This is a great story with a lot of subjects touched upon. I loved learning about art restoration and the art gallery. Also in this book were women’s rights, race relations, incarceration, mental health and more. The different time periods was interesting and the ending was perfect!!! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. The story goes back and forth between two women, Morgan and Anna. One storyline is the present and the other is 1939. I normally love books by this author but I was so bored with it that I could not finish it. Some of the reviews have said that the second half does get better but I just couldn't stick to it to find out

Morgan Christopher is serving 1-3 years in prison after taking the blame for her boyfriend’s DUI that ended up seriously injuring another driver when she gets a visit by the daughter of one of her favorite artists offering her a chance at parole if she’ll help restore a mural for her late father’s new gallery. For some reason beyond any of their understanding, this college dropout art student is uniquely qualified to do the restoration. The story flashes back in alternating chapters to Anna Dale, also a young artist chosen to paint the mural in a small North Carolina town.

There’s something about the way these characters were created that immediately pulled me in. I near tested up when the first connection between the past and the present was finally revealed, not an inherently emotional moment but it felt especially poignant. The big end of story secret wasn’t hard to figure out but it was tied together and paced perfectly.

The story deals with a lot of tough topics... alcoholism, mental illness, racism, sexism, rape. For the most part, I thought it was handled well, but I found the DUI aspect of the story a bit like a dangling side story. Yes, it added some depth to Morgan’s character, but with the weight of everything else in the flashbacks, it felt a bit superfluous.

My main criticism is I wish the chapters weren’t so short. It was a bit jarring going back and forth so often, switching between the two timelines. I wanted to live in each one for longer and the short chapters pulled me out of it each time the switch was made.

4.5 stars

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

I've discovered Diane Chamberlain a few years ago and i have fallen in love. This book is the prime example of why. I usually dont like the dual timeline but this one was very well done. It has mystery (ish) romance (a tad) and a great story, that was very well written. I loved it.

This book was amazing! Told thru two perspectives/timelines it is a must read! I've never read this author before but def will now. While reading this story I had such a sense of dread of what was going to happen to Anna who had so many obstacles to go thru, and Morgan had obstacles too just different ones. I almost stopped reading because I knew something horrible was going to happen to Anna and I don't want to give too much away but I'm so glad I continued reading because the way everything was wrapped up/ended was absolutely perfect. I will def be recommending to all my book loving friends. This book had a little bit of everything, history, mystery, suspense, love, triumph, forgiveness, hope, I could go on!!

Wow.... Just WOW!!! An amazing book that grabs you from the beginning! This book clearly defines the 1940s in the south: racial tension, gender inequality, but also how the spirit of humanity, friendship, and loyalty can persevere through all trials and tribulations. Anna and Morgan are both incredibly strong characters that refuse to give up when the odds are stacked against them. I will absolutely be recommending this book to my book club!!

Diane Chamberlain takes it back to 1940 in North Carolina. An artist wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office. Of course she accepts. What she didn't expect was to work in a town full of prejudices, secrets, lies and even murder.

Fast forward to modern-day time. Morgan Christopher is not where she wants to be in her career. By taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, Morgan serves a 3-year-stint in a women's correctional facility. Until a generous, mysterious person arranges her early release in exchange for an art deal. She must restore an old post office mural. What she discovers in the decrepit mural changes her life.

The thing about Big Lies in a Small Town, and most of Diane Chamberlain novels, are they are so compelling while reading. I get totally engrossed into the deep story and its many layers. But a week or so after having read the last page, the story leaves my memory. It does not stick. In fact, I had to skim through notes just to write this review since it's been over a month since finishing. Does that make a good read, at least in the moment? Yes.

Happy Early Pub Day, Diane Chamberlain! Big Lies in a Small Town will be released on January 14, 2020.

LiteraryMarie

I really enjoyed this book. It was so easy to get into the characters.. Morgan & Anna were the 2 main characters in this book & were described so well. You really wanted both of them to succeed. I would recommend this book to friends. I was delighted to be picked to read the ARC & give an honest review.

When I was approached to review Big Lies in a Small Town, I was a little hesitant to read it. I knew from reading the blurb that this was going to be a dual plotline book, which I am not a fan of. I also knew, from reading the book, that this was going to be an emotional read. I have to be in a certain mood to read a book that I knew was going to make me cry. I ended up accepting the review because I was curious. I wanted to know how the mural and Morgan were tied together.

Big Lies in a Small Town had two fast moving plotlines. I didn’t have an issue with following either plotline. What I liked, and what made the book enjoyable for me to read, was that the flow of the book wasn’t disturbed when going from 1940 and 2018. The author clearly marked those chapters with the names of Morgan or Anna at the beginning.

I had a hard time connecting with Morgan. Her attitude at the beginning wasn’t the best. But as the author got into her backstory, I understood why she acted that way. By the end of the book, I loved her. She was committed 100% to finding out what happened to Anna and to refinishing the mural. I liked that she was able to keep her head on straight during certain situations (the bar fight was one) and that she was able to admit that she had major issues. Her character grew so much during this book and it was wonderful to read.

I didn’t feel the same way about Anna. I liked Anna right from the beginning. She was determined to paint that mural the way she wanted it, not the way the influential men wanted it. I loved that she didn’t care if her friendship with Jesse was causing issues with the “good folk” in town. I also loved that she didn’t back down when Marvin Drapple’s wife and her friends were douchenozzles.

I do want to throw in a trigger warning. There is a somewhat graphic rape scene that ends with the death of the rapist. To be honest, it took me by surprise. I was not expecting it. I wasn’t expecting the aftermath either. What I was expecting was the blatant racism shown when it was in the 1940’s. It was the South. There were derogatory names used. There was the threat of violence (lynching was discussed). So, a warning.

There are a couple of twists in the plotline that took me by surprise. The first one involved Morgan and her release from jail. The other, well, it happened at the end of the book. I should have seen it coming but I didn’t. So, I was taken by surprise.

There was a romance angle to the book. I’m not sure if I like it or not. The only reason being what was happening in the other plotline. Both started about that time.

I learned more about art restoration than I ever wanted to know. I will admit, it was fascinating to read about how to do it. I never thought that much work went into restoring old paintings. But then again, until this book, I never had to think about that.

The end of Big Lies in a Small Town was bittersweet. The 2nd plot twist happened towards the very end of the book. Like I said above, I was taken by surprise. I shouldn’t have been. The very end of the book was a bit frustrating. Only because it ended and I wanted to see that meeting!!

The novel hits upon racism, sexism, and mental illness among other issues. However, these issues weren't the primary focus. Instead, the storyline focuses on two artists, one named Anna set in the 1940s and Morgan, a present day artist. Chapters alternate between the two women as they are both working on a mural that has intriguing/mysterious components. I found both story lines captivating and overall, a very well done story that had me riveted to every page.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

my first book by this author and it wont be my last...

we find a young girl in prison, waiting out her sentence and then one day she has the offer of a lifetime and a lifeline...she is to restore a post office mural for a southern town...with the chance to get out of prison morgan takes up the offer

never mind that she has never restored a painting/mural before as a ex art student who hadnt finished her degree, she takes up the challenge, it also helps that she admires anna dale and jesse jameson work...the latter had plans for the mural to be centre staged in the grand opening of his art museum but before it open jesse dies but thats where his plan comes into play for morgan

this story is told in two parts with each having alternate chapters anna and morgan...and it works...i loved how the story unfolded and how we learnt the history behind the mural and anna and how morgan fitted into it...

never saw that ending coming until near the end...like i said before my first book by this author but it wont be my last...gripping novel

Big Lies in a small town is the story of the artist Anna Dale in Edenton, NC in 1940. It is also the story of the artist Morgan Christopher in Edenton, NC in 2018. Each story is a fascinating look at a small southern town including the social mores that prevailed. Each story is a fascinating character study of women who have faced tragedy and hardship and how they overcame it. Each story is a story of love and friendship. Each story could have stood on its own but they are woven together brilliantly to produce a novel that will make you just as curious as Morgan was to find out what happened to Anna and why in the world did she paint such gory things into a mural that was supposed to be hung in the town post office as a representation of the town of Edenton. If you love great southern fiction, if you love a mystery, if you love rich characters, and if you love history and art you will not want to miss this fabulous novel.

This is a fantastic book. Told with dual timelines, one set in 1940 and the other set in 2018. Anna Dale has won the commission to paint a mural in the post office of the small town of Edenton, North Carolina. Being from New Jersey, she isn't used to the deep prejudice of the South and the ways that the town expects a lady to behave. Morgan Christopher has been given a second chance after all but ruining her life from the daughter of an artist that she deeply admires. She is to restore an old post office mural that is to be the focal point of a new gallery. As the two story lines weave and intersect, past and present mingle in surprising ways to reveal secrets from the past brought to light, as well as redemption in the present day.

This story gripped me from the very beginning! I loved how the story went from Anna back in 1940 to Morgan in present time. Anna is an Artist picked to do a mural for the North Carolina post office. She begins her work on it and never finishes. Morgan present time is released from prison on the condition she must restore Anna Dales mural, only she doesn’t know how, but takes it on anyway so she can be released. Morgan finds herself needing to know why Anna didn’t finish and why she just vanished. Everything came together perfectly and I loved the end! Diane Chamberlain is fantastic every book just keeps getting better and better!

This book is such a gripping story about two time periods, two completely different yet strong female characters, one small town and a piece of art that connects all the pieces to a puzzle! I was intrigued from the first page of this book jumping back and forth chapter by chapter from 1940 to 2018.

In 1940, Anna Dale won a national contest and was hired to complete a painted mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Her job was to paint details about a town she had never been to before. Anna soon finds herself in a town full of secrets, opinions and prejudices. Fast forward to 2018 and we find Morgan Christopher being released from prison early because she has been hired by a famous North Carolina artist to restore the mural Anna Dale painted. The mural is in terrible shape needing restoration and cleaning. Not sure why she was hired for the job, Morgan is thankful she is being released from prison where she was serving time for a crime she didn't commit. Morgan learns quickly the art of restoration and as she cleans the mural, she uncovers some disturbing details in the painting. Why are these odd and disturbing things in this mural and who was Anna Dale and why did she paint them? As you can imagine this story pulls you in, wanting more information with each page. Don't hesitate to pick up a copy of this book to find out just why Anna Dale painted the mural the way she did and what secrets it keeps! One of the best books I've read this year. I love Diane Chamberlain's writing style. Nice short chapters that held my interest all the way to the end! Superb!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic book!

Really liked this book, really love this author! I like that the story line takes us to two different times: depression era 1939 to 2018, back and forth. This book is a page-turner. You will get to know the two main characters, both artists, Anna in 1939 and Morgan in 2018. A mural that was never finished by Anna, and Morgan, in prison for a crime she did not commit, released because she was chosen to restore the mural in 2018. As the stories come together, it weaves mystery, romance, racial interaction, small town ideology and more. Highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for opportunity of the ARC in exchange for my review.

The plot in this wonderfully well-written historical novel switches between two woman living in different time periods. The intense book is a narrative by Morgan and Anna, both artists. Morgan was commissioned in 1939 by the United States Treasury Department’s Section of Fine Arts to create a mural to hang in the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. She is unable to complete the mural, and it is hidden away in a closet. In June of 2018 Morgan is given the job of restoring the original mural so it can be hung in a new museum. While Morgan works on the mural she wonders about the original artist. This is historical fiction with a bit of mystery, and I’m sure readers who read either genre will enjoy the book. Before reading this book I was not aware of the ‘48 State Mural Competition sponsored by the US Treasury. In the author’s notes at the end of the book Ms Chamberlain describes the research that went into this book. Be sure to read the notes also. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is not the kind of book i normally read and struggled through the beginning, with how detailed it was and the slower pace, but i got into the two different stories, though did wish there was more of Morgan's story told and was glad they resolved most of it by the end.

My honest review in a small blurb is that this could have been a decent story, but it took too long to get to the good stuff, and the ending was a little lackluster in my opinion.

Anyone that is into art I do think would enjoy this because the book does mainly revolve around the art aspect. For most of the book, the writing is good but the content is boring (again, unless you are into art). At about 75% I finally felt that the book was really getting good and there were twists and surprises, but after the main surprises, the ending is a bit predictable. I do enjoy the ending, but not for the type of book this was. It was more of as Happily-Ever-After as it could be, and that really just wasn't what I expected.

The writing was done well, but it was too much about art for too much of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Big Lies in a Small Town in exchange for my honest review.

You have to make peace with the past or you can never move into the future.

Big Lies in a Small Town is the second book I’ve read by Diane Chamberlain, the first being The Dream Daughter. This one is equally as good and reading it was a deeply satisfying and delightful experience.

The story is told in two timelines, each featuring a flawed woman who is given a second chance at life. Usually one story is stronger than the other but these two are equally captivating. Diane Chamberlain seamlessly ties the two distinct stories together via a mural painted by Anna in the 1940s and then restored by Morgan in the present day. I don’t know anything about art restoration and am not particularly interested in it but Chamberlain makes it fascinating and a pleasure to read.

There are many parallels between the two protagonists. They are both strong woman who are likable, are overcoming the odds, are persistent, and determined.

<i>One of my not-so-tactful professors told me I was in the top of the pack when it came to effort, but the “bottom of the middle of the pack” when it came to talent.</i>

<i>She knew she’d lost her marbles. Every once in a while, she thought she found them again and in those moments she knew clearly that her mind was going downhill but it was easier to just keep plowing forward than to find a way to fix the mess she’d made.</i>

<i>”You were a mistake,” my mother told me once when she was blotto. “We never wanted to have kids.” That had already been pretty clear to me. They’d never been there for me.</i>

Anna and Morgan are both very alone with no family or support systems in place. Bad men who robbed them of their lives and left an indelible mark figure prominently in both their lives. However, the good men they come to know ultimately prevail.

The story is about love, racism, mental illness, secrets, and redemption. The characters are well-developed and the book is well written. Chamberlain is a masterful storyteller who will keep your interest and attention.

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