Debut Mystery/thriller? Check.
Secret societies among the elite? Check.
Murder? Check.
Dual POV? Check.
Flashbacks? Check.
EXTRA mysteries within the murder mystery? Check!

This book has all of the pieces to be a great book and it unfortunately fell flat. First, I feel like this book was just way too long. I’m all for a great build up and a slow burn but there was not enough exciting things happening to make up for it. This needed to be way shorter. There was also a lot going on with not a lot actually happening. The pacing was so slow, I actually ended up skimming a good chunk of the middle of this book and still had everything I needed for the end.

I had such high hopes for this book and it let me down every chapter I got closer to the end.

I’m always looking for debut thrillers. First of all, I really enjoyed the way it was written: between Maya and her sister Naomi, going present day for Maya, and a death countdown for Naomi. BUT this beast got issues. Yes beast, and that’s the first issue. This is way too long. Way way too long for a murder mystery. Also, I felt that while it started out strong it fell a little flat. Some of the reveals at the end seemed to be after thoughts that didn’t make any sense:

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! This will be out this August.

This book was just kind of strange. Elite Ivy League universities and secret societies - let's goooo, right? So we got all the downsides here - murders! cover-ups! financial crimes! the consequences of same! - but what it felt like we never got was the old three act structure chestnut of the "promise of the premise". Both of the main characters get into the Greystone Society and it kind of immediately sucks: they're wrangled into doing illegal shit they feel bad about, there are personal betrayals, and it all just seems like an instant source of stress.

Which, fine, maybe the good shit comes later. But it doesn't!! One of the main points of belonging to the society is that you basically get handed some fancy job that makes you rich as hell, but Maya, our surviving lead, just gets some job at a gallery (doing...what? does she care about this job at all? what did she ever even want to do with her life?) and lives in what sounds like a small-ish fourth story walk-up apartment in Brooklyn. So...what was the point of it all, my guy? Plus she makes this huge deal about doing all of this for her sister and her sister's future, but when it comes down to it she doesn't actually show this care in a material way - up to the end of Naomi's life Maya seems to be constantly blowing her off, not having enough time for her, etc. And when Naomi literally dies at the beginning of the book, we never actually experience Maya grieving in any real way or seeming to regret anything.

It's too bad, because there was some interesting depth here, particularly with regard to the sisters' racial identities and growing up having lost their parents. Naomi in particular was a more sympathetic character with clearer motivations, so it was unfortunate that she was the one doomed by the narrative. Anyway, I might go rewatch The Skulls (2000), because it least it has fast cars and Joshua Jackson.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this novel.

Maya and Naomi have a somewhat strained relationship as sisters, 10 years apart in age, and whom grew up differently. Nonetheless, Naomi follows in her big sisters footsteps when she chooses to attend Princeton, and again when she joins an elite eating club. What Naomi doesn't know is that she again follows in her sister's footsteps when she joins the secret society within Sterling. Maya loves her younger sister and did her best to give her a life she couldn't have had without these clubs. When Naomi ends up dead the night before her graduation, Maya knows that foul play was at work and that the society is at the heart of the matter.

This was a thriller at it's core, a great "who done it" mystery, but best of all an intricate exploration into secret societies, and socioeconomic and racial issues alike.

Lauren Ling Brown did an excellent job of showing us that a thriller can have both depth, solid plot, and entertainment all at once.

I would definitely recommend this book if you like books that have:
- Dual POVs
- Dual Timelines
- Investigative Journalism
- Secret Societies

This was a good story and I like how we got to see things from Naomi's and Maya's perspectives during their times in college. I felt there were parts that were just a little too slow at times. I think the little twist at the end was good, but it wasn't anything that really had me with my jaw on the ground.

Great thriller! I loved the alternating POVs and how Maya and her sister Naomi really lived similar but totally different lives. Learning about the dinner clubs at Princeton was FASCINATING to me and I ended up doing so much outside reading about these and was excited to see how much from the book was true. This book definitely kept me interested most of the time and you will absolutely love it if you like the dark academia tropes!

Lauren Ling Brown created a fun and suspenseful book perfect to read during the fall. I devoured this one and can't wait for others to read so we can discuss!

Society of Lies goes into the world of Ivy League schools and secret societies. While at Princeton for reunions and her sisters graduation Maya learns her sister Naomi unexpectedly died and was found having drowned. She begins to look into what her sister was involved in at school and see that it mirrored her experiences pretty closely and she wants to find out who killed her sister. Parts of this book dragged and didn't seem to really add anything to the overall plot a good amount could've been edited out. I did consider not finishing this one at times but it did pick up towards the end and moved a lot faster. I enjoyed the dual POV and seeing what happened from Naomi's perspective a year before her death. Decent thriller/mystery with some good twists probably won't be one that stays too long with me but I would read more from this author in the future. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

In "Society of Lies," Lauren Ling Brown delivers a captivating dark academia thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The Ivy League setting is vividly portrayed, and the exploration of power, privilege, and corruption is both timely and thought-provoking.

The story follows Maya, a young woman of color returning to her alma mater, Princeton, to investigate the mysterious death of her younger sister. As she delves deeper into the secret society she was once part of, she uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal that shakes her to the core.

Brown skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, creating a suspenseful and engaging narrative. The characters are well-developed, and their motivations are believable, even when they are morally questionable. The relationship between Maya and her sister is particularly poignant, adding an emotional depth to the story.

While the plot is gripping and the pacing is excellent, the ending felt a bit rushed and could have been more impactful. However, this minor flaw does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Overall, "Society of Lies" is a well-crafted thriller that will appeal to fans of dark academia and suspenseful mysteries. It raises important questions about the nature of power and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. I highly recommend it.

This book is difficult to rate and explain. I was really into the set-up and the dive into secret societies. The pacing was a little bit slow for the first 80% and then ramped up at the end. I thought about DNFing it a few times but I was enjoying the story so I stuck it out and I'm glad I did. The points of view were a little tricky because they contained the same characters and the same problem, just in different years. It wasn't hard to keep up but it did require some focus. Overall I thought it was good and wouldn't hesitate to read from this author again. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Maybe I’m biased but a thriller set at my alma mater was a guaranteed winner. The characters were well-developed, the setting was perfect, the plot had me on the edge of my seat, and I was legitimately surprised by the ending. If you enjoyed Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, I can guarantee you’ll love this one.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Frightening and fascinating. Could be real, could be storied non-fiction, or completely made up. I couldn't decide until the end.

It's a mystery and a thriller. Recommended if you like exploring possibilities of what lurks under the surface of good intentions and philanthropic investments. And if you like to speculate about secret societies, you'll love this one.

Fan of campus fiction, secret societies, and murder mysteries absolutely need to add Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown as a Must Read this summer!

This dark academia novel, centered around
Princeton and society eating clubs, opens with the murder of student Naomi. The story and point of view alternates between the months prior to Naomi’s death, her sister Maya’s journey in uncovering the truth about her sister’s death, and Maya’s own past at Princeton.

This debut novel will keep readers turning the pages late into the night.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine/Bantam books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Just finished Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown. Maya’s return to Princeton for her reunion turns into a heart-wrenching investigation when her sister Naomi dies under suspicious circumstances. The suspense is intense as Maya uncovers dark secrets about the exclusive Sterling Club and its hidden society.

Brown weaves a thrilling tale of deception and belonging, filled with unexpected twists and emotional depth. A gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend for mystery lovers! #BookReview #SocietyOfLies #LaurenLingBrown #Thriller #MustRead

These dark academia-type stories are hit or miss with me. This one was mostly a hit. Maya graduates from Princeton and ten years later returns for her sister, Naomi's graduation. When she gets there, she learns that Naomi is dead. It's ruled an accident, but Maya knows things the police don't and starts poking around, beginning with an exclusive, secret society that Naomi belonged to as did Maya, back in the day. The story is told both from Maya's and Naomis POV and the author does a good job of weaving the two stories together. I really liked Maya. There are a lot of topics and layers with this story, although I did figure out the twist pretty early on, I still enjoyed reading about everything wealth and privilege can get you. Or not.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lauren Ling Brown and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication of August 13th.

This is a story about the in crowd.

I’m super torn on this book. On the one hand, I liked both narrative voices and I’m a big fan of posthumous narration… on the other hand, I felt like there was a lot of build up to a conclusion I didn’t feel crazy about. Overall, definitely worth the read if you enjoy thrillers, secret societies or good mysteries!

3.5 rounded to 4:

Thank you so much @netgalley & @ Bantam for the eArc!

Thank you for letting me read this story! I so enjoyed it! Twisty and dark! Didn’t overwhelm me like some other dark academia books do. The only struggle I had was remembering which sister’s chapter I was in, which could be helped by including “maya” or “Naomi” at the top of each page. I hope to read another book by this author someday!

4 parts, 2 timelines, 2 POVs - it sounds like a lot but it does help an intricate story move more easily as there are A LOT of important players.

Fun fact - I had no idea there were 11 eating clubs at Princeton. In fact bickering as described in the novel is true as well. True to my self - I had to dig a little bit. Not to prove anyone wrong or debunk a fiction book but I had to know if this weird society is real. It is.

This story shows us how corrupt and/or elusive and protective of their own these secret societies or clubs can be.

I will follow this author along her writing journey. She has brought a secret society trope and placed in a real world setting.

Set among the culture of the secret eating societies of Princeton University, Naomi, graduate of that Ivy League school, sacrificed a lot of herself to enable her younger sister, Maya, to also attend. Visiting the University for Maya’s graduation, Naomi is shocked when her sister is found drowned on campus. Did her death have anything to do with actions taken or not taken when Naomi was a part of those private clubs?

Written from two POVs with three timelines, this debut, multilayered novel touches on dark academia, the corruption of money, power and privilege, young people trying to find their place in the world while dealing with the social aspects of the multiracial experience. The suspense and twists are there yet slow to develop. Usually I find different POVs and timelines easy to follow; with this book, I needed to often remind myself who was speaking when starting new chapters.

This is a worthy first novel and I look forward to future works by this author.

When Maya returns to Princeton for her sister's graduation, a celebratory weekend curdles into chilling suspicion. Naomi, it seems, has been entangled with the alluring yet enigmatic Sterling Club, and the whispers surrounding their exclusive inner circle hint at something far more sinister than scholarly pursuits. With a wry smile and a knowing glint in her eye, Brown weaves a tale of legacy, obsession, and the price of belonging, leaving you to wonder just what lurks beneath the polished veneer of campus life.