Morgan Christiansen was stunned when two women turned up at the prison in 2018, offering her a way out of her three-year sentence, by restoring a mural originally painted in 1940. One of Morgan’s favorite artists had specifically mentioned her in his will, requesting she do the restoration but requiring an exceedingly tight timeline, one that she wasn’t sure she could meet. Though she knew very little about art restoration, the deal the women were offering was too good to pass up, and Morgan soon went to Edenton to begin work.

After recently losing her mother, Anna Dale was lost and lonely, but winning a spot to design and paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina helped give her a purpose. Coming from New Jersey, Anna was delighted with the beauty of the scenery, and determined to find out more about the little town before beginning the job. She was surprised to learn that many people in town had decided a girl couldn’t properly complete such a task, and even worse, a local man had applied and not been selected, causing difficulties for Anna.

The story of the mural, told in alternating voices, is a compelling narrative that shows the changing times. Anna faced racism for hiring a young black man to help with the original painting, and Morgan felt horribly guilty over the DUI that landed her in prison. I loved the way the two stories blended together, and the reader learns more about both Morgan and Anna as the story progresses, and I appreciated the way the two women learned to navigate their unfamiliar worlds.

This novel is written in dual narrative and dual time frame. The two narrators are young aspiring female artists at the beginning of their careers in the art world. They are also both linked by the genius artist Jesse Jameson Williams.
Our story starts in 1940 when New Jersey girl Anna Dale enters a national art competition and is finally selected to create a 12 foot by 6 foot mural featuring facts about the small town of Edenton in North Carolina. She has never been to the town and knows precious little about it but she has recently lost her mother and needs to create a new future for herself. She is both proud of her success and excited about her first commission. So off she sets to learn more about Edenton and its neighbourhood.
She is soon aware that the revered local artist, a family man with two children, was expected to win the competition, but she reasons that she was chosen for the job and must carry out her mission, putting aside the fact that the locals are not altogether behind her. However some townsfolk are welcoming and she soon has lodgings and a large work area to call her own. So she settles down with and begins to research the facts about Edenton. She contacts the local school and soon two art students come to help her in return for credits from their school. They are eventually joined by Jesse Jameson Williams. Although his roots are linked with bygone slavery days, his family and relatives have their own farms and he is expected to help his family with farm work after school.
In 2018 Morgan Christopher is willingly serving a term in gaol to ensure her boyfriend’s future will not be ruined by a drink driving conviction. Life is bleak for her inside. She is alcohol dependent and fears meeting a violent end within the prison walls. A total stranger visits her one day. She is Lisa, the devoted and grieving daughter of Jesse Jameson Williams, who has recently passed away. Morgan is a huge fan of his work and so she is immediately intrigued by her visit. Lisa brings her own lawyer along and gradually Morgan learns about a certain way of being freed from incarceration. She is commissioned to do some restoration work that is to hang in a prime location in her father’s new art gallery which is currently under construction. She jumps at the chance, is freed with a tag and soon begins her daunting work.
When she arrives in Edenton and is shown the work in progress at the gallery, Lisa finally explains about Jesse’s will and the conditions that she must follow. No way will she pass up this chance of making new beginnings for herself and she inevitably agrees to everything Jesse had stipulated. Lisa has offered her lodging, board, art supplies and a very generous payment if she completes the restoration by the day the new gallery opens, designed by Jesse himself, but will never see. Lisa herself must manage to assure the words written by Jesse are followed to the letter to the very ‘T’
These two narrations are cleverly woven together in alternating chapters and Morgan soon finds out just what a massive task she has to accomplish in order to complete the task she has been given. She delves into the history of the mural she is renovating and soon finds out that Anna Dale was the original artist who sadly never finished her commission. She is intrigued and decides to try to solve the mystery of why the mural was never completed. As the threads merge she discovers massive lies, prejudice, buried secrets, historic crimes and more, until finally the shady truths are revealed.
Dianne Chamberlain has a huge talent for writing stories and I have always been a massive fan of hers, reaching back to when she used a ‘pen name’ in her early romance novels. Her meticulous and far reaching research adds authenticity and realism to this novel and although a bit slow at the beginning this novel becomes thrilling, absorbing and educational as well. It is a classy novel with dark issues relevant to this very day. Her characterisation is highly skilled and her characters come to life and you come to admire, hate, empathise, feel compassion for and love them as though your friendships were real. I thought the complexity of the storyboard was wonderfully managed and I liked the way all of the characters were fully developed with stories of their own. I was astounded by the intricacies and many twists and turns in this story and enjoyed the tender romance that emerged from one particular friendship.
I received a complimentary copy of 'Big Lies in a Small Town' from publisher St Martin’s Press through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest review. These are my own opinions without any outside influences. It’s a 4.5* review from me.

In 1940, young Anna Dale wins a contest to paint a mural for the Edenton, NC post office. Twenty two years old and fleeing the heartbreak of her mom's very recent death, Anna throws herself into the job of designing and painting a mural that will be the best representation of Edenton that she can imagine. There are resentments towards Anna due to her winning the contest over a local male artist and Anna comes face to face with strong prejudices of some towns folks, especially when she welcomes a seventeen year old black budding artist to work with her on her mural.

In the present day, twenty two year old prison inmate Morgan Christopher is released from prison early, with the stipulation that she restore an old, battered, mural, that is to be the main feature of a new Edenton art museum. Morgan has no idea why a recently deceased black artist picked her, a young white woman who struggled with her art in school, to do the restoration job. The deadline is tight and as she begins working on the mural, she wants to know what happened to the artist, Anna Dale, causing her and the mural to disappear.

I knew nothing about the making of murals such as the one that was being made in 1940 or about art restoration, and enjoyed reading about the process in both timelines of the books. These women are young, strong, and determined and it was interesting reading how the times and situations dictate how each woman presents herself. Then there is the mystery of why the black artist picked Morgan to restore a mural painted by Anna, so many years ago. What happened to Anna? What happened to the mural and how did the black artist come to have it in his possession?

I enjoyed Diane Chamberlain's Dream Daughter and this book and will be looking for more of her work, in the future. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book kept me guessing the whole way through. I loved every page of both timelines and seeing how they weaved together throughout the book!

This was one of those books that I could not put down until I finished and conversely, did not want to end!
Spanning two different timelines, two different young women and centred around an artistic mural, the author has woven a fabulous story.
In the present day, Morgan Christopher is trapped in prison, for a crime she did not commit and is astounded when, at the end of a year, she is given what amounts to a 'get out of jail free card'. The conditions of her release are that she needs to restore an artistic mural painted decades ago and in the possession of Lisa Williams, whose father Jesse Williams was a renowned artist himself.
Despite being an art student, Morgan has no clue how to restore a mural and to do it fulfilling the conditions stipulated seems impossible. Nevertheless, she takes the golden chance to get out of jail and tentatively starts work on the project.
In late 1940, Anna Dale,a young artist wins a competition and is commissioned to paint a post office mural for the town of Edenton.
Excited and apprehensive in equal measure about the opportunity, Anna arrives in the small town to a mixed reception.
If being an outsider and a 'girl artist' weren't enough strikes against her, most of the town's occupants believe their local artist Martin Drapple would have been a much better choice to execute the project.
Determined to provide the town with a mural they would love and be proud of, Anna researches what best to include in it. Dealing with the highhandedness of 'important men of the town', skepticism about her artistic ability and more serious issues like racial discrimination and the almost unanimous opinion that women should 'look after the home',Anna starts painting and tries to block everything else out.
Yet, both the mural and artist disappear and no one has a clue where or how.
As Morgan slowly proceeds with restoring Anna's creation, several things about the mural raise questions in her mind about the town, the artist, the reason for her disappearance and most importantly, her own connection to all of these things.
Tracing Anna's time in the small town from her arrival as a hopeful, happy artist to her sudden disappearance and Morgan's stay there from a tentative, sad young woman to one who gains confidence and begins to believe in herself, the story beautifully connects the two women and the secrets and lies of the small town through the mural that represents the best it has to offer

Morgan was in love--with someone who let her take the blame for his accident. When the former art student is mysteriously released from prison early to restore a painting, she is baffled, but determined to stay out of jail. Moving to tiny Edenton, NC to work on the WPA era mural, Morgan has never done this type of work and relies heavily on others to guide her in her in the process.

Flashing back and forward in time, the impact of race relations in the South plays a major role in the plot. The original artist, Anna Dale, dropped from sight before her work was installed in the Edenton Post Office and the work she left behind is full of puzzles. . Only when the restoration is complete are answers revealed. Along the way, Morgan learns a lot about herself and who she wants to become.

A satisfying read, with some twists and turns along the way,

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain follows two women and their experiences in the small town of Edenton, North Carolina. Morgan is a young woman serving a prison sentence for a crime she denies committing but which has left her wracked by guilt. When she is given the chance of early release she jumps on it , despite the rather unusual conditions she will be forced to meet. In order to avail of the early release she must restore an old mural which was originally intended to hang in the local Post Office, and the restoration must be completed in a very short time frame. Morgan may have been an Art major in college, but she has never done any restoration work, and it seems like this project may be more than she can handle. When she begins work on the mural ,she notices some unorthodox and definitely unexpected details in the painting, and she is drawn to unravel the mystery surrounding the original artist, who disappeared before the mural could be hung as planned back in 1940.
The original artist commissioned to paint the mural was a young woman named Anna, who sees the job as an opportunity to leave her troubles behind her in New Jersey, but life in the South in 1940 takes some adjusting to, and when Anna takes a young black art student under her wing , letting him work as her assistant, it ruffles more than a few feathers.
As we learn more about the two women and their stories, we uncover how their fates are intertwined in a moving and compelling way. I found myself liking both protagonists equally, a testament to the author's skill, quite often in dual narrative or multiple POV books, I find myself rushing to get back to my favourite, but this was never the case here. I found the setting interesting , especially the descriptions of life in a small Southern town in the 40's, and it is clear that the author has done her research.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I am not a fan of split timelines but this one works.
I loved this book.
Great read with a great ending.
I now need to check out her other books.

Diane Chamberlain in Big Lies in a Small Town brings the reader a very clever and interesting book. She introduces us to Anna, an artist chosen to create a post office mural in 1940, and Morgan, a woman who is selected to restore it in 2018. Each woman’s story is compelling. The chapters flip between the two women until, as expected, the connection between them is revealed. Many topics are explored including racism, women’s rights and sexual abuse. An engaging book.

Diane Chamberlain is one of my favourite authors. Her books are sensational. Big Lies in a Small Town is now my most favourite book by her. It is a two timelines story that takes place in 1939-40 and 2018. Anna Dale, a young artist, won a government-sponsored contest to paint a mural in a small town called Edenton, North Carolina. Morgan Christopher, an in-mate with artistic talent, is bailed out of jail with a tight condition to restore a mural created by Anna Dale. The link between the two women will reveal a story of violence, secrets, friendship, and forgiveness.

This book is so well written. The panoply of emotions that is given in this tale incites the readers to fall in love with the characters and their stories. This book will keep you enthralled with each page turn so you can find out what is coming next.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for sending me an eARC of this extraordinary novel.

Thanks to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Does a Diane Chamberlain book even need a review? Her followers will not be disappointed by her latest book, it’s an excellent read, I was immersed in the story from page one. A skill fully written story of two woman from the past and the present.
In 1940 Anna Dale, a young artist wins a national competition to paint a mural for a post office in Edenton, North Carolina which is very different from her home town, there is racial discrimination and lots of ideas on how woman should dress and conduct themselves. She is made welcome but causes tongues to wag when she wears trousers to paint in and one of the young art students who is helping with her large project is African American.
2018 Morgan Christopher, is in jail for a crime she did not commit. She is released on parole, with the understanding that she will restore the mural that was never finished. Morgan is small, slight, not overly talented and knows nothing about restoration work, and wonders why she has been chosen specifically for this task.
I loved both Anna and Morgan, the dual timeline weaves together perfectly, the book comes alive in both eras., and I felt like I was right there.
Both of the two woman’s stories are emotional and thought provoking.
A truly brilliant read.

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain. A author who has always been a favorite of mine.
A Book of the past and the present. A book that has you wondering.

Big Lies in a Small Town is a stunning, beautifully crafted story that held me enthralled from page 1 through the end. Through dual points of view and dual timelines, the author weaves the story of two women born decades apart, their fates intertwined by one mysterious, 1940 painted mural commissioned to hang on the post office wall of small town Edenton, N.C. - although it never did. In 2018, former art student Morgan Christopher is serving time for a crime she didn't commit, but was foolish enough to confess to in the name of love. She is afforded one opportunity to get out of prison early . . . agree to restore an old, badly damaged post office mural by a certain date, and she'll be a free woman. As she meticulously strips years of grime from the painted mural, a dark, mysterious tale of the original artist begins to surface. Who was the woman who painted the mural and what happened to her?

The story that flows from the points of view of both women is totally captivating, revealing the sometimes ugly truth of the time period including racism, mental health, and preconceived notions about women and their abilities and place in society. An ominous mystery unfolds as the old mural is cleaned, leading Morgan on a mission to discover the fate of the original artist Anna Dale. A strong support cast of secondary characters add depth and realism to the plot as relationships form and shocking events are revealed. I can't say enough about the brilliant way this author delivers this riveting, dark, gritty story as it brims with emotion, heartache, and suspense. This was my first read by the multi-talented Diane Chamberlain, and I've already added more of her work to my to be read list. Big Lies in a Small Town is a compelling mystery with heart, perservance, suspense, and hope. I was simply blown away by the story and the obvious talent of Chamberlain and highly recommend it to all readers! One of my favorite reads of 2019!

Diane Chamberlain weaves the stories of two women- modern times Morgan Christopher, and Anna Dale from the 30s. Both women are tied together through Jesse Jameson a recently deceased artist, who called Edenton, NC home for a portion of his life.

Morgan has called a women’s correctional facility home the past year of her life, and is surprised when Jameson’s daughter “springs” her, so she can restore Anna Dale’s mural for Edenton, all as a portion of Jameson’s will. But WHY?

Dale won a contest to create a mural for Edenton’s Post Office, much to the chagrin of many Edenton residents. She heads to the small town to learn more about the history, the town, and its people, all the while in the midst of her own personal grief over the loss of her mother. But WHY?

Chamberlain deftly develops this page turning story, as we very quickly become connected with both Morgan and Anna’s stories, wanting to know why Dale’s painting doesn’t grace the walls of the post office, why she would deny herself the accolade, why Morgan was selected for restoring the painting, and WHY Jameson has carried this painting in his possession for a number of years, only choosing to restore it posthumously, as a portion of his will quickly becoming the contingency to executing the remaining will decrees.

I really enjoyed reading this page turning novel, as I just kept needing to read the next chapter to know what’s going to happen! I highly recommend readers that enjoy historical fiction, as well as mystery read this!

A fantastic story. I love this author and this book didn’t disappoint. For fans of Lianne Moriarity. Fantastic. Will not reveal too much. Just read this book.

I really liked the back and forth chapters between Morgan and Anna...Morgan’s repeated internal shock at her attraction to Oliver gets pretty old pretty fast (as does Morgan’s general character overall), but I liked Anna’s storyline enough that I wanted to find out how it fit together...there are definite leaps to make this story come together but I enjoyed it as a quick winter read.

I really enjoyed this book. The middle got a little slow in parts for me but I really loved the messsge of this story and loved the ending. Thank for you letting me read this book!

Thanks #NetGalley and #St.Martin'sPress for the opportunity to read #BigLiesinaSmallTown by #DianeChamberlain.
This book kept me up way past my bed-time and was worth every minute of it! I was attracted to the piece because of the art theme but was quickly drawn to the (mostly) likable characters and their personal experiences.
The style of past and current related stories kept me reading to discover the connection between the two (right to the end!).
The book spoke to the similarities of the two main characters, their determination, resilience and close friendships. A lovely story that would make a great movie!

Loved the dual timelines! This is a story that will grab readers in the beginning and keep their interest to the end. The characters are likeable and believable. Love how the two stories are woven together to create an unforeseeable outcome. The only thing I found lacking was the epilogue - I wanted more. Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. The story itself was so good; it was honestly what I want when I read. It moved fast, it was intriguing and unique, and I connected with the characters and was really involved with the story itself.
I loved the different points of view and how the stories were connected between the same town even after so many years. The most fun was becoming more interested in Anna's story the longer we were involved in Morgan's, to the point where when we finally start to get answers I feel like I was the same level of excited as Morgan was to learn more. That was really cool. I also of course loved how it all came together in the end.
I've never read any of Diane Chamberlain's books, and I wasn't sure what to expect. However, like I said, it ended up being so much more than I would've imagined and I"m so glad I was given the opportunity to read it and check out something new. I would completely recommend, and I can't wait to check out more of Ms. Chamberlain's books!