This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and she did not disappoint. The book moves back and forward through time solving a mystery while providing closure to the family. Serving a sentence for a crime she did not commit Morgan Christopher is given the opportunity to paint in a small town fixing a mural painting for a small town. There she begins to investigate the past and try to make since of what happened. Well written and truly vivid descriptions.

Two female artists both work on the same mural over seven decades apart in a small southern town. In 1939, Anna Dale, a young artist living in New Jersey, wins a national competition to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. She travels to NC to learn more about the town and it’s people. There she meets Jesse Williams, a young black art student with tremendous talent. The dual timelines,(1940 & 2019) the spinning of both artists' stories was very engaging. I wanted to know how the two would intersect and solve the mystery of what really happened to Anna Dale all those years ago.

Bestselling author Diane Chamberlain says the stories she tells "are often filled with twists and surprises and –- I hope -– they also tug at the emotions." All of her book have one thing in common. They "focus on relationships — between men and women, parents and children, sisters and brothers, friends and enemies." Big Lies in a Small Town is no exception.

The story opens in June 2018 at the North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Morgan, age twenty-two, has been incarcerated for a year. Via Morgan's first-person narrative, readers learn that two unexpected visitors dramatically change the trajectory of Morgan's life on that day. Raised by alcoholic parents who never really wanted her, Morgan also developed a drinking problem which culminated in a catastrophic vehicle accident and Morgan's conviction for a crime she didn't commit, but should have prevented. At the time, she was an art major, but irresponsible and misguided decisions derailed her education and the life she envisioned after graduation.

Now Morgan is face to face with Lisa, the daughter of famed artist Jesse Jameson Williams, and her attorney. She learns that Jesse died five months earlier at the age of ninety-five. He spent the last twenty-five years of his life helping young artists "he thought had promise but were having a hard time with school or family or maybe just heading down the wrong path." None of the women know how or why Morgan was on Jesse's "Good Samaritan radar" -- Morgan never met him -- but he had decided she would be his "next project." Now Morgan is being offered an early release from prison and $50,000 if she agrees to restore an old 1940s mural. Among the complications is the fact that Morgan has no expertise in art restoration, she must live in Edenton, North Carolina, while performing the work, and the restoration must be completed in time for the opening of the gallery Jesse was building before his death. The restored mural must be hung in the foyer and the gallery must open on August 5th. The mural was supposed to be painted by Anna Dale and hung in the Edenton Post Office, but Anna never completed the painting. Jesse told Lisa that Anna "lost her mind while she was working on it," but Lisa does not know how Jesse came into possession of the mural. Although Morgan has no idea how she will complete the work on the mural in time, she can't pass up the "get out of jail free" card being offered to her.

In alternating chapters, Chamberlain employs a third-person narrative to tell the story of Anna Dale, who is notified in December 1939 that she has won the "Special 48-States Mural Competition" and awarded the opportunity to create a mural not for her hometown of Bordentown, New Jersey, but for the Edenton Post Office. Anna has never been to North Carolina and is not prepared for life in a small Southern town. "She'd never had any yearning to travel south of the Mason-Dixon line, and she was glad she'd only be here for a few days. The South seemed so backward to her" with its segregation laws. But the mural must be 12' by 6' and completed by June 3, 1940, in order for Anna to claim the prize money that she desperately needs. Initially, Anna plans to visit Edenton for three days in order to learn about the town and create her sketch of the mural which must be approved by the selection committee. She has just buried her mother and is reeling from her death. Soon it becomes clear that she will need to remain in Edenton so she agrees to rent a room from Myrtle Simms, a widow whose daughter, Pauline, has just married and moved out of her mother's home. Ann brings few belongings to Edenton, but among them is a brown leather journal her mother gifted her shortly before she died, and strikes up a friendship with Pauline.

Chamberlain deftly advances the dual storylines as the two women face the challenges of creating and restoring the mural. Anna has a hard time adjusting to life in Edenton. She is pressured by the male leaders of the community about what scenes should be depicted in the mural. And there is Martin Drapple, the artist who was born and raised in Edenton. Of course, everyone in town knows him and most residents have one of his paintings hanging in their home. Everyone expected him to win the competition -- especially Martin. His wife lets her resentment be known, but Martin offers to assist Anna with the mural after she adapts an abandoned warehouse outside of town into her makeshift studio. Does Martin have an ulterior motive? And Anna becomes the subject of gossip and speculation when a high school teacher asks her to let one of her most talented students join two other youngsters who are helping Anna with the mural. He's failing most of his classes because all he wants to do is draw, and he needs more advanced tutelage than the teacher can give him. The only thing keeping him from dropping out of school is art class, but his future looks grim because his parents need him to remain at home and work alongside them on the family farm. Anna does not understand why the townspeople look down on her being alone with the young African American man in the warehouse as work on the mural proceeds. She is outraged by their blatant bigotry. The young man is indeed talented and Anna wants to guide him toward a future as an artist. He is none other than Jesse Williams, and he and Anna are destined to help each other in ways neither can foresee.

In 2018, Morgan's work on the mural proceeds slowly as she resides with Lisa in the home Jesse left her. Her stress is exacerbated as she learns more about the strict provisions contained in his will and the penalties for noncompliance. The condition of the unfinished mural makes the restoration more challenging and time-consuming than Morgan anticipated, and the scenes it depicts are mysterious and troubling. Did Anna indeed suffer from mental illness while working on the mural? Morgan seeks answers from Lisa's family members, but the one who might be able to answer Morgan's many questions suffers from dementia. As Morgan works on the mural, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Oliver Jones, the gallery's curator who, like her, is eager to unravel the mysteries of the mural and Anna, whose fate remains unknown. Morgan is hesitant to get involved with Oliver for a number of reasons, including the way her previous relationship ended. She is required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and meet with her parole agent regularly, and is determined not to squander the chance she has been given to remain free. But she is haunted by memories of the night that ruined her life, as well as that of a young woman named Emily Maxwell. Can she forgive herself? Should she attempt to find Emily in an attempt to make amends?

Chamberlain explores the emotions Morgan and Anna experience during the months they spend in Edenton in a credible, compassionate manner. She gradually reveals details about Anna's relationship with her mother and her fear that she might be more like her mother than she wants to be. She also believably depicts Anna's difficulties adjusting to life in Edenton, particularly the misogyny and racism that shock and sadden her. Likewise, Morgan is a sympathetic, fully-developed character -- a young woman who had a terrible childhood and must break free of the behavior patterns and beliefs she carried into adulthood that caused her to demonstrate extremely poor judgment. She is earnestly struggling to accept her mistakes and learn to forgive herself so that she can find peace. She develops a deep connection not just to the work she is performing on the mural, but to Anna, becoming extremely protective of her legacy and doggedly searching for clues to her fate. Both narratives move forward at a steady pace, ultimately merging as all of the big secrets and lies that have remained unknown for nearly eighty years are disclosed.

Once again, Chamberlain's storytelling prowess makes Big Lies in a Small Town engrossing and emotionally resonant. Her characters are flawed, but endearing and empathetic. Chamberlain explores racial injustice, domestic violence, and mental illness and its destructive legacy. Betrayal, retribution, and murder factor into an intriguing mystery. True to her writing style, Chamberlain's story is, at its core, focused on her characters' relationships -- friendship, loyalty, resilience, and, of course, forgiveness. And she succeeds at doing what she always does: Big Lies in a Small Town tugs at readers' emotions. Chamberlain provides her memorable characters with a satisfying conclusion to their story.

I'm not usually an historical fiction fan but I do enjoy Diane Chamerlain's writing style.
Always enjoy a bit of intrigue and strong, well-developed characters.

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.