Book Review #21: Society of Lies, by Lauren Ling Brown

 Review of Society of Lies, by Lauren Ling Brown

Lauren Ling Brown’s Society of Lies is exactly the kind of mystery I love: murder, secret societies, dark academia, complicated relationships, and a suspicious number of people who definitely know more than they are admitting. The story follows Maya Mason, who returns to Princeton for her younger sister Naomi’s graduation, only to discover that Naomi has died. Maya refuses to believe that her sister’s death was an accident, especially after discovering that Naomi had joined the same exclusive society Maya had once been part of. As Maya starts digging into Naomi’s life, she uncovers secrets that connect the two sisters in ways she never expected.

What I loved most about this book was how addictive the mystery was. I was constantly trying to figure out what was actually going on, who I could trust, and which tiny detail was going to become important later. Every time I thought I had worked something out, another piece of information appeared and completely changed my theory. The secret society also made the story so much more interesting because it wasn't just about who killed Naomi—it was about what the society was hiding and how far people would go to protect it.

I also really liked the sisters' perspectives. Seeing both Maya and Naomi’s experiences made the story feel much deeper because we gradually understand that they didn't necessarily see the same people or situations in the same way. Their relationship, their secrets, and the things they never told each other became just as important as the murder itself. I loved that the story didn't simply throw in a mystery and forget about its characters; the mystery actually came from their lives and relationships.

The atmosphere was another huge reason I loved this book. The Princeton setting, exclusive clubs, old buildings, secret meetings, and people constantly whispering about things they don't want others to know gave the whole story that perfect dark-academia feeling. It made me suspicious of practically everyone. At some point, if a character had said “Good morning," I probably would have thought, “Interesting. What are you hiding?”

If I had to criticize anything, some parts of the investigation were slower than others, and there were moments when I wanted Maya to simply confront someone instead of spending another fifty pages investigating them. Some of the twists were also easier to predict than others. But honestly, I was having way too much fun trying to solve the mystery to care very much.

The impact of Society of Lies comes from how completely it pulled me into its world. I loved the combination of mystery, secrets, sisterhood, and the feeling that there was always something happening beneath the surface. More than anything, it made me want to keep reading because I needed to know what was actually going on. I finished the book with approximately seventeen theories, trust issues concerning fictional characters, and the strong feeling that I had probably missed something important. It's exactly the kind of mystery I love: twisty, atmospheric, suspicious, and impossible to put down.