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About this item
Highlights
- THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER AN INDIE NEXT PICKA LIBRARY READS PICK Most Anticipated by Goodreads, People, Glamour, BookRiot, Fresh Fiction and more!
- About the Author: KELSEY COX received her MFA in fiction from Purdue University and works from home in the Texas Hill Country.
- 336 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Thrillers
Description
About the Book
"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"--Provided by publisher.Book Synopsis
THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
AN INDIE NEXT PICKA LIBRARY READS PICK Most Anticipated by Goodreads, People, Glamour, BookRiot, Fresh Fiction and more!
"This is the thriller of the summer." - Bestselling author Katie Gutierrez
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 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. 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 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
Review Quotes
AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
AN INDIE NEXT PICK
A LIBRARY READS PICK
"When someone plunges from the balcony of a possibly haunted Texas mansion, characters with dark secrets propel the search for the killer and victim in this riveting thriller." --People
"Party of Liars is a true whodunit in its brilliant setup and delivery, and Cox has cemented herself as an author to watch in the thriller genre with a novel that navigates multiple points of views, secrets, lies, twists, and a complicated web of relationships and motives." --Texas Highway Magazine "Cox weaves a complex plot that will keep readers guessing until the last minute. Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover's Verity, Tarryn Fisher's The Wives, and Freida McFadden, this is a suspenseful debut with interesting characters and narrative twists." --Library Journal
"A locked room mystery by way of an extravagant Texas Sweet Sixteen party, Party of Liars features a twisty story, multiple narrators, and lots of surprises." --Paste Magazine "Party of Liars is 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. With this debut, Kelsey Cox joins my auto-buy list forever!" --Rachel Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author "I couldn't put it down! Party of Liars brings the gothic house mystery to Texas, featuring a killer cast, heart-pumping pace, and well-plotted twists and turns." --Nina Simon, New York Times bestselling author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night "Party of Liars explodes from page one: a stunning debut, a riveting page-turner, a brilliant exploration of motherhood and female desire. Every character is rich and complex, and I was stunned by the jaw-dropping twist at the end. This is the novel I'm always wanting to read: dazzling, terrifying, achingly beautiful. Cox is a major new voice, and I can't wait to read what she writes next." --Amanda Eyre Ward, bestselling author of Lovers and Liars and The Jetsetters
"Party of Liars is Rebecca meets Big Little Lies--an intoxicating alchemy that's haunting, surprising, and eerie. I couldn't put down this searing exploration of madness, motherhood, and memory, set against a jaw-dropping background of Texas wealth and privilege. Kelsey Cox is a stunning talent who brings deep human insight to bear with expertly crafted and unpredictable twists. This is the thriller of the summer." --Katie Gutierrez, bestselling author of More Than You'll Ever Know "Party of Liars with its stunning prose and simmering tension is a mesmerizing story that's part gothic horror, part psychological thriller, part contemporary glitz--the narrative is masterfully woven with plenty of twists, and deftly handles heavier subjects like postpartum depression, manipulation, and abuse. Kelsey Cox's debut is exquisite and dripping with dread--I absolutely adored it." --Ashley Tate, international bestselling author of Twenty-Seven Minutes
"Dizzying and dazzling, Cox's debut slices through the saccharine sweetness of poisonous secrets to reveal the spongy heart of blood-soaked truths... A party to die for." --Lindy Ryan, author of Bless Your Heart
"With its beautiful but deadly setting and a complex, interconnected web of characters, Party of Liars is a page-turner equal parts juicy and poignant. The mystery is deliciously twisty, anchored by Kelsey Cox's gorgeous writing, but the real heart of the story lies with its complicated women and their sacrifices, both seen and invisible. Secrets and lies abound, readers won't know who to believe, and they will relish every shocking, unpredictable second. I predict this party will be the talk of the town." --Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of Till Death Do Us Part and The Girls Are All So Nice Here
"Using multiple points of view to confound us further, author Kelsey Cox brews a heady cocktail of suspicion and vice. With so many superwealthy people behaving badly, Cox masterfully throws suspicion on one guest and then another, amping up the tension in this whodunit to a fever pitch. Party of Liars had us gasping--and second-guessing ourselves all the way to the exciting end." --Apple Books
"An impressively structured psychological thriller debut with a compelling cast of flawed and vibrant characters... The plot is perfectly paced as explosive secrets are revealed and motivations are unveiled... The writing is engaging and propulsive as female friendships are tested and the aching of wanting to be better is on full display. As the alcohol flows and the night spins out of control, the final twist lands with devastating force. With its haunting atmosphere and explosive secrets, Party of Liars is one party you won't want to miss." --Fresh Fiction
About the Author
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. Party of Liars is her debut novel.Dimensions (Overall): 9.3 Inches (H) x 6.4 Inches (W) x 1.2 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.15 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 336
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Thrillers
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Theme: Suspense
Format: Hardcover
Author: Kelsey Cox
Language: English
Street Date: July 1, 2025
TCIN: 93212711
UPC: 9781250378811
Item Number (DPCI): 247-47-1066
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.2 inches length x 6.4 inches width x 9.3 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.15 pounds
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Related Categories
4.0 out of 5 stars with 4 reviews
100% would recommend
3 recommendations
Great who done it!
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Perriknows - 13 days ago
This book was a wild ride! At first, I was just disgusted with all the pettiness of all the characters!. I guess everything IS bigger in Texas including needing to be accepted, correct all the time, the prettiest, the sweetest, and all of the rest! Told in snippets by many of the characters either before the accident, after the accident, or during the party, you got to see what made each one tick. As I was reading, I didn't like some of the characters, felt compassion for some, didn't know why some were even there, and just icky-ness for others. It all made sense in the end though, and after completing the read I felt like the author used these characters to throw blame where there was none. Brilliant! The first half was slow for me so that's why it's a 4 star read.
Good Thriller with Some Pacing Issues
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
VickleaW - 15 days ago
I didn’t love this thriller, but I did really like it. First of all, there are so many characters and points of view that I got lost in those details at the beginning. Secondly, I couldn’t relate to any of the main characters, although there were a host of them. What I liked was the pacing, the short chapters and the tension that the author includes in the story as well as in the lives of the characters. Dani is the new wife of Ethan, a young and beautiful woman who is talented in baking but lacks confidence in the motherhood department. I felt bad for her that she was missing out on bonding with baby Charlotte, but she seemed to be okay with having a nanny, at least at first. The nanny, an Irish woman named Orlaith, presents a sinister factor to the story. I never knew when and where she would turn up and what she would do next. She seemed to resent Dani’s motherhood and marriage. Kim is the ex-wife who is more likely to throw a pity party than anything else. She attends the party because it is her daughter’s Sweet Sixteen party, but I don’t think she was there out of goodwill or love. Sophie is the spoiled little rich girl who has her dad Ethan wrapped around her little fingers and who plays the part of innocence well, but I didn’t like or trust her much because I thought she was shallow. Finally, her best friend Mikayla who has little or no self-confidence in her appearance and does not come from money offers the perfect backdrop for Sophie and her over-the-top party. Mikayla is the one with common sense and the knowledge to watch out at the party. Speaking of the party, the guests are mostly wealthy Texans with nothing to do with their time except gossip and invest money to make more money. Even though this was a Sweet Sixteen party, most of the guests were clients or friends of Ethan, a proud man who wants to show off the house that he just redid, from top to bottom. He seems like a good father and a caring husband, but again, he was a character whom I had little respect or trust for. The first almost forty percent of the book is setting the stage with all of the characters, their secrets and backstories. Most of that part moved at a slower pace than I would have liked, but I understood the reason for it once the death happens at the party. So many suspects among all of those guests! I liked how the tension escalated during the party and that the author provided red herrings, twists and actual clues about the murder that took place there. All in all, it was a good book that I was invited to read. I am not sure I would have picked it up on my own, but I am glad that I read it because I do enjoy good thrillers that are well written. This was a good thriller with some pacing issues for me, but I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes a hidden mystery and a haunted house. Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Beach Read!
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
JSunday - 15 days ago
This is a quick summer read for those who love pool parties, gossip, games and hidden secrets. The story was character driven with six viewpoints focused on Sophie and her special birthday. What could go wrong with an all-out party catered with all you can eat and drink? The beginning was strong with the detailed description of the house. The plot had a couple of twists but I kept hoping for more excitement. The build-up was slow; however, there was a big “wow” at the end.