Society of Lies

A Novel

By: Lauren Ling Brown

Narrated by: Brie Carter, Chandler Gregoire, Lauren Ling Brown

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • “A dark and haunting debut that explores secret societies, the bonds of sisterhood, and the intricacies of privilege at an elite college . . . I couldn’t put this twisty tale down.”—Julia Bartz, author of The Writing Retreat

“With this powerhouse debut, Lauren Ling Brown has established herself as a remarkable talent to watch.”—Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here

How far would you go to belong?

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion—it’s been a decade since she graduated, and she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her time there. This visit is special because Maya will also be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.

But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya’s worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on.

As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister’s death, she begins to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya’s warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus—the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it.

The more Maya uncovers, the more terrified she becomes that Naomi’s decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Because Maya’s time at Princeton wasn’t as wonderful as she’d always made it seem—after all, her sister wasn’t the first young woman to turn up dead. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past . . . and to the secret she’s kept all these years.

©2024 Lauren Ling Brown (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A dark and haunting debut that explores secret societies, the bonds of sisterhood, and the intricacies of privilege at an elite college . . . When Maya searches for answers about the death of her younger sister at their shared school, she must delve into secrets in her own past that are best left forgotten. I couldn’t put this twisty tale down.”—Julia Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat

“Readers of dark academia, prepare to meet your summer obsession. Society of Lies has everything I want in a book: a twisty plot, powerful social commentary, beautiful writing, and emotional resonance. While it digs deep into the corrupt underbelly of prestigious secret societies, it is at its core a moving tribute to the bonds of sisterhood and friendship. With this powerhouse debut, Lauren Ling Brown has established herself as a remarkable talent to watch.”—Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here

“Society of Lies is so much more than a murder mystery. Lauren Ling Brown explores race, family, and the dark side of privilege within Princeton’s elite. Her writing is powerful and takes you on a wild ride. It’s a must-read and a truly impressive debut!”—Courteney Cox

This book lives up to the hype!

Lauren Ling Brown explores a wide range of important themes, including identity, belonging, friendship, and sisterhood, all while weaving a suspenseful narrative around elite secret societies (Eating Clubs) and their powerful alumni networks.

I was excited for the dark academia vibes this book promised, but I wasn’t prepared for the range of important themes it touched on. There’s so much to unpack here—I could write pages and pages about it.

Disappointing

I expected more from a Reese book club pick. The plot was okay, but started to drag. The constant stream of rich people partying got annoying. Made myself finish it.

Local high points

I grew up in the Princeton area and went to Princeton. It was nice to hear a nod to streets, stores, and coffee shops. A trip down memory lane. Helped paint a clear visual. Even the eating clubs, I could picture certain buildings that painted the visual for me.

Unique story line.

Unique storyline that addresses multicultural topics rarely found in these stories. I enjoyed the readers..

Many will love it , but it dragged on.

Good idea, but the “ready for Netflix “ writing style isn’t for me. Halfway through, I wanted it to wrap up. I found Maya’s and Naomi’s first person to be superficial and cartoonish at times . I didn’t believe them or the relationships .

The Naomi voice was annoying .

Dark academia thriller

Did author ever address call bw naomi and maya from earlier the final timeline? It’s mentioned early on but not later

Couldn’t wait to be finished

The word “as” started so many sentences. Repeated phrases such as “blood pumping in my ears” was on repeat throughout the book as well. The book was also a bit hard to follow. In short, I should have quit listening way before I got to the end.

New age, fast paced thriller. Unexpected character arcs. Twists that'll blow your mind.

I started and completed the book in a go. It is a fast paced new age thriller, that is bound to keep a reader on their edge. The story shifts between two time periods and has parallel episodes from the PoV of two siblings who are equal parts different and similar in their pursuits than they realize.

There are multilayered and engaging characters with their significant part in the narrative of the story.
Undeniably unputdownable once started. Loved the narration. 🎧

Two sisters, two deaths. Perfectly written!

Awesome book! The audiobook is ideal. With two points of view, I’m impress with how clear and concise it was. Lately I’ve been struggling to finish the books I start. I finished this audiobook in a week. Very satisfying.

Just bad plot- it was not believable- character actions did not make sense

Plot was terrible and illogical and predictable. Characters acted in ways that made no sense- made terrible choices