Party of Liars: A Novel

by Kelsey Cox

Overview

THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

AN INDIE NEXT PICK

A 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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250378811
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/01/2025
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Kelsey Cox (she/her) 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.

Editorial Reviews

AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

AN INDIE NEXT PICK

A LIBRARY READS PICK

Most Anticipated by Goodreads, People, Glamour, BookRiot, Fresh Fiction and more!

"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

From the Publisher