North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher's life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself serving a three-year stint in the North Carolina Women's Correctional Center. Her dream of a career in art is put on hold—until a mysterious visitor makes her an offer that will see her released immediately. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence, and a conspiracy of small town secrets.

North Carolina, 1940: Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Alone in the world and desperate for work, she accepts. But what she doesn't expect is to find herself immersed in a town where prejudices run deep, where people are hiding secrets behind closed doors, and where the price of being different might just end in murder.

What happened to Anna Dale? Are the clues hidden in the decrepit mural? Can Morgan overcome her own demons to discover what exists beneath the layers of lies?

Big Lies in a Small Town was my first Diane Chamberlain book and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing! The plot and characters were great and engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for my review.

What a great read this book was! Good characters and a story that kept you interested in how the story-line would develop. Its one of those books you dont want to put down!

4.5 stars!

This was my first novel by Diane Chamberlain, and I understand why she is a reader favorite!

<i>Big Lies in a Small Town</i> follows two artists, Morgan in the present day, and Anna over 70 years prior. Morgan recently served prison time for a DUI car accident. To her surprise, famous artist Jesse Jameson Williams selected her to restore an old mural and arranged for her early release from prison. Anna Dale was the mural artist, yet as Morgan cleans up the painting, she discovers some unexpected objects that lead her to believe that Anna was unwell.

I loved both Anna and Morgan's stories and was very drawn into each. Anna was strong-willed and defended Jesse against racist Edenton townspeople. I felt that Chamberlain handled many difficult subjects delicately and in a way that brought depth to the story. At times Morgan's shame over her past got tiresome, and I was ready for her to stop dwelling on it. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to the author's other works!

nother wonderful story from one of my favourite authors. I just love her storytelling and unique plots.

This one is a dual timeline that alternates from 1940 small town North Carolina to 2018. In 1940, Anna is an artist from New Jersey who wins a government contest to draw a post office mural in a small town called Edenton in North Carolina. She finds some resistance from the folks there who feel that a local artist should have been given the honour to paint their mural. Before the mural can be completed Anna disappears. In 2018, Morgan is a struggling artist fallen on hard times. Morgan has recently been released from prison and has been chosen to restore the mural from long ago (that was never properly displayed.) The more she restores the mural, the more Morgan is intrigued by the long ago artist Anna and her disappearance.

An interesting story that had me reading page after page to learn the outcome of the mystery.

I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy.

Morgan went to jail for something that she didn't do and she has an opportunity to change her life but there are secrets behind that offer. I really liked this book, it was weird as it jumped back and forth between the past and the present but it all came together at the end and I really didn't want it to end. I enjoyed it and am really glad that I read this book.

Review coming soon. Fell behind due to illness, amd working on all of the old ones now.

This one will not be forgotten. Diane Chamberlain has her own lane and I love it! I’ll read all of her books. I was getting my infusion and both another patient and I were reading a Diane Chamberlain book.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.


Pub Date was January 14, 2020
#BigLiesInASmallTown #DianeChamberlain #NetGalley

So good and a lot of mystery that makes sense at the end, who knew. Morgan in prison for a DUI that severely changed the life of the person she and her boyfriend Trey hit. Morgan is granted an early release if she restores a mural. Her idol in the art world Jesse Jameson Williams will has offered her this option delivered by his surviving daughter and attorney. From there, we learn about the truth of that night, Morgan's deadbeat parents and how she survived and what she plans to do in the future. Love her friendship with Oliver and how that transpires. Would definitely look for other books by this author as she wove the tale in such a way it was really great.

This was an engaging historical mystery that tells an intertwined story of two very different artist from different timelines. Modern artist Morgan has just got out of prison and is need of a job and is offered an amazing opportunity to revive a mural work in a rural town. As she works she learn more about the original artist and her time spent in the town,. The story gives us the POV of both women and their lives in this town.

This is mostly an emotional, historical reading deals with so many heavy issues starting from racism, women equality, abuse, mental illness but is also questions family bounds, secrets, love and meaning of the life.

I recommend any and all books by this prolific writer. Well-developed characters, interesting story lines and superb writing as expected by Diane Chamberlain. I think I have read all of her books and look forward to the next!

I requested this book from NetGalley because I thoroughly enjoyed Chamberlain's earlier novel, [Necessary Lies]. This one did not disappoint. Although different in subject matter, this novel also addressed some forms of prejudice in the United States in the early 19th century. More directly however, this novel is the story of a young artist, Anna Dale, who, in 1940, beat out more experienced, local artists to win the opportunity to paint a mural for the town's post office depicting the history of Edenton, North Carolina.
When, in 2018, the painting, hidden for many years, is to be restored, Morgan Christopher finds there is more to this mural than just the history of Edenton.
Well constructed novel with nicely drawn characters and, like paint to a canvas, totally absorbing.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I regret I did not read it on a more timely basis but I intend to spread the word that this novel should not be missed.

I loved the setting in North Carolina, the small town, and the selection of characters. The plot is built around sexism, mental illness and racism, with two protagonists from different time spans telling their stories until a fine denouement ends the mystery on a good note. Anna Dale in the 1940s and Morgan Christopher in 2018.

I was a tad disappointed with the ending. It was as though a follow-up might be in the works, although there isn't any indication that it might be the case. A necessary ending to complete all the circles, though. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the rest of the story with its intricate web of what ifs. And I could imagine the outcome, which is actually a good idea.

Morgan Christopher is given a chance to leave the jail cell she's been in for the past year. The task she has been given though, seems to be beyond her ability. Prior to her arrest, she was a mildly talented art student. Now she is expected to restore a mural more than 70 years old, and she is clueless as to where to begin. In the process of learning to restore the mural, she learns much more - about a mysterious painter, the hidden history in a small NC town, and her own life.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley
#dianechamberlain
#artists
#southerntowns

Loved, loved, loved this book. I listened to the audiobook version and was eager to listen each day.

I loved how the author wove the past and the present together through the mural. While I suspected the twist at the end, I was only partially correct, which made the ending even more perfect.

I enjoyed it so much, I grabbed another book by this author that I've had sitting on my shelf for several years and dove right in.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

5 stars!

Another hit by Diane Chamberlain! Thanks to the Publisher for an ARC.

After an accident leaves Morgan in prison, she gets an unexpected offer to restore an old mural. A former art student, Morgan knows nothing about restoration but jumps at the chance to get out of prison.

Ms. Chamberlain does a wonderful job of blending past and present. As Morgan starts the restoration, she finds the mural holds secrets no one seems to have answers for. The further along she goes, the more she needs to know about mural artist Anna Dale. Why did she add the strange items? What really happened to her?

Great read!

Impressive storyline with characters that have stories that intertwine, about 70 years apart. Super creative book. Somewhat of a historical time piece but the author kept me intrigued.

I finally picked up this book after deciding to grab the oldest one in my TBR pile. I was ambivalent picking it up, and was ambivalent as I read it. One moment, I was captivated and couldn't put it down, the next, I was skim reading to get through it. I think my issue was that I didn't like Morgan, but I loved Anna. I loved the story, I loved the way it was told. This one was just a miss for me

Thank you netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4613864500

Diane Chamberlain is an author I've always enjoyed and this one is no different. A compelling read that gave me all the feels.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. Diane Chamberlain tells a deeply touching and engrossing story. Her idea to use a painting over time as a focal point was a bit of genius, and her execution of the intricate plot was flawless. The solution to the mystery at its heart was clever and believable, and I found it impossible to guess, despite trying diligently. Set in two time periods (1940 and 2018) in the same small town in North Carolina, the story unfolds at just the right pace as it slowly makes clear that these two timelines are related. Her vivid descriptions transported me to a very different time and place, and introduced me to a variety of multidimensional characters so realistic I felt I knew them.
This is storytelling at its very best. Highly recommended.

Big Lied in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain was fantastic! A great story that goes between the 1940s and present day.
This is another great book by Ms Chanberlain. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of htis book. All opinions are my own.