Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Blurb:
Featuring multicast narration, 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:
I confess. I downloaded this book because one of my favorite narrators worked the audiobook, Saskia Maarleveld. And yes, come time, I recognized her voice. Unfortunately, there were a lot of other voices as well, and the constant switching back and forth had my head spinning.
So, honestly? I found this book to be a bit of a slog. I can’t say bored. Well, maybe I can. Between all the characters, most unlikable, I had a difficult time engaging in any of them, although the new mother, Dani, had my sympathy once or twice.
This is supposed to be a thriller, then not just character and voice switch, but time switches (before, during, after) slow the pace and was difficult to navigate. We are talking Dani, a new mom and step-mom to birthday girl, Sophie, turning sixteen and her dad, Ethan’s, reason for an all out, way over the top adult chance to show off their renovated mansion, wealth, and position to just about everyone but birthday girl’s friends. Well wait, there’s Mikayla, but Mikayla is just…messed up!
All the dialogue is relegated to background noise and becomes too easy to shut off as the listener waits for a change to someone else. Not really a thriller, although I must admit I listened to Órlaith. Ethan is just icky. Off with him!
I didn’t think it had all that many twists and turns but did enjoy that last little zinger delivered at the end. HA! Hadn’t given thought to that angle, but yeah. That worked for me.
Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
Rosepoint Publishing: Three Stars 
Book Details:
Genre: Crime Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers, Suspense Thrillers
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0DFRCW5M2
Listening Length: 10 hrs 57 mins
Narrator: Dan Bittner, Kate Handford, Pearl Hewitt, Saskia Maarleveld, Suzy Jackson
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links:
Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
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.
©2025 V Williams
Rosepoint Publishing 