Unfortunately, this one was a little bit of a let down for me. I really like to read about secret societies and academia novels-this one just was too slow for me. I am usually a big fan of multiple characters, multiple POV, multiple timelines, but I was so lost and confused. It was choppy and just made it difficult for me to want to continue on. I did finish the book and it was worth trudging through some of the slow, disconnected parts, but I don't think this is a book I would go back and read for a second time. I did like the setting and the premise of the story, but I felt like something was lacking. Maybe it was just that I couldn't keep track of everything with the changes of POV. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

*Thank You to NetGalley for providing me with an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*

“How often, in the world, is the silence what allows horrible people to get away with their crimes?”

I was veeeeery excited about this book! The premise was promising and I was hooked for about the first 30% of the book.

The big middle chunk had me lost and confused and it seemed like some of it was unnecessary and didn’t really keep me interested. I pushed through because I really wanted to know how it ended and the last 10% of the book was already very entertaining.

It touches on a lot of current social and political issues which kinda got me out of the story a bit as it was written a bit cringy or with an immature tone.

Sometimes it felt like a jump in tone or story line from one paragraph to the other which made it a bit hard to stay connected with the story and/or characters and understand how you are supposed to feel about the scenes.

I needed more in-depth development and a deep dive into the feelings of the scenes as it also felt like a character showing certain feelings and emotions and then the chapter ended, without checking back in on the previous scenes to fully connect.

Overall it was an interesting read but just needed more character development and more connections between timelines and chapters on paper.

This book was great read and I really enjoyed. This was my first time reading this author and I would read another book by them. The story really capture me after about 50 or so pages in but it was worth it. I would recommend this book.

Society of Lies was an excellent read. I loved the writing and it was propulsive. Great character study. I would read more from this author.

I really wanted to like this book but something about it was missing. Maybe because I didn't like Maya and found her to be incredibly boring. I liked the idea behind a secret society and it's secrets but it felt a little forced and underwhelming.

Wow, wow, wow.
The book captured my attention with its depth of deceit and betrayal. The characters were well developed and the storyline flowed nicely.

The description of this book drew me in so much. I felt like it was very thought out but it w as a little slow to read for a dark academia aspect. I really enjoyed the Princeton aspects since I grew up close to the school.

A Thrilling, Unputdownable Page-Turner ★★★★★

Lauren Ling Brown masterfully delivers a gripping and thought-provoking thriller in Society of Lies. From the very first chapter, the novel pulls you into a world of secrets, deception, and high-stakes intrigue, making it impossible to put down.

The writing is sharp and immersive, effortlessly blending suspense with emotional depth. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own secrets that unravel in ways you won’t see coming. The plot twists are perfectly timed, keeping the tension high and the reader second-guessing until the very last page.

What truly sets Society of Lies apart is its ability to balance thrilling suspense with deep, thought-provoking themes. It’s not just a story about deception—it’s a compelling look at power, manipulation, and the consequences of hidden truths.

If you love a fast-paced, intelligently crafted thriller with unforgettable characters and jaw-dropping twists, Society of Lies is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended!

Society of Lies was an entertaining read that kept me engaged from start to finish. The pacing was strong, and the twists kept me turning the pages. While it hasn’t stuck with me long-term, I remember enjoying the experience in the moment—sometimes, that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a book. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, absorbing story that pulls you in for the ride, this one is worth picking up!

This title was a new one into societal groups. I got to learn how tight knit they can be and how a dangerous secret can be kept between them. I like how the book was able to bring up the topic of race as well. Knowing how that played into helped me understand the story a little more. I would like to read more from this author.

I am a fan of thrillers with dual timelines and multiple POVs usually. However, I almost felt like "Society of Lies" was just a little too convoluted. With multiple THENs and the Now scenes, it felt a little to clunky for me as a reader.

I was able to follow along with the story in its entirety, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would.

I love the idea of incorporating secret societies and shady professors, but it kind of fell flat for me and at times, a little boring.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for selecting me for this ARC.

Ooo yes, this was an exciting thriller! I was hooked from the first page. I truly enjoyed the writing style and the way it was suspenseful from the very beginning. Great read of 2024!

I am a sucker for a secret society thriller and Lauren Ling Brown did not disappoint

This book flips back and forth between two sisters and their times at Princeton in the exclusive Sterling Society. I enjoyed how even 10 years apart, their stories intertwined. Through in a murder or two and a twist you didn't see coming, and this book had it all.

Oof, this book was a TRIP!

I love anything having to do with secret societies, so you know I had to scoop up this book. Not only that, it's got differing points of view as well as a back and forth between the past and present, which really helped me to genuinely enjoy this book.

This book starts off harsh, with the death of Maya's sister, Naomi. Although nobody is really sure what happened, Maya knows that something bad took place and she decides that she won't rest until she figures out exactly what happened.

As Maya digs deeper, she realizes that Naomi was hiding things from her that she has no idea about. And as the truth comes to light, I couldn't keep picking my jaw up off the floor.

This book? Is a must read.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Society of Lies follows sisters, Maya and Naomi. Maya graduated from Princeton a decade ago, and now her little sister, Naomi, is set to graduate from there as well. When Maya returns to the university for her reunion and Naomi's graduation, she's shocked when she receives a nightmare phone call. Naomi is dead.

Maya is left reeling. She's devastated. If only she could have seen Naomi one more time. The police are calling it an accident, but that doesn't sit right with Maya. The things the police are alluding to, they don't track with Naomi's personality. As Maya begins looking into her sister's tragic death though, she discovers that Naomi was keeping a whole lot from her. Did she really know her little sister at all?

One of her discoveries is that her sister joined the Sterling Club, the same exclusive club that Maya had been a member of herself. She had warned Naomi to stay away, but apparently those warnings didn't stick. Maya knows Naomi isn't the first young woman to die while a member of this club. The more she digs in, the more the evidence seems to point back to her time within the organization. Could she have done anything differently to save Naomi from this fate?

I enjoyed this, although it took some time to get my bearings with the perspectives and timelines. I did love learning about both Maya and Naomi. I felt for them and the difficult things they'd experienced in their lives. Their relationship was complicated and unfortunately, there was a lot of failed opportunities for open communication. It left them both viewing their relationship very differently, which made me sad, the details of that. I wish they could have had more time together.

I also enjoyed the elite-Princeton setting and what everyone was getting up to there. I do tend to vibe really well with this type of story. Give me shadow organizations, lies, cover-ups and rich people behaving badly any day.

At times, I'll admit, this narrative felt a little choppy. You get Maya's perspective both past and present, and the jumps between her past at Princeton and Naomi's present at Princeton could get muddled if you let down your guard for even a moment. Overall though, I do appreciate the difficult themes this author explored within this otherwise fairly standard Mystery-Thriller. To me, the character's relationships were the gold star of this story.

Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would def be interested in picking up more from this author!

There is an audience for this book that would like it more than I did. If you are a fan of McFadden's books, you will probably like this one.

This is the story of 2 sisters, who both went to Princeton at different time periods. The reader is following 2 POV's with 2 different timelines. The younger sister dies under mysterious circumstances, and the older sister must reflect on her time at the same school to solve the mystery of her death. In addition to the death of a student back when the older sister attended the school.

While it is an interesting premise, the writing was mediocre. I find it hard to like a book where characters are written to do things that belie common sense. For example: there is a scene where two characters are speeding down the highway, sharing a motorcycle (one in front/one in back), both wearing helmets, have a conversation. Really?? Anyone who has been on a motorcycle or with common sense knows that is not possible. Motorcycle riders, especially ones who wear helmets, use a headset and mic to communicate.
Or a character who has no history of being able to ski, on the first ski outing is skiing down a mountain at full speed??? These are just a few, there were several more.

Additionally, the attempt at twists became too much and overly done.

It's just OK.

Thank you to Netgalley for eARC of this book for review.

This book was sooo good!! If you haven’t read it- go get it. Now! Thank you for the chance to read and review

I thought this book was a little too slow and the character my favorite I didn't feel like I really knew her. But the society itself felt well done and ominous. The writing style was strong and had a lot of potential but it wasn't one of my favorite books.

Maya and Naomi are biracial sisters ten years apart in age. Their Mother dies when they are 18 and 8 and Maya assumes custody of Naomi in her own way. Through the years both attend Princeton and belong to the same clubs there. Money was scarce and both were indebted to the clubs and their moderators for much of theirs although both girls also worked. Maya, when a Senior, and one of her friends began investigating cash sources for the club. Her friend, a reporter, disappeared. Ten years later Naomi began her own investigation and, as a result was killed. The story is written in both girls’ voices and is, at times, much more than a mystery. Thanks to Net Galley and Bantam Books for an ARC for an honest review.

Enjoyed the dual timeline of this story! There were many twists and turns that had me questioning everything I read! Looking forward to more from this author.