Society of Lies is Lauren Ling Brown's debut dark academia novel. Set against the backdrop of Princeton University, Society of Lies explores the sinister truth of secret societies and academic social clubs. Following main character Maya and her returning to Princeton after ten years for a reunion, we were immediately yanked into lies and secrets as Maya tries to uncover the truth behind her sister's death. It is both a murder mystery, a thriller, and a commentary on privilege. The story is propulsive and continues to keep the reader engaged as they flip the pages to understand what happened and how Maya will make it to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of thrillers and dark academia as it is the perfect blend of both.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Society of Lies in exchange for my review.

This book is told in two intermingled timelines, following the experiences of two sisters during their studies at Princeton, approximately a decade apart. The sisters are intrigued by the exclusive eating society Sterling Club, but as they move toward the inner circle, both of them begin to have doubts about some of the ties they find there.

This mystery will have you questioning the alliances and motives of all of the characters as you learn more about the central storyline. The relationships aren’t 100% fleshed out or believable, but the story flows well and I found I was invested from very early on. The college setting was well conceived and the language, while not flowery, was evocative and rich.

I look forward to reading more from this debut novelist.

I loved the dark academia/secret society and mystery of it all. Princeton made for a fun setting for this slow burn and I thought the author had a fresh and fun writing style. The story flashes back and forth in time and changes POVs between sisters. This caused for some confusion at times and the reading wasn't as seamless as I would like it to be.

I really enjoyed this book, but I have some nitpicky issues with it. There are a LOT of characters, and THREE timelines to keep track of. That's a lot for a thriller to ask from readers. I consider myself not-dumb and I struggled. One of the downsides of having so many timelines/characters is that characters whose motivations you kinda have to understand simply do not get fleshed out. This keeps the mystery from being as exciting as it could have been-- we simply don't get to know most of the characters well enough to develop theories or opinions.

I’ll start off by saying, wow, talk about an immersive book. Lauren Ling Brown did an incredible job of describing the Princeton environment and eating houses. While the Sterling may not be a real house at Princeton, it certainly felt like it.

We start with sisters Maya who’s in town for her sister Naomi’s graduation, but before she can graduate, Naomi’s body is found, and it’s eerily similar to how a girl was found 10 years ago, a girl who was friends with Maya. Now Maya is determined to find out if the deaths are connected and how she can get justice for her sister.

Overall, I really loved this book, it kept me engaged and excited to find out how everything was connected. The seedy underbelly of an Ivy League? Count me in. My main issue with was the book was the ending. It was hinted at repeatedly, but then the conclusion really went off the deep end. But despite this, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers, secret societies and ivy leaguers.

Thank you NetGalley, Lauren Ling Brown and RandomHouse for this ARC.

This is a debut novel and I really enjoyed it! Maya attends her college reunion at Princeton, excited to reconnect with old acquaintances and celebrate her sister Naomi's graduation. However, the joyous occasion turns into a nightmare when Maya learns of Naomi's tragic death, suspected to be an accident by the authorities. Doubting the official explanation, Maya delves into Naomi's involvement with the prestigious and secretive Sterling Club, uncovering unsettling truths that point to a dangerous connection between Naomi's death and the club's mysterious inner circle. As Maya unravels the secrets of the past, she realizes that her sister's fate may have been sealed by her pursuit of the same path Maya once took, leading to a chilling realization that her own experiences at Princeton might hold the key to solving the mystery.

In Society of Lies, the story unfolds through the perspectives of two sisters across three timelines, including Maya's viewpoint in the present day and each sister's past experiences. The book delves into the intriguing world of secret societies, skillfully making it the central focus of the mystery. I love multiple points of view and the author handled it well. Society of Lies offers a compelling mystery thriller worth exploring for those who enjoy tales of secret societies.

"Society of Lives" by Lauren Ling Brown is a gripping exploration of dark academia and the perils of secret societies, wrapped in a mystery that keeps you hooked till the very end. This book had me on edge, diving deep into the elite and twisted world of Princeton's most exclusive social circles. The protagonist, Maya, is compelling as she navigates the aftermath of her sister Naomi's death, unearthing secrets that blur the lines between past and present, privilege and peril. Brown's writing is hauntingly atmospheric, making the ivy-covered campus feel like a character in itself, full of hidden dangers. While the twists were intense and well-crafted, I found the pacing a bit uneven at times. However, the novel's exploration of sisterhood, power, and the lengths one will go to belong made for a thought-provoking read. If you're a fan of dark, twisty tales that dig into the shadows of elite institutions, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Secret societies, questionable friendships, and a murder...what else do you want in a dark academia-type thriller? Society of Lies tells the story of two sisters, both members of an elite and secretive underground organization at Princeton, ten years apart. It's a dual POV novel, showing the similarities that both Maya and Naomi felt while attending Princeton. However, Naomi never graduated, and Maya returns during alumni weekend to look into her sister's death.

Overall, this was a good debut novel that tackles issues of race, family, and the elitism and "hand up" that can come with being part of certain organizations. There were a few times when I felt the story went off the rails, but overall I enjoyed the story. The second half was much quicker than the first, but I recognize the importance of setting up the background information from both Maya and Naomi's views. I am looking forward to the next from this author!

I had an extremely hard time engaging with these characters and the situation they were in. To me it was hard to keep the characters unique in my head and I got lost in some of the descriptions.

I am not into reality TV, so I would have missed Rhys being murdered on live TV. A group of various influencers are on a beautiful island, each contestant more narcissistic than the last one. It only takes three weeks before Rhys is the Most Hated Man on TV, then he is murdered while the cameras are rolling, who was not where they should have been? Thank you #Netgalley #LauraLingBrown
carolintallahassee

Thank You, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

Publish Date: October 1st, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5


the characters are well-developed, and her vivid writing brings the story to life. While the pacing slows briefly at times, the gripping plot and sharp dialogue more than compensate. Society of Lies is a must-read for fans of thrilling, this book kept turning the page and wanting more,

I enjoyed it so much.

highly recommend it


GoodReads review coming soon

After Maya’s parents die when she’s eighteen it’s just her and her eight-year-old sister Naomi. Maya knows she needs to make something of herself in order to give her sister a better life which she believes she can when she attends Princeton University and gets accepted into one of the most elite secret clubs on campus. Maya is told that the alumni connections alone will open almost any door for her career, but she quickly learns that nothing is given without sacrifice.
Years later Naomi attends Princeton aiming to follow in her sister’s footsteps, against Maya’s protest.
When Naomi ends up dead, Maya knows that the Greystone Society had something to do with it and that Namoi paid the price for what Maya did all those years ago.
This book was not only entertaining, but thought provoking about social statuses, multiracial identities and the dangers of corrupted organizations.

The description of this book had me intrigued; it had so many things goin for it, ivy league college, secret society, death. As much as I wanted to get lost in this story, to get sucked into the dark side of the elite, I couldn't. The storyline jumped back and forth between narrators, Naomi and Maya, and time, before Naomi's death and alternating between past and present for Maya. As the two sister's worlds come closer together, the storyline started picking up, narrators start becoming a little unreliable and I started to question who's memories could be trusted. I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters in this book, and the "why" was hard for me to come to terms with. I wanted a little 'more' from the ending, a little less predictability. Overall a decent debut and an easy read that might suck some readers in more than it did for me. If the overview has you intrigued, it's worth giving it a try!
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Thank you NetGalley and Bantum for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review:
This 📖 had me LIVING for the drama at Princeton’s exclusive eating clubs (I want a personal tour of #Princeton right now 🏛️). @laurenlingbrown attention to detail brought the characters and setting to life, literally creating a cinematic 🎥 experience that I felt part of.

The story revolves around two sisters, Naomi and Maya, whose experiences at Princeton a decade apart mirror each other in unexpected ways. The 📖 explores themes of secrecy, revenge, and the complexities of family relationships, set against the backdrop of elite academic life.

The sisters’ narrative voices are quite similar, so do pay close attention to chapter headings. That being said, this was a well crafted and compelling dark academia story filled with a unique plot and morally grey characters (my FAV).

Society of Lies offers a perfect blend of atmospheric storytelling and psychological depth, making it the perfect book club book!

🎓🕯️📚

Read If You Like:
Slow Burn Thrillers
Dark Academia
Ivy League Campus Settings
Family Dramas
Short Chapters

4.5 ⭐️

Lauren Ling Brown’s debut novel Society of Lies is a story that will resonate with you long after reading it. In the rarefied atmosphere of Princeton University, a dark secret comes to light that upends the lives of two sisters. A weekend that Maya returns as an alumni to celebrate her younger sister’s graduation from Princeton, becomes a nightmare. Naomi kept secrets from Maya and Maya kept secrets from Naomi. The more Naomi looked for answers to her sister’s death, the more frightened she became. I raced to read the book as Lauren Ling Brown explores the role power and privilege can affect decisions and lives. I highly recommend this thriller to readers who enjoy haunting stories. Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing an advance digital version of this book.

When I think of secret societies, I think of:
Privilege
Special rules
Morally corrupt
Spoiled
Toxic
But will this group go as far as to cover up murder?
Given the number of books I've read where they have done just that, then yes, I think these members would do anything to protect themselves, including covering up a murder.

This book has two timelines, one featuring Maya Banks, and one featuring her sister Naomi. While I don't doubt that Maya loved her sister deeply, I do think she failed Naomi. Given what Maya experienced as a student and member of the Sterling Club and Greystone Society at Princeton, I don't know how she allowed her sister to follow her path. Maybe she wasn't aware that Naomi joined the same groups that Maya did years prior, but after what Maya experienced, I wouldn't even want my sister to go to the same school.

What do the timelines have in common?
Other than the sisters joining the same secret societies, there is a death in both timelines, and the suspects in both may be the same. That is what Maya is desperate to uncover.

I will say that I didn't really trust anyone. Even those Maya considered "friends". Because for some, there are things more important than friendship. How things eventually played out was a bit unexpected. I liked that Maya tried to make up for her failures as a sister, and put Naomi's case to rest, even if she faced her own risks.

There were some parts that could have been edited down, but overall, I liked the flow of the story and the alternating timelines seemed to have a lot of coincidences that tied them together. Worth checking out if you like reading about the corrupt paying their dues.

Society of Lies is an impressive debut by Lauren Ling Brown. Set at Princeton University, this dark academia-esque mystery is the story of two sisters ten years apart. Maya is an adult now, living with her husband and young daughter. Naomi is set to graduate from Princeton when she dies under suspicious circumstances. Maya and Naomi have both faced immense struggles, losing their parents at a young age and facing discrimination as biracial students in an elite setting. While they have been close in the past, over recent years their relationship has strained.

Told from the perspectives of Maya now and over ten years ago when she herself was also a student at Princeton as well as the perspective of Naomi in the past, this book builds tension well. The journey into the secret societies feels realistic and terrifying. I thought this book was very well paced, with the exception of some parts between 80 and 87% where I felt it wasn't moving as fast as I would have liked; I was ready for more answers!

My criticism of this book is that the perspectives of Naomi and Maya were indistinguishable aside from certain character names in their chapters. If I stopped mid-chapter, I was always confused when I picked back up. Overall this was one heck of a ride and I cannot wait to see what Lauren Ling Brown writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Lauren Ling Brown for an ARC of Society of Lies! I was truly obsessed and immersed in this world. I loved the scandals and drama of the society life. I’m always a big fan of the timelines switching and going back and forth between characters, but there is a lot going on in this story and a lot of information that I had to use the kindle look up to remember what exactly happened when. The character growth was fantastic and I felt connected to the characters and what was happening to them. I felt like this could’ve been a real story! I am excited to read more from this author - I loved the writing style and how she personalized all her characters so you could be there with the characters. This had me missing sleep and I honestly had no idea who killed Naomi.

A young woman is found dead on her college campus and everyone knows (secretly or not) this was not an accident. Maya is excited to return to campus to Princeton for Reunions and for her sister’s college graduation. Once Maya arrives, she receives heart-breaking news that her sister is found dead. This was supposed to be a great weekend and seeing her old friends after so many years and her sister finally graduating. The police say it’s an accident, but Maya knows better. She knows what goes on at Princeton and there is more to the story. Maya starts looking into it and finds out there was stuff Naomi kept from her - she joined the most exclusive social club, The Sterling Club, even after warning her about the eating clubs. The more Maya investigates the more she’s worried about what really happened to her sister. Maya went there - she’s gone through all the social stuff Naomi has and even a girl during her time in school turned up dead as well. All Maya wanted to do was help her sister and support her and ensure she had a good life. Now Maya has to reflect on what happened in the past and those secrets to figure out what happened to her sister.

I can’t believe this is a debut novel for Lauren Ling Brown. This book this thrilling and move quickly. Secret society, dark academia and siblings you have my attention. Give this debut novel a try and you too will be hooked.

Earlier this summer I released my list of the 6 books with most certified Unputdownable potential. One of those: Lauren Ling Brown’s dark academia debut SOCIETY OF LIES.

I just finished it, so here are 5 things you need to know BEFORE. YOU. READ.

1. Elevator pitch. Lucy foley and Ruth ware fans get ready: you’re about to have a new bestie in your midst. Society is if Lucy/Ruth wrote a dark academia novel. This is also a great book for fans of Reese Witherspoon thrillers!
2. Also for fans of The Skulls. The 1999 Ivy League secret society thriller starring Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker.
3. Plot. Society is a multi-narrator, multi-timeline thriller following two sisters who attend Princeton and get tapped to join an elite secret society called Greystone. When one of the sisters ends up dead, the other begins investigating.
4. It feels lived. So much so I asked Brown if she attended Princeton and she confirmed! Her experience definitely translates to the age, giving Society a great, authentic feel.
5. Rating. Four blood shot eyes out of 5. This didn’t quite achieve CERTIFIED UNPUTDOWNABLE status, however as we got to act 3, I was definitely hooked. She does a great job of layering the red herrings—and I was guessing until the end.