I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. I have never read this author's work before and that may change, as I enjoyed this book immensely, more so than I expected. The description was interesting, but the back and forth between Anna in 1939/1940 and Morgan in 2018 had me reading and not wanting to put the book down.

Morgan is in prison for complications of a 2nd DUI and aggravated assault with a vehicle. She gets early work release because of a late respected artist's will stipulated she must help restore a mural of his friend Anna. Concurrently we learn of Anna who left NJ to paint a mural of the town of Edenton, NC. She faces many challenges as a young single woman who has been told by powerful men in town she's not one of their own. She befriends many, but makes a few enemies for her unconventional attire, welcomeness to a young Negro man. Of course times have changed but in 1940, racism was the statud quo.

Morgan is trying to restore this mural of Anna's and understand the strange addition of certain items, that in a way are clues. When Morgan finds her journal she discovers what happened to Anna, at least until she left town. Because Morgan was an art student at UNC, she recognizes something in the mural that helps find what became of Anna, the conclusion had a tear or 2 coming from my eyes. Morgan's discovery of art restoration, as well as learning to heal and forgive herself and fall in love were rejoicing to me. She takes her final step to make amends for her mistakes. While this book isn't a thriller, the mystery is very interesting and different, as an art lover. The writing is very solid. I would recommend this book to anyone.
*trigger warning*

Two timelines, two lives intertwined. The first in 1940 Anna Dale, the winnizng artist in a contest to paint the mural that isto be hung in the post office of a small southern town. The second in 2018, Morgan Dale, out on parole from prison to restore the mural that was never hung and displayed in 1940. Very interesting storylines and author weaves a great story incorporating them together in the end. I enjoyed this book. Thank you Net Galley and St Martin's Press for this Digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Big Lies in a Small Town follows the stories of two women living in the same small town, but almost 80 years apart. Edenton, North Carolina is the setting for this novel about modern day Morgan, who is restoring a mural painted by Anna, who was visiting the town in 1940. Morgan becomes intrigued by Anna's story and wants to solve the mystery of what happened to Anna, who disappeared while working on the mural.

I really enjoyed getting to know the two different protagonists, and watching their lives intertwine while living many decades apart. I found myself rooting for both women. While there were instances in which I thought the plot was a little improbable, overall I found myself reading the book quickly and missing it when I finished.

Anna, an emerging artist, is given the opportunity of a lifetime. Morgan, a former art student turned prison inmate, is given a redemptive opportunity. Two women in two different eras in time tell their respective stories and find they have more in common then they could ever imagine.

Ms Chamberlain delivers a very interesting and detailed story. I found it to be rather laborious at times but was worth the wait in the end. She obviously researched all of the elements within the story very well and added some twists I actually didn’t see coming.

I loved this book!! I love it when a book grabs hold of me and I can't get to sleep because I'm so close to the end but so sleepy I try to sleep - but then give in at 2 am and get up again to read until I finish it. And now I'm sorry the book has ended and I want to know more about these characters. What happened in their lives next?!

The characters were so well written!! Sympathetic and yet strong; strong and yet vulnerable. I especially appreciated the way the author identified each chapter so no time was wasted trying to figure out who was talking, what time frame are we in - such as seems to be the norm with many books nowadays.

The two parallel stories of Anna and Morgan were seamlessly told and built toward solving the mystery of what on earth tied them together to a very satisfying conclusion. I loved these two characters as well as Jesse and Nellie and - - - - well, all of them!! Every character was so well written and important to the story. I could picture them all vividly in my head as I read. That's the mark of excellent writing.

Extremely well-written and enjoyable book!!

Big Lies in a Samll Town is a riveting read. He narrative switches back from 1940 to 2018. Morgan is paying for a crime committed by someone else until redemption arrives. She has to restore a painting of an artist who vanished. The artist's story is revealed in the flashbacks. I perceived correctly after a few chapters how the story would go so there were no surprises for me. I didn't like how the author left the ending hanging, I wouldn't have preferred a smooth resolution. It's a great read about accountability, small town southern life in the 1940s and the love of art.

Well written story that is told through two timelines. In the present, we are introduced to 22 year old Morgan who is serving time in prison. She is visited by a woman who offers her early parole in exchange for her restoring an old, ruined mural. She accepts the offer despite having no experience in art restoration.
In the past, we meet Anna Dale, a young artist who wins a competition to paint a mural in a small southern town.
These two women's lives are connected yet we don't find out until the end how. This was an intriguing story of mystery, abuse, lies, secrets and racism. It was a real page turner! I received a complimentary ebook through Netgalley.com.

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain is and enthralling read. The characters are well-developed and interesting. I enjoyed the way this story of two women, from two very different periods of time in history, and in two different locations, was weaved together through one piece of artwork. The story-telling of the mystery of what happened to Anna, the original artist who conceived the original mural, and the ex-con, Morgan, a woman who took responsibility for another's crime, kept me turning the pages. The racial aspect of the story and the divisive issues related to prejudice are handled adeptly by the author and work to make this a must-read novel. The author deftly weaved a budding relationship between Morgan and art curator, Oliver. This relationship served to provide Morgan, and the reader, with a sharp contrast of what real love looks like as opposed to how a woman might easily settle for a man of dubious character. I very much appreciate how this original storyline, presented a solid depiction of not only racial issues, but of the prejudice against women and the "Me Too"movement as well.

I just adore every book that Diane writes and am in awe of the ability she has to write so many different themes and yet every one is totally gripping. I absolutely LOVED this book and raced through its pages. It was so easy to engage with such lovely characters, i.e. Anna the artist creating a mural for her town in the 1940's and Morgan in the present day restoring that mural to its former glory with so many problems and obstacles along the way. I loved the way the chapters alternated from Anna to Morgan giving the reader an insight into these two strong ladies and how they connected with and mirrored one another. There were some heart wrenching parts to the book especially regarding Anna and and also Jesse, the latter a lovely young man facing racial prejudice in the 40's and how his life turned out. I couldn't wait to get back to this book whenever I was forced to leave it for a while as it was just so riveting. The conclusion held some surprises and also tied up very nicely. However, should Diane ever want to do a follow up I feel there is some scope in telling Emily's story. I would love to know how the accident affected her own life and what happened to her in those intervening years.. Either way, I can say that I turned the final page of the story with satisfaction and the lovely feeling of having had a very special few days in the company of these wonderful characters. Diane's notes at the end were fascinating and enlightening too,. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Diane Chamberlain never disappoints! Big Lies in a Small Town is on course for the fiction best seller list. Brains a transplant to N.C., I found the history in this book very fascinating.

I loved this book and was given an early copy in exchange for an honest review. I devour all Diane Chamberlain books and this one was no exception. I actually finished it a while ago and thought I already left feedback for it!

It’s an amazing read and if you live Diane Chamberlain she won’t disappoint.

This is the second novel of Diane Chamberlain's that I have read(the first was "The Dream Daughter") and she is a fantastic story teller!
The plot moved along smoothly, kept me intrigued, and had a satisfying ending.

BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN by Diane Chamberlain is a gripping story full of secrets, lies and small town intrigue that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Set in Edenton, North Carolina, it is told in two time frames. In 1940, young New Jersey artist Anna Dale wins a competition to paint a mural that will hang in Edenton’s post office. She faces skepticism and even anger from the town’s long-time residents who think an outsider, especially a woman, cannot properly capture the essence of their history. Despite the less than warm welcome, Anna forges ahead with painting her mural, determined to prove them all wrong. In 2018, twenty-two year old Morgan Christopher is serving a prison sentence for a crime that she didn’t commit. One day, an unknown visitor offers her a chance at immediate parole if she agrees to restore a mural found in the possession of the visitor’s father, famed artist Jesse Jameson Williams. The story of the mural alternates back and forth between the present and the past as the author gradually reveals how the two storylines are intertwined. The characters were well-developed and believable. The book deals with some sensitive topics such as racial bias, mental illness, and domestic abuse in an honest and compassionate way. There is plenty of mystery and unexpected twists leading up to the dramatic conclusion. I enjoyed this interesting and thought-provoking book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This book packs a powerful punch. Two women separated by 70+ years in time tell us the story of a mural that was to grace the Edenton, North Carolina post office wall. In 1940, Anna Dale wins a national contest and is selected to paint the mural. Morgan Christopher is awarded early parole in 2018 to restore that same mural as a condition of her release; chosen for the task as the dying wish of a famous artist whose museum is set to open in just two months. Setting a book south of the Mason Dixon line makes racism a given. Both Anna and Morgan struggle with family issues of their own and the underlying currents of Edenton bring new challenges into their lives. As the mural is cleaned and restored questions multiply. Edenton may be a small town, but big lies are lurking beneath the surface. Fans of Susan Meissner will enjoy this title as well.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Is It About?
Full of twists and turns, this book tells the story of two women, Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher. A time-hopper novel, this book takes place in present day, and 1940 as it tells a gripping story of two women whose lives have been forever changed by a mural.
Let’s start with Anna Dale. As an artist, Anna Dale, has been selected to paint a mural depicting the history of the town, that will be hung in the post office. She takes the job very seriously, enlisting the helping of several people within the town. However, the mural never gets hung, and makes it way to the hands of Morgan Christopher.
Morgan is serving time on her three year prison sentence, when she is given an unbelievable opportunity. She is paroled on the caveat that she must work to restore a mural in an ridiculously short amount of time. Morgan has no experience restoring murals, and is unsure why she was chosen.
Two women, separated by decades, have their lives changed forever because of this mural. One, charged with the task of painting it, seems to have lost her mind and disappeared. The other, charged with the task of restoring it, has been given a second chance.
What Did I Think?
First of all, the plot of this story kept me in suspense, the second half of the book. Just when I think I would figure something out, I was forced to regroup. The ending was a complete surprise for me. I didn’t see it coming at all, which is very rare for me. The first half of the story was hard for me to get through, however one I did, I read quickly and was on the edge of me seat.
I am normally not a fan of time-hopping novels, however, Diane Chamberlain did a great job of tying the two stories together. The writing was amazing, however, I did notice one error while reading the story. At the beginning of chapter 42, it mentions that it was the anniversary of her mother’s death, however, the actual occasion that left Anna feeling upset was her mother’s birthday. It was a minor detail, however, these things tend to bother me.
The characters, regardless if they were main character or supporting characters, were well developed. I connected with both women, for various reasons, and this connection helped keep my invested in the storyline.
“Big Lies in a Small Town” has a publication date of January 2020. I gave it 4 stars.

Diane Chamberlain has done it again! There are a lot of secrets to uncover in Big Lies in a Small Town! You will be up reading all night to uncover all the secrets and lies. Chamberlain decided to write this book when visiting the town of Edenton, South Carolina. She learned about the State Mural Competition in Edenton which was sponsored by the Treasury Department during the Great Depression. She decided to base her novel around this competition. I LOVED the story, I LOVED the characters and I LOVED the ending! Jesse Williams is a black, teenager in 1940. He dislikes school but is a child prodigy when it comes to art. Anna is a white, artist who is chosen in 1940 to paint a mural for the Edenton Post Office. Morgan is in prison and is released early to restore the mural in 2018. You will stay up all night reading, wanting to make sure all three characters find happiness and end up in a good place. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Diane Chamberlain for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Diane Chamberlain don’t ever stop writing, you are a master storyteller! Big Lies in a Small Town will be out January 14, 2020. It is a MUST read!

I'm not usually one for historical fiction, so when I realized this story featured both present-day perspective and a POV from the 1940's, I was feeling meh about picking it up. I loved The Silent Sister, though, so I finally picked this one up and MAN, I was missing out! This was so, so good.

The premise surrounds two women and their journey working on a mural. The original artist wins an art contest to work on the piece, then another woman in 2018 is released from prison in exchange for working on restoring the mural. It was so interesting and engaging to see the town and the work surrounding this piece of art throughout time, and the artist's story was so good and also so challenging to read.

My grievances: I wanted details about Morgan's interaction with the victim of her accident! I also wanted more time with Judith/Anna in present day. Neither of these are real grievances, of course, but things that I left the book wanting!

Big Lies in a Small Town was my first Diane Chamberlain novel, but it will certainly not be the last! Set in a small town in North Carolina and jumping between 2018 and 1940, BLST tells the story of two artists dealing with their pasts and struggling to find their places in a not-so-friendly world. The narrative effectively uses split perspective to advance each storyline. Both were distinctive but beautifully written. I was captivated and quickly invested in both women's journeys. Usually, when reading narratives with multiple perspectives, I'll come to prefer one over others, but both storylines were equally captivating in BLST. The stories seamlessly converged for a satisfying but not saccharine conclusion and remind us that we "have to make peace with the past or you can never move into the future." ALL. THE. STARS.

I have had a few Diane Chamberlin books on my list for a while. Never got around to them. That is why I requested to review this ARC at #NetGalley. This book is due out in January of 2020.

I was in love with the book from the beginning. It starts in North Carolina with some kids having found a dead body in 1940. Then jumps to a prison in North Carolina in 2018. The book fantastically tells the story of 2 young women. Anna in 1940, the other Morgan in 2018. Morgan's story is quite straightforward. Not the same with Anna's. It is intriguing to Morgan as well as the reader. Throughout the entire book, the reader is trying to find a connection between the two women.

In the end, it is fully resolved and very fulfilling. It did not disappoint. I will probably be going through the whole Diane Chamberlin library very soon!

Another wonderful read from Diane Chamberlain.
Diane weaves the tales of Morgan and Anne together to create a compelling read.
Told in alternate chapters from both Morgan and Anne, we find out more about each character and what their connection to recently deceased artist Jesse.
Anne won a competition in 1939 to design and paint a mural for the Edenton Post office which she undertakes but never completes. What happened to Anne, what happened to her mural and why did she disappear?
We also meet Morgan Christopher who is currently serving time following a DUI when 2 strangers appear and inform her that she could be released on parole if she agrees to complete a restoration of Anne’s mural. She has been named in Jesse’s will and must complete the work in time for the opening of his new gallery on 5th Aug. Why has he chosen her, how did he get the mural? So many questions.
I loved the way Diane told both women’s stories and was totally drawn into them both.
Would highly recommend.
Thanks go to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review