I’m so happy that I received an ARC of Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain. I haven’t read a book by this author yet, but this won’t be my last.

North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher is in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. She gets bailed out by the daughter of a local artist, Jesse Jameson Williams, who before his death helped troubled artists get their lives on track and art careers started. There are conditions to her parole, the main one being that she needs to restore a mural painted in 1940, which will be hung in Jesse Williams’ art museum in Edenton, North Carolina – a small town with a history. This museum is opening in two months, and Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she agrees.

North Carolina, 1940: Anna Dale, a young artist from New Jersey has just won a national contest to paint a post office mural in Edenton, North Carolina. Her mother has recently passed away, and since she is basically alone she moves to Edenton while working on the mural. Not knowing much about Edenton, Anna starts to get to know the locals to see how they would like their town represented in the mural. She enlists the help of two young students, one white and one black, which leads to many prejudices in this small town being revealed.

I loved how this story was told from both Anna’s and Morgan’s perspectives, and the fact that I loved both stories was great. Normally, when books are told like this, I prefer one story to the other, but not in this case. The two women’s stories blend perfectly together in the way the story is told, and I was enthralled right from the beginning. I loved Anna’s story of painting the mural while she learns to survive in the South in 1940, and I loved Morgan’s story of restoring the mural while she learns to live with a past she isn’t proud of.

I was invested from page one of this book and loved seeing how it would progress. Chamberlain did a great job of drawing the reader in and wrote a beautiful story where I felt transported to Edenton. I look forward to reading more of her books. The way she brought everything together at the end was great. My only complaint, if you can call it that, was the epilogue which left me wanting more closure. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher’s description: 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?

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I can’t believe that I am just now discovering Diane Chamberlain. “Big Lies in a Small Town” is my first by this prolific author, and it will definitely not be my last. Told from the two points of view of Morgan in 2018 and Anna in 1940, this story captured me from the very beginning. Edenton, North Carolina, is your classic small town, where everyone is up in everybody else’s business and everyone has their secrets. The characters have so much depth, and the author did such a great job placing the reader in the town. The chapters are short, so it makes it feel like you’re getting through the book quickly, but the dialogue and the descriptions give you that slow southern small-town vibe. And I loved how everything came together at the end. This was truly an amazing journey worth taking. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This title will be available for purchase on January 14, 2020.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read, rate, and review this book. I really enjoyed this book and getting a look into the prisoner’s point of view. It was an enjoyable read!

Wow guys!! This book was SO GOOD!! This being my first book by Diane Chamberlain, I know I will be reading more from her!!
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This book follows a dual timeline with POVs from Anna Dale (an artist, in 1940), and Morgan Christopher (an art student, in 2018). Morgan is serving a sentence in jail for her role in a DUI accident that almost took someone's life. She is hired to restore a mural that was painted by Anna Dale in 1940. This is her "get out of jail free card"! She must complete this mural restoration by opening day, which only gives her a few short weeks. The mystery behind this mural left me thoroughly engaged and wanting to know WHY she was hired. I wanted to know how Anna and Morgan were connected!! Couldn't put it down! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5!
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This book has some trigger warnings, such as alcoholism, racism, murder, and rape!.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my review copy!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Told in alternating timelines in 1940 and 2018, Big Lies in a Small Town tells the mystery behind a painting and the secrets of a small town. In 1940, Anna Dale won a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, NC. While working on the mural in town, she encountered a lot of prejudices and racism which led to a tragic event. Fast forward to 2018, Morgan Christopher is in jail after taking the fall for a crime she did not commit when she was given a chance for early release. In exchange for her freedom, she has to restore the old post office mural. As her work goes underway, she begins to uncover the story behind the painting.

This is my second Diane Chamberlain novel and I am looking forward to uncovering her backlist books. She's a really good storyteller with details that hook you in right from the beginning. The ending is a bit predictable but level of details she puts into her story makes it worth it.

TW: Sexual Assault and Rape

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. I very much enjoyed this book.

Big Lies in a Small Town captured my interest from the very beginning. I enjoyed the way the story alternated back and forth between the two protagonists – Anna and Morgan. I loved both characters and the way the story came together.

I will definitely read more of Diane Chamberlains other novels and future works.

I am a huge Diane Chamberlain fan and I could not wait to get my hands on this advanced copy! She creates such lovable characters and vivid settings and Big Lies in a Small Town did not disappoint! With just the right amount of suspense and romance, I could not put this book down!

Big Lies in a Small Town is additional proof that Diane Chamberlain is a master storyteller. Her books prove to be interesting, edifying and captivating from the start.

Written as a dual timeline narrative, one taking place in 1940 and one taking place in 2018, made for an interesting split due to the locale. Everything took place in the same small town of Edenton, North Carolina so the reader can see how the town and its people have matured overtime. What has stayed the same? The theme of art is present in both time periods and the mural in question symbolizes so very much.

The story focuses on The Forty-Eight State Mural Competition and the artist that won in 1940 and the artist who restores her work in current day. Learning about this post-Depression competition in itself, is something I knew nothing about. This book has it all – healthy vs. destructive marriages, bigotry, art restoration, misogyny, alcohol abuse, poverty, family, physical abuse, education, a touch of romance and mental illness.

The story knits itself together so that even the minor characters are there for a reason. The town came alive; I could smell biscuits baking and the paint drying. The mural became a visual picture in my mind due to its rich description. I’d be curious how most readers envision it, the same as me or wildly different than me? Book clubs will love this for discussion.

This was my first book by Diane Chamberlain. It will not be my last. I loved the dual timeline and seeing what would happen to Morgan kept me really engaged.

I really liked this book. It was a fast-paced read and like all of Chamberlain's books had me instantly sucked in and invested into the characters and the mystery.

This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and I loved it!! Set in the 1940s and present day, it tells the story of two women and one art mural. Anna Dale is painting it in the 1940s after winning a contest and travels to small town Edenton, NC to immerse herself in the community in order to paint a mural for their town's post office. Morgan Christopher is offered an opportunity to restore it and get out of prison and she has no idea why she was chosen for the task. That begins the story of unravelling the significance and mystery of the art mural and it was so gripping and engaging. The characters came to life for me and the time period were also so vividly described, I felt immersed in this small town. I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

Great women's fiction book. First time reading this author but I enjoyed the style and it held my interest waiting to see what happens next. I enjoyed the slower pace and detail of art restoration. I especially enjoyed the fact it was not filled with detailed explicit sex and profanity. Characters are realistic and conversational. Setting descriptions had me looking up this quaint NC town on the internet! Great read!
I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased review.The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author,publisher,and NetGalley for the ARC.

While serving time for a DUI conviction, Morgan Christopher is given an astounding offer. She"ll receive an early release if she can restore an old art mural in two months time by the request of the will of famous painter. When the mural is revealed, Morgan discovers that not only is it badly damaged, but also it contains bizarre imagery. Morgan's story arc proceeds in a utterly predictable fashion all the way to her happily-ever-after.

The only saving grace of Chamberlain's novel is the story of Anna Dale, the artist who painted the mural in 1940. Figuring out what happened to Anna to transform her perfectly normal mural into a horrific nightmare will keep you engaged with the novel. All in all, I would only recommend this one if you are in the mood for a predictable happily-ever-after tale where everything wraps up in a nice bow.

This fascinating blend of past and present centers in the world of art. World renowned artist Jesse Williams may have just passed away but he left in his will a request for his daughter Lisa to have a young woman by the name of Morgan Christopher restore a mural that was created in 1940 by artist Anna Dale. Morgan is currently incarcerated at a correctional facility for a very serious DUI offense.

Lisa is exasperated by her father's request and the conditions of his will but she did truly love him. She manages to get Morgan out on an early release if she is willing to restore this very neglected painting. Here is where the story really becomes intriguing. Jesse had specifically asked for Morgan and knew she was in jail. Morgan is completely baffled as to why this great artist would request her let alone even know she existed. Add to the mystery is that Morgan has never done any restoration work and this particular piece is very complex. .

The terms for her release are worked out and she is now staying at Lisa's house which use to belong to Jesse. Per Lisa the mural must be completed by a date set by Jesse for his gallery's grand opening in the next two months. There is no wiggle room in pushing back the date,. Jesse was adamant in his will that the mural and gallery had to be ready or Lisa told Morgan that the parole will be revoked.

This project is massive and she is a total novice. Add to the stress, Morgan must wear an alcohol monitor on her ankle and attend AA meetings. She is committed to sobriety and lives in guilt so she agrees to all of the terms. In prison she was a constant target and lived in total fear. She realizes she has no choice but to do the work of an expert in a ridiculously short time.

We get a lovely detailed picture of the artist Anna that has connected all of these unlikely people together. We meet a young and idealistic woman that was awarded a commission to create this mural for a rural community. Grieving over her beloved mother's death, this job seems like the answer to all of her prayers. You see her develop strong ties with several of the art students assigned to help her.

The book immediately drew me in as my curiosity was peaked. Trust me there are many unanswered questions when you start the book but the story line weaves an amazing tapestry that explains the unusual events that led to Morgan being summoned by the late artist Jesse. This amazing story will have you frantically flipping the pages as you get caught up in a timeless mystery..

This novel was flawlessly executed and I marveled at the authors talent of writing such a beautiful and spell- binding story. You experience heartache, despair, love and hope interspersed throughout the pages. I urge you to read this work of art.

This is a whirlwind of a story where past meets present and the mystery behind a mural reveals why a young artist disappeared nearly eighty years ago.

Morgan Christopher is serving time for a crime she didn’t commit, but she lucks out when she is presented with an opportunity that will have her released from prison early. What’s the catch? She has to restore a mural painted by Anna Dale. Though she has a background in art, Morgan knows next to nothing about restoring it, and suddenly she is faced with an even bigger dilemma. When she finally gets down to it, she slowly begins to reveal clues within the mural that could help explain what really happened to Anna after all these years.

This was a fantastic book, and I couldn’t put it down! I liked that it alternated between past and present, so the reader got a more detailed look into Anna’s life, but I also enjoyed getting to know Morgan’s character and why it was so pivotal that she be the one to restore Anna’s mural. I have to admit, I kind of saw the end coming, but the way it was revealed really surprised me.

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3071811208

WOW WOW WOW!!! This book was amazing and everything I want in a book!!! Hooked instantly I coudnt put this down!!! Im in love with her writing style and loved the mystery right till the very end! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are mine and mine alone!! A must read book!

Any book by Diane Chamberlain is guaranteed to be a gripping read. And this one didn't disappoint. Read Anna and Morgan's stories. Highly recommended

I was really disappointed in this latest offering by Diane Chamberlain. The pace was painfully slow, with nothing of interest happening until the last third of the book. The dialogue was elementary, characters one dimensional. I did order two copies for my library collection, when typically I'd order 4-6 of this author. I can't stay with a story this boring with the good part rushed at the ending. Sorry, not typical of feedback I would usually give for this author.

Thank you so St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this wonderful book! I have read every Diane Chamberlain book I can get my hands on-she is one of my favorite authors. This particular book ranks up there as one of her best! I liked the historical fiction aspect of this story, but there was also a lot of mystery. It was so well written and just pulled me in right from the beginning. I HIGHLY recommend this book! Read it-you will love it!

I first discovered Diane Chamberlain several years ago and have loved every book I’ve ever read by her. The writing is authentic, the character development is superb, and the historical elements she weaves in are well researched with a mysterious vibe. And she lives in and often writes about North Carolina which makes the stories even more special for me personally.

Big Lies in A Small Town definitely delivered all that and more. A dead body in the opening chapter, a wrongly imprisoned woman, mysteries hidden within a very old mural, racial tensions in a 1940s small North Carolina town...what more could you ask for?? It’s one you’ll definitely want to pick up when it hits your local bookstores and libraries next month!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advance copy.