5 stars

🎉Get ready for a lavish birthday bash, after all everything is bigger in Texas!🎉

<i>Party of Liars</i> surprised me with its unexpected gothic bones and strong foreshadowing so much so that I double checked that it was a debut. I listened to the outstanding audio version narrated by Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maaleveld, and Suzy Jackson. Each of these narrators brought these characters to life and the accents were spot on. It was incredible to sink into this world of excess with something darker writhing beneath the surface.
🎂🎂🍾🍾🎊🎊
Sophie Matthews is turning sixteen and her father Ethan and Stepmother Dani are throwing her an epic party that the whole town will be talking about for ages. Getting a peek inside the renovated 100-year-old cliffside mansion that is rumored to be haunted promises that guests will be lining up. The fact that one party goer will be leaving in a body bag guarantees that this booze-soaked night will be one to remember.
🍷🍷🧁🧁🥂🥂
We get multiple POVs. Dani is Sophie's stepmother who is closer to her in age than Ethan. She's a new mother and has been struggling with post-partum depression leaning toward psychosis. She's paranoid with hallucinations that have her doubting herself. Kim is Sophie's mother and a bitter alcoholic. She's all kinds of messy. It's hard for her to walk into the mansion she spent years renovating as a guest. Orlaith is the nanny employed by Ethan and Dani to care for baby Charlotte. She's prone to giving ominous warnings and telling dark stories to anyone who will listen. Makayla is Sophie's best friend whose quiet demeanor is at odds with her inner thoughts. She has plenty of secrets of her own. The mansion has rumored ghost sightings and a terrible history. The house was a perfect stage for this story to play out upon. There was a sense of foreboding lingering on every page.
💃🏻💃🏻🪩🪩🥳🥳
The story is told in short chapters that keep the pace moving. The theme of motherhood is explored adding gravity and depth. Red herrings and misdirection were executed with precision. The gothic atmosphere added a layer of unease. The further the story progressed the more the characters revealed their flaws turning up the suspense. The comparison between who the women once were and who each one is today was interesting.

This novel was a pleasant surprise that far exceeded my expectations. I will jump at the chance to check out whatever Kelsey Cox writes next!

*Now Available!*

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an Advance Listening Copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75 🌟 This thriller was pretty solid! The story is told through five different POVs: the stepmom (who has a daughter), the mother of the birthday girl (and the ex-wife), the baby’s nanny, the birthday girl's best friend, and the father, Nathan. The chapters are short, making it an easy and quick read. The plot unfolds during a birthday celebration, with flashbacks woven in to develop the characters and deepen the mystery. From the start, several characters come off as unreliable, and as the story progresses, it becomes clear that nothing is quite as it seems. The final 10% of the book really takes off with intense twists and revelations.
The audiobook was phenomenal—definitely elevated the experience and helped keep me fully engaged. The book itself is good, but the audio narration makes it even better! The audiobook was given to me by @netgalley.

Party Of Liars is a domestic drama, had I known that going in, I think my expectations would've probably been met. I was expecting it to be a pulse pounding thriller as it is marketed, but it is truly not. The story unfolds at an okay pace, but a lot of the book is truly filler, there's nothing that happens for the majority of it. I wanted thrills, twists and turns, I didn't get that. There were 4 POV’s and alternate timelines which I feel weren't fully explored. Some things were never actually delved into and just forgotten. Some weren't even relevant plot points. It just left me underwhelmed.

With that being said, it is not a bad book, fans of domestic drama/suspense will absolutely devour this. I believe my expectations were set too highly and it wasn't the genre I was expecting, so that threw me off. If I went in knowing it wasn't a thriller I believe I would've enjoyed it more. I had a hard time with the ending as well, there's just many things that left me wanting more from this book.

Overall, this was an okay read, just not the one for me or what I was looking for at the moment. If you're looking for more of a domestic suspense/drama then this is going to be the one for you. It's full of despicable characters and so much drama.

✨️Thank you to @minotaurbooks & Kelsey Cox for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

★★★½ - This party was certainly full of liars, and everyone had secrets. Even the unlikeliest of suspects had something to hide. I enjoyed seeing this story unfold, and especially enjoyed being misled as I slowly began to find out some of the characters that I was rooting for were not so innocent, and others that I thought were up to no good weren’t so bad after all. That alone sets the tone for an overall good thriller. The story showed the drama & complexities of blended families, which I’m sure a lot of readers can relate to. It does have a lot of POVs (I think a total of 6) so definitely take notes on who everyone is if you’re one to get confused with multiple points of view. However if you fall in this category, I recommend the audiobook because the full cast narration made it much easier to keep up with the characters. The full cast narration was amazing & all the narrators did a phenomenal job. They truly brought life to these characters.

When Ethan throws his daughter Sophie a lavish 16th birthday party, the guest list is very interesting. There’s Kim the bitter ex-wife, Orlaith the nanny that has her own secrets, Mikayla Sophie‘s best friend & sort of an outcast with the teenage crowd, Dani the new wife that is suffering from postpartum & questioning her own sanity. When one of the guests untimely death dampers the party, everyone’s a suspect.

Overall a solid & enjoyable read that thriller fans will enjoy. Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

“Party of Liars” by Kelsey Cox is a psychological domestic thriller combined with a murder mystery.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

The main part of the story takes place during Sophie's sweet sixteen party.
Her parents are divorced and her father remarried and had a baby girl.
The party takes place in his huge house that is rumored to be haunted.and before the end of the part someone falls from the balcony.

I listened to the audiobook and liked it a lot.
It is narrated by Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld (who I absolutely love on audio) and Suzy Jackson.
I am glad that there is a different narrator for each POV because it is easier to identify the character.
All the narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and adding emotion.
My favorite is Saskia Maarleveld that narrates Kim, Sophie's mom.
The other perspectives are:
- Ethan - Sophie's dad
- Dani - his new (younger) wife
- Orlaith - the mysterious nanny
- Mikayla - Sophie's best friend, that hides some secrets

I enjoyed the way the story is told, though many eyes and with flashbacks that build the suspense.
Each character had was hiding something and the twists are unexpected.
This is an entertaining read filled with drama and tension.

Overall I recommend this book and the audio is a treat.

Thanks to @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copy of this audiobook.

Rating: 4.25/5⭐️

Summary: Sophie Matthews is turning 16, and her dad is sparing no expense for the bash of the year at his sprawling cliffside mansion. This renovated home, once thought to be haunted, has been intriguing the people of the Texas Hill Country for centuries, and they all turn out for a chance to be inside. Just as the candles are being blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the dance floor below. This story follows the pov's of a few of the guests:
Dani: Sophie's new stepmother, who has been having trouble since giving birth to her daughter
Órlaith: The Irish nanny is always quick to be superstitious and senses danger within the house
Mikayla: Sophie's best friend with many secrets of her own
Kim: the ex-wife who can't seem to let the past go

My Thoughts: Wow...It's very hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I loved all of the twists and turns throughout this story. Every time I thought I had figured something out, a new bit of information came to light and blew my whole theory. The many POV's were well written and thought out, making it all flow well together. Being able to gain information from the many characters who are close to the birthday girl in different ways was a neat way of bringing this story to life. This is the perfect book to buddy read with someone, as you can send your nonsensical theories to one another and laugh along the way when you find out what happened.
🎧You really should listen to the audio of this one. It was a fun experience with a full cast who did a phenomenal job with these characters. I felt like I could see this story right before my eyes with their performances. Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson congratulations on a job well done with this one.

What You'll Find:
🎉Twists and Turns Galore
🍾Fast Paced
🎉Multiple POVs
🍾Full Cast Audio
🎉Absolutely Addictive Story

Thank you to SMP/Minotaur and MacMillan audio for review copies of Party of Liars! A perfect read for fans of multi POV locked room mysteries and twisty compelling plots... The audiobook is particularly great with the different voice actors, excellent option for this book!

Read if you like:
✔ Locked-room mysteries with a modern twist
✔ Big Little Lies–style slow reveals (you won’t know who died until the end!)
✔ Creepy nannies and stunning, secret-filled homes
✔ Messy high school friendships, bitter exes, and unsettling online fans
✔ Over-the-top Hill Country parties with wine cellars in literal caves
✔ Fast-paced plots that entertain and spark book club discussion

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Party of Liars as much as I did—locked-room whodunnits aren’t usually my go-to—but this one completely surprised me. It’s a lot more layered than it first appears. The multiple POVs are seamless and easy to follow, and each chapter added more questions, more drama, and more suspects. It had me hooked from the first few pages (my notes: “a scream and a thud 😳”) and the tension only ramps up from there. The characters are messy, suspicious, and endlessly entertaining—from the bitter ex-wife to the eerie nanny and the ever-watchful "Mother" embedded in a beautifully renovated home. I especially loved the audiobook—the full cast of narrators nailed it and made keeping track of the shifting perspectives a breeze. If you’re looking for a juicy, bingeable thriller perfect for the poolside or your next book club, Party of Liars is it

Such a good book! I listened to the audiobook and was completely addicted. I love stories with multiple points of view, and this one had four: the drunk ex-wife, the new wife (who’s a new mom dealing with postpartum depression and maybe psychosis making her unreliable), a 16-year-old best friend, and my favorite, the older Irish nanny. The nanny’s brogue, her fairy folklore, her tragic little tales about family members dying in odd mishaps.

The setting was perfect this gorgeous, newly renovated Texas mansion on top of a hill with a glass wall that might be haunted by a mother who lost her child a long time ago. The vibe was slightly eerie and the nanny’s Irish superstitions made everything feel just a little more creepy.

The audiobook was really well done. Each character had a distinct voice, which made it so easy to follow whose chapter was whose. The performances brought the emotions and tension to life which felt really raw and real, from teen angst to questioning your own sanity.

And the twist at the end, I loved it! Kelsey Cox wrapped everything up in a way that felt complete, no loose ends. This is a great story told really well.

Highly recommend if you’re into family drama, haunted house vibes, realistic female characters, and a little bit of folklore thrown in

🎧 ALC REVIEW 🎧

Firstly, the narrators did a fantastic job. Multi POV’s but easy to keep up with. I went into it expecting hella twists but I’d say it’s more of a domestic mystery than a thriller. I do wish the supernatural element with the house that we kept hearing about actually led somewhere. Fans of Alice Feeney would likely enjoy this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you @netgalley @macmillan.audio

*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for early copy for review*

Listened to the audiobook and I believe that is the way to go with this one. Each perspective had a different narrator and the switch of voices kept me in my toes.

I really enjoyed learning the secrets that each character was hiding.The ending reminded me of Big little Lies. For the first half I was really wondering if this was going to be speculative or not. I really enjoyed the outcome for it

The day of Sophie Matthew's Sweet 16 has finally arrived and Sophie's dad has spared no expense. Of course, this party is also an opportunity to show off his lavish mansion to everyone in town... but even so, Sophie can't wait to party with her friends. But when a body falls from the balcony, questions emerge. Who was it and was it really an accident?

This book is the second book I've read this year where I wanted to reach out to the author to clarify the genre. It was a great contemporary fiction and it did have elements of suspense, but it was mis-marketed. It was marketed as "pulse-pounding" and "a fresh take on a classic locked-room whodunnit" but it was not really either. The bulk of the book is backstory and there's only a moment between the action happening and the reveal of what really happened, so there's no big mystery. It was beautifully written and had great character development, but not every book with a plot twist is a thriller... and that's 100% okay. The book was great for what it was, but by marketing itself to the wrong audience, it may have difficulty finding it's footing.

The audiobook was well done. I loved the full cast feel. My one note was that three of the narrators spoke slowly, with multiple pauses, and I felt the need to speed it to 1.5 speed so I could follow it better. Also, I read the ebook while listening to the audiobook for a more immersive experience. While not the book I was expecting, I'd still rate this one a Read It!

Note: I received an ARC of this book (audiobook) through NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This book hooked me right from the start, and I nearly listened to it in one sitting. Too much money and too many secrets and too many people telling too many lies.

There were parts of this book that I felt like I had figured out, but there were so many twists and turns that it kept surprising me!

Sophie is turning sixteen, and everyone in town is coming to her lavish birthday party. They’re all bringing her a gift, and they’re bringing their secrets along with them, too.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and was a wild ride. I thought the writing was strong, and, although there were lots of details and story lines, I was able to follow the action clearly, which is not always the case for me with a thriller.

I really enjoyed this audio of this book and loved hearing the story from all the different perspectives. I also loved that the setting (outside San Antonio,TX) was a place I’ve been and could easily picture in my mind as I was listening.

Some believe the house in this story is haunted; do you believe in ghosts or haunted spaces?

In Party of Liars, Kelsey Cox delivers a gripping, twist-filled family drama where secrets simmer beneath the surface and nearly everyone has something to hide. Set against the backdrop of a birthday celebration, the novel wastes no time in unraveling a web of deceit, betrayal, and long-buried truths—most of which are shared by blood.

The pacing is sharp and deliberate, with each chapter peeling back another layer of the family’s carefully constructed facade. Cox excels at building tension, creating a sense of claustrophobia within the party setting as the lies begin to unravel. The dynamics between characters are complex and believable, making the drama all the more engaging.

With unexpected turns and a steady build-up of suspense, Party of Liars keeps readers guessing until the final reveal. It’s a cleverly crafted tale of dysfunction, deception, and the devastating consequences of keeping secrets—perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with a sharp edge.

I was engaged from the first chapter. Entertaining, kept me on the edge of my seat & guessing the entire time. It begins with a death at Sophie’s sweet sixteen party. The party guests include Sophie’s friends, her parents, and parents’ friends. It’s a stylish and lavish event— drinks are flowing, gossip is in full force, and no one can really be trusted.

Great debut and looking forward to more from this author! Thanks to Macmillan Audio for this fantastic audio production with a full cast! (I love a full cast!)

Overall I enjoyed this book.
The narrator did a great job at distinguishing between characters. I typically have a hard time following multiple POVs in audio, and with 4 different POVs, I was nervous going into this one. But again, the narrator did a great job and I did not struggle to keep up at all.
The story was twisty and full of surprises. I had theories going the entire time and it was fun to see which I was correct on and which I missed. This was definitely a fun read.

Kelsey's debut novel Party of Liars is an instant hit! What I figured would be a fun popcorn thriller turned out to be so much more, and I couldn't stop listening.

Gothic vibes, haunted houses, betrayal and lies, yes please!
It's faced paced, with short chapters that are Before and After the death, on the day of the party.

Told in multiple POV from 4 women with flashbacks, foreshadowing and time jumps which all added a level of surprise.

There were so many red herring distracting away from the real villain and I'm almost sure you will be as fooled as I was!

I especially loved the urban legend, and the touch of paranormal. It just added so much to the overall story.

This was such an impressive debut! I listened to the audiobook which had a full cast of five narrators! Dan Bittner, Kate Hanford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld and Suzy Jackson .
They all did a phenomenal job bringing this thriller to life.

Mind Blown!! I have no idea how this is a debut novel!!

This is one of those Suspense/Thrillers where you as the reader see more of what's going on than the characters. There are tons of red herrings and multiple POVs. Just when you have an idea of what, why, or who, you are thrown another curve ball. You don't even know the victim until the very end!!

The story overall takes place in one day. There are no dual timelines but multiple flashbacks. This is such a character driven story. Quirky and flawed characters make this story so interesting; however, a few are just terrible people. In the end, you wind up loving the characters you questioned.

This book contains themes of mental illness/postpartum, alcoholism, extreme gaslighting on so many levels.

This book was so well written and again blown away knowing it's a debut novel, that I wanted to give it 5 stars. There were just a few things I wanted handled/revealed in the end (no spoilers but IYKYK).

I cannot wait to read more from her in the future.