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.

This was my first Diana Chamberlain book but I am going to keep her on my radar moving forward. I loved this story- told in dual timelines we are taken inside worlds that include abuse, alcoholism, mental illness but also the strength and resilience of the two women. The pace moved along nicely and had a twist of historical fiction throughout which was unexpected but I enjoyed it!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once again Chamberlain comes through with another great read! Told in dual timelines (78 years apart) by two very strong and compelling women, this book tackles the hard topics of racism, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and mental illness and tackles them quite well. Both timelines are equally engrossing, which is a rare commodity, well done👏. Historical fiction with the hint of a mystery, this was a very satisfying read with a cast of perfect characters.

This is the first Diane Chamberlain book that I have read. I often see her books on display at bookstores and big box stores like Target, so I'm happy to have finally entered one of her worlds. I wasn't expecting much after reading the title (it sounds a bit generic to me) BUT I really enjoyed "Big Lies in a Small Town." The story follows two timelines- one in 1939/1940 as a young artist from the North draws a mural for a small town in the South, and one in more present day as a young artist goes to that same town to restore the original mural done by the previous artist.

Chamberlain has put a lot of effort into making the historical aspect of the novel feel true to its time period. She talks about life in the small town of Edenton, North Carolina in 1939- in her afterward, she mentions the various people that helped her with the research that she did to complete the story. It's always nice to see the effort made to accurately depict all parts of the story (in this case, race relations and life as a single woman). Back in 2018, Chamberlain uses references to pop culture to help her audience relate to the people in her story. Reading the names of famous real pop stars referenced in casual conversation throws me a bit when reading fiction pieces like this one, but I can see how some readers would enjoy it and use it to relate to the characters.

I really enjoyed the mystery and character building throughout the story. Quite often, when there are two dividing viewpoints, I enjoy one much more than the other. For this book, I enjoyed reading from both viewpoints and appreciated how the stories converged. The pacing at the beginning of the book was a bit slow, but it picked up quickly and was an entertaining and quick read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. I am happy to add "Diane Chamberlain" to my list of authors to read more from!

Big Lies in a Small Town brings us the story of two artists separated by nearly seventy years yet united by one vision—the mural of Edenton, North Carolina commissioned as part of the New Deal’s Post Office murals competition. In 1940, Anna was one of many artists who won a national competetion to paint a post office mural. She moved to Edenton to do the work, but she disappeared without finishing the mural. In 2018, Morgan was contracted to restore Anna’s long-lost mural in time for the opening of a museum. She is in prison and gets an early release to do this project. All of this is driven by a bequest in the will of Jesse Jameson Williams, the artist who inspired Morgan to become an artist.

While Anna is designing and painting the mural, she has the help of two students, Peter from the local public school and Jesse from the school for Black kids. There is a lot of controversy around her decision to take on Jesse as an assistant, but she sees his tremendous talent. An additional controversy is that a local artist was passed over. There is resentment of an outsider “taking a job away” even though the contest was judged anonymously. Her narrative is the story of a Yankee in the South bumping up against and violating social conventions and the consequences.

Morgan feels tremendous pressure, not just because the time constraints are daunting, but because she fears that failure will send her back to prison. However, the more she works on the mural, the more she becomes enchanted by it and the artist. Again and again, she discovers inexplicable elements that belie the seemingly wholesome mural of local history and enterprise. The woodsman’s ax drips with blood, for example.



I enjoyed. Diane Chamberlain is an experienced author who knows how to craft a story that grabs you at the beginning and never lets go. She also excels at braiding together disparate narratives into one story. Her metier, though, is taking a kernel from history and harvesting an orchard. She does so well at building a setting true to time and place.

In the past, I have criticized her for creating a white savior character, but this time she created a Black savior, a character who saves both Anna and Morgan. It was refreshing to see this role reversal. It shows maturity of vision and I appreciate it. I enjoyed Big Lies in a Small Town and look forward to even more compelling stories from Chamberlain.

Big Lies in a Small Town will be published on January 14th. I received an ARC from the publisher through Shelf Awareness.

Big Lies in a Small Town at St. Martin’s Press | Macmillan
Diane Chamberlain author site

Two different artists from two different periods, two powerful stories, the painting and then the restoration of the first painting and how they are linked together in a mysterious way that held me captive in this book. I didn't want it to end. I loved the details describing the art work of both pieces, I felt like I was watching the artists paint. Morgan was imprisoned but is mysteriously released on the promise to restore an old post office mural in Edenton, North Carolina within a certain time frame. What she finds under all the grime of the original grime is astounding. Why was the original artist, Anna Dale from New Jersey chosen to do this work? What happened to her and the mural? What secrets does this town hold and what prejudices does the present day still hold for Morgan who is at the request to restore this masterpiece from a famous black southern artist? This novel is compelling, it is a different Diane Chamberlain book from her others, it is extraordinary, brilliantly researched and written.

Excellent novel with strong characters and excellent plot. Highly recommend to readers of Chamberlain they enjoy a good story with an intense storyline.