Slow burn psychological suspense rounds out to a chaotic and twisty turn of events, in this impressive debut novel.

Cox has done a wonderful job of building suspense and thrills, combining a cast of unreliable narrators, a gloomy and spooky mansion house, and the impulsivity and drama of a 16 year olds birthday party. The lore underlying the ‘mother’ adds a particularly creepy feel, making for a dark and gritty read.

The full cast narration adds an extra level of drama and emotion to this already compelling story. The large cast of characters and time jumps felt very confusing at first, but it’s important to trust the process. The short chapters focussed on a single character, and Cox’s rich storytelling soon clarify the threads, making this a fun ‘who died’ and ‘whodunnit’ in one read.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton Audio for this ALC. Opinions expressed are my own.

I actually quite enjoyed this one although there were a lot of characters to follow which did make it a little difficult at times for me. If you can pause, rewind or focus enough you will have no issues! The way the chapters are written are basically like a character almost directly related to so when you realise this it starts to fall into place a little more!

We have a girls 16th birthday party but it’s not just any standard because this is a dynamic multifaceted family with limbs branching off in various directions and all with different personalities and stories of their own. Everyone has their own pain and happiness; their own version of who they are and who they see others to be throughout the whole story everyone is looking in and judging another until someone ends up over a balcony killed but who is responsible?!

Absolutely packed from beginning to the end and well narrated all characters were brought into their own.

With thanks to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton Audio for this ARC in return for an open honest review 🙏🏼🎧❤️📚

This is an impressive debut; multiple characters and different timelines. I was gripped from the start by the history of the old mansion house, built in the late 19th century and then empty for over 100 years until it was totally redeveloped. From the outset, there’s a sense of it being an imposing property; one which dominates the landscape and people. The story centres on a 16th birthday party and there’s a strong teenage element to the take. Not something I’d usually be interested in, but this worked very well as the characters are plausible. I had the audio version and narration throughout, with multiple narrators, is excellent. There are so many twists and asides that take the reader or listener off course. Great misdirection in this thriller and very skilfully plotted. Who’s the unreliable narrator? Virtually everyone and what are they hiding? It’s a cracking tale and I’d look for more from Kelsey Ciox.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

A tense and eerie domestic thriller, filled with drama and psychological suspense!

This story is centered around a sixteenth birthday party, at a lavish and luxurious, dollhouse-style mansion, when somebody falls from the cliffside balcony. The story is told through four distinct female characters, as the lies unravel and hidden motives are uncovered.

I feel very fortunate I was able to enjoy a tandem read of this story, by listening to the audiobook at the same time as reading the ebook. The audio is phenomenal, as there is a full cast of narrators. Their distinctive voices made it very clear which perspective I was reading.

The complex characters and well-plotted twists in this story offered a gasp-worthy and captivating read, with a compelling conclusion.

This is a fantastic debut novel, and I am keen to read what Kelsey Cox writes next.

This book was chaotic from the start, easy enough to follow but chaotic as in drama filled suspense lol. So many little stories and comments which lead me down the wrong paths trying to work out and guess who died, and who was the suspect. I enjoyed it though. A lot of teenage drama that a wasn’t really interested in, but I guess that was all part of the story. Narrators were great. 4 stars ⭐️

If you like a bit of mystery, psychological thriller, then this is one to read.

WOW!!!!! Hooked from the first page and read this book in one sitting… Full of tension and suspense. A real page turner, a domestic noir but OMG so much more!!!!!

A Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a twisty family drama focusing around Sophie's elaborate sweet 16 party at her father's mansion. The evening takes a dark turn when a body falls from the balcony. Who is the victim and who is the killer?

Told across different timelines and from multiple points of view the book reveals there are plenty of people with motives to kill and plenty of potential victims. The narrator does a great job in making this book easy to follow in spite of the large cast.

Grateful thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this gripping and enjoyable audiobook.

Every narrator in this multicast recording voices their character so well - I’m always worried about dodgy Irish accents, but this recording is very professional, and there were no occasions when Orla’s reported dialogue in another character’s chapter took me out of the world of this twisty, eerie thriller. The author has also clearly done their research on postpartum psychosis, and on alcoholism, and both are sensitively handled here. This was a new author for me, and I’ll be checking out her other works, in print and audio.

3.5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC. Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a domestic thriller that really comes together in the final chapters. The atmospheric setting—the renovated Texas mansion with its haunting history gave the book a subtly eerie vibe that could have been explored more, I felt it could have been its own plot or a seperate book idea as it didn’t really go anywhere.

The ending brought this book up in terms of stars. I was genuinely impressed by how it all unfolded but would say that’s because half way through I was confused if the book was a thriller or had I just read the wrong synopsis. The pacing was a bit slow for my taste. The story takes its time getting going, and while the multiple perspectives added depth, I sometimes felt overwhelmed by the number of voices. A more focused narrative might have sharpened the tension and helped me connect more deeply with a smaller cast of characters.

Overall, Party of Liars is a solid read with a compelling conclusion. If you enjoy slow-burn thrillers that prioritize mood and character over fast-paced action, this one’s worth checking out. Just be ready to settle in and let it unfold gradually.

Kelsey Cox’s Party of Liars is a slow-burning psychological suspense novel that leans heavily on character dynamics and the tensions simmering beneath a seemingly polished suburban facade. The central mystery — a death at a Sweet 16 party — isn’t so much about who committed a crime, but rather who the victim is, why it happened, and which version of the truth you can believe.

The narrative unfolds through a rotating cast of female voices: the ex-wife, the new wife, the best friend, and the nanny. At first, the shifting perspectives can be a bit disorienting, especially with the added element of time jumps. But once you settle into the rhythm of the story, each voice adds a different layer to the central mystery and the toxic relationships surrounding the night in question.
Rather than relying on shocking twists, the novel builds tension gradually. It excels at making the reader feel like something is just slightly off — like everyone’s hiding something, and maybe even lying to themselves. The characters are messy and morally grey, which makes for an engaging read, even if they’re not always easy to root for.

The setting — a sleek, modern house perched above the neighbourhood — acts almost like a character in its own right, amplifying the sense of isolation and artifice.

The audiobook, if you choose that format, which I did, , enhances the experience with a full cast that gives each narrator a distinct voice, making the unraveling secrets more immersive.

While the final reveal may not pack the punch some readers expect, and a few of the twists feel familiar if you're used to domestic thrillers, Party of Liars still offers a satisfying, layered story. It’s a strong pick for fans of complex female characters, unreliable narrators, and the kind of suburban drama where nothing is as simple as it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley for the alc.

I enjoyed this book so much I didn’t want to stop listening. Such a dark and twisted story with a gentle nod to the supernatural. A stark warning not to believe everything you are told and be aware that some gaslighters are true pros. You are unsure what is real and what not but the end ties it all up beautifully. The characters are well written, drawing sympathy from the very beginning. The biggest shout out to Orla, the nanny

Well, the title is right, the characters in this novel are certainly a party of liars. Initially I felt there were a lot of characters to get to grips with, however the author fleshed them out well which meant I had a grasp on them all fairly early in.

I was intrigued by the big house on the hill and the legend and lore that it carried, to round up quickly, there is a sweet 16th birthday party happening in the house, by the end of the party someone is dead and someone is guilty. The information we are given along the way casts a shadow of doubt over almost everyone, nobody was particularly likeable or easy to root for, except for the suspicious nanny funnily enough, she potters along telling everyone little stories, observing everything and everyone and I definitely felt a soft spot for her, even if she’s been a little bit over irished, there’s even suspicion around the house itself could it be the actual culprit? The veil is thin there.

I did guess the final twist just not quite exactly how it played out. A solid debut novel, a domestic thriller with a ghost story whispering throughout. There were some loose ends that I’d liked to have seen tied up.

I really enjoyed the narration by a full cast, it definitely worked for this title. 3.75 🌟

I’m keen to see what’s next from the author.

Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧