Book Review for Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox

 

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox

Published:  July 1, 2025 by Minotaur Books

Genre:  Mystery Thriller

Taken from Goodreads:  A lavish, Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen turns deadly in this twisty, pulse-pounding new novel — serving up a fresh take on a classic locked-room whodunnit. Let the festivities begin…

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—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.

It’s a killer guest list . . .

DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s been plagued by self-doubt ever since the birth of her own baby girl

ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who senses a looming danger in this cavernous house

MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who is not nearly as meek as the popular kids assume

KIM: the cunning ex-wife who has a grudge she can’t let go of . . .

Everyone is invited in. Not everyone will get out alive.

 

My Thoughts:   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. 

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet the Author(taken from her website):  Kelsey Cox received her MFA in fiction from Purdue University and works from home in the Texas Hill Country. You can often find her writing at Mammen Family Public Library, chasing around her two young daughters, or watching British mysteries with her mom and aunts. On nights when bedtime goes as planned, she enjoys curling up on the sofa, glass of wine in hand, and a book with complicated characters and a killer twist in her lap.

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Praise for PARTY OF LIARS:

"My favorite kind of thriller - fun, twisty, fast-paced, and populated by characters who feel so real you'll want to invite them (well, some of them) to your next party." - New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins

"I couldn't put it down!" - New York Times bestselling author Nina Simon

"Explodes from page one." - Bestselling author Amanda Eyre Ward

"This is the thriller of the summer." - Bestselling author Katie Gutierrez