Another Chamberlain success! It took a few chapters for me to get fully into this one, but once I was hooked I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed seeing Morgan flourish under her new opportunity, and the mystery of what happened to Anna was... So well executed, I was amazed. Such an excellent book.

5 perfect stars! The depth of the characters, setting, and emotions paint a beautiful, intriguing story that cover so many relevant topics in a small world (a small town - I see what she did with the title) that plague our entire society.

I tried this book a few times and couldn’t past chapter three. I just couldn’t get into it. It just wasn’t for me. I originally decided not to review because I didn’t finish it but because it wasn’t for me, it could very well be for someone else.

Give it a try. If you love it, that’s great and if you don’t, it’s okay. Just give it a try.

In 2018, Morgan's world is turned upside down when she is put in jail for a crime she didn't commit. She is given an opportunity that she can't say no to, to restore a mural in a small town.
In 1940, a woman is hired to paint a mural. She discovers that small towns all have their secrets and is she going to get caught up in them, or will she escape?

You won't be able to put this one down. You will find many twists and turns in this book. I enjoyed it because it was not easily predictable. If you like surprises read this book.

I just reviewed Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain. #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
This story is about an art student Morgan Christopher, 2018, who’s life has been turned upside down. Morgan is an inmate at a correctional facility who is visited by her artist idols daughter to finish a painting from 1940.
1940 Anna Dale, is the winner of the post office mural in North Carolina. She is brought to this town, not knowing anyone, where most of the town thinks that the winner should have been the towns artist.
This story goes back n forth to these young women painting and then restoring/finishing this mural.
I found this story hard to get invested in.
Thank you again to NetGalley!

Knew I was going to give this book 5 stars even before I read it.. Anything Chamberlain writes is always brilliant. This one was extremely relevant and of course well written. I was extremely invested in the story and cant say enough about how unique the plot and story line was. Highly recommend anything Diane writes.

This book is one I hope to come back and read sometime but right now I am very deep into fantasy and romance and this is a book that is just not captivating me at the time.

I was lucky to win an ARC of this amazing book. Really absorbing story, very realistic gritty characters and kept me turning the pages. I enjoy her work, it’s always varied and enjoyable.

Fascinating plot with well developed characters! Typical of a Diane Chamberlin novel. The double timeline in NC was particularly intriguing.

Amazing book by an amazing and talented author! I have been a big fan of hers for a long time. This story is about a crime that was committed by someone else and was pinned on the wrong person. It was full of suspense and excitement til the very end.

Finally finished reading this novel and OMG I am so in love.
There are no words to describe the magnificence of this novel. The plot, woven around the life of two women (Anna and Morgan) in two different eras and narrated in the present. Brilliant!
The conflicts and plot twists of the past eras, that continue to impact the present generations mixes history and mystery in perfection to create relationships that are heartbreaking and wholesome at the same time.
Ten glorious stars.

What a fantastic book! This is a book that draws you in from the very beginning! It is a cannot put down until the very end story. I loved the way Diane Chamberlain is able to go between the present and the past flawlessly! I highly recommend this book.

Another great book by Diane Chamberlain! I love all of her books, and this one is no exception! I read this in one sitting. You will not want to put it down!!

Diane Chamberlain always knows how to WOW me. This book is so unique, with such interesting touches all throughout. The story follows both Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale in two differing timelines that tie together beautifully. Morgan has been hired (well, released from jail and brought on the project) to restore a mural painted by Anna Dale. The mystery surrounding why Morgan was plucked out of obscurity by one of her favorite artists to help with another unknown artist's (Dale) mural begins to unfold throughout the book. But its not the only mystery. There is plenty of questions around Anna Dale herself. Did she really go mad before finishing the painting? What happened to her afterwards?
And I found both storylines and mysteries equally entertaining...which is unprecedented for me. In these types of books, I usually have a favorite point of view, one that I want to get back to quickly. But in this case, Anna and Morgan were both brilliant characters with beautifully painted development and intrigue.
Highly recommend yet another Chamberlain masterpiece!

Diane Chamberlain is a must read author for me. I love the cover! A story with two different storylines. it's about Morgan Christopher in 2018, and Anna Dale in 1940. Based around a mural on a post office, and small town prejudice.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exhange for an honest review.
I found "Big Lies In A Small Town"
by Diane Chamberlain to be an addictive, interesting & creative story that pulled me in & didn't let me go until its final page.
I loved how she used dual timelines to tell the story & connect the 2 main characters.
This the 1st book that I have read from Ms. Chamberlain & I can't wait to read her newest book, "The Last House On The Street" which will be released in January 2022.

It took me a few tries to get into this book, but it turned out to be really good. They first 15% or so is just so slow. Once you get into more of the historical sections it picks up nicely. Diane Chamberlain always does a good job of describing her settings and creating atmosphere. This was a nice mystery. I could have done without the romance but that's a minor quibble. I look forward to her next book.

I am sorry for not reviewing fully but I don’t have the time to read this at the moment. I believe that it wouldn't benefit you as a publisher or your book if I only skimmed it and wrote a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for not fully reviewing!

Big Lies in a Small Town is a captivating piece of historical fiction. Told in dual timelines by two strong female characters, this is a case where dual timelines really add to the story. In the 1940s, we hear from Anna Dole, an artist from the North who won a competition to paint a mural in small town North Carolina. In 2018, we hear from Morgan Christopher, an emerging artist, recently in prison, who is given a chance for early release at the bequest of one of her favourite artists who recently passed away, if she comes to Edenton, North Carolina to restore the mural painted by Anna.

Chamberlain does a great job at creating her characters and their worlds. The book tackles racism in the South, sexism, friendship, family and love. I'm a big fan of dual timelines and these two compliment each other beautifully. While there are elements of a mystery, this one falls firmly under historical fiction for me as they mystery element was really secondary and less the focus of the book. The ending was a bit too convenient for me, but I understand why it made sense for the characters journeys.

This book will appeal to readers who love historical fiction , dual timelines and strong female characters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the e-copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.