Big lies in a small town is the story of two women born in different times dealing with issues which are beyond their control. Each woman will have her challenges and her triumphs. Each will be tested, and each will have to prove herself.. The plot switches between timelines (then/now) and follows the two women as they are connected by a painting/mural project that they are both working on in different capacities. I found the 1st part of the book hard to get into but as soon as I got into it, I couldn't put it down.. I really liked how it was all tied up in the end. Once I got into it I loved how she told us both sides of the two women. Thank you net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Big Lies in a Small Town was my first time reading a Diane Chamberlain book and HOT DANG! I literally feel an instant need to collect and read all of her books now and forever and ever, amen.

I completely loved the setup of Big Lies in a Small Town, which switches back and forth between Morgan in 2018 and Anna Dale in 1940. I was really intrigued by both of the women's stories, but especially Anna's. 1940 in Edenton, NC was full of racism and sexism, but also a lot of culture and heritage. I am very impressed with the way Chamberlain made that period of history come alive in this novel, and I felt like I was right there.

Both of the women's stories were heartbreaking, but also there were so many times that I laughed out loud at something that happened. The humor, compassion, sadness, and tragedy were also amplified by the short chapters which really packed a punch. Big Lies in a Small Town is beautifully written with so much emotion and detail, that it makes me wonder what took me so long to read one of Chamberlain's books. The infusion of historical fiction into contemporary was perfectly done, and I adored how both stories wrapped up at the end.

Song/s the book brought to mind: Ready When It Comes by Jamie O'Neal

Final Thought: I could sing praises for Big Lies in a Small Town all day, that is how much I loved it! With this one book, Chamberlain has already become an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait to collect and read all her novels. If you love books that mix contemporary with historical and combine the lives of the characters to make something perfect, you MUST read this book. The addition of art and art restoration was also enlightening, and I would like to think you like me will learn something as well.

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I enjoy Diane Chamberlain's books almost all the time! This one was a new story with some twists along the way and some romance. The characters are likable and the setting and premise are good. It was not one of my favorites because I could not really connect to the main character, but I think that is very subjective. I loved the small town setting and all of the ins and outs of the politics and history there. Diane always offers a good story!

This turned out to be so so so good!! I am just going to go ahead and give this a 5*! Loved the story, the writing, the characters, the setting, and most of all I think I fell in love with Anna Dale's mural which played a big part in getting her and Morgan Christopher's paths to cross in such a pleasantly unexpected way.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press and the author for providing me with an e-Arc of the book.

This book was completely charming. Set both in relatively present day and back in the 1900s. Morgan was taken from prison for some odd reason to restore an art piece. As she is restoring the piece, the book is also revealing the story of the author.. For fans of Diane Chamberlain, this is a must read!

What a terrific introduction I've just had into the work of Diane Chamberlain.    Her most recent novel Big Lies In A Small Town reeled me in from the beginning and was one of those books I couldn't put down.   The old adage better late than never seems quite apt as I've just discovered she has some 25 titles to her credit.     Big Lies may well be my first but I already have my sights set on at least one other.

As is so poular these days, this novel has a dual time line and it worked really well for me.  Our two main female protagonists are Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher.   The 'small town' of the title is Edenton, North Carolina.   Anna's story is set in Edenton in 1940.    She's an up and coming New Jersey born artist who has just won a government competition to paint a mural for the Edenton Post Office.   Morgan's story is set in Edenton in 2018.     She's been released from jail on parole on the  condition she completes the restoration of Anna Dale's mural which is to be hung in the foyer of a new Edenton  gallery.     There are many parallels in the lives of Anna and Morgan.    Not only are they passionate about their art, but they are each 22 when in their respective timelines and both young women have experienced major life altering events.   I thoroughly enjoyed the  way their stories were intertwined and eagerly awaited the denoument so I could piece together how their stories became linked, how these characters ended up and surprisingly I was interested in the art restoration process, something I'd never previously thought about.  With themes of mental health, family and small town dynamics, race relations in the 1940's, friendships, guilt and redemption, and of course the hint of romance this one ticked all the boxes.

My thanks to Diane Chamberlain, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

Wow, this was a great read for me. How the present and past were woven together, and that ending - definitely a book worth reading.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fascinating! My eyes were glued to the pages. I loved it. Diane Chamberlain has penned a solid hit!

This story is told in two timelines and the chapters go back and forth between the two. In the 2018 timeline, we meet Morgan Christopher who is in prison, serving time for a DUI in which another was critically injured. She gets a visit from a woman, Lisa, who proposes to get her out of prison if she will agree to restore a mural. Morgan had been an art student before she went to prison. The mural had been in the possession of a famous artist, Lisa's father Jesse, who died and in his will insisted that Morgan be the one to restore it. There is a deadline tied to this restoration.

In the 1940 timeline, Anna Dale has won a contest to paint a mural for a post office in Edenton, North Carolina. She lives in Edenton while working on the mural and there is an incident there that changes her entire life.

Chamberlain's writing is beautifully descriptive and totally immerses you in the story. The characters are vivid and richly drawn. The tension in the story builds gradually and there are unexpected twists. Both timelines are entrancing. Very highly recommended!

Many thanks to Diane Chamberlain and St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a brilliant book by an author at the top of her literary powers.
It will keep you up at night until you finish it. I enjoyed the characters, the plot and especially the ending. This book has something for everyone, you will not be disappointed!

Loved this book from start to finish. I felt like I was on a journey of discovery with Morgan as she restored an old mural painting.

I will start off my saying Diane Chamberlain is one of my all time favorite authors. I hold her to high standards. I love her plot lines and twists and how the past and present come together. She definitely has done it again with this book!

In 2018, Morgan Christopher is serving a prison sentence for a crime she didn’t commit. Suddenly, she’s whisked out of jail and asked to complete what seems like an impossible task. Finish restoring a mural for the recently deceased, Jesse Jameson, prior to the opening of his art gallery. There are high stakes on the line to get this gallery opened and not just for herself.

In the past, Anna Dale, the creator of the mural, had entered an art competition and finds herself in the small town of Edenton, NC. Some make her feel welcome but others seem to be harboring some ill feelings towards her.

The two story lines weave together beautifully and come together at the end like Diane Chamberlain is so good at doing. I loved this book and can’t wait for her next!

This was a great story that was I wasn’t expecting. A little slow to start for me, but it picked up and I was turning every page!

This is my first novel by Diane Chamberlain. The story is told in dual timelines and the author seamlessly weaves two story lines together while stoking the reader's imagination. This was a page turner for me as I kept wanting to continue reading to find out what happens. Aside from the mysteries revolving around the mural by a young artist by the name of Anna Dale, there are also themes of family relationships, an unlikely friendship that spans decades, a redemption story and a love story thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed this story and it will not be the last Diane Chamberlain book I read.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The setting of this story overlaps from 1940 to 2018 shifting 70 plus years, going back and forth between past and present. It’s all happening in a small town in Edenton, NC. It ties together two women with broken lives while uncovering a mysterious secret about the town. For me I was observing everything from a distance, unable to stop the destruction as it unfolded. It was a great story that held me captive. I loved it.

What I loved:
• The Writing.
• The Mystery.
• That I couldn’t put it down.

This is my eighth book by Diane Chamberlain and she one of my favorite authors. ♥️ I own all of them, so I was thrilled to get a ARC of this one. Before I start I want to say that if you’ve never read her books you need to read, “Necessary Lies” and “The Dream Daughter”. They’re awesome, just saying!

This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

I couldn’t get enough of this book. I’m a huge Diane Chamberlain fan, after recently discovering her through a book club. I have been devouring her books since then and am never disappointed. The characters in Big Lies in a Small Town are well developed and the story drew me in from page one. I finished within two days, reading well into the night, unable to put the book down. If you are a fan, or maybe just discovering this author, pick this one up. You won’t regret it.

Diane Chamberlain is a master storyteller - I haven't read a book of hers that I've not enjoyed, and this was no exception!
It tells the intertwining stories of two young women who lived decades apart in Edenton, North Carolina. Morgan Christopher is serving time in prison when she receives a mysterious offer that she will be released immediately on the condition that she restores the mural created for Edenton post office in 1940. Despite having no experience in mural restoration, Morgan accepts. As she begins to discover more about the mural, she also becomes intrigued by the story of Anna Dale, the original artist, who seemed to disappear without trace. What happened to her, and what secrets is the small town of Edenton hiding?
This is a wonderful book, full of mystery and suspense, with relatable and realistic characters. A pleasure to read!

Morgan Cristopher's life is about to change for the better. An offer to restore a mural will mean an early release from prison. She was an art school student when her boyfriend's betrayal and a tragic accident changed the direction of her life. She has no experience restoring art, but a chance for freedom means she will do whatever it takes to learn.
Anna Dale painted the mural many years ago. Why it was never hung at the Edenton post office and how it wound up in Jesse Jameson's possession are only two of the mysteries that will consume Morgan and make her desperate to discover what happened to Anna. As Morgan removes layers of dirt and grime, the picture that unfolds is deeply disturbing, seeming to suggest that Anna was mentally ill. But what happened to Anna will unfold throughout Big Lies in a Small Town, and the truth will break your heart.
Anna and Morgan's stories are told in alternating chapters and without giving any plot points away, I can say that both of them are strong women who deal with some truly horrific circumstances. The story was beautifully written and made me feel like I came to know these two women. I just couldn't help getting immersed in their stories and cringed to learn what they had both endured. Not a fast-paced read, but a slow burn of a story that was hard to put down. 4.5 stars.
I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.

Big Lies in a Small Town
A Novel
by Diane Chamberlain
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain. This book started just a bit slow for me, but when the pace picked up and the secrets started to be revealed...Wow! From prison to art restoration. From present to the still bigoted south, we wander through the landscape of a woman trying to come to grips with her past in the now and a woman chosen to paint a mural in Edenton, NC in the 1940's. Told from each woman't perspective we learn what it takes to survive and how to finally move on with our lives. We learn that mistakes happen and there are consequences and also how to try and make amends. I really loved this book!

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed a few of Diane Chamberlain’s previous works, so I was excited to dive into this one. I enjoyed the parallel story lines between mural artist Anna Dale in the 1940’s and present day artist Morgan Christopher. Although I figured out a few of the twists well before they were revealed, I still enjoyed this novel overall. There were a few things that I felt the book didn’t need, namely the contrived, unbelievable romance between Morgan and Oliver, and the rapid reveal at the end, which I will not spoil for potential readers. It took me longer to get through this book than it should have, but it wasn’t bad. Fans of Chamberlain will enjoy this book.

A Great Depression mural competition acts as the backdrop to this fascinating story which blends the past with the present as two women toil over the creation and the eventual restoration of a mural destined to grace the walls of a small post office in rural Edenton, North Carolina. A story which opens with such hope and promise for Anna Dale, a young artist from New Jersey ends with a questionable choice to restore the mural, an art student serving time in prison for a DUI. As decades of grime are removed, startling images reveal themselves leaving the present day Morgan to question the sanity of the artist along with a need to uncover the truth behind this long neglected work of art.

Two stories in one with the historical aspects and the life and times of Anna Dale in 1940 Edenton, NC the stronger of the two. Anna wins the mural competition with her sketches of her New Jersey town and is consigned to paint a mural depicting a town in North Carolina. From the start she faces challenges. Where she’s from, what she wears and who she associates with all make her an outsider not to be trusted with such an important job. Even worse, she’s “taken” the job from a local artist, a man with a wife and family to support. It’s an uphill battle but Anna is up for the challenge. Pressure builds and as Anna’s life begins to unravel the flashbacks to the present become more frequent. Mysteries found on the canvas begin playing out in the past. This is an effective way to build tension and force the reader to flip pages wanting desperately to return to 1940 searching for answers.

I loved the last book I read by Diane Chamberlain, The Dream Daughter and am now a true fan of her writing skills and talent. I love how her stories flow and how she weaves themes into her work making the reader question their own responses and choices had they been in her protagonist’s shoes. Some of the mysteries in Big Lies are telegraphed but that doesn’t detract from this excellent story based loosely on an actual event. Artists were hired to paint murals for public buildings throughout the US as a way to improve moral for a nation battling a Great Depression. Reading a great book like this always improves my mood.

Excellent Read

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.