Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (2025)
Tore through this one in warp speed time. How could I not? Spend one wild night with wealthy, heavy drinking adults and their equally booze-guzzling, ragingly hormonal teenage sons and daughters? And all of them crammed into a huge cliffside house said to be haunted by a terrifying ghost? I couldn't RSVP fast enough.
We're out in the Texas suburbs where psychiatrist Ethan Matthews is throwing an all day-and-night Sweet 16 bash for Sophie, his daughter with ex-wife (and disgraced, struggling alcoholic) Kim. Sophie lives with Kim, since Ethan continues residing in the legendary, historic mansion that he and Kim painstakingly restored and renovated. (With the back wall taken out and replaced entirely with glass, like a life=size dollhouse). Ethan now uses Sophie's celebration as an excuse to show off the vast house, his new young trophy wife Dani and their new baby girl Charlotte.
Let the revels commence, with the house literally filled to capacity with friends, neighbors, Sophie's high school coterie........and possibly, "The Mother", the scary wraith who supposedly haunts the house.
As the liquor flows freely, everyone's closet skeletons come out to play - hidden romances, resentments, rivalries, all out hatreds, not to mention ominous signs of an otherworldly presence. Cleary, someone might die, , but at whose hands? 'The Mother'? Or is there a real life flesh and blood monster on the guest list?
Great nasty fun, all the way through, with every chapter designed to raise your suspicions and sense of dread in all directions. (or should I say misdirections. ) And capped off with a perfect, satisfying twist. Crash this party ASAP.
4 stars (****).
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