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.

BOOK REVIEW: Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain (ARC)

First let me start by saying~ this is my first ever read by this very talented author. Why you ask? Well, I'm not SURE why, but I do know that after reading this wonderfully crafted story of humanity, it most certainly won't be my last.

Ms. Chamberlain weaves a tale of historical fiction, small-town southern life, in a dual time-line format to include the mysterious, the haunting, and the gripping, as well as the romantic, the entrancing and the delightful.

This story will grab your attention immediately with relevant issues to the time period, its strong characters, twists and turns, it's secrets, and its ease of connections as the narrative grows...

I highly recommend this novel as it touches the heart and soul of its reader. A perfect read for those who enjoy a story of substance~ meaning and purpose.

Thank you Diane Chamberlain for the gift of Anna and Morgan, two strong women I hope I've not heard the last of...

5 Stars

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Chamberlain tells a very interesting and easy to read story that alternates chapters between 1939/40 and 2018, an effective technique for this novel. Although some of her characters come straight from prevailing stereotypes of both the past and present, her two main characters, Anna and Morgan, pulse with life. The story’s threads are all tied up a bit too neatly and conveniently for me, but I think that many readers will be both surprised and pleased with the outcome. Big Lies in a Small Town will appeal to book clubs as well as to readers looking for a good book for an airplane trip, which is where I read this arc.

Another solid book by Ms. Chamberlin! I enjoyed learning a little of the plot from different perspectives.

I loved this book. The ending was just perfect. Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors and this did not disappoint. The way Morgan and Anna’s lives intertwined was spectacular. Don’t miss this great read. It has everything suspense, mystery and a touch of romance!

A real winner in my book!! This story touched me in so many ways, I felt like I was living it through Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher. The description of these characters and different situations is truly amazing. Definitely a must read!

I really enjoyed this book. The past and present intersect in a grand mystery based in historical fiction with an art theme. The book grabs you at the start when a young women is let out of prison early. A mysterious benefactor presents her with a curious offer which she really has no option but to accept.
Transitioning between the artist in the 1940's to the present, the story unravels for a satisfying read.

Diane Chamberlain does it again. Two stories, two central characters, two time periods, all coming together to tell one heck of a story. Present day: Morgan, in prison for a crime not entirely of her doing, finds herself suddenly being released on parole. With conditions, of course. She’s been chosen to restore a very old painting. And here we learn Anna's story. She was also chosen, but for a different purpose. As the original artist of the painting, her story is full of dark secrets. This was such a great story, pulling me out of a reading slump to finish it in just a couple of days.

4.5 stars rounded up
Diane Chamberlain is a great storyteller and is in top form in her latest: Big Lies In a Small Town. You will become fully absorbed by the dual story lines of Morgan in 2018 and Anna in 1940. Morgan is charged with an unrealistic timetable to restore a mural which was painted by Anna, long thought to have gone insane while creating the piece. Set in North Carolina, each woman faces great challenges and obstacles. Morgan yearns to move past some bad life decisions and Anna is given a chance to establish herself as an artist while facing gender and racial prejudices. The thread that ties these two women together is the recently deceased artist Jesse Jameson Williams. While Morgan has long admired Williams, she has no idea why he had selected her to restore the mural. This opportunity enables her to be released from jail and provides an opportunity to rebuild her life. We soon learn why Anna’s mural was so special to Jameson. As the mural is restored, the mystery of Anna starts to be revealed. This is one powerful read.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ms. Chamberlain for the ARC of this wonderful book which comes out on January 14, 2020.

This book completely captivated me! I was expecting to enjoy this book, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it. These pages took me away and provided so much of what I hope to experience when I read historical fiction.

I thought this story was an especially great use of the dual timelines that are so popular now. Both Anna and Morgan were intriguing and their stories intersected beautifully, and I was on the edge of my seat as their stories were revealed. This truly was a page turner for me.

Something I particularly enjoyed was experiencing and learning about an aspect of history that was new to me. I did not have previous knowledge of the mural commissions in the 1940s and I was delighted to be transported to a time and place that made it a joy to learn. There was nothing that came across as a detail thrown in to show how much research the author did. Everything flowed organically, even the descriptions of restoring a painting were enjoyable and enlightening to read, and I could see how very dry those could have been had they not been so wonderfully written.

There were some dark elements, as his was a realistic historical fiction. However, there were also many beautiful relationships and fascinating characters. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

OMG and WOW are what I'm thinking one minute after I finish Big Lies In A Small Town!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have read all of Diane Chamberlain's books and each new one is just as amazing as the others. I love her style of writing and the way you get sucked into the story and the characters. I read this one in two days and I loved it!!!!! I was hooked from the first page!!!!! This book is told in two different perspectives- one Morgan Christopher, a young lady who went to prison for a crime she didn't commit. She is an art major who gets out of jail on the condition of restoring a mural. She had no idea how to do it much less start but she has no choice.
Next we have Anna Dale, the artist who painted said mural. Anna wins a contest to paint a mural for a town she's never been but she moves there to paint this mural. We follow these two ladies throughout their time and experience with this particular mural. Both of their lives are changed forever with this one mural. This is a phenomenon story and I highly recommend this book and every one by Ms Diane Chamberlain. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my honest review on this amazing book.

I recieved this book as an advanced copy from Netgalley as an exchange for my honest review. I have read and loved Dianne Chamberlain before so I was looking forward to reviewing this book. WOW She did not let me down! Big Lies in a Small Town has a wonderful mixture of charm, warmth, mystery and romance.

Based in two time periods, this story tells about two Talented Women.

In the 1940s a woman named Anna won a Art contest and was honored the chance to paint a mural for a small town called Edenton. The town at first didn't take to her as she was an outsider and felt that their own Male artist Martin Drapple should have won. Because of Anna's inner strength she persevered and painted the mural but not without some backlash.

In the 1980s a woman named Morgan is in prison for a crime she didn't commit,but then finds herself released on probation with conditions of restoring a famous authors mural. Morgan never has done restoration before so she needs to learn fast as there is a two month deadline. As she is restoring it she uncovers secrets of the town.

A fascinating story, I couldn't put the book down. Loved it!

Destined to be a 2020 favorite! Chamberlain cleverly connects the lives of two female artists with one mural that ultimately tells a painful story with the restoration uncovering the clues. She sets the stage by switching back and forth between the progress of the original painting and the restoration with superb character development of all parties in both time periods. I thank NetGalley for providing the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Never lie to someone who trusts you. Never trust someone who lies to you."

Diane Chamberlain, a gifted storyteller, sets this one down in the small community of Edenton, North Carolina. She's shifting the sands of time from 1940 to 2018 with chapters reflecting the lives of her two main characters, Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher. We'll come to find, because of time and place, that these two women could not be more different. Yet, there is a steeliness in their resolve because of life's short-circuited events.

Anna Dale, a young twenty-two year old from New Jersey, has won a mural competition in 1939 that will bring her to Edenton, North Carolina with its small town homeyness lined with some very small minds. Life on the East coast has not prepared Anna for what she is about to encounter there. She is to create a huge mural depicting Edenton life which will be displayed on the post office wall. The veil of friendliness is soon lifted as individuals show their true colors. Anna will come face to face with southern social norms and bigotry of the time period. She works daily in a rundown warehouse, but the mural is never completed. No one knows whatever happened to Anna.

The storyline flips to 2018 with Morgan Christopher awaiting visitors in her jail cell. She's serving time for a crime that she did not commit. You'll find the details of that later. Lisa Williams, daughter of the late artist Jesse Jameson Williams, is cutting a deal with Morgan. Morgan had to cut short her three year major in Art at UNC at Chapel Hill because of prison. Morgan can be out on parole is she agrees to restore the mural of Anna Dale in a short amount of time.

Our girl Morgan jumps at the chance, but she has no idea of the tangled web she is about to walk into. Same small town of Edenton with a 2018 lineage of small minds. Morgan has an insurmountable task of proving herself to Lisa Williams, to her new parole officer, and to the curator of the town's art museum. Why was she chosen for the task? And there's still the heavy question of what happened to Anna Dale?

Chamberlain knows how to move the reader smoothly and adeptly through the pages of her novels. She paints the atmosphere with just the right amounts of intensity and drive. Her characters are so human in nature and so reflective of the peacemakers and the hell raisers we've all encountered in life. She just lays the story map before us and we can't help but follow the surfaces and the depths to the very end.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Diane Chamberlain for the opportunity.

Fans of Diane Chamberlain’s evocative prose and brilliant characterization will not be disappointed by her latest work, “Big Lies in a Small Town.”

In 1940, Anna Dale wins an art competition to paint a mural for a post office building in a small town. When she arrives to work on the painting, she clearly is not welcome because the town feels that its resident painter should have been chosen instead. But because Anna has recently lost her mother to mental illness, she uses the opportunity to paint as a way to escape. She befriends a local African-American boy whom she mentors as a student and wrestles with the prejudice, something she had not experienced in her former home of New Jersey, as well as fear that her mother’s bi-polar episodes might be hereditary.

In 2018, Morgan Christopher is let out on parole from prison for a crime she only indirectly participated in so that she can restore the mural Anna Dale created. Though Morgan studied art in school and without knowledge of art restoration, she is unsure as to why she was selected for such an important task, but is determined to well. The more she works on the painting, the more she becomes interested in Anna’s story and why the painting was never finished.

The story weaves back and forth effortlessly through these two plots and time frames. Both of her protagonists, though flawed, are quite likable and the parallels between the women become quite clear as the story developed. The townspeople in both eras are quite well developed. The author has a great sense of life in a small southern town in the forties. This setting is a character itself. Ms. Chamberlain’s attention to detail is only one of the many reasons I could not put this story down.

Whether you have read every Chamberlain novel published or are new to her writing, you will finish this book unable to stop thinking of the characters. I'd like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy.