I am a huge Diane Chamberlain fan and I could not wait to get my hands on this advanced copy! She creates such lovable characters and vivid settings and Big Lies in a Small Town did not disappoint! With just the right amount of suspense and romance, I could not put this book down!

Big Lies in a Small Town is additional proof that Diane Chamberlain is a master storyteller. Her books prove to be interesting, edifying and captivating from the start.

Written as a dual timeline narrative, one taking place in 1940 and one taking place in 2018, made for an interesting split due to the locale. Everything took place in the same small town of Edenton, North Carolina so the reader can see how the town and its people have matured overtime. What has stayed the same? The theme of art is present in both time periods and the mural in question symbolizes so very much.

The story focuses on The Forty-Eight State Mural Competition and the artist that won in 1940 and the artist who restores her work in current day. Learning about this post-Depression competition in itself, is something I knew nothing about. This book has it all – healthy vs. destructive marriages, bigotry, art restoration, misogyny, alcohol abuse, poverty, family, physical abuse, education, a touch of romance and mental illness.

The story knits itself together so that even the minor characters are there for a reason. The town came alive; I could smell biscuits baking and the paint drying. The mural became a visual picture in my mind due to its rich description. I’d be curious how most readers envision it, the same as me or wildly different than me? Book clubs will love this for discussion.

This was my first book by Diane Chamberlain. It will not be my last. I loved the dual timeline and seeing what would happen to Morgan kept me really engaged.

I really liked this book. It was a fast-paced read and like all of Chamberlain's books had me instantly sucked in and invested into the characters and the mystery.

This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and I loved it!! Set in the 1940s and present day, it tells the story of two women and one art mural. Anna Dale is painting it in the 1940s after winning a contest and travels to small town Edenton, NC to immerse herself in the community in order to paint a mural for their town's post office. Morgan Christopher is offered an opportunity to restore it and get out of prison and she has no idea why she was chosen for the task. That begins the story of unravelling the significance and mystery of the art mural and it was so gripping and engaging. The characters came to life for me and the time period were also so vividly described, I felt immersed in this small town. I loved it!

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

Great women's fiction book. First time reading this author but I enjoyed the style and it held my interest waiting to see what happens next. I enjoyed the slower pace and detail of art restoration. I especially enjoyed the fact it was not filled with detailed explicit sex and profanity. Characters are realistic and conversational. Setting descriptions had me looking up this quaint NC town on the internet! Great read!
I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased review.The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author,publisher,and NetGalley for the ARC.

While serving time for a DUI conviction, Morgan Christopher is given an astounding offer. She"ll receive an early release if she can restore an old art mural in two months time by the request of the will of famous painter. When the mural is revealed, Morgan discovers that not only is it badly damaged, but also it contains bizarre imagery. Morgan's story arc proceeds in a utterly predictable fashion all the way to her happily-ever-after.

The only saving grace of Chamberlain's novel is the story of Anna Dale, the artist who painted the mural in 1940. Figuring out what happened to Anna to transform her perfectly normal mural into a horrific nightmare will keep you engaged with the novel. All in all, I would only recommend this one if you are in the mood for a predictable happily-ever-after tale where everything wraps up in a nice bow.

This fascinating blend of past and present centers in the world of art. World renowned artist Jesse Williams may have just passed away but he left in his will a request for his daughter Lisa to have a young woman by the name of Morgan Christopher restore a mural that was created in 1940 by artist Anna Dale. Morgan is currently incarcerated at a correctional facility for a very serious DUI offense.

Lisa is exasperated by her father's request and the conditions of his will but she did truly love him. She manages to get Morgan out on an early release if she is willing to restore this very neglected painting. Here is where the story really becomes intriguing. Jesse had specifically asked for Morgan and knew she was in jail. Morgan is completely baffled as to why this great artist would request her let alone even know she existed. Add to the mystery is that Morgan has never done any restoration work and this particular piece is very complex. .

The terms for her release are worked out and she is now staying at Lisa's house which use to belong to Jesse. Per Lisa the mural must be completed by a date set by Jesse for his gallery's grand opening in the next two months. There is no wiggle room in pushing back the date,. Jesse was adamant in his will that the mural and gallery had to be ready or Lisa told Morgan that the parole will be revoked.

This project is massive and she is a total novice. Add to the stress, Morgan must wear an alcohol monitor on her ankle and attend AA meetings. She is committed to sobriety and lives in guilt so she agrees to all of the terms. In prison she was a constant target and lived in total fear. She realizes she has no choice but to do the work of an expert in a ridiculously short time.

We get a lovely detailed picture of the artist Anna that has connected all of these unlikely people together. We meet a young and idealistic woman that was awarded a commission to create this mural for a rural community. Grieving over her beloved mother's death, this job seems like the answer to all of her prayers. You see her develop strong ties with several of the art students assigned to help her.

The book immediately drew me in as my curiosity was peaked. Trust me there are many unanswered questions when you start the book but the story line weaves an amazing tapestry that explains the unusual events that led to Morgan being summoned by the late artist Jesse. This amazing story will have you frantically flipping the pages as you get caught up in a timeless mystery..

This novel was flawlessly executed and I marveled at the authors talent of writing such a beautiful and spell- binding story. You experience heartache, despair, love and hope interspersed throughout the pages. I urge you to read this work of art.

This is a whirlwind of a story where past meets present and the mystery behind a mural reveals why a young artist disappeared nearly eighty years ago.

Morgan Christopher is serving time for a crime she didn’t commit, but she lucks out when she is presented with an opportunity that will have her released from prison early. What’s the catch? She has to restore a mural painted by Anna Dale. Though she has a background in art, Morgan knows next to nothing about restoring it, and suddenly she is faced with an even bigger dilemma. When she finally gets down to it, she slowly begins to reveal clues within the mural that could help explain what really happened to Anna after all these years.

This was a fantastic book, and I couldn’t put it down! I liked that it alternated between past and present, so the reader got a more detailed look into Anna’s life, but I also enjoyed getting to know Morgan’s character and why it was so pivotal that she be the one to restore Anna’s mural. I have to admit, I kind of saw the end coming, but the way it was revealed really surprised me.

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3071811208

WOW WOW WOW!!! This book was amazing and everything I want in a book!!! Hooked instantly I coudnt put this down!!! Im in love with her writing style and loved the mystery right till the very end! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are mine and mine alone!! A must read book!

Any book by Diane Chamberlain is guaranteed to be a gripping read. And this one didn't disappoint. Read Anna and Morgan's stories. Highly recommended

I was really disappointed in this latest offering by Diane Chamberlain. The pace was painfully slow, with nothing of interest happening until the last third of the book. The dialogue was elementary, characters one dimensional. I did order two copies for my library collection, when typically I'd order 4-6 of this author. I can't stay with a story this boring with the good part rushed at the ending. Sorry, not typical of feedback I would usually give for this author.

Thank you so St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this wonderful book! I have read every Diane Chamberlain book I can get my hands on-she is one of my favorite authors. This particular book ranks up there as one of her best! I liked the historical fiction aspect of this story, but there was also a lot of mystery. It was so well written and just pulled me in right from the beginning. I HIGHLY recommend this book! Read it-you will love it!

I first discovered Diane Chamberlain several years ago and have loved every book I’ve ever read by her. The writing is authentic, the character development is superb, and the historical elements she weaves in are well researched with a mysterious vibe. And she lives in and often writes about North Carolina which makes the stories even more special for me personally.

Big Lies in A Small Town definitely delivered all that and more. A dead body in the opening chapter, a wrongly imprisoned woman, mysteries hidden within a very old mural, racial tensions in a 1940s small North Carolina town...what more could you ask for?? It’s one you’ll definitely want to pick up when it hits your local bookstores and libraries next month!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advance copy.

This is a great story with a lot of subjects touched upon. I loved learning about art restoration and the art gallery. Also in this book were women’s rights, race relations, incarceration, mental health and more. The different time periods was interesting and the ending was perfect!!! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. The story goes back and forth between two women, Morgan and Anna. One storyline is the present and the other is 1939. I normally love books by this author but I was so bored with it that I could not finish it. Some of the reviews have said that the second half does get better but I just couldn't stick to it to find out

Morgan Christopher is serving 1-3 years in prison after taking the blame for her boyfriend’s DUI that ended up seriously injuring another driver when she gets a visit by the daughter of one of her favorite artists offering her a chance at parole if she’ll help restore a mural for her late father’s new gallery. For some reason beyond any of their understanding, this college dropout art student is uniquely qualified to do the restoration. The story flashes back in alternating chapters to Anna Dale, also a young artist chosen to paint the mural in a small North Carolina town.

There’s something about the way these characters were created that immediately pulled me in. I near tested up when the first connection between the past and the present was finally revealed, not an inherently emotional moment but it felt especially poignant. The big end of story secret wasn’t hard to figure out but it was tied together and paced perfectly.

The story deals with a lot of tough topics... alcoholism, mental illness, racism, sexism, rape. For the most part, I thought it was handled well, but I found the DUI aspect of the story a bit like a dangling side story. Yes, it added some depth to Morgan’s character, but with the weight of everything else in the flashbacks, it felt a bit superfluous.

My main criticism is I wish the chapters weren’t so short. It was a bit jarring going back and forth so often, switching between the two timelines. I wanted to live in each one for longer and the short chapters pulled me out of it each time the switch was made.

4.5 stars

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

I've discovered Diane Chamberlain a few years ago and i have fallen in love. This book is the prime example of why. I usually dont like the dual timeline but this one was very well done. It has mystery (ish) romance (a tad) and a great story, that was very well written. I loved it.

This book was amazing! Told thru two perspectives/timelines it is a must read! I've never read this author before but def will now. While reading this story I had such a sense of dread of what was going to happen to Anna who had so many obstacles to go thru, and Morgan had obstacles too just different ones. I almost stopped reading because I knew something horrible was going to happen to Anna and I don't want to give too much away but I'm so glad I continued reading because the way everything was wrapped up/ended was absolutely perfect. I will def be recommending to all my book loving friends. This book had a little bit of everything, history, mystery, suspense, love, triumph, forgiveness, hope, I could go on!!

Wow.... Just WOW!!! An amazing book that grabs you from the beginning! This book clearly defines the 1940s in the south: racial tension, gender inequality, but also how the spirit of humanity, friendship, and loyalty can persevere through all trials and tribulations. Anna and Morgan are both incredibly strong characters that refuse to give up when the odds are stacked against them. I will absolutely be recommending this book to my book club!!