This was my first Diane Chamberlain book, after hearing so much about her novels. I really enjoyed this- it was predictable, but so what!? The story kept me interested and wanting to know more, and I found aspects of the book to be incredibly poignant. I'd definitely recommend! Thank you for the advance copy!

What an amazing story!! WOW!!
It's very intriguing from the start!! As the storyline grows the mystery runs deeper and you become hooked you can't turn away or stop reading!! Everything starts connecting together the mystery starts to reveal itself and it will leave you speechless and blown away!!! I was definitely intrigued and had a book hangover at the end.. I wanted more.. I was ready to start reading it all over again just so i could savor the story and the characters longer!!!!

NO SPOILERS....only descriptive teasers...

Diane Chamberlain knows what a good story is about. She continues to arrive at new levels of power which each of her novels being more impressive than the one before.
A very loved novelist by readers all around the world....I, too, became an instant giddy fan in 2014, when I read “Necessary Lies”. The story itself was a punch-in-the-gut explosive historical awakening.
Having now read about a half dozen more of her novels....what stands out for me is Diane Chamberlain’s humanity. It’s irresistible.

In “Big Lies in a Small Town”, we follow a duo timeline. Both timeline stories are equally good.

We first meet Morgan Christopher in a Correctional Facility for Women in 2018, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Morgan had just finished her one year minimum prison sentence....when ‘surprise’....two visitors entered.
1-Lisa Williams, ( the daughter of the well known artist:Jesse Jameson Williams ....who recently died.
Lisa Williams was a real estate broker. She had no experience with ‘art’......but given she was her father’s only child, he trusted his very specific instructions to her.....[written in his will].
Lisa’s father, Jesse Jameson, wanted a 70-year-old canvas mural to be restored by the inexperienced- 22 year old Morgan ( who was sitting in prison for a crime she didn’t commit)...
and......
2- Andrea Fuller ( an attorney).....who came along with Lisa to over see the legalities.

Morgan gets a ‘get-out-of-jail’ free card in exchange for restoring the mural.
Morgan had reservations about her own qualifications....but she said ‘yes’.
Lisa brings Morgan to live in her house for the time needed until the project is done.
On the drive from the prison to Lisa’s house with Morgan in the passenger seat:
“This is the new Morgan, I thought sadly to myself. The Morgan afraid at the outside world”.
“We’d ridden ten minutes in silence before Lisa finally spoke”.
“The Government never fully paid the artist—Anna Dale— for the mural, so after she went crazy— or whatever happened— it essentially became my father’s property to do with as he pleased, she said. But since the gallery is a gift to the community, your work on the mural becomes a sort of community service. She glanced at me, and the smallest of smile’s lifted the corners of her lips”.

Anna Dale went crazy?

Anna Dale was born in 1918.
In 1939, she was living in Plainfield, New Jersey.
Anna entered a competition with a mural she did in her hometown.
In Edenton, North Carolina,
‘The Selection of Fine Arts’ was impressed with Anna Dale’s artistic talent. They wanted her to work on an assignment- a mural - for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina.

Anna had never been to North Carolina. It was suggested that she familiarize herself with the geographic area surrounding her assignment .
She had never expected to win the competition and the timing could not have been worse. She had just buried her mother who was her best friend.
However....off Anna goes... driving from New Jersey to North Carolina.
It was the inner thoughts during that first drive to Edenton where we begin to know Anna and the concerns that weigh heavily on her mind.
Without the feelings-of-strength from mother- her mother’s advice- we see just how deeply Anna feels: ALONE!
We also learn background about Anna’s mother.

The south seemed backward to Anna with the segregation. “They actually lynched Negros in the south”.

Anna was interested in painting the Tea Party ... but when she met several of the locals ( all men who looked at her as a pretty little thing- and why wasn’t she married).....
Mr. Fiering, Manager at the Cotton mill replied:
“Oh, not that tired old Tea Party again”
Anna was shaken by the sudden outburst and she thought the Tea Party was something that Edenton was proud of.
Mayor Sykes jumped in and said,
“We’re very proud that our ladies stood up for freedom”....
but.....
because it was such a long time ago the locals were vocal about how tired they were to be reminded.
The towns-people argued back-and-forth - each wanting ‘their’ business’ to be the focus on the mural.....
be it the cotton mill or the peanut factory or their melons, or fishing ....almost anything other than woman’s fight for freedom.

The mayor’s cousin - Martin Drapple- was a well known local artist.
The locals were resentful that he wasn’t chosen to paint the mural.

As the reader....we begin to see that problems fall ahead- problems that Morgan will face in 2018, and the problems Anna had to contend with in 1939.

You know that old saying that whatever you don’t complete comes back to haunt you? Well...history comes back to haunt in Edenton, North Carolina.

Since it was going to take several months before the mural would be complete, the townsmen suggested Anna stay in town instead of going back to New Jersey.
Myrtle Simms, a widow, lived across the street from the railroad building... and could host Anna for the few months while she worked.

Every character in this book - big or small - primary or supportive- are well developed.

Anna ‘had’ painted ‘The Tea Party’.... (sorta)..... she added her unique interpretation of the subject....
Her paining was controversial...
The locals thought it was ‘sick’. All Anna did was paint the truth as she saw it.

When Morgan discovers the 70-year-old canvas for the first time....
he knew there was a story there.
It looked like a “hacker snatched it from the stretcher”.
The old canvas was damaged and reeked of mold and mildew. Morgan had two months to restore it.

My lips are sealed..... I say no more!!

Other than this is a wonderfully satisfying story... the pages turn themselves.

Troubled women....
Troubled times....
A villain....
And hero’s....
A passionate town....
Twists & turns....
History to contemplate ...the real mural competition during the Great Depression
Themes: racism, mental illness, injustice, poverty, righteousness, secrets....and.....
as the title suggests: BIG LIES.....in a small town.

WONDERFUL!!!

Thank You Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press,
and the gracious talented storyteller, Diane Chamberlain

I received a complimentary copy of Big Lies in a Small Town from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Diane Chamberlain does not disappoint! A slow reveal of secrets and twists demonstrate this author's signature technique. That haunted painting will remain vividly in my mind! Big Lies is a novel to remember...another example of why this is one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A wonderful story that begins with the early release of Morgan from prison with the agreement that she uses her art skills to restore and finish a 1920’s mural. The mural was commissioned for the Post Office of the small North Carolina town of Edenton. Morgan becomes intrigued with the history of the artist and gets involved with all the special people of the town. The story weaves back and forth between Anna Dale and Morgan and a mystery surfaces. Morgan is determined to solve the mystery. Does she? Read to find out.

This is a fine creation that begs for another book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had never read any of Diane Chamberlain’s books before but look forward to doing so now. The publishing date is 14 Jan 2020 so put on your must read list.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to do so.

#BigLiesinaSmallTown#NetGalley

This book was wonderful! I read it in a day, just could not put it down. The two stories, one from 1940 and 2018, are woven together so well. I loved all the characters and even shed a tear or two. I wanted to reach out and hug both of the main characters. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

Death of a noted artist. Young, troubled girl obsessed with art. A WPA artist who disapppeared. Each of these fascinating characters intersect over a mural for a post office is Edenton, NC. Alternating stories and timelines is a hallmark of a Diane Chamberlain novel, and this one shows her master touch. The mystery unravels slowly and keeps you entranced. A new Chamberlain novel is always a highlight for me. Read this and you will not be disappointed!

This is one of those books that I made myself stop reading because I didn’t want it to end. I like all of Diane Chamberlain’s books, but this is my favorite. I’m so impressed with the amount of research that must have been done to make the subjects of the book so realistic and to make the characters so believable. I loved both Anna and Morgan, and hated Draper, who is evil. It's one of my favorite books this year-five stars!!

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain drew me in from the first page and didn't let go until I finished the last page. A beautifully written novel it discusses poverty, racism, mental illness and the secrets people hide...both from themselves and others.

Told on one hand from the perspective of an artist, Anna Dale, who was a young girl who won a mural contest in the 1940s to paint a mural in the post office in Edenton, NC. Being from NJ, she didn't know the ways of the South at that time and struggled to fit into her new, temporary community, especially when she befriended a young, black artist.

The second POV is from Morgan Christopher, a young NC woman who has been wrongly imprisoned for a DUI which severely injured a young woman. When she is released to restore the mural created by Anna, which had disappeared mysteriously and never been hung in the post office, she was confused. Although she had been a Fine Arts student in college, she never finished her degree and had no knowledge of art restoration. With only eight weeks to restore the enormous mural, will she be able to finish in time for the opening of the new museum where it will be the featured piece?

Through all of this, Anna Dale's story comes to life for the young girl and it is a dark, sad story. With the help of her new friends at the museum, Morgan tries to come to grips with her past, her future and how it all ties in with Anna and her life. A fantastic book! Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read a few books by this author and every one seemed to be the best at that time. Once again, I absolutely loved this current book and the intriguing storyline-with the alternating time period- centering around two artists with a troubled past. From start to finish you cannot help but become invested in these women’s lives.
Highly Recommended!

All about the Mural

A young art student Morgan was at a party with her boyfriend Trey. Morgan and Trey had both been drinking, but Morgan gave her keys to Trey and he drove. A horrible accident happened and they T boned a car. Trey ran and Morgan let the police think she was driving. The girl in the other car was paralyzed from the waist down and Morgan was sent to prison for a minimum of one year and a maximum of ten years. At the end of her one year a lady named Lisa Williams and her lawyer came with a proposal for Morgan. If Morgan would restore a painted Mural for her late father's gallery she would be given her freedom and fifty thousand dollars. Morgan took the deal and was released to Lisa.

The story begins here. It goes between Morgan restoring the painting and Anna the original artist actually painting it in 1940
Morgan struggles with her challenges while researching the Artist Anna. The painting is a painting of Edenton a small town and was to be hung in the post office.

Morgan notices small oddities in the painting such as a skull in a window, a knife in a ladies mouth, a bloody ax , a hammer, a broken teapot, and an iris in the artist's signature.. The reason for these odd items is the story of Anna and the horrible things that happened to her. Morgan's story is of a young lady trying to find herself, trusting in people, staying sober and falling in love with the art gallery curator Oliver.

I loved the stories in this book, how they were separated, how they became part of the larger story and the ending was wonderful. I would definitely recommend this book, it was very good.

Thanks go to the publisher, the author and Net galley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book.

Art restoration and a bit of art history makes this a gentle read. The characters in each time period were well developed and consistent. Getting the present day artist out of prison was a nice touch that added interest and complexity to her character. Techniques of restoration were revealed without being about teaching the reader technique. The past day artist was not as interesting as the present day one. She was a sorrowful female figure who evoked sympathy throughout most of the book. I do think ther are many readers who would disagree about Anna being sympathetic.

I enjoyed this novel very much. The characters were extremely well drawn and sympathetic, and the story line was seamless. Highly reccomend this excellent book.

Thanks, NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this awesome story. It's my first novel by Diane Chamberlain and must say will not be my last!

The story takes place in 2018 with a young woman Morgan Christopher, who is serving time for a crime that she did not commit, I know everyone says that! She is given the opportunity for an early released with parole if she agrees to restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. There are a few problems with this request mainly she knows nothing about restoration or conservation of oil painting.

1940: Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Anna finds herself immersed in the town drama where secrets are kept and prejudices run deep.

This story reminds me of something you will see on Ancestry or who do you think you are, so many secrets, so many twists and turns not only about who we are, what's happened to us during racial segregation, but also mystery surrounding this mural, the painter, the artist?

I would love to see this story turned into a screenplay!

A beautifully written book. The story is about two troubled women from a different time. Although the chapters alternated between the experiences of the two women it flowed beautifully. One of the best books I have read this year.

Once again, a Diane Chamberlain book keep me up at night! When I finally put it down I woke up a few hours later thinking about it! The suspense was great and there wasn’t a bunch of romantic fluff. I loved how she tied the two main characters together at the end. Great book!

This was a complimentary copy provided by the publisher. All views expressed are my own.

I usually really enjoy Diane Chamberlain's novels, but Big Lies in a Small Town is my new favorite. With dual time lines, the author presented story lines that are fascinating. I appreciate books where I learn something. In this novel, the Depression Era setting and art restoration are both explored in some depth. I cannot wait to recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Diane Chamberlain. Another great read by Ms Chamberlain. I was so excited to get this new ARC, that I read it above all the others that I was given by Netgalley publishers previously. The periods going back and forth in this book kept me reading till the early hours. I love the characters and the circumstances. I live in NC and have meet Ms Chamberlain, so I totally got this book.
A 5 star definitely in my book ! Can’t wait for the next great read, as this author never disappoints.

Morgan Christopher’s dreams of becoming an artist have been dashed as she languishes in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Then she gets a visit from a stranger who promises to get her released from jail if she agrees to restore a mural in small town North Caroline post office. What she finds leads back to Anna Dale an artist who won a contest to decorate the post office way back in 1940. Anna uncovers a dark and ugly side to the small southern town that is reflected in her mural. In the present, Morgan wonders what happened to Anna, who seems to have vanished into thin air. Chamberlain, as always writes from the heart, and this beautiful, if disturbing story, is one of her best yet

This is an outstanding new book by Diane Chamberlain. Anna and Morgan will be household names as soon as the book is released. in January and will warm your winter heart. The raw emotions and love that fill this book are beautifully displayed on the page and you can see these women as their different stories are told surrounding a small Southern town with ugly topics of racism and sexism as everyday occurrences and how we all are tainted.