Book Description 

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 Review 

A body in the room is a staple of the mystery genre, but I don’t think it’s very common to not know which of the characters actually died. That’s what had me hooked from the beginning.

There are so many characters to keep track of, but most of them have point-of-view chapters, so that makes it easier to differentiate everyone. They are all hiding something, and therefore have the potential to be the victim of the catastrophe…and also the architect. If I had to pick a favorite character, I’d have to go with my girl Órlaith, who had tons of stories, much like Uncle Colm on Derry Girls. 

But then again, the ornate house hosting the party is infamous in its own right, as the site of a tragedy over a hundred years ago. And now there’s a second death at the same house. 

I gobbled this book up like it was my favorite meal. I adored the details of the lavish party, the schemes and scams, and all the breadcrumbs of clues dropped along the way. I’m usually pretty savvy, but this book kept me guessing the whole time. Even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the book threw me for another loop. 

I would absolutely recommend Party of Liars. I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. I definitely want to pick up the audiobook version of this at some point, especially since it is ready by a whole cast of narrators. I also hope they turn this into a limited series. Needless to say, I can’t wait for Cox’s next book. 

I received a digital ARC of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley.