Society of Lies: Questions and Answers
1. Why does Maya delay handing Naomi’s notebook to the police?
(Chapters 43, 50, 38)
Maya finds the notebook behind a desk drawer at the funeral and waits three days before giving it to Detective Simmons. She claims she wanted to review it first, but the deeper reason is her own guilt: the notebook implicates her in Lila’s death, and she fears prison.
Evidence context: In Chapter 43, Simmons asks why Maya didn’t call immediately, and Maya hesitates before saying she wanted to read it. Later, in Chapter 50, Maya admits to herself that she left out the part about the drugs during the ski trip because she had a daughter to protect. The notebook also contains Naomi’s research on Lila, which would expose Maya’s role.
Interpretation: Maya’s delay is a survival instinct, not just grief. She prioritizes self-preservation over justice, mirroring the very silence that allowed Greystone to thrive. This moment sets up her eventual confession and the moral cost of her secrecy.
Learn more about Maya’s character
2. What does the Greystone tattoo signify beyond membership?
(Chapters 13, 15, 54)
The tattoo marks a member’s permanent allegiance, but it also functions as a tool of intimidation and identification. Liam’s tattoo, revealed when he grabs Maya’s wrist, signals his complicity in the society’s crimes.
Evidence context: In Chapter 13, Maya sees a photo of Naomi with a man’s arm bearing the tattoo. In Chapter 15, Liam shows his tattoo while denying responsibility for Naomi’s death. Later, in Chapter 54, Naomi learns Liam was working with DuPont, using his membership to spy on her.
Interpretation: The tattoo is a brand of ownership—Greystone owns its members’ loyalty, even to the point of violence. It visually ties Liam to the cover-up and foreshadows his betrayal.
3. How do the epigraphs foreshadow the novel’s central conflict?
(Epigraph)
The first epigraph praises secret societies for fellowship and honor; the second warns they will inevitably be used for evil. Together, they frame the novel’s dual nature: the ideal of belonging versus the reality of corruption.
Evidence context: The epigraphs are historical quotes from 1876, followed by a note that Princeton’s first eating club was founded in 1879. The novel then shows how Sterling Club and Greystone embody both promises—friendship and mutual help—but also bribery, assault, and murder.
Interpretation: The epigraphs set up the central irony: the society’s stated values are a facade. The novel repeatedly shows how the pursuit of belonging leads characters to compromise their ethics, exactly as Hodge predicted.
4. Why does Naomi risk her life to investigate Lila’s death?
(Chapters 22, 27, 29)
Naomi feels a moral obligation after learning from Amy that Lila’s death was likely murder. She also recognizes a personal connection: her sister Maya was involved, and Naomi wants to uncover the truth that Maya has hidden for a decade.
Evidence context: In Chapter 22, Amy reveals Lila’s brother believes she was killed, and Naomi recalls overhearing Maya and her friends swear to keep silent. In Chapter 27, Naomi and Amy resolve to expose Greystone, and Naomi pledges to protect Amy. Her investigation intensifies despite threats and surveillance.
Interpretation: Naomi’s quest is driven by both justice and sisterly loyalty. She wants to free Maya from guilt and prevent further harm. Her determination ultimately costs her life, but it also forces the truth into the open.
5. What role does Marta Koval play in the cover-up and its unraveling?
(Chapters 34, 56, 66, 68)
Marta is the housekeeper who holds crucial evidence—security footage and knowledge of Lila’s death—but is silenced by threats of deportation. She eventually helps Maya escape and provides the video that exposes Cecily and Matthew.
Evidence context: In Chapter 34, Marta warns Maya about DuPont and shows her Lila’s earring. In Chapter 56, Naomi confronts Marta, who denies involvement but later admits she has footage. In Chapter 66, Marta emails Naomi a video link, and in Chapter 68 she saves Maya from Cecily.
Interpretation: Marta represents the powerless individuals caught in the society’s web. Her fear of losing her family keeps her silent for years, but her conscience ultimately wins. She becomes the key to justice, showing that even the most marginalized can break the cycle.
6. How does the relationship between Maya and Nate fracture under suspicion?
(Chapters 59–63)
After Matthew’s murder, Maya suspects Nate because of his changed suitcase code, a bloodstained shirt, and his evasive behavior. Their trust erodes as Maya hides evidence and Nate lies about his whereabouts.
Evidence context: In Chapter 59, Maya finds Nate’s running shirt with dried blood and hides it. In Chapter 61, she tries to open his suitcase with their anniversary code but finds it changed. In Chapter 63, Nate admits he went for a drive, not a run, and they argue before he leaves with Dani.
Interpretation: The suspicion is a symptom of the broader secrecy that has poisoned their marriage. Maya’s own guilt makes her project onto Nate, and the novel uses this rift to show how secrets destroy intimacy. Their eventual reconciliation comes only after the truth is revealed.
7. What does the hidden video camera symbolize in the ski trip chapters?
(Chapters 44, 47, 68)
The camera was meant to catch DuPont’s confession but instead records Lila’s death, becoming a silent witness to the crime. It symbolizes the characters’ failed attempt to control justice and the unintended consequences of their plan.
Evidence context: In Chapter 44, Kai hides a camera behind a bouquet to record DuPont. In Chapter 47, after Lila’s body is found, Kai asks about the camera, which no one packed. In Chapter 68, Daisy shows Maya the footage, revealing Cecily and Matthew dragging Lila’s body.
Interpretation: The camera is a double-edged sword: it could have exposed DuPont but instead implicates the group. Its absence from the cabin suggests deliberate concealment, and its eventual leak forces the truth. It represents the danger of seeking justice through illicit means.
8. Why does Cecily betray Naomi and Maya, despite treating them like family?
(Chapters 66–67)
Cecily was groomed by Matthew DuPont from a young age and has been his partner for a decade. She drugs Naomi to stop the investigation, and when Naomi dies, she helps dump the body to protect Matthew and the society.
Evidence context: In Chapter 66, Naomi finds her own prescription pills in Cecily’s bathroom and is drugged. In Chapter 67, Cecily confesses to Maya that she injected Naomi with ketamine and called Matthew to dispose of the body. She reveals she has been with Matthew since college.
Interpretation: Cecily’s betrayal is a tragic result of manipulation. She believes she has no choice because her entire identity is tied to Matthew and Greystone. Her actions show how grooming can turn victims into perpetrators, and her eventual death—burned in the cabin—mirrors the destruction she helped cause.
9. How does water imagery connect Naomi’s death to Maya’s guilt?
(Chapters 2, 15, 33, 69)
Naomi drowns in Lake Carnegie, and Maya repeatedly submerges herself in water—in a bath, in the lake—as a way to confront her own guilt. Water becomes a symbol of both death and cleansing.
Evidence context: In Chapter 2, Naomi’s body is found in the lake. In Chapter 33, Maya takes a bath and briefly submerges her head. In Chapter 32, she and Nate skinny-dip in the same lake. In Chapter 69, she scatters Naomi’s ashes into the ocean.
Interpretation: Water is a recurring motif that ties the sisters’ fates. Maya’s immersion mirrors Naomi’s drowning, suggesting she is haunted by her sister’s death. The final scattering of ashes offers a release, but the water remains a reminder of what was lost.
10. What is the significance of the note signed “M” found under Naomi’s dresser?
(Chapters 15, 37)
The note apologizes for “the previous night” and is signed “M.” Maya initially thinks it might be from a boyfriend, but later it becomes clear it’s from Matthew DuPont, who uses such notes to manipulate and apologize after his misdeeds.
Evidence context: In Chapter 15, Maya finds a folded card under the dresser with a note signed “M.” In Chapter 37, Naomi receives peonies with a card from “M” apologizing for an incident involving Zee, and she realizes it’s from Matthew. The pattern shows Matthew’s habit of sending apologies to maintain control.
Interpretation: The note is a tool of gaslighting—Matthew apologizes to appear caring while continuing his abuse. It also foreshadows his involvement in Naomi’s death, as the note under her dresser suggests he had been in her room. The ambiguity of “M” keeps the reader guessing until the reveal.
11. How does the novel contrast Maya’s and Naomi’s experiences at Princeton?
(Chapters 5, 8, 12, 35)
Maya enters Princeton as an outsider, humiliated at Cottage Club, and later joins Sterling through deception. Naomi, arriving a decade later, is already a member of Greystone but faces danger from within. Their paths show how the same institution can offer both exclusion and peril.
Evidence context: In Chapter 5, Maya is publicly humiliated at Cottage. In Chapter 12, she lies about her grandfather to gain entry to Sterling. In Chapter 8, Naomi is a member of Greystone but becomes entangled in the investigation. In Chapter 35, Naomi performs in a dance show while being watched by Liam and Ben.
Interpretation: Maya’s struggle is for belonging; Naomi’s is for survival. The novel uses their parallel timelines to show that the society’s allure fades once you’re inside, and the real danger begins. Maya’s eventual success comes at the cost of her integrity, while Naomi’s quest for truth costs her life.
12. What role does the BAC dance group play in Naomi’s identity?
(Chapters 3, 35, 40)
BAC (Black Arts Company) provides Naomi with a community and a creative outlet, contrasting with the toxic world of Greystone. It is where she finds solace and where Maya’s absence is felt.
Evidence context: In Chapter 3, Naomi is late to BAC rehearsal and distracted. In Chapter 35, she performs in the BAC show, and Maya fails to attend. In Chapter 40, Maya apologizes for missing it, and Naomi doesn’t remind her there won’t be another.
Interpretation: BAC represents authenticity and belonging that Naomi cannot find in Greystone. It is a space where she is valued for her talent, not her connections. The group’s absence from the investigation highlights how Naomi’s real life was separate from the society’s corruption.
13. How does the author use the theme of silence and complicity to drive the plot?
(Chapters 22, 45, 69)
Characters repeatedly choose silence to protect themselves or others, allowing crimes to go unpunished. Maya’s decade-long silence about Lila’s death enables Greystone’s continued corruption, and Naomi’s investigation threatens to break that silence.
Evidence context: In Chapter 22, Maya and her friends swear never to speak of Lila’s death. In Chapter 45, Daisy tells Naomi about the plan but makes her promise not to tell Maya. In Chapter 69, Maya reflects on her guilt over her silence and how it allowed more harm.
Interpretation: Silence is a form of complicity. The novel shows that keeping secrets to protect oneself ultimately leads to more deaths. Only when the truth is exposed—through Amy’s article and the leaked video—does justice begin, but it comes at a great cost.
14. What is the significance of the Escher print in Firestone Library?
(Chapter 14)
Ben shows Naomi an Escher print, likely “Relativity,” which depicts impossible staircases and shifting perspectives. It symbolizes the novel’s theme of unreliable truths and the way characters’ perceptions are manipulated.
Evidence context: In Chapter 14, Ben and Naomi study at Firestone, and Ben shows her an Escher print. The scene occurs as they grow closer, and Naomi is beginning to question her assumptions about Greystone.
Interpretation: The print foreshadows the novel’s structure, where past and present timelines reveal different versions of events. Just as Escher’s stairs defy logic, the characters’ memories and loyalties are twisted. It also hints at Ben’s role as a truth-teller, as he later exposes Liam’s betrayal.
15. How does the novel resolve the question of who killed Naomi?
(Chapters 67–69)
Cecily St. Clair drugged Naomi with ketamine to stop her investigation, and when Naomi stopped breathing, Cecily called Matthew DuPont, who helped dump her body in Lake Carnegie. Matthew is later killed by Margaret St. Clair, who seeks revenge.
Evidence context: In Chapter 67, Cecily confesses to Maya that she injected Naomi and that Matthew helped dispose of the body. In Chapter 69, Maya realizes Margaret killed Matthew after receiving a text implying success. The autopsy reveals the puncture wound and ketamine.
Interpretation: The resolution is layered: Cecily is the direct killer, but Matthew is the mastermind, and Margaret becomes a vigilante. The novel suggests that true justice is elusive—Cecily dies in a fire, Matthew is murdered, and Margaret escapes punishment. Maya’s decision to suppress her questions about Margaret’s role shows her acceptance of moral ambiguity.