This book drew me in from the beginning. The characters are engaging, and the story progresses at a pace that meant I couldn’t put the book down.

I really enjoy historical fiction, and one of my favorite authors of historical fiction is Diane Chamberlain. This was my first novel I read in 2020.

I really did enjoy reading this book - I loved the past & present story line as well. I did however, find the first 1/3 of the book to drag a bit and I devoured the final 1/3. I loved reading about two very strong women and how their lives were intertwined over 60 years.

While this wasn't my favorite Diane Chamberlain novel - I still definitely recommend it.

Title: Big Lies in a Small Town
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

In 2018, Morgan Christopher’s life has been put on hold. Serving three years for a crime she didn’t commit, she’s given up all hope of a career in art and just wants her prison stay to be over—until a stranger offers her a deal that will mean her immediate release: restore an old mural in a small southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, and the deadline is something not even an experienced restoration artist could meet, but as Morgan starts work on the painting, she realizes it hides evidence of madness, murder, and lies in a small town.

In 1940, Anna Dale wins a contest to paint a post office mural in North Carolina. She’s thrilled for the opportunity—but Edenton isn’t what she expected at all. Her life in New York gives her no frame of reference for understanding this small southern town—full of prejudice, secrets, and expectations she refuses to meet—which just might end in murder.

I didn’t immediately connect with the characters, but I ended up loving this book! I connected with both Morgan and Anna, and I admired them both. They are such strong women. They don’t always make the best choices, but they do stay true to themselves and grow from their experiences.

Diane Chamberlain is a bestselling author. Big Lies in a Small Town is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain is a wonderful story which drew me right in, making me forget everything else and did not let me go until I turned the last page. The book is very well written and the characters are well defined and believable. This is told in dual timelines that perfectly matched each other. Once I started reading this book I did not want to put it down.

"You have to make peace with the past or you can never move into the future."

This novel, categorized as Women's Fiction, relates the story of an artist from the 1940s and a present day parolee tasked with restoring a mural in Edenton, North Carolina.

Anna Dale is 22-years-old when she wins a mural competition and, since her mother has just died, finds herself in Edenton in 1940 to produce a 12 foot by 6 foot project for installation in the post office there. Deciding to stay on while painting the mural, she learns that things are quite different in the south than they were in her hometown of Plainfield, New Jersey. Because of events that transpire, Anna vanishes and the mural is never hung.

Present day finds Morgan Christopher in the North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women in Raleigh, North Carolina. She's been imprisioned as the result of a drunk driving accident that paralyzed a young women. Hope comes in the form of two African-American women who visit to offer her probation and a job. It seems that, although she never finished art school due to her crime, a famous artist has recently died and wants to open a gallery in his hometown. There is a mural that she is meant to restore, one that has been hidden and nearly destroyed. Of course she accepts even though she knows nothing about art restoration and finds herself in Edenton. Morgan becomes obsessed with the mural's artist, Anna Dale, because the images on the mural are quite disturbing and no one knows what happened to the young woman. As she works, hints of the secrets and lies in that small town are revealed on the canvas. NO SPOILERS.

This novel is told from the viewpoints of Anna and Morgan and each chapter reveals how the mural affected them and describes the events that link them together. Though it is all thoroughly predictable, the writing is good and the description made me really want to actually "see" that piece of artwork in all of its restored form. It's an easy, quick read that discusses the prejudices in a small, southern town during that period of time in history. The themes are self-discovery and redemption and the conclusion is fitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

5 stars! What a great read! I enjoyed the dual timeline of this story and was very interested in Anna Dale's story; getting excited when I came to her chapters. Both timelines (and characters) were quite intriguing tho.

It's a story of big lies about small-town stuff. Anna Dale is in the past. She won a contest to paint a mural for the town. That, of course, would be so great for her career. She is pretty excited and moves there temporarily to get to know everyone and be available to get the mural done in the timeframe the town requires.

In the present day, Morgan is in jail. She is offered a way to get out early if she will agree to restore the mural that Anna painted so long ago, which is currently in ruin. She accepts the offer as her only way out but doesn't really feel she has enough art experience to fully pull this request off. She must, however, to gain her freedom; because she was arrested and put in jail over a crime she did not commit.

I have found that Chamberlain is very good at social justice issues, having read a few of her other books in the last year. I enjoyed watching this one unravel and see where the story took me. Not disappointed here...only made me want to add more of her books. So many great characters here that I connected to and cared about. I felt for them so much. That makes for a really good read for me.

Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley for a digital copy to read for review. I highly recommend this one. I read this in a group read with The Traveling Sisters and our discussion enhanced my experience. A very satisfying ending and I think this would make a good movie!

A solid 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Once again, Diane Chamberlain crafts a story that is unique and well written. I love when this author finds small unknown parts of history and builds a story around it.

This is a story told from two points of view in two different time periods. This story took me quite some time to figure out how the puzzle was going to fit together. Chamberlain is a master of her craft.

Fabulous book! So many different plot lines and they all fit together so perfectly. The author did a great job with describing everything and I genuinely fell in love with the characters and felt like I knew them.

I loved watching the characters grow and find themselves as their stories developed.

This was the first book by this author I’ve read, and I can’t wait to go look for more!

Will read anything by this author. Another hit! I loved Anna’s storyline a bit better and found myself rushing to get back to her. Another solid book!

I enjoy reading Diane Chamberlain's books, and this one was no exception. For me, it started out a bit slow, but once I got about a quarter of the way into the book, I really started connecting with the characters. Of course, since there is a mystery at the heart of this book, it takes awhile to unravel. Morgan is a young woman who is given a chance to get out of prison after making some poor choices, and she is asked to restore a mural by an unrealistic deadline - despite being an art student prior to her incarceration, she is over her head and has never performed any sort of art restoration. Her story alternates with that of Hannah Dale, the artist who painted the mural in the 1940's. As Morgan starts to restore the mural, she uncovers a number of disturbing details in the picture, and also becomes intrigued and almost obsessed with finding out what happened to Hannah, and who she was.

This is a mystery that unravels slowly, and weaves in threads of racism, friendship, madness, along with history - I didn't now anything about the postal mural project as part of the New Deal, but I even learned something through reading this entertaining book. I don't like mysteries that are predictable, and this one had me guessing up until the end! 5 stars.

Another great mystery by Diane Chamberlain! I’ve lost count of how many books of hers I’ve read but this one did not disappoint.

Big Lies in a Small Town tells the story of Anna & Morgan who are both living in a small town in North Carolina, but in different time periods. Chamberlain’s chapters alternate between the characters which makes it difficult to put the book down! Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the advanced copy!

I can always count on Diane Chamberlain for a great read! Her books never disappoint and I love the fact that there is usually a historic aspect to her books. Heartwarming, thought provoking and all around enjoyable, this is another great addition to her lineup.

The following review was published on my blog (www.blogginboutbooks.com) on 1.25.20:

1939—Aspiring artist Anna Dale is thrilled when her sketch wins a federal contest designed to install colorful murals on the walls of post offices throughout the United States. Unexpectedly, the 22-year-old is assigned to paint in the tiny Southern town of Edenton. With the recent death of her mother, Anna has nothing to keep her in New Jersey, so she settles down in the North Carolina town, determined to do her best to immortalize its virtues in her mural. While some of the townsfolk welcome her with open arms, others look askance at her city airs, her unconventional ideas, and the fact that she bested Edenton's resident artist in the contest. When a shocking turn of events shows Anna just how deep some people's resentment lies, she's forced to decide if completing the mural is really worth the risk.

2018—In jail for a crime she didn't commit, 22-year-old Morgan Christopher is surprised when she receives a visit from two women she doesn't know. When they offer her a job restoring an old painting, at the bequest of a well-known artist who has recently died, Morgan's shocked. Especially when she learns the task comes with a generous payout and immediate release from incarceration. Morgan can't say no. Although she knows nothing about art restoration and can't fathom why a famous painter would want her for the job, Morgan vows to do the best she can. When she sees the painting—an old mural that was never installed at the Edenton, North Carolina, post office like it should have been—she's intrigued by the artist's odd renderings of the town. Was Anna Dale insane? Why did she paint such weird motifs? The more Morgan works on the painting, the more she has to know: What happened to Anna Dale, a talented painter who was never heard from again after she left Edenton?

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain combines some intriguing elements—small-town secrets, a mysterious painting, and an impossible task assigned to an improbable underdog—to create an engrossing, entertaining mystery that I quite enjoyed. Anna and Morgan are likable characters, both of whom are sympathetic and admirable. Although I know little about painting, it was interesting to learn about the restoration process. I also enjoyed the pacing of this story, which kept me engrossed and guessing. The Big Reveal at the end of the book didn't surprise me at all, however, but that's okay because it felt so right. With all of these winning elements, Big Lies in a Small Town is engaging, compelling, and enjoyable. I'll definitely be checking out Chamberlain's backlist now.

(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro)

Grade: B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), blood/gore, violence, and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Big Lies in a Small Town from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press via those at NetGalley. Thank you!

This has all the elements of an outstanding suspense: it’s well-written and interesting, has mystery and intrigue, well-rounded characters that are both likable and repugnant and an exciting twist. Diane Chamberlain continues to be one of my favorite authors with good reason.

Many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Diane Chamberlain for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Really enjoyed how the book switched back and forth between the two women. Some surprises. The ending was lovely, but I was hoping for a different or should I say a resolution to the accident. I wanted a smidge or two more at the end. Not my typical choice of genre, but it became quite a page turner.

This was darker than I feel like Chamberlain's other books have been (but then, I've only read two before this). I really loved the art, the small town vibe, the mystery, the black characters. It was great.

Another hit from Diane Chamberlain. This is a brilliantly researched and written novel that centers on a young woman who seems to have pretty much messed up her life. The story begins with Morgan, at age 22, being an art school dropout due to her immaturity, getting caught up in the wrong activities and making one incredibly poor decision that lands her in prison. She is given an early release due to being selected by a locally famous artist who has recently passed away and hand selected her to be the recipient of his next project. In order for his own daughter to receive her full inheritance, the conditions of his will, including those involving Morgan must be kept.
The story begins with a dual timeline, current day Morgan working to restore a mural for a gallery opening and the past, a view into the original artist’s world during the time the mural was created.
This novel is beautifully written with a mystery, romance, violence, race relations in the Deep South and a rebirth of the human spirit. There is a lot here for everyone. Diane Chamberlain knocks it out of the park yet again.
Thanks to #stmartinspress and #netgalley for the early copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Big Lies in a Small Town is the second book I have read by author Diane Chamberlain. This book is historical fiction with a mystery embedded in the story and is told in a dual timeline/dual perspective featuring two artists eighty years apart. As is typical of a Diane Chamberlain novel, the story explores thought provoking issues of mental illness, racism, sexism and poverty. Although the story started a little slow for me I knew this author would not let me down and as I expected it built up to a fantastic ending. I liked the small town setting and enjoyed the art theme. Ana and Morgan were both believable characters that Chamberlain described in great detail. As a reader I knew their stories would intersect in some manner but I just didn’t know how. There were lots of secrets uncovered in the story and they all seemed to fall perfectly in place by the conclusion. I enjoyed this book and would give it 4 stars.

Diane Chamberlain has always been one of my go to authors to read. This book is outstanding and you will not want to put it down. I highly recommend this read! She does not disappoint.

4.5 rounded up to 5 Stars

This book landed on my radar via a NetGalley email. What's more, it has a bit of a personal connection. In my hometown we have one of those huge murals depicting important highlights in our city like St. Mary's RC Church with a flock of walking nuns astride it. Unlike the murals spoken about in this book that adorn post office walls, it instead hangs in a bank. I always enjoyed drinking in its history each time I waited in line to perform my banking transactions. I had no knowledge until reading this book that there had been a 48 State Art Mural Contest back in 1939. I researched it online and my city wasn't listed as one of the state winners, but I still marvel at the artistry and historical importance of the amazing mural hanging in my bank. I was a commercial art major while a freshman at college, so that's another connection I feel with this story.

The 48 States Mural Competition was conducted under the auspices of The New Deal, its images meant to provide a beacon of hope during the Great Depression. The winning murals were to be hung over the Postmaster's door. In this story, 20-ish Anna Dale won the contest to paint the mural in Edenton, North Carolina, even though she came from Plainfield, New Jersey. This caused much resentment in Edenton due to the fact that an established local artist named Martin Drapple was expected to get the gig. This forced Anna to travel to Edenton, spend some time there and discover what was important about the town to include in the mural.

This is one of those dual timeline books, but it is pulled off flawlessly and flows naturally. We have the backstory of Anna Dale from 1940 alongside the current story from 2018 of a young woman named Morgan Christopher. Morgan is in prison due to a DUI she deeply regrets. Her victim in the accident, Emily Maxwell haunts her memory each and every day of her life. Although Emily survived the accident, she suffers some degree of paralysis and will never be the same. As Morgan lies down to sleep in her cell each night, she wonders if her surly and mentally edgy cellmate just might end her life. So imagine Morgan's surprise when she receives two well-dressed African American female visitors one day with an incredible proposition. One woman is a lawyer and the other is Lisa Williams, daughter of the recently deceased Jesse Williams...a renowned African American painter that Morgan admires. In Jesse WIlliams' will, he directed that an art gallery be opened in Edenton displaying his and other works, but especially one particular piece: the mural painted by one Anna Dale. The problem is that the mural needed to undergo a restoration process, and he specified that Morgan Christopher do the job. Jesse Williams had been known to support various youth with artistic talent over the years, especially those with difficult living circumstances. Morgan couldn't understand why she had been chosen for this path; although she had been a college art student, she didn't consider herself especially gifted. More importantly, she knew nothing about art restoration. Still, her acceptance of this project would provide immediate release and probation from her prison sentence. She was honest with Lisa Williams about her artistic limitations, but it didn't seem to matter. Somehow it seemed crucial that she alone perform this task, which had a strict time fulfillment to coincide with the gallery's opening.

I found the explained technical process of the mural's restoration very interesting. It involved first carefully cleaning the entire mural in small square increments, being careful not to wipe away paint flakes. Once entirely clean, the process of "inpainting" occurs. This means carefully painting in areas that need it, with a care to mimic the artist's unique paint stroke and color style.

Another thing that really "popped" for me in this story was the shocking details in the mural that made no sense. There were things that you might not have noticed straight off, but upon close inspection inspired mystery and a sense of dread in the heart. It was often speculated throughout the book that perhaps Anna Dale at some point had lost her mind.

This book explores racism in a small, southern town setting, historical and current dueling timelines, and a slowly unraveling mystery. I have never had the pleasure of reading one of author Diane Chamberlain's books, but will look out for her offerings in the future. This was a very good and artfully written story (pun intended).