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.

Big Lies in Small Town by Diane Chamberlain centres on two intertwined stories - the story of Anna set in the past and the story of Morgan. Both young women are artists, commissioned to work on a mural. The novel also touches on the dynamics and tensions between the residents of a small North Carolina town and some elements of our current day and age.

The book is well-written, the characters are beautifully depicted - not just the main ones, but also the supporting characters as well, which is not often found in books at this (or any other) genre. Chamberlain is not a newbie when it comes to writing good novels - she knows her craft and audience, she does the research and recreates the atmosphere.

The idea of the plot is interesting, the mural was what glued these women together and what changed the course of their lives. It's also a page-turner, you'll keep wondering what is going to happen and be looking forward to finding out as the plot develops. It will also most likely stir up some emotions as it features some triggering and traumatic themes - bear this in mind if you're thinking of reading it. Diane is not exactly known for writing "holiday" reads, she always goes deep with her characters and plot.

If you're fan of her writing or of this genre, you'd find this book intriguing!

Told in alternating timelines..the story of two artists.
1939-Anna Dale, from New Jersey -a young graduate from a fine arts school, has won a contest to create a mural for a post office in Edenton, North Carolina.
2018 -Morgan Christopher a young artist out on early parole from North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women, specifically to restore the mural that Anna painted in 1940.

The novel is part mystery, love story, and also includes the racial climate of the 40’s in the South.
I enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC

This book was FANTASTIC!!! Five stars is not enough!

I actually get a certain claim to fame with this book - I was born and raised in Bordentown, New Jersey, a town that gets mentioned quite a lot in this book! The Clara Barton Schoolhouse is a real, historical monument in our town - it's a tiny one-room building on a street corner. For the majority of my life I lived a literal two blocks away from the post office that gets some page time also. So for me this book was a great pleasure to read. I guarantee that if you like stories with dual timelines, a huge mystery or two, and a dash of romance, you will love this book as much as I did. Please, do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP. You won't regret it!

The lives of two women intersect through a mural. One woman created it; the other woman is restoring it. Both women have constraints in their lives; one from societal pressures, the other from a prison sentence. How their lives and art come together makes for a beautiful story-sometimes a sad, hard read but beautiful nonetheless.

Two women in charge of a mural but not at the same time.

Anna had won a contest to paint a mural of Edenton for the post office, and Morgan many years later was hired to restore the mural.

Why were two women commissioned for the same mural?

We find that Anna started the mural and abandoned it and disappeared with no one knowing why she left or where she went.

Morgan had the job of restoring the photo, and she actually had no idea how. Morgan finds a badly ruined canvas, and as she cleans it up, finds many disturbing scenes.

BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN has mystery, marvelously portrayed characters, and a storyline you don't want to end.

If you are an artist or artistic, BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN will definitely appeal to you. I enjoyed learning about art techniques....especially what pouncing is.

This book is a WOW read!!

Ms. Chamberlain has given readers another marvelous book that fans will adore. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book by Diane Chamberlain, as the story line was unique. The protagonist, Morgan, is in prison for a crime she didn't commit. She's offered a deal to restore a mural at an old post office in return for her early release from prison. The artwork she'll be restoring was originally created by a woman named Anna Dale, back in 1940. No one knows what happened to Anna, as she disappeared and was never heard from again.

This story is told from two points of view, from both Morgan's and Anna's. Slowly, information about the original painting comes to light, as Morgan works to restore it.. As the story evolves about Anna and why she disappeared years ago, secrets will be revealed about the town, the prejudices that ran deep, and a possible murder. In Anna's original painting are clues to what happened back in 1940, and as Morgan uncovers the painting, she finds that she desperately needs to find out what happened to her.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review your upcoming new book, Diane Chamberlain..I would rate this book a 5 out of 5!

I thought this was a great book! I look forward to reading more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Diane Chamberlain has written an excellent historical mystery centred around a 12 by 6 foot mural, the artist who painted it in 1940 and the young artist commissioned to restore it in 2018.

In 1940, Anna Dale, a young woman from New Jersey won a national competition to paint a mural for a post office. Edenton, the town she was assigned in North Carolina was very different from her home town with narrow minded regarding racial discrimination and how women should act and dress. At first she is welcomed into the town but when she insists on wearing trousers for painting such a huge mural and one of the art students she hires to help is an American African some of the town people are shocked at her behaviour. Her time in Edenton does not end well, the completed mural is never hung and Anna Dale is never heard of again.

In 2018, Morgan Christopher, a young artist in jail for a crime she didn't commit is given parole in exchange for agreeing to restore a mural. She has never done any restoration work before and is puzzled about why she was selected by one of her favourite artists to undertake such a huge task with a tight, non-negotiable time frame. However, she is fascinated by the unusual mural and wondered whatever happened to Anna Dale and why there are no further records of her.

Diane Chamberlain is a wonderful story teller and really hooked me in to this unusual mystery. She has captured the attitudes and complexities of small towns perfectly in both time lines. In addition to her two flawed but strong female artists she has also depicted some interesting secondary characters. I was fascinated by both threads of the story, wondering what happened to Anna in Edenton and how Morgan came to be selected to restore the mural. There are many secrets to be uncovered before all the pieces slot into place in this compelling mystery.

Edenton, NC 2018- while serving three years for a crime she didn't commit, Morgan Christopher is approached with a proposal for early release. In exchange for her freedom she will be required to restore a historical mural in time of the gala's opening. Knowing nothing of art restoration, but desperate for freedom, she chooses to take on the impossible task. What she discovers hidden in the painting tells a story of madness and the dark secrets of a small town.

Edenton, NC 1940- after winning an art competition, a young woman named Anna Dale finds herself leaving New Jersey to do research for a mural that will hang in the town’s post office. Unexpectedly she finds herself pressured into staying in the small town of Edenton while she completes her work. Still grieving the recent death of her mother, Anna agrees to stay until the mural is finished but quickly realizes that not everyone welcomes her stay. Anna finds herself alone in an inherently prejudice town, where being different may result in murder.

Big Lies in a Small Town is a fantastic historical mystery in which two women's stories become connected through an unusual painting with a secret to tell. The story is told from the alternating POV's of Morgan and Anna tow characters who become connected by the murals deadly secrets. The story was very engaging and I found it difficult to put down. The pacing of the story was fantastic until the end and then it felt really rushed as if everything was pushed to be resolved within a few chapters. This definitely has some darker content including addiction, assault, and murder in addition to the southern prejudices that were more prominent during this time period. I love how the story behind the mural is slowly reveled throughout the novel and the relationships between the characters were charming and endearing. Overall this was a fantastic read and I would definitely recommend it to those who love historical fiction and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Big Lies in a Small Town was my first book by Diane Chamberlain, and it won't be my last! This book was so beautiful. There were difficult topics, and triggers in the story but I think she handled it very wonderfully. I love the character development, as this was strongly character driven and you couldn't help but fall in love with Morgan, Oliver, Anna and Jessie.

This is only the second of Diane Chamerblain’s novels that I have read, but I am quickly becoming a fan! In her latest, Big Lies In A Small Town, she skillfully tells the tale of two women, living during two different time periods, whose stories intertwine when one is asked to restore a mural painted by the other nearly two decades later.

I liked how the story jumped back and forth between the two time periods— from 1940, which was told by Ana and portrayed her story about painting the mural, to 2018, which was narrated by Morgan as she competes the restoration and digs into Ana’s history and disappearance. Piece by piece, the mystery of Ana and the mural come to light as well as the thread that ties the two woman together.

Big Lives In A Small Town is an intriguing novel that will hold readers’ attention until the final page. There were a few elements of mystery presented early on in the book that kept me guessing until the end. Chamberlain is a masterful storyteller and a skilled writer, and I will eagerly await her next novel. Until then, I will definitely go back and read some of her older work!

Anna won a contest to paint a post office mural in the 1940s. In 2018, Morgan has been hired to restore it, uncovering some disturbing clues to a long-forgotten past. The story is told from their two viewpoints in alternating chapters.

I was gripped by the unfolding story and the very well-developed characters. I enjoyed this peek into the art world of the 1940s and the post office mural paintings that resulted. The book incorporates themes of racism and sexism while not really being about either entirely. The interplay between the past and the present feels natural and balanced. I found this book immensely readable and I loved every second of it!

This book alternates between Morgan and Anna, both talented artists in their own right but in a different era. Current era, Morgan is in jail for a crime she did not commit and has regretted her actions way back then. In the 40's, Anna has won a contest to paint a mural for a post office. With a stroke of luck, both their lives intertwined through another artist, Jesse.

The story started off strong, written with much angst and mystery which got me hooked from the first page itself. It didn't dilly dally and had me in anxious fit! Thankfully I was reading from my Kobo so I couldn't just flipped to the last page just to know the outcome LOL! It's my first Diane Chamberlain read and it has definitely piqued my interest in her other books. I've enjoyed this one a lot and I liked how she has plotted the events that lead up to the ending, with the right pace. At some point, I was starting to guess the culprit and somehow knew that would happened. However, it doesn't damper the spirit of the story and that ending was so unexpected for me.

As New Jersey is a modern state even then with Anna being an independent woman, it was quite appalling how Edenton still has slaves and the male chauvinism was still sky high. The story itself was so realistic that I imagined events from another book, The Color Purple. It's sad that no matter how much she tried, Anna was still unable to fit in. I guess that the eventuality of that unwanted event was a good turn, for both Anna and Jesse.

I liked how it ended for both Morgan and Anna. It was definitely a beautiful closure for me so much so that I had a withdrawal syndrome after finishing this book LOL! It's such a memorable read for me for sure! Thank you so much, Netgalley, for this opportunity to read such a lovely book!

I just love Diane Chamberlain writing style , there is such a sweetness to it.
BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN , was a wonderful read. It is so refreshing to have likable characters. THANK YOU NETGALLEY.