I this this has to be my favorite book from Diane Chamberlain yet. I was so engrossed in this story that I didnt want to put it down. Thr main story characters Anna and Morgan each had qualities that drew you in. The storyline itself was riveting. I love stories that go from present day to back in the past. They have to be my favorite. The way Jesse was Anna's protector was a friendship like no other. If you have to pick one book to read please consider this one. You won't reqret it.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Genre:
Historical Fiction

I will keep this review on point and simple.
I have chosen this ARC due to the stellar reviews and ratings and was expecting this to be nothing but a new favorite. I love historical fictions a lot and I thought this would not go wrong for me.

The first thing I did not like about this book is the format. I tend to dislike stories that alternate between two very different time frames most of the time (yes there have been a few exceptions but they are very few and rare). In this book, there are two stories one (Morgan's story) is set in our current time and the other (Anna's story) which is set in the 1940s. One chapter is in the present and the other in the past. This was like a ping pong game to me. I don't enjoy a book that terms itself as a historical when it keeps throwing me back to the present.
This is my mistake in the first place because this is mentioned in the synopsis but I have not read it. Looking at the title alone I thought this would be similar to something like Desperate Housewives or Big Little Lies set in a past era. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

This must be one of the slowest books I have read this year. In the first two chapters, we get an introduction about the two main characters and then until 55% of the book nothing happens! We are talking about a book of 400 pages! What was the need for all that filler for? Some readers might argue that this was a build-up, the question here is, are the events that follow this slow build-up justify wasting half of the book for? Unfortunately no.

The other half of the book is so cliche and predictable. This format of having two different stories going and trying to tie them has been exhausted to the core, and if the story does not have enough merit to justify the format then it will be a forgettable book and a forgettable experience. After reading the first two chapters I knew the author would bring the characters together. This was predictable right from the beginning but when it happened in the end, it did not feel just predictable but also felt forced! The writer had to make a character live beyond 100 to make her story believable!

Big Lies in a Small Town has many good reviews and many fans on Goodreads. You could be one of them if you read the book. Unfortunately, I am not one. I will have to go with a rating of 2.5 out of 5.0.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC copy of the book and this is my honest and unbiased review.

The book is expected to release: January 14th, 2020.

Yet another compelling riveting book by Diane Chamberlain. When this was available from Netgalley to read and review I automatically requested it after quickly reading the editors blurb. When I started reading the book I had a deja vu’ moment. Has anyone read the book “The Me I Used to Be” by Jennifer Ryan? The initial premise is incredibly similar to this one. Young woman is convicted a crime she did not commit and is sent to prison. She is abandoned by a horrific family and they leave her to languish in prison. Then out of nowhere comes an angel who gets her out well before her time is up. Hmmm. So though the initial concept is quite similar and wonderful that is where the similarities end. They’re both wonderful, but the stories are so very different.
Big Lies is written beautifully. It toggles back and forth between current time of 2018 and 1940 North Carolina. A time when people wore their bigotry and racism on their sleeves shamefully with pride. When people were property, women in the south had no say in just about anything and men could get away with just about anything. Morgan Christopher is serving a sentence because the man she loved and thought loved her turned out to be a horrible jerk and ran away from the scene of the crime leaving her to to alone face the consequences of jail. In 1940 Anna Dale wins a wonderful nationwide contest and is gifted the honor of painting a mural in small town Georgia. She is from “up north” New Jersey so is somewhat shocked about how very different things are.
We meet beautifully written people. All damaged in their own way and we join them on their journeys to live their dreams, let go of the past and the anger that goes along with it. Ultimately we discover the connections in the most genuine and delicate way while they all find their way to healing.
This is a must read for anyone who is literate! I absolutely loved it and very much look forward to whatever is coming next from this incredible beloved author.

The first half of this book was most certainly a slow burn, which is usually a quick way to lose my interest but in this case it was intriguing enough to keep me reading and by the time it all came together it was decidedly worth it. Once things started moving they definitely moved quickly and the plot twists and turns were plenty. The story is told between two different women, in two different periods of time, nearly 80 years apart. Both women have a few things in common, but namely their love of art and their battles with their own personal struggles. There are some pretty serious and heavy topics covered in this story and it's really well done.

What a great, great read! This book was one of Chamberlain's best! The act of restoring a painting in a small town where no one knows what happened to the author, where prejudice is alive and well and the main character has secrets and shame of her own. I was kept entertained and wondering throughout the whole book. The characters were interesting and I grew to love some and hate others. The ending was definitely a surprise and that's the best kind of book! I will think about this book for a while and definitely read more by this author.

I have always found Diane Chamberlain’s book to be enjoyable reads and this one does not disappoint. I thought it started a little slow but once I was hooked into lives of Anna and Morgan I didn’t want to put it down.

This book deals with so many issues. Racism, drink driving, family issues are just a few, but I felt the author dealt with them all in a honest & realistic way without coming off as an “expert” or preachy.

I think anyone who enjoys a mystery along with some historical fiction will especially enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Diane Chamberlain for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There is a reason why Diane Chamberlain sells so many books, simply put, it is because she is a stellar author. Wow, can she yarn a tale. Every book I read by her is written well, has a solid flow, includes a great storyline, she will pull you in and won’t let go until the ending. I could not wait to get back to reading this one, and read late into the nite several times. This one will go into my top ten list of 2019.
I won’t go into great detail since the description says it all, but what I will cover is how this book makes you feel, nothing in here was unbelievable, it has hope, love, laughter, sadness, surprise, failings and new beginnings. I so appreciated that the story does not go off on a romantic adventure but sticks to the mystery and the intrigue of Edenton, NC. The research was spot on and the descriptions of the town and the people is so realistic for that timeframe. I expect this to be another great seller for Ms. Chamberlain. Well done!!!!
I appreciate the opportunity from St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley to allow me to read an ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets the highest 5*****’s.

Honestly, I’ve grown a little tired of dueling timelines between characters in the books I’ve read this year.

However, this one is interesting because I started out not liking one character but ended up admiring her. Excellent character development and the plot really evolved into an excellent ending. I also learned a few things about art.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoy Diane Chamberlain's books and felt honored to be given this ARC for my opinion. This book was written with two main characters, one in 1940 and the other in 2018. The story takes place in the art field and depicts how these two lives were intertwined over a 60+ year span.

Each character was well developed and the story was believable and well written. I became immersed with them from the start and could empathize with their situations. A very engaging read. If you like this author, you will love this book. If you have never read her, this is a great book to start with.

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?



My Thoughts: Alternating narratives reveal the dual timeline stories and keep the reader on the hook as more and more layers are peeled back.

We start with Anna Dale, in the 1940s, and her challenge to finish the mural to be displayed in the Edenton Post Office. Even though she has won the contest fair and square, she is bombarded with prejudice and challenges that soon seemingly overwhelm her…until one fateful night when violence strikes and changes her life forever. Racial prejudice walks hand in hand with the other difficulties she faces.

Flash forward to 2018, when Morgan Christopher is unexpectedly offered the opportunity to early parole from prison in order to take on the task of restoring Anna Dale’s piece, one that is buried beneath grime, not to mention some very strange images that seemingly tell a disturbing tale. Not only is she given an almost impossible task, the deadline must coincide with the gallery opening.

Will Morgan finish the task? What will she uncover beneath the layers of filth and secrets? What will she learn about Anna Dale and the original secrets and lies just waiting to be told?

I loved how Big Lies in a Small Town unfolded, and despite clues, I was blown away by all we learned about that small town and the people who would do anything to hide their secrets. 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

Let me start by saying when I first started reading this book I did not think I would like it. This book is about a women who starts a mural for a small town post office and intertwines the life of a women 68 years later hired to restore that mural. This is my first Diane Chamberlain book and it won't be my last. The story moves quickly and keeps you guessing. I would definitely recommend this book.

Here is another author that I could read every day! I absolutely love her stories for there diversity and drama. This book will get you int he beginning and never let its hooks out of you until the very end. I could not put this down I just had to finish it! I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants something new to read.

Even though I own another 3 books by Diane Chamberlain, this is the first book I read by the author. I foresee picking up the others in the very near future.

I really enjoyed her writing style. The fluidity between Anna/Morgan and past/present was flawless. Every possible lose end was eventually explained and you NEVER imagine how the story was going to unfold.

I really enjoyed reading it. I foresee recommending this book to my friends.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Diane Chamberlain for the advanced copy of this book!

Diane Chamberlain is a prolific author, but I’ve only read a handful of her books. For the most part, I’ve enjoyed them. In this story, we have Morgan Christopher serving prison time for a crime she didn’t commit when she’s offered a “get out of jail free” card. She’s been picked to restore a 1939 mural, designed for the Edenton post office but never hung. What makes it problematic is that despite being an artist, she has no experience with art restoration and the two things are really totally different. Plus, she’s under a deadline that makes no sense.

The story is told from the 2018 perspective of Morgan and the 1939 one of Anna Dale, the artist of the mural. The mural is definitely unique and hints at stories untold.

Chamberlain employs short chapters and alternates between the two story lines to keep the pace up and the reader engaged. Both main characters are interesting, strong women and I enjoyed both storylines. There were twists I didn’t see coming. Parts of the ending strain credibility but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment.

Chamberlain tackles the racism of the earlier time and does it in a believable fashion. Make sure to read her Acknowledgements which explains the help she was given.

This was probably my favorite of her books that I’ve read and will ensure I read more of her work. It was so compelling that I read it in a single day.

My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

In 1940 Anna Dale had been won a competition to paint a post office mural. She had hoped to do it in her home town, but instead she was told her mural would be hung in the Edenton, NC Post Office. In order to understand the essence of the southern town, she made what she thought would be a practical move to Edenton and began work on the mural. As a result, circumstances changed her life in a way she would not have imagined possible.

When readers first meet Morgan Christopher the year is 2018 and she is in prison for a crime she did not commit. Her art career will have to wait. Suddenly she is offered an early release that comes with a condition. She is to restore an old mural. Even though she has no experience in restoration and no idea why it has been stipulated that she is the one to do this, she accepts the offer. In way over her head, Morgan accepts help from an unlikely source and begins work on the mural. Gradually, the mural takes on a life of it's own. There are disturbing depictions that don't make sense. Morgan has questions. Who was Anna Dale and what became of her?

Told in alternating voices during two different times, the author skillfully guides readers through the past and the present. The past is superimposed on the present. Expertly woven are the complex characters and their secrets. Their stories are engrossing, each with distinct life altering moments. With a steady pace the mystery of the story behind the mural deepens. The author brings it all together with a link to the past and a memorable ending.

I found this book to be masterfully written and well worth reading. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and St. Martin's

Not my favorite of hers (Hello, Dream Daughter!) but a very solid story from Diane Chamberlain. It did take me about 100-150 pages to get into it, but as things started coming together I was totally invested. I read this in less than a day.... her writing is magnificent, and overall this is just a captivating story. Would recommend to fans of hers for sure!

Title: Big Lies in a Small Town
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Publisher: St Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arla Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Big Lies in a Small Town" by Diane Chamberlain

My Rationalization:

All I can say is what an excellent compelling, engaging, emotional, riveting, read 'Big Lies in a Small Town' was that this author gives to the reader. I loved how well this author's writing style provides us with a read that presents the past and present [alternating viewpoints, timeline] in this well-written story with some well-developed characters. Indeed Morgan Christopher's [2018] and Anna Dale's story [1940] was very intriguing that will keep you engrossed, turning the pages to see what was coming next as you read, seeing how the story comes together. I like how this connection with the mural on a wall in Edenton, North Caroline that bring out prejudices, small-town secrets, conspiracies, violence, murder and then disappearance.'

I found all of the questions answered as to just why Jesse would seek out Morgan and help her and to why was this 70-year-old mural canvas so significant for the opening of his gallery. I enjoyed seeing how this truth that was present changes her life in the struggles that she has gone through as she does try to make amends.

By the end of reading this historical fiction story, the reader is given quite an exciting read that is centered around art, artists, and its history. As we are given a little bit of it all from some 'mystery, art, racial tension, women's equality, abuse, lies, mental illness, family bonds, secrets, love and oh yes, a little bit of romance' involving two strong women.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is only the third novel of Diane Chamberlain's that I have read, but I wish I could just dedicate all my time to reading the rest of her novels. (That wouldn't be fair to everyone else though!) I just know that whatever else her name is on just has to be great!

The entire story was really interesting. Both characters were easy to feel sympathetic toward. As the story unfolded, there were a lot of surprises. I only was able to guess one thing, but everything else I didn't see coming at all. I really liked the way the story came together and how the mural played into everything and connected Morgan to Anna's truth.

This novel was really well written and captivating, but that's not a surprise knowing who the author is. I couldn't put it down and now I can't wait for it to be published so that others can share in my reading experience. I already am eagerly awaiting whatever Diane comes up with next!

Movie casting suggestions:
Morgan: Elle Fanning
Oliver: Liam Aiken
Anna: Alexis G. Zall
Jesse: Niles Fitch
Pauline: Bella Thorne
Martin: Sam Heughan
Lisa: Regina King

In 1940, Anna Dale wins an art contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton NC. When she goes down there from New Jersey to get a feel for the town and decide what to paint, she discovers that a local artist by the name of Matin Drapple also entered the contest, and she was chosen over him. Many in the town are bitter about that fact, and about the fact that a northerner will be the one painting their mural. Anna continues to stir up trouble when she enlists the help of some of the local high school art students and one of those students is a black male. Rumors start that Anna and the teenager are in an illicit relationship together and Anna discovers just how deep prejudices run in small southern towns in the 40's.

In present day, Morgan Christopher is released from prison, where she is currently serving time for paralyzing a girl in a DUI accident. She has been named in the will of a well-known artist, who has a mural that she is to restore for a gallery opening. Morgan was an art major in college before the DUI, but knows nothing about art restoration. Since restoring the mural is a condition of her release she has to learn, and learn quickly. As she starts working on the mural, she uncovers some disturbing things painted on it which make her want to dig into the artist's past and find out what would possibly make her want to paint those unsettling images into the mural.

I could not put this book down. The story was told in alternating parts between Morgan and Anna, so as Morgan uncovered new bits of the mural you were reading about things that happened in the past. It was a wonderful mix of fiction & suspense, and the twist at the end brought it to a perfect conclusion. I highly recommend this excellent read!

Morgan Christopher is astonished to be released from jail early at the behest of Jesse Jameson Williams, an artist whose work she’d always admired, but she’s mystified why he’d choose her—a former art student with no experience in restoration—to restore a mural by an unknown artist.

Anna Dale is elated to be chosen as a muralist by a federal agency in 1940. Escaping recent personal tragedy, she travels to Edenton, NC, the site of her mural. She’s persuaded to stay, mainly welcomed by the small city’s residents, whose lives she’s drawn into.

Under curator Oliver’s tutelage, Morgan discovers she loves restoration work, but she makes unsettling discoveries, which lead to more questions. Why did Anna Dale disappear? Why did Jesse Williams want to feature her work in his gallery? And why did he choose Morgan to do the work?

Told in the alternating points of view of Morgan and Anna, this story is a riveting mystery, historical, and romance all wrapped up together. Chamberlain accurately portrays 1940 life (with its flaws and prejudices) in a southern town, and creates two sympathetic protagonists in Morgan and Anna. #NetGalley #BigLiesInASmallTown