A Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen with a body count? Count me in. Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a fresh, twisty take on the locked-room whodunnit. The story kicks off at Sophie Matthews’s over-the-top birthday bash, hosted in her father’s newly renovated, maybe haunted, cliffside mansion in the Texas Hill Country. Just as the party reaches its peak, a body falls from the balcony, and what was meant to be a glittering night turns into a deadly unraveling. Told through the perspectives of several women: Dani, Sophie’s self-doubting stepmother; Órlaith, the superstitious Irish nanny; Mikayla, Sophie’s underestimated best friend; and Kim, the sharp and bitter ex-wife. This is a story thick with tension, secrets, and plenty of bad behavior.

This was a solid 4-star read for me. I really liked the multi-POV structure and how each character added another layer to the mystery. The way the storylines and motivations wove together kept me engaged, and I loved the subtle supernatural undercurrent, it never overtook the story but added the perfect eerie texture. There are a lot of unlikable characters here, and I genuinely never knew who I was supposed to be rooting for, which added to the fun, messy drama. Major Big Little Lies energy with a Southern Gothic twist.

And personally, I have to shout out the Bulverde setting. I grew up right off 1863, and it was so fun to recognize references and places. Very few books take place in this area, so seeing it used as the backdrop for a mystery like this was such a treat. That local familiarity gave the story a little extra magic for me.

I wasn’t totally shocked by the ending, but I still really enjoyed the way it all came together. A little wicked, a little wild, and a whole lot of drama, definitely recommend if you’re into character-driven mysteries with a luxe, dangerous vibe.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★

Party of Liars is out now. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.