Book Review for Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

 Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

Published:  October 1, 2024 by Bantam

Genre :  Thriller, Crime

Taken from Goodreads:  When a young woman is found dead on her college campus, her sister doesn't believe it was an accident—and her search for answers leads her closer to home than she ever would have imagined in this thrilling debut novel from an exciting new talent.

Maya can’t wait to return to Princeton for Reunions—it’s been a decade since she graduated, but she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her college days. And this year is even more special because her little sister, Naomi, is graduating.

But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she gets a call no one ever wants—Naomi is dead. The police are saying it’s an accident, but Maya suspects there is more to the story than they are letting on.

As Maya pieces together the months leading up to her sister’s death, she starts to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus—the same one Maya belonged to—despite Maya’s warnings. And if she had to guess, she'd say Naomi was also 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 always pretended it was—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 secrets she’s kept all these years.

 

My Thoughts:   A college student joins a secret society and ends up dead.   Her sister was part of the same society when she was at the same college.   The dual timelines share the stories of these two sisters and their experiences in college and the secret society. 

I liked the spookiness of college life on Princeton’s campus.  The secret meetings and societies, the private parties, and the suspense of finding Naomi’s death had me turning pages to see what would happen next.   The lack of communication between the sisters had me shaking my head and losing some sympathy for them.  There were also times that I struggled to remember whose story I was reading at the time.   The points of view were so similar, their experiences almost identical, that their stories were almost interchangeable at times.  I would have liked a little more distance between their college experiences.   

This is my first book from Lauren Ling Brown and I am definitely going to check out more from her.   She has the talent to write books that will keep me on the edge of my seat, turning pages, and needing to know what will happen next. 

 

Thank you Bantam for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  

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Meet Lauren Ling Brown (Taken from her website):   I’m Lauren, a writer and editor based in Los Angeles, California.

Growing up, I loved to read. I remember trips to the library with my mom and sister, our arms filled with as many books as we could carry.

Fascinated by how stories can shape our understanding of the world, I majored in English at Princeton and film production and screenwriting at USC School of Cinematic Arts. For the past decade, I’ve worked as an editor and cutting assistant on documentaries, TV shows, films, and commercials for HBO, Netflix, Disney, and more.

Now, it feels like I’ve come full circle. My debut novel, SOCIETYOF LIES, is set to release October 1, 2024 with Bantam, Penguin Random House, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Set at Princeton, Society of Lies follows biracial sisters, Maya and Naomi, as they uncover a corrupt secret society within one of the social clubs. Exploring privilege, belonging, and sisterhood, it is for fans of dark academia and suspense.

I hope you enjoy!

– Lauren Ling Brown