Murder mystery and dark academia, set in the world of Ivy League colleges.

Genre: Thriller / Dark Academia

Pages : 305

First published: 2024

Original language: English

The plot: Maya returns to Princeton for her sister Naomi’s graduation, a date that marks ten years since her own graduation. On arrival, she receives the terrible news that Naomi is dead, drowned in a river with drugs in her system. The police declare it a tragic accident, but Maya is certain there is more to the story.

As Maya pieces together Naomi’s final months, she discovers that her sister had joined Sterling Club, an exclusive secret society offering a passport to opportunities, career prospects and contacts beyond her wildest dreams. But at what price?

What did I think of this book?

Society of Lies was my first dark academia novel. The theme of this book can be characterised as, “how far would you go to fit in?” The world of secret societies is not one I was familiar with – there were none in my university days (at least none I was aware of). Perhaps I was just never that cool! But if this world does exist – and I’m certain it does, as novels such as this one are rarely written without some basis in fact – then it is truly a horrifying one. To say more would spoil Society of Lies many twists and turns, but suffice to say, this is definitely one club you would not want to have you as a member.

What was most interesting about this book?

Society of Lies has all the ingredients of a fairly standard, pacey thriller – a suspicious death that is dismissed by the authorities, flashbacks, two perspectives (Maya and Naomi), the friend who turns out to be an enemy, a creepy male villain, a twist ending – so in that sense there wasn’t too much that was surprising. I read it over a summer week when I was in need of diversion, and it suited my purposes well.

What am I going to take away from this book?

In retrospect, it wasn’t hard to ascertain that there is a distinct dark side to Ivy League academia – it’s such a rarefied world of power and privilege that there were always going to be characters who become consumed by their own self importance and take a darker path. I found myself wondering what lead Lauren Ling Brown to write this particular novel. Does she have experience of such societies? Perhaps she is someone who understands the lengths others will go to, to fit in?

How much is happening under the surface of such institutions, that we don’t know about?

Will I enjoy this book?

I think you will, if you enjoy thrillers and stories with a twist. It probably won’t change your life, but it is a diverting and enjoyable read, and would work perfectly on a holiday or break.