I have read several of this author's books and really have enjoyed them all. This book was no exception. The story is told in alternating past and present character view points. 2018 Morgan has just gotten released for a crime she did not commit. Upon her conditional release she starts to restore an old mural on a post office. While doing this the story of 1940 Anna steps in. The book transpires about what secrets are being hidden in this town and Morgan fighting her demons to figure them out. Overall this was great for a slow weekend read. The writing was excellent and the story really drew you in.

Another great read by Diane Chamberlain!

Diane Chamberlain’s new novel, “Big Lies in a Small Town” is a story about two women decades apart. Set in 1940 and present day, Morgan in 2018 and Anna in 1940, the chapters alternate as the story and secrets unfold.
Morgan is given an opportunity to get out of jail if she restores an old damaged mural. As she does, she discovers the history and secrets of the mural and the truth about what happened to Anna many years before. I love a book that has secrets to reveal from long ago.

This was a great book with a nice twist at the end. I recommend!

I was immersed in this book from page one. Chamberlain weaves two timelines into a tapestry of a story. The small town itself is very thought provoking with all of the sensitive issues found there. Well done.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion

A mural depicting every day life in Edenton, NC is the connection between two young women. Anna designed and painted it; almost 80 years later it is Morgan's task to repair it in time to be featured in a new gallery. In alternate chapters from each woman's point of view we see how the mural came to be painted and what happened that made restoration necessary. Why had Morgan been chosen to do the restoration work? She was totally inexperienced with no qualifications. What happened to Anna? She seemed to have disappeared, never to be heard of again. It was said that she went crazy but no one knows for sure. And what do either one of the women have to do with famous artist Jesse Williams?

The mystery really picks up speed as it races to the end!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected pub date: January 14, 2020
Morgan Christopher believes she has been given the gift of a lifetime when a mysterious stranger releases her from jail, making her a free woman. The only stipulation—she has to finish restoring a mural that was completed years ago, in half the time that it would normally take. Scrambling to complete the mural, Morgan becomes intrigued by the original artist, Anna Dale, and the interesting (if not strange) secret messages she seems to have placed in random places throughout her painting.
Anna Dale has just been declared the winner of an art contest and is now responsible for painting a mural representing the small town of Edenton, a town she has never visited. As she explores the town to get her inspiration, she comes face-to-face with racism, jealousy and small town life that take her way out of her comfort zone.
Diane Chamberlain’s new novel, “Big Lies in a Small Town” is a delightful, beautifully written juxtaposition of two women connected by one passion (art), faced with similar challenges and struggles decades apart.
Both Anna and Morgan are flawed but honest, both are placed in situations they feel undeserving of, both are determined to put their brave faces on and overcome the obstacles of both society and their personal and romantic lives and fight against others’ doubts.
Although I can honestly say I have no interest, no understanding and no overall knowledge of art, this novel still managed to connect with me, as it will with any reader who has a deep, passionate love for a life changing “hobby” (*cough* reading *cough*).
The novel is well-told, set in a small town of North Carolina both in the 1940s and today, where rumours are readily flying (albeit with different subject matter) and everyone knows everybody else. Chamberlain has the ability to transport her readers to the era and location of her novels, regardless of whether they were actually experienced by the reader.
I actually had a pretty good idea of how this novel would end, and was able to guess the connection between Anna and Morgan pretty quickly. This did not take away from enjoying the experience of this novel however and, like most of Chamberlain’s work, it was a beautiful experience indeed!

This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so mysterious and eerie that it made me love it even more. I am an absolute fan of books that uncover and unlock secrets that have been stowed away and the key to uncover all the lies on the city that Anna has painted in 1940 when Morgan who is destined to get out of jail is offered an opportunity of a lifetime to restore that original mural and discover the history and secrets the mural possesses including the truth about Anna and what happened to her and where she is now. The art lover in me loved this book and understood the terminology Diane Chamberlain used to reflect the artwork and imagery behind the story. I am a fan of Diane's work so this was a real treat to read and I know our patrons in the community love her work as well.

We will consider adding this title to our Adult Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Just when I think there is no way she can do it again. Wow. Loved loved this book. Highly recommend.

Diane Chamberlain has done it again!! This is a great book with a fabulous twist at the end. I highly recommend Big Lies in a Small Town.

Morgan Christopher had her art education cut short when she’s convicted on the aftermath of a terrible accident. When two women - Lisa, the daughter of a famous painter, Jesse Jameson (recently deceased), and her attorney, Andrea Fuller - come to visit Morgan, they have a bizarre proposition for Morgan. They want her to restore a mural that had been painted for a post office in 1940 by artist Anna Dale. It’s been hidden by Jesse for all these decades and the restoration getting completed in a tight timeframe is a condition in his will. No one is sure why he’s picked Morgan be the one to do the restoration work – she has zero experience, and really wasn’t even an exceptionally talented artist. Even though she has never done any work of this type she of course wants to be released from prison. Morgan goes to live Lisa and proceeds to restore the mural which is badly damaged and soon Morgan realizes something horrible happened when Anna was in Edenton, NC to create the mural. Anna, in 1940, and Morgan, in 2018, alternate chapters as the story unfolds. Struggling to complete the restoration as Jesse demanded, the truth and history of a small Southern town comes through. The mystery of Anna and the mural’s strange depictions start a bit slow at the beginning, but really have some great description of racial and gender issues from the era (many of which are still with us today).

Note: This book is completely different than Dream Daughter, so if that book wasn't your cup of tea don't pass this one over.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and am sharing my opinion of this book.

Really good story spoken by two artists in two different time periods. In 1940, Anna Dale wins a competition to paint a 12 by 6 feet mural for the post office of the little town of Edenton NC, beating out all competitors including a man living in the town. She enlists the help of students and one Jesse is especially talented. Something happens and the mural is never hung in the post office and Anna and Jesse disappear from town. In 2018, Morgan Christopher is an art student selected to restore a 12 by 6 foot mural to hang in a new art gallery. Morgan gets a lot of help from the curator. The stories of these 2 artists is a recommended read.

I received an advance readers copy of Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain from NetGalley to facilitate my review.

In 1940, New Jersey artist Anna Dale arrives in Edenton NC to paint a mural for the post office. As she struggles to deal with small southern town's secrets and racism, she finds a bright spot in young artist Jesse Williams. One violent night changes the directions of both their lives.

Decades later, artist Morgan Christopher is in jail for her part in a tragic accident. She is given an opportunity to restore Anna's post office mural. While doing so she is drawn into the legacies of both Anna and Jesse.

This is the first book by Ms Chamberlain that I have read and I enjoyed it. The plot line held some genuine surprises and twists, but they weren't contrived. The characters were portrayed realistically.

Recommend - 4 stars

This is goes back and forth between two main characters Morgan of 2018 and Anna of 1940. Anna creating a mural back in 1940 and Morgan of present day has been requested to restore the mural. The story goes between the timelines with a big question of what happened to Anna through out the story. Even though the book was fairly predictable, I was compelled to find out what happened to Anna and was interested enough to keep reading until the end. I reckon fans of Diane Chamberlain will enjoy this one if they've enjoyed her past books.

***Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this book early to review.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It was my second Diane Chamberlain novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It’s fascinating story and the author’s writing is mesmerising and vivid. It was a bit slow at the start, but I was soon drawn into the mystery that somehow tied the two main characters - Anna in 1940 and Morgan in 2018 - together and I found it very hard to put it down.
I will certainly be reading more by Diane Chamberlain.

Morgan Christopher, an artist, is in jail serving a sentence for a DUI. She receives an unexpected visit from the daughter of the famous artist, Jesse Williams. An art gallery is opening in Edenton, North Carolina. A mural needs to be restored for the gallery, and Jesse Williams has stipulated in his will that Morgan Christopher complete the restoration.

The mural was originally completed by artist, Anna Dale.
As Morgan works on the restoration, and her sobriety, she also investigates the elusive painter, Dale.

The story moves back and forth fluidly between Morgan's restoration and the original painter Anna Dale's creation of the mural. Eventually the present and past collide with tension and shocking twists.

I am a fan of Diane Chamberlain. I was so excited to see a new book! I love the way the she told the story between Anna in 1940 and Morgan in 2018. Morgan is released from prison to repair a mural painted by Anna Dale. She has no idea why she was chosen. She has a deadline. Will she make it? What happened to Anna? The expectations for women in the 1940s was interesting. Did Anna face the same fate as her mother? I loved meeting Jesse's family. I loved how all three people tied together. This is the kind of book that has you saying "just one more chapter" and next thing you know it's 3 a.m. Now I need to visit Edenton, NC, the story's setting.

Two women....both young. In 1940's North Carolina, Anna Dale wins a nationwide art contest to create a mural for the wall of the Edenton Post Office. She's young and talented and it's amazing that someone like Anna has won the contest, but it's a life changing event. Almost 40 years later, a young woman is released from prison after receiving an amazing offer....restore a mural that had been intended to hang on the wall of the Edenton Post Office. But it comes with a stipulation...it must be completed in just two months. It is literally a lifesaving offer for Morgan Christopher, UNC art student who is serving her sentence for injuring someone while under the influence. Just what is the connection between the two women? And how does famous artist Jesse Jameson Williams figure into things?

When Anna Dale arrives in Edenton North Carolina she finds a bucolic town filled with lovely people. But under the surface there is racism and violence, as well as seething resentment at Anna, a woman, having won the opportunity to paint the mural, beating out a local portrait painter. As Morgan works on restoring her work, strange and bizarre things show up in the mural. Morgan begins to research Anna, to learn more about her and understand why she created the mural she did....and then disappeared.

Big Lies in a Small Town is an edge of your seat, can't put it down kind of story (I know because I tried to put it down, and could not resist picking it up and reading til the end!). Told by alternating between Anna and Morgan we are drawn in to the dark things that simmer just beneath the surface of lovely not-so-innocent Edenton. With a stunning surprise ending and a wonderful cast of characters, Big Lies in a Small Town is an absolute must read! Great for book clubs too!

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review of this book.

Oh. my. goodness. I will start this review by saying that I am a HUGE Diane Chamberlain fan and let me tell you, this book DID NOT DISAPPOINT! In my opinion, this is hands down her best novel. I literally could not put it down. My house looks like a natural disaster hit it, my children are running around like wild animals and supper has yet to be cooked because I had one priority today and it was to read this book.

I rarely find a book where I "mesh" with most of the main characters, but this one hit that checkmark for me. The four main characters are so incredible likable that I found myself wishing they were real people so I could invite them over for coffee.....but wait, my house is a total wreck because I did NOTHING today but read this book. ;) The characters are amazing. Seriously, amazing. Without going into much detail, many of them have overcome insurmountable odds to make something of their lives. They could have spent their lives wallowing in their own misfortune, but they didn't!

I can't wait for this book to be released. I will be telling everyone who will listen that they MUST read it!

Great story! From the first page I was hooked and fell in love with the characters. You will feel despair for Anna when she begins mentally declining. At this point I was sure her involvement in the story was over. But I was quite surprised. Morgan had me feeling sympathy for her and the circumstances that led her to jail but again surprised with the story line. Another excellent read by Diane Chamberlain.

Diane Chamberlain has done it again! She drew me so tightly into the story, it was hard to let go of it in the end.

North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher is serving a three-year stint in the North Carolina Women's Correctional Center. Her dream of a career in art is put on hold—until a mysterious visitor makes her an offer that will see her released immediately.

North Carolina, 1940: Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Alone in the world and desperate for work, she accepts.

The story is two-fold and told in alternating timelines. I spent time wondering how the two stories would converge, but I shouldn’t have worried because Chamberlain pulled it together masterfully. Each story is told so that you know these characters. Each character you meet is believable and the reader is made to feel as if we are right there with them. Big Lies in a Small Town is full of surprises, mystery and emotion! It’s so many things I can’t find words for all rolled into a story. Add this one to your list. It releases in January 2020 and will a great way to start off your reading in the new year.

Despite a slow start, Big Lies in a Small Town picked up the speed BIG time around the halfway mark. I was able to successfully guess each of the twists. But the story was written in an interesting way that kept me engaged. I very much enjoyed this novel..