Society of Lies is a multi-POV, multi-timeline story about sisters who have, at different times, joined a secret group that has deadly secrets. Maya tried to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death, while remembering the events that unfolded when she herself was in common. Naomi’s tale is told from her POV in the months leading up to her death, including learning about the same events that haunt Maya, In the end, many secrets are revealed, but some remain buried forever.

This wasn’t a twisty turntable over dramatic page turner, but it was still really good. I enjoyed the multiple view points/timelines and how they paralleled each other. Generally you knew what was going to happen, but the big thing was would they get away with it or how would it he stopped? My only issue is that they threw out red herrings in the end that weren’t really necessary and opened room for questions that never got answered, so it got a little messy. But all in all, this was a good book that I would recommend for mystery lovers.

Thank you Bantam Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for the advance copy. Unfortunately, this couldn't hold my attention. It moved a little too slow for me.

This is a first time novel for an amazing story teller. I was hooked at the very beginning and stayed hooked to the very end. It is fiction at its best, set in today’s world of crime and scandal.

Maya returns to Princeton at the same time that her little sister is graduating. She has to reconnect with fellow staff and social club members and relive some really dark days dealing with her membership in a Social dining club. Arriving on campus she learns that her sister Naomi has died under suspicious circumstances and she is on the trail of solving the mystery. In doing so she has to face some difficult lies that go back to her days on campus in that same Social club. How far would any of us go to belong to such an elite group? Would we lie and cover up for fellow members of the Club and the faculty?

This is a gripping story that is masterfully crafted and I eagerly rate it as 5 stars and truly look forward to more stories by this author.
I wish to thank Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Bantam for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Society of Lies was a thrilling and exciting read! Maya‘s younger sister Naomi is found dead at Princeton. Maya is suspicious and does not think it was an accident. Maya also went to Princeton 11 years prior and was involved in a secret society. She has a feeling that things that happened in her past have come to fruition and harmed her sister. Each chapter is told from either Naomi’s or Maya’s point of view. We hear from Maya 11 years ago when she was at Princeton and Naomi in the months leaving up to her death. This makes it impossible to put this book down. I would finish one chapter and then have to keep going because I needed to know what was going on with the other character. I flew through the chapters until finally the timelines met and all was revealed. I cannot wait to read another book by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Genre: College Murder Mystery
Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: Oct. 21, 2024

“Society of Lies” by Lauren Ling Brown is a wannabe for Alex Michaelides” “The Maidens,” but not as good. If you haven’t read “The Maidens” you may enjoy this novel more than I did.

Hmmmmm. I could maybe round this one up to 3.5 stars.

Debut novel revolving around the elite and mysterious eating clubs of Princeton University. Described as a dark academia book, I liked the vibe the author attempted to establish, just didn't love the execution.

Many have described it as slow, and yeah, it kind of was. The middle half really picks up and I was hooked. Then with about 20% left, it was like the author decided, "need to wrap this up" and it just went off the rails with sloppy plot twists that didn't make a lot of factual sense.

Maya and Naomi, though different, were quite similar on the page so their separate POVs didn't stand alone very well, resulting in confusion and me having to double check which POV I was reading. Both girls make several poor choices which doesn't help garner sympathy from the reader. There were too many instances of someone feeling watched, or hearing footsteps, until it started to seem cliche.

Not bad, not good, just feeling kind of meh about it.

Society of Lies is a great twisty thriller full of Ivy League secret societies and murder. I loved the dual points of view, one from Nicole a recently murdered Princeton student and from Maya, Nicole’s older sister who also went to Princeton. I loved reading the story of two murders unfold and all the invisible strings that tie the two together. The character development was good, though at times Nicole and Maya’s experiences were so similar I had a little difficulty in telling who was who in the story. However, I enjoyed diving into the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Hardcover for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dark academia at its finest! Set in a fictional secret society at Princeton within a historic eating club. Maya has a dark past at Princeton and is unhappy her younger sister, Naomi, decides to attend 10 years later, joining the same eating club. When Naomi starts to dig into a scandal and murder from Maya’s time in the club, she doesn’t like what she finds. And the society wants to keep her quiet.

The book goes back and forth between times and perspectives of each sister. The author is multi racial, as are the sisters, Maya and Naomi. Beneath the murder and drama is the struggles the girls experience fitting in as Asian & Black at Princeton.

Four stars! I found this entertaining with excellent writing. Lots of twists and turns with unexpected developments throughout the book.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, Ballentine/Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Really interesting premise. The story immediately pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading chapter after chapter to figure out who did it. The book is told from two viewpoints, both Maya and her sister Naomi. There are some nice twists of course, and I do like when books wrap everything up instead of leaving you to try to figure it out or make you buy another book for the conclusion. Definitely planning to look into other books by this Author.

Lauren Ling Brown’s debut novel, Society of Lies, is a riveting dive into the dark side of elite academia, blending mystery with a haunting exploration of privilege and secrecy. From the moment Maya returns to Princeton for her reunion, the story grips you with a chilling sense of foreboding.

The novel excels in creating a suspenseful atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. Maya's journey, from the excitement of a family celebration to the nightmare of her sister Naomi’s mysterious death, is both compelling and emotional. The narrative weaves through layers of deceit and hidden truths with masterful pacing, making it hard to put down.

What stands out is Brown’s portrayal of the exclusive Sterling Club and its secretive nature. The tension builds as Maya uncovers the darker aspects of her past and the society she once revered. The parallels between her experience and Naomi’s fate add a profound depth to the story, raising questions about the true cost of belonging and the secrets we keep.

Society of Lies is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone fascinated by the complexities of privilege and secret societies. Brown’s skillful storytelling and intricate plot make this debut a remarkable and unforgettable read.

The world of secret societies in colleges. That’s some scary stuff, I love reading about that. We have story of 2 sisters, who went to the same school, but different times, and we get their input on what they have gone through in Princeton, and also being women of color in that type of school is already a challenge. Between trying to fit in and Maya trying to provide for her sister Naomi, its a lot to take in when it. There is a ton of corruption in this school like we all suspect that goes on in real life, and after a while it was going in circles and I wanted this book to desperately end. Sadly Maya is back in that school to try to solve her sisters murder and I seriously started to dislike Maya’s friends more and more, thank goodness that Maya was a character worth rooting for while she was trying to solve everything, she was so badass for that.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. WOW, this book is fast paced and fantastic. I couldn't put it down and finished it within a day.

Slow burn of a story. We bounce back and forth between the two sisters, Maya and Naomi. Maya had to leave Naomi with a relative when their mother died and she tried to improve her situation so she could eventually help Maya realize her dreams, but intentions don’t always translate to impact. She has to leave her behind as she goes to Princeton, but Maya’s situation improves as she is taken in by friends and VOILA, she ends up getting into Princeton.. Maya has a dual celebration returning for Reunions and double bonus, her little sister, Naomi, is graduating, but before the festivities can begin, Naomi is found dead. May isn’t buying the easy explanations and starts to try to determine what really happened to Naomi. What unfolds is a great whodunnit and I really enjoyed the fact you don’t know who to trust, who to believe and who to root for. Great fun.

Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this book. The premise sounded so intriguing, but when I started reading it, I felt bored most of the time. It didn’t live up to the expectations and left me wanting more. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy

This book was just not for me. I read to the half-way mark and decided I was not going to waste any more of my time on a book I was just not enjoying. There are too many characters along with a very convoluted story line which made it confusing. I am sure a lot of people will enjoy this book, but just not me.

This wasn’t my favorite book, but still kept me hooked and never made me want to dnf. It has a lot of comparison to “The Maidens”. Like… very similar. Overall a very average but easy read.

The plot is intriguing--that and the cover art were enough to get me to request the book--and I enjoyed the dark academia tropes and ambiance combined with the White Lotus-esque rich folks acting unhinged. But the pacing is maddeningly slow and hindered by the alternating POV, and there are several dropped storylines and plot points that left me feeling frustrated.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this. I trusted absolutely no one, and after weeks of not having decent arcs to read this book was amazing and I couldn't get enough. I had so many guesses as to who could be responsible for what happens in the book, the one guess seemed to easy and the others I was thinking "no it can't be that person!" 4/5 and will definitely be recommending it to everyone

Ten years after Maya graduated from Princeton, where she was a member of an exclusive social club called the Sterling Club, her sister, Naomi, ends up dead. Naomi followed in her sister’s footsteps and attended Princeton, where she also joined the Sterling Club and was tapped for the Greystone society, the corrupt secret society within it, despite Naomi’s warnings to stay away. What was supposed to be an enjoyable reunion weekend for Maya, who was going to celebrate Naomi’s graduation, turned into a quest to uncover the secrets that lead to Naomi’s sudden death.

This story is told from the points of view of both Maya and Naomi in the past and of Maya in the present. I enjoyed the dark academia premise. I really felt like I got a feel for what life would be like as a member of a social club in an elite school like Princeton. As the title suggests, this truly was a “society of lies” and I really didn’t know who to trust. It’s definitely a page turning thriller filled with secrets and deceit…It’s hard to believe that it’s a debut thriller! I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by Lauren Ling Brown in the f

This was an ARC from NetGalley. Secret societies at an elite institution mixed with secrets, money, and murder, this had all the makings to be a twisted tale full of surprises. Yet, it missed the mark. The story moved at a very slow pace, and all the secrets were lacking and who dun it, exposed from the very beginning. There was nothing to bring the reader into the story. The alternating timelines with every chapter had very similar characters in the same setting, experiencing the same thing. They often blurred together. Overall, this was not memorable or unique. #netgalley #societyoflies #randomhouse #murdermystery #secretsociety