In 2018, Morgan is serving time for a crime she didn’t commit. One day she gets a surprise visit from a woman she doesn’t know and an attorney - giving her the ability to get released now on the condition that she goes to work for them in Edenton NC restoring an old mural. Morgan doesn’t know anything about art restoration but was an art major in college and jumps at the opportunity.

In 1939, Anna wins a contest to design a mural for the post office in Edenton NC. The story alternated between the two timelines as we learn about Anna and the mural originally being created at the same time as we watch Morgan restoring it.

I really enjoyed the dual timelines and learning about both women’s lives. I loved the resolution at the ending and what we learned. I didn’t feel as connected to some of Morgan’s interactions and wasn’t as invested in them as I would want to be.

I really loved The Dream Daughter and was so excited to read this. I will definitely be reading more of Chamberlain’s backlist as well! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free advance copy to read and review.

Refined, impressive, effective story-telling and adroitly, meticulously developed two amazing characters and their lyrically interwind stories. I’m giving my historical, provocative, stunning four stars for this intriguing journey!

Two artists from different timelines, suffering from the life choices they made because they cannot control them. Two voices shout at us their heart-wrenching stories and want us listen to them. So let’s hear them out, turning the pages to learn more about those amazing women:

At 2018, in North Carolina, Morgan Christopher is an inmate, serving her prison time for the crime she didn’t even commit ( she took the blame for her shameless boyfriend who truly vanishes as soon as she’s convicted.) gets an offer she cannot refuse! (I know it sounded like Godfather’s signature quote but this offer is truly cannot be rejected!)

One of her favorite famous painter Jesse Jameson’s daughter Lisa (I visualized her as moderate version of Janelle Monae)visits her, accompanied by attorney Andrea Fuller ( a softer version of Viola Davis’ Annalise Keating character). The famous painter recently passed away and in his will he strictly emphasized he requested an old rural’s restoration. And the person who wanted to do this job is : Morgan.
Before he died, Jesse Jameson was working on a special project to give the talented and neglected people have a second chance to prove they can achieve anything they put their minds to. So naturally Morgan accepts the offer even she is not experienced artist about mural restorations. But in two months she will finish her project and she will be paid 50K, and most importantly she will be out of the prison. But she has no idea what kind of compelling and challenging job she’s getting into.

And let’s get back to the other story took place on 1939, in Edenton, North Carolina. This is the story of the artist who created the mural that Morgan is going to work on. ANNA DALE, a talented woman from New Jersey, suffering from deep grief of her recently deceased mother. She won a contest and got an offer to paint a mural for the post office of Edenton. So she drives there to see more about the landscapes. And her journey to the South begins.

She feels anxious because of the town’s people’s dubious and prejudiced approach to her. They are not so happy because their local man, Martin Drappie didn’t win the contest and he lost it against a young, inexperienced WOMAN artist.So you may guess she is not welcomed with open arms to the town. And she disappears after she finished her paint. So many rumors out there talking about her mental illness and she might have suffered from emotional breakdown during her working process.

So what happened to Anna? Could Morgan finish the mural restoration on time and also find what is conclusion of Anna’s story?

No spoilers! Already shut my mouth. You gotta read the rest.
This is so different book when you compare it with “Dream Daughter”. It’s like comparing between tomatoes and watermelons so you’d better skip that process and get ready to read something unique.

This is mostly an emotional, historical reading deals with so many heavy issues starting from racism, women equality, abuse, mental illness but is also questions family bounds, secrets, love and meaning of the life.

It is a greatly depicted, memorable, heartbreaking and powerful story about two strong women! Sometimes pacing was a little slow for me but sometimes it is good to take a break, slow down and absorb the emotions and gather your thoughts.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing me this great ARC COPY in exchange my honest review. I truly enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Diane Chamberlain, but it will not be my last. I usually don’t enjoy books with a back and forth timeline, because I typically can only relate to one of those timelines/character and it feels lopsided. But that was not the case with this book. Both timelines kept my interest and I felt drawn to both characters and their plights. I could relate to the small town life, having lived for several years in a small town in PA and got a little thrill when Anna mentions her trips to Norfolk, since I live in that area. Although the ending was foreshadowed, it did not make Morgan’s discovery in the gallery at the end any less satisfying.

This was a book I wish I could have just set aside a few hours to read straight through but life doesn’t work that way. It was a book that was hard for me to put down and I was always anxious to return to it, albeit in small bits each time. When I finished it was with a sigh of contentment and a bit of distress that I couldn’t continue Morgan’s journey with her. Those are the best books, the ones you are in a hurry to finish yet don’t want to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

Novel background: Diane Chamberlain's latest novel is a dual timeline( 1939/40 & 2018) set in Edenton, North Carolina surrounds the secrets around an unfinished community mural and its troubled artist. In the present, Morgan Christopher is an ex-inmate who is approached to complete the mural that was never completed by New Jersey artist, Anna Dale. As baffled as Morgan is by the endorsement, she soon becomes consumed with the mystery behind the artist's disappearance. In the past, Anna Dale struggles as an outsider to complete her mural, but a local artist isn't taking his rejection well and the townspeople are none to pleased when Anaa confronts the prejudices deep rooted in the community.

I am a big fan of DC( have read all of her books except " Lovers and Strangers") and newcomers can expect a solidly written story with many intriguing characters. But I never felt really interested in the storyline as I found it similiar to a few of her other books. I enjoyed the storyline in the past was much better and I wasn't a huge fan of the relationship that was setup for Morgan. The character had way too much on her plate as it and it felt too predictable.









Goodreads review 15/11/19
Publication Date 14/01/20

Big Lies in a Small Town does a wonderful job of weaving together the stories of two very interesting women. Switching between past and present, I was thoroughly engrossed in this novel and equally interested in both women’s stories. Highly recommend!

The title Big Lies in a Small Town is perfect for this book. The story starts in 2018 with Morgan Christopher’s story. She is in prison for a drunk driving accident that left a woman partially paralyzed. Lisa Williams, whose father Jesse was a famous artist, has come to let Morgan know that she is being paroled. But a condition of her parole is that she move to Edenton North Carolina and restore a 1940’s mural in a short amount of time. The storyline goes back and forth between Morgan in current time and Anna Dale (the original artist) in 1940. As Morgan uncovers more of the painting, we also uncover more of Anna’s story.

The story also hinges on racial tensions in the south in the 1940’s. Anna Dale was white. Jesse Jameson Williams was black. Jesse was a teenager in 1940. He helped Anna with the original mural. The racial aspect was a huge problem for the residents of Edenton.

This book is so well written. I found myself thinking about it on and off all day. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading. I give this book a solid 5 stars!

I am typically a fan of Diane Chamberlain and Big Lies in a Small Town my like for her. While it isn't her best, it is suspenseful, heartwarming, and everything you want in a Chamberlain book. Those interested in art/murals will especially like this one!

I really enjoyed this book. Especially in the beginning. When I was about one third of the way through I said it was going to be in my top books of the year. As it stands right now that is no longer the case but it is still a great read and I recommend you pick it up.

Things I loved-

The Format- I am a sucker for a dual timeline / dual perspective historical fiction. We follow Anna in 1940 and then jump ahead to 2018 and follow Morgan.


The Setting- This book takes place in a small town in NC. I am a small town girl and appreciate a small town setting. I can totally relate to the everyone knowing everyone and the small town gossip that went on.

The Characters- The two main characters Anna and Morgan were both very likable. I think that there were aspects of these characters that a number of people may be able to relate to.
I enjoyed reading from both of their perspectives and did not prefer one over the other.

The Writing- Diane Chamberlin sure can write a book. I can still remember the first book of hers that I picked up ( The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes ) and I cannot wait to read more from her. Chamberlin had me turning pages. At no point did I feel bored or skimming sections of the book to get ahead. I was invested in the plot and the characters completely all the way through.

Why it wasn’t a five star read-
There were things in this book that I found predictable. Things that happened at the end of the book to tie things together that I found convenient. Upon finishing it I think I expected this book to leave a bigger impression on me.

I am very thankful to NetGalley, The author and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m an ardent fan of this author and look forward to everyone of her releases. Her topics are all unique from one another. Each book a completely different experience than the last. Her versatility is one of her greatest strengths as a writer. Another is the character development. She always gets me caring for her characters as if I personally know them and continue to ponder their stories long after the last page is turned.

Unlike most of her work this took me awhile to get into it, over 50% into the digital ARC. This is highly unusual as her novels usually grasp my interest immediately, and in fact the publishers description did that for me, but I found it moved along slower than I had anticipated. It was worth the wait and I knew it would be, for more reasons than just the writing.

I am a Fine Art lover, not an artist, but artistic talent does run in my blood line. My father was an oil painter, and a good one, specializing in portraits, sea and landscapes. After retirement from my own career I became his agent and marketed his work successfully for the last 20 years of his life. It gave me such pride to see the joy his work brought to others. It was easy to relate to some of the scenes revolving around the artwork.

There is a myriad of emotions evoked by the stories of Anna in 1940 and Morgan in 2018. The historical detail was fascinating, not just about the real town of Edenton, NC, but about it’s inhabitants, the racial divide of the 40s, and about restoring art itself, something I’ve often wondered about. I almost wished I’d read the artists notes featured at the end of the book before I started the novel, as it would have given me an even better anticipation of its contents.

If you are a lover of historical fiction that revolves around some truths, a lover of art, or just want to curl up with a believable satisfying novel, treat yourself to a copy of Diane Chamberlain’s latest, at your favorite retailer on January 14, 2020.

My thanks to NG, St. Martin’s Press, and of course author Chamberlain for the e-ARC and the opportunity to express my personal opinion of this work.

I enjoyed this book. It started slow but in the middle the story clicked. Want to read more from this author. Liked the happy ending

Thanks NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Diane Chamberlain for giving me the chance to read her new book: Big Lies In A Small Town, it's the first book I have read by this author and It wont be my last.

2018, Morgan Christopher found herself serving time in the North Carolina Correctional Facility, she's young, very naive, she made a big mistake, trusted the wrong person and she never considered she could be sent to jail! Once she understands how much trouble she's in, she's tries desperately to explain that she didn't commit the crime, but it's far too late, no one will believe her and she's sentenced to serve three years in jail.

One day, she is taken to the private visitors room and two unknown women are waiting to see to her. Morgan is totally confused, one of the ladies is Lisa Williams and the other is her lawyer Andrea Fuller. Lisa explains to her that she's the daughter of a famous artist called Jesse Jameson Williams, they want her to restore a mural, if she agrees, she can leave jail with Lisa and be released on parole. Morgan has been in jail for a year, she's been sleeping with one eye open and she's very keen to get out of jail. Prior to going to jail, she was studying art, but they want her to restore a depression era mural and she's had zero experience? Of course she leaves jail with Lisa, she will be living with her and plans have been made for her to meet her parole officer the next day. What had she gotten herself into now, the parole officer didn't beat around the bush, Morgan is to report to her fortnightly, wear a ankle bracelet and she must attend weekly AA meetings. Morgan discovers the mural she's to restore is dirty, it's damaged, it has to be fully restored by the 5th of August and she has two months to complete the restoration or Lisa will lose her inheritance. The mural is to be a major piece in the galleries opening exhibition, why did Jesse Williams want her to restore it and it made no sense?

The book has a dual timeline, the story alternates between the present time of 2018 and goes back to 1940.

1940, Anna Dale, is a young artist she lives in New Jersey and she won a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton in North Carolina. Anna is lonely, her mother has just passed away, she needs to find work and she decides to drive to Edenton to take a look around. Once she arrives in Edenton, they want her to start painting the mural right away, why waste time returning to New Jersey and she can board with sweet Miss Myrtle. Anna quickly discovers life in the South is very different to New Jersey, people still have very old fashioned ideas, ladies don't go out alone at night, they don't wear pants, they don't climb ladders, they don't make friends with colored people, especially colored men and people soon questioning her odd Yankee ways!
Big Lies In A Small Town, is a story full of surprises, it hooks you right in from the start and you don't want it to end. You notice how similar Anna and Morgan are and they both had difficult childhoods.
The book covers so many relevant issues that effect so many people and families. They include forgiveness, trust, judgment, domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol abuse, racism and justice.

I loved the book, I gave it five big stars and well done Diane Chamberlain.

I have read several books by Diane Chamberlain and have really liked them. Big Lies in a Small Town was no exception. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors. She just has the knack of writing stories that work. I would consider listening to this book on audio CD when it is published even though I have already read it. The story was easy to follow and I loved the characters. I was sorry when I was finished because I just did not want it to end. The story was written in a dual time frame switching back and forth between 2018 and 1940.

On June 8, 2018, Morgan Christopher, who was serving a prison sentence at the North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women in Raleigh, North Carolina, was about to meet visitors who would change her life dramatically. Morgan had just finished serving her one-year minimum sentence for a D.U.I. charge but her maximum sentence was for three years. She and her boyfriend had been drinking at a party. When they left the party, her boyfriend got in his car and proceeded to drive the two them home. They were both so drunk they had no business driving. Their irresponsible behavior resulted in a terrible accident. Morgan's boyfriend hit a young girl and she became paralyzed as a result. Rather than man up and take the consequences for the crime, Morgan's boyfriend took off and left the scene of the crime and left Morgan to assume the role of driver. Morgan was so shaken up by the accident that by the time she realized what had taken place it was too late. When she tried to tell everyone concerned that she was not the driver no one believed her. Her boyfriend twisted the story and had everyone believing the story he had invented. He was going to attend law school in the fall and this would ruin everything for him if he was convicted so he allowed Morgan to accept the punishment. Here she was one year later trying to find out why these two women had come to see her. Morgan was introduced to Lisa, Jesse Jameson Williams's daughter and her lawyer, Andrea Fuller. For the last twenty-five years of Jesse's life he had dedicated himself to helping young artists and Morgan was told that he had picked her as his next project. Jesse Jameson Williams was one of Morgan's favorite artists. Before he died he made it clear that he wanted Morgan to restore an old 1940's mural to be hung in his new gallery. His only stipulations were that the gallery had to open on August 5th and the mural had to be completed and hung in the gallery before the gallery opened. Morgan was so confused. She was sure there had to be some mistake. Jesse Jameson Williams did not know her and she knew nothing about restoring old murals. She was told that she would be out on parole and would have to meet with a parole officer and attend AA meetings. Morgan would live at Jesse Jameson Williams's house and she would be paid fifty thousand dollars for doing it. She had no idea how she would be able to do what was expected of her but if it meant getting out of jail she was all in. In that instance, Morgan knew her life would never be the same but she could never had guessed how she and her life would change.

Between 1939 and 1940, Anna Dale was informed by the United States Treasury Department, Section of Fine Arts that she one of the winning artists in the 48 States Mural Competition. Anna had submitted a sketch intended for the Bordentown, New Jersey Post Office but another artist won that spot. Anna was selected to create a mural for the Edenton, North Carolina Post Office. She would be awarded $720.oo for this endeavor. This assignment would forever change Anna's life. Anna knew nothing about Edenton, North Carolina so she decided the best way to find out about a town was to visit it. She soon discovered that Edenton was a rather small town and everyone knew everyone else. There were no secrets in Edenton. Anna was introduced to all the important people in the town and they graciously showed Anna around their town so she could get a sense of its history and what was important enough for her to paint on her mural. Of course everyone had different ideas about what she should include. Anna soon discovered that a native man from Edenton had also entered the contest but had not won. Some of the people in town made it known that they thought Martin Drapple the local artist who had grown up in Edenton should have won the contest that Anna won. Most of the people in Edenton made it quite clear that they were very surprised a girl had won. Artists were supposed to be men. Anna Dale really had her work cut out for her, not knowing what she was going to encounter from the people in this town. She originally planned to stay in Edenton a few days but the townspeople persuaded her to stay the whole time while she was working on the mural. Since her mother had recently died Anna had no one to go back to in New Jersey so when one of the men suggested she might be able to rent a room in Miss Myrtle's house Anna was interested and felt it made sense. Myrtle Simms was a widow who had an extra bedroom since her daughter had just gotten married and moved out. Anna agreed to look into it and she believed it was a good idea. The last piece of the puzzle was to find a studio space where she could work on the mural. Toby Fiering, manager of the cotton mill suggested that Anna could use an old abandoned warehouse. The men of Edenton were willing to fix it up for her so it seemed like the matter was settled. After being shown around to all the important spots in Edenton and after Anna heard all the history and stories about the town Anna had a good idea of what she was going to paint. Anna did not feel comfortable in the warehouse when she first began working there but it grew on her. She would need help to complete the mural so local high school students interested in art began to come to the warehouse to help Anna after school. One of the students was a "colored" boy named Jesse. Anna discovered that he was very talented and she took a liking to him. Some of the people in town did not think it was proper for Anna to be working with a "colored" boy or to be alone with him but Anna only saw Jesse as a promising young artist who wanted to learn everything he could from her. People in the town tried to warn Anna about what southerners felt was proper. Anna did not always see their point of view. Anna and Jesse formed a friendship based on respect. Both of their lives would be turned upside down but would remain connected through art and their friendship.

Living in separate times, Morgan, Anna and Jesse Jameson Williams would find a thread through the world of art that connected them to each other. All three would experience heartache, love, discovery, friendship, and purpose. I did not see the ending coming. It was a complete surprise and made the book even more endearing for me.I truly enjoyed reading Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain and would recommend it very highly.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Diane Chamberlain for affording me the opportunity to read Big Lies in a Small Town. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In 1940, Anna is selected to design a mural for the post office. Although she requested a spot closer to her home in NJ, she is offered one in NC. Set in the current day are chapters featuring Morgan, who is in prison for causing a car accident while intoxicated. The chapters alternate between 1940, when Anna was selected to paint the mural, and the current day, when Morgan was released from prison to restore the mural. The book was well written, but I felt the plots were too much like those of a soap opera. Between Anna’s story (Woman gets raped. She kills rapist. Finds out she is pregnant. Disappears before being indicted.) and Morgan’s (College student gets drunk at party with boyfriend. He drives anyway. They cause a terrible accident which maims a young woman. Boyfriend vanishes, leaving girl to take the blame. She goes to prison, because now no one believes she wasn’t driving.) The soap opera plot, coupled with the surprises at the end added up to entirely too many coincidences for me. I read the book because I requested it and promised an honest review, but it was not one I enjoyed at all. Three stars for the quality of the writing. Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC.

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
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At twenty-two, Morgan is serving a prison sentence for a crime she didn't actually commit. When a stranger pays her a visit and offers an early release from prison in exchange for an artistic commitment, Morgan jumps at the chance of freedom that she's being offered. Unfortunately, while Morgan has studied art, she knows nothing about the meticulous process of art restoration that this stranger would like for her to do. As Morgan learns the intricacies of this daunting task and puts them into practice, she uncovers odd details within the mural she has before her. Is there more to this painting than what orginally met the eye? Who was this artist, Anna Dale, who over half a century ago won the privilege of painting this mural & why do rumors claim she lost her mind before finishing it? The secrets are plentiful in the small southern town of Edenton, NC and maybe, just maybe, Anna decided to tell them all, the best way she knew how...
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I loved this book waaaaay more than I expected to. ❤️  I loved the mystery behind Anna and seeing how everything unraveled for her and then came together at the end. & I loved the growth that Morgan experienced and the life lessons she had to learn, in order to move forward. Both storylines were equally captivating and the characters are truly unforgettable!
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Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Diane Chamberlain for the opportunity to read and review this novel before it's release date of January 14, 2020.

Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite new to me authors. 'Big Lies in a Small Town' continues that and is in my top books of 2019! Publishing in January 2020 so put it on your TBR list NOW!

Two women in two timelines- Anna 1940 and Morgan 2018. Each is processing a pain that is deep and profound as their lives change in ways they had no planned and they are forced to learn about themselves and the world around them shifting.

Anna's artwork wins her a chance to paint a mural in a post office for the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). The city she entered for is not the city she gets and she ends up in small town Edentown, North Carolina. The town is split in how they feel about an outsider painting the mural. Anna is trying to grieve a huge personal loss AND stay focused on the mural.

Morgan accepted the blame in the name of love and soon realizes how this will impact the rest of her life. She ends up in Edentown as well and how these two women's stories overlap and connect make this book a thought provoking read that also makes you laugh, cry, and be thankful for what you have.

Again put it on your TBR!!! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This is the first book I've read from Dianne Chamberlain. It was offered by Netgalley and I thought it looked interesting so I decided to give it a read. It far surpassed my expectations. I was immediately pulled into the story and had trouble putting the book down.

Chapters are brief, quickly moving back and forth from Anna, in third person, to Morgan, in first person. Though it's common enough to read books told from different POVs, seldom does it happen that one is first and the other is third person. And then, right at the end, the author switches from past tense to present tense. It worked beautifully.

There a compelling mystery built into this story, and the pacing of the revelations is perfect. The reader is given just enough time to think they know what is going to happen, though I hardly ever did. The characters, with whom I might have believed I had nothing in common, were multidimensional and relatable. I feel in love with them.

In fact, I was so in love with the characters and the plot that I kept reading right through the end to Acknowledgments & Author's Notes, where I learned a lot about the process of writing the book, and all of the hard work that went into it. I must say I am impressed. I highly recommend reading this book, a slice of life depicting the racial and social mores of the 1940s in the South. Any woman or person of color who wants to go back to the "good ole days" needs to have their head examined.

This is the third book by Diane Chamberlain I have read and once again, it was another good read.. While each of her books share some common elements, they all feel uniquely different. You kinda know where the author might be headed fairly early on but because the characters are fully-developed you feel invested in them and want to see their story unfold. She's a good storyteller and I look forward to checking out more of her books in the future.

Morgan Christopher was on track for a career as in artist but ended up in prison for a crime she didn't commit. She is given the opportunity for early release as long as she stays on the straight and narrow and restores an old post office mural. The whole art restoration is out of her area of expertise but who the heck wants to stay in prison? So of course she accepts the offer and with a tight deadline she just hopes she can finish the project on time.

This story alternates between Morgan in the present time and the 1940s when Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, has just won a contest to paint a mural for a post office in North Carolina. She arrives in the small town of Edenton, North Carolina to get ideas for the mural. She soon realizes this town is full of secrets, racism, and lies, among other things, and she sure as heck better watch her back.

It was easy to feel this almost protectiveness over both Morgan and Anna because they were basically all alone in the world. I'm not an artistic person at all but I did find the process of making the mural as well as the restoration of it, pretty fascinating. I wouldn't say this book packed the same emotional punch as the author's previous book, The Dream Daughter, but there are definitely some touching moments. This is just a really solid novel and if you enjoyed the author's other books, you will be sure to want to give this one a look!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a big fan of Diane Chamberlain, and this book did not disappoint, The early chapters are rather slow moving, but hang in there, it gets better! Two troubled women at two different points in time, a mural and secrets make for a riveting read.

This is my first Diane Chamberlain book and all I can say is that I am impressed!

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I didn't expect to be so engrossed in a book about art. I love historical fiction books but this book adds some mystery which will keep you compulsively reading until the end.

Before I read this book I was in kind of a reading slump - most of the books being 3 stars. This book made me remember what a 5 star book feels like.

The switching between the characters and time period was very easy to follow and flowed very smoothly. I loved how when reading the different time lines you could start to see the similarities between the main characters. Even at the end I was holding my breath until everything came together.

Thank you Netgalley & St Martin's Press for the ARC!

Big Lies in a Small Town got my attention from the very beginning. However, I soon learned that this was a book that “time traveled” between characters. I began reading but would dread finishing a chapter because I knew I’d have to go back to the other character. About halfway through, my least favorite character became my favorite. Soon, I was enjoying everything! This really is a good book with enough twists and turns to keep you engaged until the last page. Thank you to Netgalley for offering me the book in exchange for my honest opinion.