There's just something about rich people and all their problems that I can't resist in a thriller! Especially when it's set in my hometown. Sign me up!

I listened to Party of Liars on audio and absolutely ADORED the full cast. I thought it made the characters so incredibly lifelike and made it so easy to follow along with all of the different POVs. This was one of my favorite locked room mysteries I've read this year!

It was not as much of a psychological thriller as I was expecting, but it was a great domestic thriller that kept me engrossed from page one through the end. At about the 20% mark, I was confident I had figured out the big twist and new exactly what was coming. I was nowhere near correct.

There was a thread of paranormal running throughout the book and I thought it added a ton of depth. As someone who grew up reading urban legends from the Texas Hill Country, the story tied to the house was exactly what I would expect from the area and I loved it.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Kesley Cox and Netgalley for my free audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Party of Liars is the debut novel from Kelsey Cox.

"It's Sophie Matthews's Sweet Sixteen birthday party at her father's home where he lives with his new wife. Sophie's dad has spared no expense in renovating the cliff-side mansion - a house with a history, said by many to be cursed. Just before the candles on the enormous cake, a body falls from the 2nd floor balcony onto the patio below..."

KC fills this story with adults and teenagers behaving badly. It all takes place during the party but we get the back story that leads to a body falling off the balcony. And we don't find out who fell and why until the end. There's a lot of red herrings and KC does a great job disguising who it is.
There's plenty of questions about Dani and the Nanny, Orlaith and the ex-wife, Kim. You will be surprised at who the bad guys are.

This is a full-cast audiobook. All do a great job, but the voice of Kim, the ex-wife, is full of venom. She brings an extra layer to the character - it makes the listening experience even more enjoyable.

This is an enjoyable debut from Cox.

Holy crap!
This. Was. Crazy! 😜

One man. Two kids. One ex-wife. One new wife. Lots of drama!!!

We have a psychologist, who is now re-married with a new baby. His wife loves to bake and has a huge following on-line.

His ex-wife is still around because their teenage daughter is still in the ex-husband’s life...

He and the original wife bought a huge "fixer upper" home and made it beautiful! Like she re-did the WHOLE PLACE… and helped put him through school…. But just then, the problems started...

Soooo…. The ex-wife is in their lives as well, as she needs to bring the daughter to them for weekends, parties, etc…

And, the daughter likes the new wife too…probably because their ages are not far from each other! 😮😮

That being said, the husband is ‘NO GOOD!’ And the more I read, the more I didn’t like him!

But, the ex-wife has her own problems… and it seems that the ex-husband didn’t help with that AT ALL…

And, the new wife has her own things going on… and a new baby, and he doesn’t seem to be helping there either….

And then, the ex-husband decides to throw a huge Sweet 16 party for his daughter (from the first wife)….
And that’s when it all goes downhill…

Told in multiple POV’s from the husband, new wife, ex-wife, daughter and the nanny.

Oh…and did I mention that the big fixer upper house is said to be haunted???

This was a CRAZY story! Pulls you in right from the beginning and doesn’t let go of you until the very last word!!! And, you’ll be chewing on your nails and hanging on the edge of your seat the whole time,e time!!

5 big, fat, crazy 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!

#PartyOfLiars by #KelseyCox and narrated beautifully by a full cast including #DanBittner; #KateHandford; #PearlHewitt; #SaskiaMaarleveld and #SuzyJackson.

*** RELEASE DATE IS COMING UP SOON, SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON JULY 1, 2025!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

This debut novel is a masterpiece! I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter and just when thought I had the mystery figured out multiple times, only to be proven completely wrong. That’s the mark of a great whodunnit.

The story centers around a lavish Sweet 16 party that ends in tragedy when someone is murdered. Told through alternating timelines—before and after the event—the novel slowly unravels the secrets leading up to the crime. But what really elevates the suspense is the cast of complex, unreliable women at the heart of the mystery.

We mainly follow the wife and stepmother, who is suffering from postpartum depression and possible psychosis. Her perspective is tense and disorienting, and as the reader, you’re never quite sure what to believe. Then there’s the bitter ex-wife, whose addiction has cost her everything—her marriage, her career, her stability. The eccentric nanny spins eerie tales of death and superstition, while the best friend of the birthday girl wants to be her. Each voice casts doubt on the others, keeping you guessing until the final page.

Although I didn’t personally connect with any of the characters, I was thoroughly captivated. The novel feels like a modern homage to Agatha Christie—a layered, twisty, psychological whodunnit, with hints of supernatural activity.

Special mention goes to the audiobook narrators, who brought these women vividly to life. Their performances added an extra level of immersion and emotion to an already gripping story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC! The book comes out on July 1, 2025.

⭐️⭐️Review⭐️⭐️
Title: Party of Liars
🧍‍♀️Author: Kelsey Cox

Review: This fun, character-building, slow-burn thriller that transitions from a fun, fizzy, party, to a shocking jaw-dropping burst of a conclusion that will keep you turning those pages.

The POV’s:

DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s struggled with postpartum anxiety since baby Charlotte’s birth 6 wks ago. She is slowly losing confidence in herself and her ability of staying in touch with reality.

ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who worries the house is cloaked in danger

MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who always appears to be in Sophie’s limelight but we learn isn’t nearly as shy and harmless as she appears

KIM: the cunning ex-wife - holding a grudge, drinks too much, looked down upon by all due to losing her veterinary license but withholding a dangerous secret that could send everything tumbling down …

The novel moves like a real party - from one character’s POV to the next as they unfold what has happened so far to bring them to now. This is a singular location and with this cast - it doesn’t take long to make your predictions ! Guaranteed things won’t turn out as you expect!! I’m jealous of those of you who haven’t read this yet!!!

Thank you to #Netgalley for an advanced audible copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I wanted to listen to it faster (like if I was reading, I could read it faster). I thought I knew there would be a bigger twist and the author kept me guessing until the very end. It’s fun to read/listen to a story and not know who the true villain is. This story also plays with the idea that women lose their minds, especially when they are postpartum. People could definitely take advantage of that! The story makes you realize, if you are confident enough, people will believe anything you tell them.

Narration: this audiobook has a multi cast which I really like when the story is told in multiple POVs. It also helps bring the characters to life and establish their personalities.

I love how layered this story was. Each person has some aspect that makes you question their motives and makes you suspicious. Creates a nice atmosphere of suspense which I want in a thriller. I also enjoyed the dark lore surrounding the house and the legend of the Mother which brought a ghostly haunted feel to the story. The whole time I felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop which is exactly where I want to be when reading a thriller book. I want to be on the edge of my seat not wanting to stop reading until I get to the end.

This book has a fun setting, interesting cast of characters, a good amount of suspense and mystery, the characters were well rounded and I could picture each of them. I felt like I was a guest at the party observing them watching everything unfold. I highly recommend this one!

Is it The Mother or something more sinister?

The craziest party since The Midnight Feast, I was hooked on this from beginning to end. I love how the scene was set, a 16th birthday party with more adults than teens. A new young wife to show off, the bitter ex-wife, the chatty Irish nanny who doesn't quite understand boundaries, and the house on the hill and it's creepy urban legend and even creepier happenings. What is what?!

I thoroughly enjoyed this closed room mystery. My attention (and suspicion) kept flitting around the room. Everyone is a suspect because they all have motive, but who is doing what? The story is teeming with drama and intrigue, KCox kept the story tight and tense throughout and when it finally peaked, I couldn't believe the who and why of it all. Gah!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a fantastic job in telling the story. They're all very animated, the accents and tones of their voices were perfect! It's exactly how I imagined the characters to sound like if they were in front of me.

Instagram: @ShelfiesStories

This definitely went in a different direction than I expected and it was a fun ride. A good read for those looking for a book with twists to keep you guessing until the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Twisty, Female-Driven Mystery You’ll Want to Read in One Sitting

Party of Liars kicks off with a bang - Sophie’s 16th birthday bash at her father’s sprawling hilltop mansion, a recently renovated estate infamous for the ghostly legend of “The Mother.” But the real haunting comes not from spirits, but from the secrets, lies, and emotional baggage each guest brings to the party.

What sets this mystery apart is its clever use of multiple points of view, all from female characters (with the exception of one chapter). This narrative choice beautifully complements the book’s core themes: motherhood, sisterhood, female rage, and the intense instinct to protect at all costs. It explores what happens when women are silenced, underestimated, or pushed too far - and the answer isn’t always pretty.

Each character brings something different to the table. Some you’ll love, some you’ll distrust, and a few might make your blood boil - but by the end, you’ll understand each of them deeply. The interpersonal dynamics are rich, layered, and often raw. Relationships unfold in ways that feel both intimate and explosive, and motivations are revealed with just enough suspense to keep you guessing.

And guess you will! Someone ends up dead by the end of the night - but who, and why, remains a mystery until the very end. The book is packed with red herrings and suspicious glances, making it a delight for mystery lovers who enjoy playing detective. (Proud moment: I called the twists - but that’s just part of the fun!)

This was my first read by this author - and it definitely won’t be my last. Party of Liars is sharp, suspenseful, and dripping with drama. If you love character-driven mysteries, this is for you.

What a fun, twisty, amazing thriller from debut author Kelsey Cox!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this, and it exceeded my expectations! So many red herrings, a couple of twists, a crazy party with awful adults and entitled teens.

Wowwwww the gaslighting from Ethan was extreme. You see it throughout the book, but you don’t even know the half of it until the end. Every new thing was insane, and there was one twist involving him I genuinely didn’t see coming.

I flew through this book, I just had to know what happened. I was invested the entire time. I alternated reading versus listening, and the full cast did a wonderful job with the audiobook narration.

🍾 Debut author
🍾 Multiple POV
🍾 “Locked room” murder mystery
🍾 Texas sweet 16
🍾 Full cast narration

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson did an excellent job with the narration! I appreciated the multi-narrator approach to this multi-POV novel because it made it really easy to keep track of whose POV we were in.

This was a book where no one could be trusted and I could make a case for each character being the villain throughout the book. I loved how the end played out, and I thought it was paced really well. If you’re a thriller fan, check this one out!

It was so engaging on audio, and I didn't guess how it would play out! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Party of Liars is an engaging and emotionally nuanced story that explores the complexity of friendships tested by secrets and betrayal. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly perfect birthday party, tension builds as the narrative peels back layers to reveal the hidden truths each character is guarding. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, and the relationships feel authentic. The pacing keeps the stakes high without ever feeling rushed, and the twists land with emotional impact rather than cheap shock value. Although admittedly, I read to enjoy the "whodunit" instead of trying to immediately determine the villain or antagonist!

What really elevates this book is its emotional honesty. The author delves into how lies—even those told with good intentions—can ripple outward and fracture trust. The characters are flawed yet relatable; you’ll find yourself rooting for the ones whose mistakes feel most human, even when they hurt those they care about most. The narrators really bring the story to life, each strengthening their character's identities as the plot unfolds. While the conclusion wraps up the main plot threads well, I would have appreciated a slightly deeper dive into the long‑term consequences of their choices. That said, the book ends on a hopeful note, reminding us that repair and growth are possible even after deception.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

ARC REVIEW. Publish Date July 1, 2025.

Party of Liars is about Sophie Matthews and her 16th birthday party in a house that is "haunted." When someone is murdered, the whole guest list could be a suspect.

I really wanted to enjoy this but I didn't. I did not care for the characters and the twists are not twists when you see them coming. I also don't understand the whole house is haunted premise since that goes no where.

I did really enjoy the different narrators though.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
It’s Sophie’s sweet sixteenth and everyone’s invited so her father can show off his newly refurbished maybe-haunted mansion. When someone plummets to their death from the cliffside balcony, everyone’s a suspect - including her drunk mom, super young stepmom, geeky bff, and the creepy nanny.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
I love that the book takes place over one night. I’m a huge fan of locked-room thrillers and this made it even more spesh. The full-cast audiobook gave the multiple POVs extra depth and made it an entertaining listen.

No one’s particularly likable and nanny Orlaith was just the worst with her constant death stories. It probably didn’t help that I’m not a fan of the Irish accent, which was a bit of a downside to the audiobook - totally a me problem as I think most people love the accent!

For a long stretch, I struggled to connect with anyone. There was a lack of character development and the pace felt slow until the last third, when things picked up. I was finally invested and felt really good about the ending.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
While the slow build up didn’t work for me, the strong finale did. The audiobook was a huge part of my overall enjoyment - full-cast narrations are always a win.

Thanks to @macmillan.audio for access to this advance listeners copy

Link to review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7632552616?book_show_action=false

4.5 stars rounded up.
An excellent debut! Highly recommend the audiobook as this was one of the most fun audiobooks I've listened to in awhile. The different voice actors for the different POVs gave the characters more depth, & made for a fun whodunnit type mystery/psychological thriller!

Likes:
* While I had an idea of how the story would end, I was back & forth as to "whodunnit" & why throughout the whole thing!
* Easy read/listen, clear writing & a fun concept.
* While some may disagree, I love all the different POVs! Seeing the same night from several angles adds layers to the mystery.

Dislikes:
* Starts to drag a bit in the middle, as the whole story takes place in the same house but with character flashbacks.
* The audiobook version in particular makes it hard to keep track of so many characters/timeline jumps.

Congrats on your debut, Kelsey Cox!

WOW! Party of Liars was riveting from the very start; I devoured it in a day and a half. This debut novel by author Kesley Cox, told in alternative perspectives, has everything you want in a psychological thriller: suspense, tension, drama, secrets, lies, twists, AND a locked room whodunit. I was hooked from beginning to end.

Narrated by an amazing talented cast, Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson made for an exceptionally entertaining audiobook. I felt fully emersed in the story as if I was actually at the party. The pacing, inflections and dynamic voice of each character sucked me in, kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Party of Liars had it all! If you’re looking for a binge-worthy twisty drama then I highly recommend giving the audiobook a listen. I can not wait to see what else Kelsey Cox has in store.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, author Kelsey Cox, and NetGalley for this Advanced Listening Copy.

Fast paced and full of tension!

Sophie Matthews is turning Sweet 16 and her dad is sparing no expense for her Black Tie party in their cliffside home. The guests are all big hair, big smiles and ‘bless your hearts’. But behind all that Texas charm are big secrets, big lies and, before the night is over, someone is going to slam into the dance floor from the second floor balcony. The reader’s quest is to figure out who committed murder in this fresh and unique locked room mystery. Is it the new mom suffering from hormones and sleep deprivation, the one who came to the party full of good cheer and a big ole grudge, the superstitious Irish nanny who is convinced there is danger lurking around every corner, the saccharine sweet teen who has a hidden dark side, or was it the house that has a rumored haunted past? This story is like playing Clue and it was fun!

This was an impressive debut and I look forward to what this author will come up with next.

I enjoyed the full cast narration performed by Dan Bittner, Kate Hanford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, and Suzy Jackson.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on July 1, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: Raise Your Glass - P!nk

💭What I thought would happen:

Everybody is lying and shit is about to go down. (Was very right)

📖What actually happens:

🎉Birthday party
⚠️Pedophilia moment
💋Liar liar
🙅🏼‍♀️Cheating cheating
🫶🏼Postpartum

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

Shut the front door! This couldn’t be a debut! It was far too addictive!

This set off some more female rage and honestly it’s prob for the best. Like letting steam out of the pot little by little so as to not blow all at once - go all Vesuvius on someone’s ass 😂

But seriously I loved listening to this and I 💯 would read it again! A drama filled gossip novel to get me through the newborn stage! Would rec!

Have you read everything by Liane Moriarty and Frieda McFadden and need something new? You’ve found your next novel! Kelsey Cox explores the theme of motherhood in a suspenseful thriller told from several viewpoints. The audiobook has five voice actors to bring the story to life. You’re sure to devour it quickly.
It’s Sophie’s sweet sixteen and her dad, Ethan Mathews has thrown her a huge, all day birthday bash. The whole town is there and has a front row seat to the drama. Sophie’s mom Kim struggles to stay sober and not embarrass herself. Sophie’s new, young stepmom Dani is struggling as a new mom. Ethan is the dad in control of it all, painting the picture of a happy family. There’s so many secrets and subplots and they all come out the night of the party. Who lives and who dies? Whose secrets are exposed, who’s redeemed and avenged?
Highly recommend to thriller fans just waiting for a twisty ending.