Maya's return to Princeton was meant to be a double celebration: her class reunion and the graduation of her little sister Naomi. But upon Maya's arrival, the unthinkable happens: Naomi is found dead, supposedly in an accidental drowning. But Maya refuses to believe this was an accident. And through three perspectives—Maya now, Maya ten years ago, and Naomi in the months leading up to her passing—readers learn the shocking truth.

Both Maya and Naomi were members of Sterling, one of Princeton's prestigious "eating clubs." They were also members of Greystone, a secret society run from deep within Sterling, through which lifelong favors were earned, granted, and paid off. While Maya despises the underhanded dealings of Greystone, she does what she must to give her sister a better life—even if it means accepting bribes and acting dishonestly. Eventually, the club's activities lead to the supposedly accidental death of a girl named Lila. But after Naomi's tragic death, Maya learns that her little sister was digging deep into Sterling's (and her own) history. And that digging could lead to more deaths before this case is solved.

In her first novel, Laura Ling Brown paints an all too believable picture of a secret society on an Ivy League campus. While the tradition of eating clubs is very real, Sterling and Greystone are not real themselves... at least not by name. Their practices and procedures ring distressingly true. However, as dire as Maya and Naomi's story may be, Brown paints a vivid pictures of hope amidst despair. It's a thrilling whodunit with twists right up to the very last page, but also a reminder that justice can prevail even in a world with the odds stacked against you.

Compulsive
Thrilling
Addictive

This book, summed up above, was what thrillers are made of! WHAT A DEBUT! Loved this so so much.

*Society of Lies* by Lauren Ling Brown is a compelling story about deception and the masks we wear. Brown’s sharp writing and well-developed protagonist pull you into a web of secrets, exploring themes of trust, betrayal, and identity. The pacing is strong, with twists that keep the reader engaged.

Maya returns to Princeton University for her reunion only to be hit with the news that her younger sister, a current Princeton student is found dead. Now, Maya must come face to face with her past while looking into what really happened to her sister.

This was an interesting one. I found the joint story of the sisters interesting. They both interact while not interacting almost. Both death with the same places and secret societies with in Princeton, just years apart. Even some characters cross over in their stories. I found both Maya and Naomi's stories interesting at different times. It honestly went back and forth for me. On the other hand, while I usually like multi-layered narratives, this one got a little confusing at times. You have Maya in the present, Maya in the past, and Naomi in the more recent past. All started to blend together, especially the side characters.

All in all, this was a good twisty thriller that has a good dark academic feel.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

This book was unlike anything I have read. I liked the way it was written. Will definitely pick more up from this author.

This one had a good concept and although a bit predictable a good story , but here it lost me was the two POVs ( different but very similar) … multiple timelines ( different but similar ) and a long list of characters 🤷🏼‍♀️ it would prob be a good screen adaptation tbh

My rating 3.5 ⭐️

Society of Lies is a slow burn mystery about two sisters who attended Princeton University about a decade apart. They both become wrapped up in eating clubs, formerly known as secret societies, with tragic consequences. When we meet Maya, she is in her thirties, married, with a young child. Naomi is her much younger sister, on the verge of graduating college. But right before graduation, she is found dead in the lake near Princeton. Her death has been declared an accident by authorities, but Maya knows it cannot be true.

The story is told by both sisters in alternating timelines, focusing on their time at university. I found the story intriguing, but a little slow going at first. The second half had me riveted. The storylines are pretty similar, with some characters appearing in both timelines. Their parents passed away when they were both young, so they have a complex relationship. With Maya being a decade older, she has taken on a maternal role in Naomi's life, but still hasn't been there for Naomi as much as she would have wanted. Though the university may appear idyllic and secluded. It’s not beyond the very real privilege, wealth, and bigotry of the real world. It reveals the power and control vast wealth has. I really liked those elements as too many mysteries are pretty superficial and don't investigate other, larger issues.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

First off, can we talk about how much I adored the backdrop of Society of Lies? Princeton and its sneaky secret societies? Yes, please! The mystery was like a puzzle with a zillion pieces, and I was all in for the multiple viewpoints and timelines! That said, I felt like the story took a leisurely stroll when it could’ve sprinted. All in all, I’d give it a solid 3-star rating!

I wanted to love this. The pacing was a little too slow for me. I was hooked in the beginning but then things slowed down and it was difficult to keep my attention.

"Society of Lies" by Lauren Ling Brown is a very interesting read. I could not put it down. The story follows Maya. Maya’s younger sister Naomi turns up dead near Princeton campus, the same school Maya attended 10 years ago.
I enjoyed the storyline & the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

Many thanks to netGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballentine for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Maya and Naomi are sisters who both attended Princeton but 10 years apart. When Naomi dies before graduation, Maya is convinced that it was not an accident. As Maya begins to investigate, she is determined to find out what happened. Was Maya's involvement with the Sterling CLub, a secret society, cause Naomi's death?

Told through dual POV and timelines, this is a gripping, fast paced thriller. This is a well written and creative story for fans of suspenseful mysteries! Highly recommend!

This book was an unexpected surprise and I recommend reading it if you are looking for a thrilling mystery, this is the book to read this October.

This is a dual timeline, as well as a dual POV, mystery thriller that is a dark academia novel.

It is somewhat predictable, but in the same way it wasn't.. The book begins really strong but the last 10% was unputdownable in my opinion.
I did not see the twist coming, but it was a bit so fantastically unrealistic. It was a lot going on at the end, but the book itself is well written.

It's hard to write a review because I don't want to give away this book but I definitely did enjoy this one.

This is the year for thrillers and this story is right at the top. I love that you get Maya and Naomi's perspective. It builds the suspense and the pacing is perfect. I was so engrossed in the story that hours had passed before I knew it. The jaw dropping reveal left me reeling. This is an author to watch!

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown #eightysixthbookof2024 #arc #societyoflies

CW: death, murder, secret societies, alcohol and drug use, abuse of power and inappropriate teacher/student relationships

This duel perspective novel follows two sisters who both went to Princeton: Maya, in the aftermath of her sister’s death, and her sister Naomi, in the events leading up to her death. It’s a tried and true formula, and I honestly didn’t suspect the reveal at all. That said, it was a very slow burn, bringing to account the death of another friend during Maya’s college days with flashbacks, and the ending wrapped up very quickly, too quickly. I did appreciate the author discussing racism in college settings and secret societies, but I was a little bored throughout the entire story, and the book was a tad too long in my opinion.

Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date 10/1/24 - today!)

Society of Lies is a perfectly crafted thriller that will keep you on your feet from start to finish! Lauren Bing tells the story of two sisters both attending Princeton at different times throigh personal viewpoints. Each sister through their journey at Princeton experience horrible events ending with one of them paying the ultimate price and the other trying to find out what really happened.

The plot centers around secret societies at one of the top colleges and the lies and deception that surround those organizations. Through multiple characters we learn the true nature of those who are the top 1% and rule the world through lies, deception, trickery, cheating and more.

This is an expertly woven thriller that will keep you on your toes from start to finish. Between the morally ambiguous characters to the hunt for the truth to the multiple unfortunate events that occur you will be guessing to the end!

The layout of this book is interesting. It is both set in the past and present. However, two pasts are being told simultaneously. Through all three of these retellings a broad picture is painted of a secret that has haunted a family. And a legacy that could cause one of the sisters to go to jail. This book is very fast paced and there is a lot to keep track of, but the final reveal is worth it.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy o fthis title.

I am a sucker for a dark academia book and after reading the blurb for this I was itching to be approved for an ARC of Society of Lies so I wouldn’t have to wait until October to read it. Luckily, I was approved, Then I read it. I’m unfortunately not a huge fan. I think the idea for this book was great, but the execution was just not entirely to my liking. The dual POV’s mixed with dual time lines was confusing at times. I had to restart several chapters because I forgot who I was reading about. I do however LOVE how one of the author’s goals was to spark conversations within the reading community about important topics, like privilege and to teach us to learn to be accepting of everyone’s ideas and opinions. That’s so very important. I regrettably am only rating this book 3 stars. As this was the author’s debut novel, I will 110% read the next book she publishes and I believe she will definitely write a banger!

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NeGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

Society of Lies centers around Maya and Naomi, sisters who attend Princeton University ten years apart from each other. They used to be close, but their relationship has grown more distant over time. Right before graduation, Naomi turns up dead. Given what Maya knows from her time at Princeton, she is confident her death wasn't an accident like the police are claiming. Both Maya and Naomi were members of the exclusive Sterling Club, a secret society where lies and corruption are the norm. Maya knows from experience that the club and its influential alums will do anything to keep from being exposed. As Maya begins investigating Naomi's life at Princeton for clues as to what happened, she uncovers that her sister was hiding more than she led on. Thrown back into a world of deceit that she thought she had put behind her, Maya is left wondering who she could trust and whether or not her sister's death is connected to her somehow.

I gave this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4! The book's setting at Princeton and the allure of secret societies is what initially drew me in. The author had an excellent idea for this story and I thought the book started out really strong. It was definitely a slow-burning academic mystery with many twists. However, the last quarter of the book is where things started to splinter off in many different directions. It felt more thrown together than the carefully executed first half and there were just too many loose ends at the end. The multiple POVs were tricky to keep track of and confusing at times because Maya and Naomi were so similar. The story is told from three POVs - Maya in the present, Maya when she was at Princeton, and Naomi before her death. Overall, I thought this was a great mystery with a few minor flaws. I think the author shows a lot of potential and I will definitely be checking out the next book she writes!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown started out to be a mystery that grabbed me and would not let go as I was reading. I tried to figure out who was guilty and why. The author did a good job of making it full of guessing and that for me is a good mystery book. The longer I read the more I just did not care what was happening or who the guilty people or person was.
After about halfway into the book I had lost interest of who was telling the story and why it had happened. When I got to the end of the book, I knew it would not be one that I would think about long after reading.
Thank you NetGalley, Lauren Ling Brown and Random House Publishing Group for the copy of the book. This is my personal review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Society Of Lies" in exchange for an honest review.
Every time I find myself hooked by a college set thriller like this one, I wonder how I managed to get out of college alive.
But then I didn't go to Princeton, which 'Society Of Lies' depicts of as a viper's nest of corruption, murder and high level corporate wheeling and dealing that stretches from the campus quads to Wall Street's most wealthy and powerful one-percenters.
Two sisters, generations apart, face way more than keeping their GPA up, as three separate timelines unfold.. In present day, alumni Maya, returns to campus for her 10 year reunion and to celebrate the graduation of her beloved kid sister Naomi. But Naomi's found dead as a result of a suspicious drowning accident. And in her sister's death, Maya's forced to re-live the same kind of traumatic events and danger she experienced as an undergrad. . Because just like her big sister, Naomi also joined an exclusive club whose membership allowed her a place in the Greystone Society, an all-powerful cabal dedicated to the financial achievement of its members. And those who dare to expose or thwart Greystone in any way, put themselves at high risk of their lives.
As Maya probes into Naomi's death, parallel past timelines show the sisters' separate but similar entanglements with the evil and influential Greystone Society, whose tentacles stretch in all directions and whose members aren't above murdering anyone posting a threat to their power.
For me that's a surefire recipe for a fast, zip-through-the-pages suspense thriller loaded up with twists and surprises right to the very end. Not to mention making me breathe a sigh of relief that the Greystone Society is fictitious........we hope.