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Big Lies in a Small Town
North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher's life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself 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. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence, and a conspiracy of small town secrets.
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. But what she doesn't expect is to find herself immersed in a town where prejudices run deep, where people are hiding secrets behind closed doors, and where the price of being different might just end in murder.
What happened to Anna Dale? Are the clues hidden in the decrepit mural? Can Morgan overcome her own demons to discover what exists beneath the layers of lies?
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2020
6096 people are currently reading
120813 people want to read
About the author
Diane Chamberlain
81 books15.2k followersDiane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and (London) Sunday Times best-selling author of 28 novels. The daughter of a school principal who supplied her with a new book almost daily, Diane quickly learned the emotional power of story. Although she wrote many small “books” as a child, she didn’t seriously turn to writing fiction until her early thirties when she was waiting for a delayed doctor’s appointment with nothing more than a pad, a pen, and an idea. She was instantly hooked.
Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.
More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.
Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole
Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.
More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.
Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole
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October 8, 2022
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.
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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.
blog
August 19, 2021
***In August 2019, we moved to the Anson area and I didn't realize, at the time I wrote this review, that our little post office has one of these murals. The link below will take you to it. The artist even snuck a bottle of moonshine into the mural 😁
http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasArt/...
In 1940, young Anna Dale wins a contest to paint a mural for the Edenton, NC post office. Twenty two years old and fleeing the heartbreak of her mom's very recent death, Anna throws herself into the job of designing and painting a mural that will be the best representation of Edenton that she can imagine. There are resentments towards Anna due to her winning the contest over a local male artist and Anna comes face to face with strong prejudices of some towns folks, especially when she welcomes a seventeen year old black budding artist to work with her on her mural.
In the present day, twenty two year old prison inmate Morgan Christopher is released from prison early, with the stipulation that she restore an old, battered, mural, that is to be the main feature of a new Edenton art museum. Morgan has no idea why a recently deceased black artist picked her, a young white woman who struggled with her art in school, to do the restoration job. The deadline is tight and as she begins working on the mural, she wants to know what happened to the artist, Anna Dale, causing her and the mural to disappear.
I knew nothing about the making of murals such as the one that was being made in 1940 or about art restoration, and enjoyed reading about the process in both timelines of the books. These women are young, strong, and determined and it was interesting reading how the times and situations dictate how each woman presents herself. Then there is the mystery of why the black artist picked Morgan to restore a mural painted by Anna, so many years ago. What happened to Anna? What happened to the mural and how did the black artist come to have it in his possession?
I enjoyed Diane Chamberlain's Dream Daughter and this book and will be looking for more of her work, in the future.
Published January 14th 2020
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasArt/...
In 1940, young Anna Dale wins a contest to paint a mural for the Edenton, NC post office. Twenty two years old and fleeing the heartbreak of her mom's very recent death, Anna throws herself into the job of designing and painting a mural that will be the best representation of Edenton that she can imagine. There are resentments towards Anna due to her winning the contest over a local male artist and Anna comes face to face with strong prejudices of some towns folks, especially when she welcomes a seventeen year old black budding artist to work with her on her mural.
In the present day, twenty two year old prison inmate Morgan Christopher is released from prison early, with the stipulation that she restore an old, battered, mural, that is to be the main feature of a new Edenton art museum. Morgan has no idea why a recently deceased black artist picked her, a young white woman who struggled with her art in school, to do the restoration job. The deadline is tight and as she begins working on the mural, she wants to know what happened to the artist, Anna Dale, causing her and the mural to disappear.
I knew nothing about the making of murals such as the one that was being made in 1940 or about art restoration, and enjoyed reading about the process in both timelines of the books. These women are young, strong, and determined and it was interesting reading how the times and situations dictate how each woman presents herself. Then there is the mystery of why the black artist picked Morgan to restore a mural painted by Anna, so many years ago. What happened to Anna? What happened to the mural and how did the black artist come to have it in his possession?
I enjoyed Diane Chamberlain's Dream Daughter and this book and will be looking for more of her work, in the future.
Published January 14th 2020
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
October 8, 2019
Diane Chamberlain writes a compulsive and gripping novel that skillfully weaves the stories of two women from the past and the present. In 2018, 22 year old Morgan Christopher is serving a prison sentence at the North Carolina Correctional Facility in Raleigh for a crime she did not commit. Out of the blue, she receives a visit from Lisa Williams, whose father, the artist Jesse Jameson, has recently died and the lawyer, Andrea Fuller. He left behind a will in which he makes it clear that he wants Morgan to restore a 70 year old mural canvas. There are conditions attached, but it offers Morgan the opportunity to be free from prison, and whilst she seriously doubts her abilities are up to the task required, she acquiesces to the demanding challenge.
In the past, Anna Dale enters an art competition, this leads to her being offered the opportunity to paint an art mural for the Post Office in Edenton, North Carolina. She goes there to get a feel of the place, and whilst experiencing some Southern hospitality, she encounters hostility too. It is mainly the men that are so unwelcoming and locals who would have preferred the local artist, Martin Drapple, to have been doing the mural. They are many who are not happy with Anna's idea of painting The Tea Party, having their own ideas instead, many of which are self serving. She depicts her own controversial interpretation of The Tea Party based on her perceptions of the truth about the place. However, strangely Anna and the painting both disappear. Morgan is discouraged when she sees how much work the mural needs, but is aided by a museum's art curator. Before long she becomes consumed by the task and by Anna, wanting to do her justice. Can she solve the mystery of Anna and uncover the truth?
Chamberlain writes an emotionally engaging story, richly detailed, of a town with plenty of intrigue, secrets and lies. It is thought provoking in the serious issues it covers of art, abuse, racism, misogyny, justice, prejudice and mental health. Morgan and Anna are connected through time and art, and I became completely immersed in the challenging lives of both women. The characterisation is captivating, and both timelines are equally enthralling. This is another fantastic read from the author, and one which I recommend highly to others. Many thanks to St Martin's Press for an ARC.
In the past, Anna Dale enters an art competition, this leads to her being offered the opportunity to paint an art mural for the Post Office in Edenton, North Carolina. She goes there to get a feel of the place, and whilst experiencing some Southern hospitality, she encounters hostility too. It is mainly the men that are so unwelcoming and locals who would have preferred the local artist, Martin Drapple, to have been doing the mural. They are many who are not happy with Anna's idea of painting The Tea Party, having their own ideas instead, many of which are self serving. She depicts her own controversial interpretation of The Tea Party based on her perceptions of the truth about the place. However, strangely Anna and the painting both disappear. Morgan is discouraged when she sees how much work the mural needs, but is aided by a museum's art curator. Before long she becomes consumed by the task and by Anna, wanting to do her justice. Can she solve the mystery of Anna and uncover the truth?
Chamberlain writes an emotionally engaging story, richly detailed, of a town with plenty of intrigue, secrets and lies. It is thought provoking in the serious issues it covers of art, abuse, racism, misogyny, justice, prejudice and mental health. Morgan and Anna are connected through time and art, and I became completely immersed in the challenging lives of both women. The characterisation is captivating, and both timelines are equally enthralling. This is another fantastic read from the author, and one which I recommend highly to others. Many thanks to St Martin's Press for an ARC.
March 4, 2020
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
Another terrific read from Diane Chamberlain!!!
2018 - Morgan Christopher is starting her second summer in the North Carolina Correctional Facility. Morgan is surprised when she is told that two women are there to see her. She normally doesn't receive visitors. Lisa Williams and Andrea Fuller introduce themselves and get right to the point.
“Andrea and I are here to offer you a way out of this place”.
Lisa and Andrea ask Morgan if she's heard of Jesse Jameson Williams. Jesse Jameson was a famous artist who recently passed away. He's also one of Morgan’s favorite artists. His work stole her breath the first time she saw it. Jesse had dedicated himself to helping young artists. He helped people that he thought had promise but were headed down the wrong path. MORGAN was to be his next project. Morgan is shocked. She never met Jesse Jameson Williams, so how did he know her?
Jesse was building an art gallery in Edenton when he passed away. Jesse wanted Morgan to restore a mural that was originally created by an artist named Anna Dale. During the depression, the government had hired artists to paint murals for public buildings. For some reason, this mural was never installed. It is meant to hang in the foyer of the new gallery. It MUST be completed by the day of the gallery opening which is just two months away.
Morgan knows she can’t refuse this offer. She will be paid to complete the project and she’ll be out of prison. She tells herself that completing the mural is nothing more than a means to an end.
Morgan has no idea just how important this mural is and what it will become to her.
What happened to the artist who originally painted the mural?
Will Morgan be able to complete it in time?
I REALLY enjoyed this novel!
The story is told from two different points of view. We learn about Morgan’s background and what led to her downfall. We also find out more about the artist, twenty-two-year-old, Anna Dale and what happened during her time in Edenton in 1939.
I found both story-lines extremely interesting. They flowed well and I liked how everything came together. I had no problem switching back and forth between the two time-frames. As usual, the author has created characters that were easy to root for. I was invested in both main characters stories and couldn’t wait to see how things worked out. The story was very emotional at times as it deals with many important issues like mental illness, racism, poverty, and more.
Diane Chamberlain never lets me down. I loved this novel and I really can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
Another terrific read from Diane Chamberlain!!!
2018 - Morgan Christopher is starting her second summer in the North Carolina Correctional Facility. Morgan is surprised when she is told that two women are there to see her. She normally doesn't receive visitors. Lisa Williams and Andrea Fuller introduce themselves and get right to the point.
“Andrea and I are here to offer you a way out of this place”.
Lisa and Andrea ask Morgan if she's heard of Jesse Jameson Williams. Jesse Jameson was a famous artist who recently passed away. He's also one of Morgan’s favorite artists. His work stole her breath the first time she saw it. Jesse had dedicated himself to helping young artists. He helped people that he thought had promise but were headed down the wrong path. MORGAN was to be his next project. Morgan is shocked. She never met Jesse Jameson Williams, so how did he know her?
Jesse was building an art gallery in Edenton when he passed away. Jesse wanted Morgan to restore a mural that was originally created by an artist named Anna Dale. During the depression, the government had hired artists to paint murals for public buildings. For some reason, this mural was never installed. It is meant to hang in the foyer of the new gallery. It MUST be completed by the day of the gallery opening which is just two months away.
Morgan knows she can’t refuse this offer. She will be paid to complete the project and she’ll be out of prison. She tells herself that completing the mural is nothing more than a means to an end.
Morgan has no idea just how important this mural is and what it will become to her.
What happened to the artist who originally painted the mural?
Will Morgan be able to complete it in time?
I REALLY enjoyed this novel!
The story is told from two different points of view. We learn about Morgan’s background and what led to her downfall. We also find out more about the artist, twenty-two-year-old, Anna Dale and what happened during her time in Edenton in 1939.
I found both story-lines extremely interesting. They flowed well and I liked how everything came together. I had no problem switching back and forth between the two time-frames. As usual, the author has created characters that were easy to root for. I was invested in both main characters stories and couldn’t wait to see how things worked out. The story was very emotional at times as it deals with many important issues like mental illness, racism, poverty, and more.
Diane Chamberlain never lets me down. I loved this novel and I really can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
February 22, 2020
🎉🎉Five Bright Shiny Stars🎉🎉
North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher's life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself 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. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence, and a conspiracy of small town secrets.
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. But what she doesn't expect is to find herself immersed in a town where prejudices run deep, where people are hiding secrets behind closed doors, and where the price of being different might just end in murder.What happened to Anna Dale? Are theclues hidden in the decrepit mural? Can Morgan overcome her own demons to discover what exists beneath the layers of lies?
This book was a slow burn in the beginning but it was also very intriguing. I was very interested in the mural. I had many thoughts going through my head and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. When I got to the second half of the book, I just wanted to devour it. It was so good. I really loved this book. The plot and the painting was so unique.
Diane Chamberlain is such a talented author. She really knows how to weave a great story. I am a big fan of hers. I also loved the characters in this book. They were so well developed that I felt like I knew them well. I loved Jesse and Morgan and felt so sorry for Anna! I loved reading the journal too. It was so interesting and intriguing. I felt that the painting was a character too. I enjoyed reading about the mural being restored and the history behind it.
The mural tells the story of madness, violence and a conspiracy of small town secrets. I loved the ending too. I thought it was just perfect. I thought it was cleverly done.
This was a Traveling Sister Read and so far we all loved it.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Happy New Year!!!
January 16, 2020
***NOW AVAILABLE, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED IN THIS ONE***
This is only the second novel that I have read by Ms. Chamberlain. This book is quite different from “The Dream Daughter” which involved time travel and a woman’s decision about the fate of her unborn child. What this book shares with the previous book that I read is a dual timeline once again and strong character development. I would classify this more as a mystery with a very unique story. I found the flow to be wonderful and it was easy to move from one timeline to another, I really enjoyed it.
We first meet Morgan Christopher as she is serving a sentence for a crime that she didn’t actually commit, in Raleigh, North Carolina, but I will leave you to discover the details of that crime, it is 2018.
What happens next sets us up for the entire story. Two women, one the daughter of a famous painter, Jesse Jameson, named Lisa, and her attorney, Andrea Fuller, come to visit Morgan, they have a proposition for Morgan. They want her to restore a mural that had been painted for a post office and has been hidden in Jesse’s home and now is a pivotal issue in the details of his will as he has recently passed away. There are strict guidelines and dates for when the mural must be restored and placed in a new gallery and he wanted Morgan Christopher to do the restoration. We don’t know how or why he insisted that Morgan do the work at this point. Even though she has never done any work of this type she was an art student for 3 years and of course wants to be released from prison. We will follow Morgan as she lives with Lisa and proceeds to restore the mural which is badly damaged and so grimy they can hardly make out the scene it depicts.
In the other timeline we are introduced to Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey who has won a contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina, it is 1939. She was not actually expecting to win the contest so she drives there to see what the area and the people there are like. She finds the “south” to still be small minded with lots of racial prejudice and ideas of where a woman should be, and they feel that is at home! They are unhappy that a local man, Martin Drapple, didn’t win the contest and we will find out just how many obstacles that Anna has to face in proceeding to paint the mural. We are also left with the question of what happened to Anna? Why wasn’t the mural ever installed?
Without giving away any more of the plot I can tell you that this book has strong, competent and complicated women who “rise to the occasion” and many issues will be addressed including, racism, abusive family situations, mental illness, injustice and the deeply seated prejudices of the town. There are other strong characters in the book which are all believable and I cared deeply about the outcome of the story.
I can highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley. It is set to publish on January 14, 2020.
This is only the second novel that I have read by Ms. Chamberlain. This book is quite different from “The Dream Daughter” which involved time travel and a woman’s decision about the fate of her unborn child. What this book shares with the previous book that I read is a dual timeline once again and strong character development. I would classify this more as a mystery with a very unique story. I found the flow to be wonderful and it was easy to move from one timeline to another, I really enjoyed it.
We first meet Morgan Christopher as she is serving a sentence for a crime that she didn’t actually commit, in Raleigh, North Carolina, but I will leave you to discover the details of that crime, it is 2018.
What happens next sets us up for the entire story. Two women, one the daughter of a famous painter, Jesse Jameson, named Lisa, and her attorney, Andrea Fuller, come to visit Morgan, they have a proposition for Morgan. They want her to restore a mural that had been painted for a post office and has been hidden in Jesse’s home and now is a pivotal issue in the details of his will as he has recently passed away. There are strict guidelines and dates for when the mural must be restored and placed in a new gallery and he wanted Morgan Christopher to do the restoration. We don’t know how or why he insisted that Morgan do the work at this point. Even though she has never done any work of this type she was an art student for 3 years and of course wants to be released from prison. We will follow Morgan as she lives with Lisa and proceeds to restore the mural which is badly damaged and so grimy they can hardly make out the scene it depicts.
In the other timeline we are introduced to Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey who has won a contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina, it is 1939. She was not actually expecting to win the contest so she drives there to see what the area and the people there are like. She finds the “south” to still be small minded with lots of racial prejudice and ideas of where a woman should be, and they feel that is at home! They are unhappy that a local man, Martin Drapple, didn’t win the contest and we will find out just how many obstacles that Anna has to face in proceeding to paint the mural. We are also left with the question of what happened to Anna? Why wasn’t the mural ever installed?
Without giving away any more of the plot I can tell you that this book has strong, competent and complicated women who “rise to the occasion” and many issues will be addressed including, racism, abusive family situations, mental illness, injustice and the deeply seated prejudices of the town. There are other strong characters in the book which are all believable and I cared deeply about the outcome of the story.
I can highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley. It is set to publish on January 14, 2020.
February 26, 2020
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain is a 2020 St. Martin’s Press publication.
Another example of why Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors!
I am always intrigued by stories centered around art. I have zero talent in that department, so I marvel at those who do. As you can imagine, this story grabbed my attention right away.
The story is built around three artists:
Jessie Jameson Williams- who, upon his death, sets in motion a series of events that will merge the past with the present.
Anna Dale- an artist who in 1940, painted a mural that never saw the light of day, and has long since been forgotten.
Morgan Christopher- an artist who has made a spectacular mess of her life, but is given a second chance when she is commissioned, despite her lack of experience, to restore the mural Anna Dale painted.
2018-
When Jessie Jameson Williams passed away, he left instructions in his will for Morgan Christopher to restore Anna Dale's mural- which must be completed in short order. If Morgan fails to deliver, Jessie’s daughter, Lisa, will lose her family home.
But, why did Jessie choose Morgan of all people? This is the question everyone wants an answer to, especially Morgan. The mural is in bad shape, which means Morgan really has her work cut out for her. It’s a challenge Morgan is ready to conquer. As she begins her work, she becomes interested in the life of the original artist. What was Anna Dale trying to convey through her art? What message was she trying to send? What ever became of Anna?
1940-
Anna Dale arrives in Edenton, North Carolina after winning a contest, the prize being the honor of painting a mural which will hang in the local post office.
However, Anna finds herself facing opposition from a few of the locals who had their own artist tapped to do the mural.
Anna’s story is both a beautiful story of friendship and love and a sinister tale that harbors a horrible sense of foreboding.
As Morgan works on the mural, she tries to unravel the mystery of Anna Dale, while also struggling with her part in a horrible crime, for which she was sent to prison. Her story is one of redemption, second chances and hope.
As the two timelines merge, long overdue secrets are uncovered, bringing people together through art and history, in such a lovely, heartwarming way.
Once again, Diane Chamberlain delivers a well written piece of historical fiction and a suspenseful mystery, packed with great characters, touching all the right emotions. Highly recommend!
4.5 stars
Another example of why Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors!
I am always intrigued by stories centered around art. I have zero talent in that department, so I marvel at those who do. As you can imagine, this story grabbed my attention right away.
The story is built around three artists:
Jessie Jameson Williams- who, upon his death, sets in motion a series of events that will merge the past with the present.
Anna Dale- an artist who in 1940, painted a mural that never saw the light of day, and has long since been forgotten.
Morgan Christopher- an artist who has made a spectacular mess of her life, but is given a second chance when she is commissioned, despite her lack of experience, to restore the mural Anna Dale painted.
2018-
When Jessie Jameson Williams passed away, he left instructions in his will for Morgan Christopher to restore Anna Dale's mural- which must be completed in short order. If Morgan fails to deliver, Jessie’s daughter, Lisa, will lose her family home.
But, why did Jessie choose Morgan of all people? This is the question everyone wants an answer to, especially Morgan. The mural is in bad shape, which means Morgan really has her work cut out for her. It’s a challenge Morgan is ready to conquer. As she begins her work, she becomes interested in the life of the original artist. What was Anna Dale trying to convey through her art? What message was she trying to send? What ever became of Anna?
1940-
Anna Dale arrives in Edenton, North Carolina after winning a contest, the prize being the honor of painting a mural which will hang in the local post office.
However, Anna finds herself facing opposition from a few of the locals who had their own artist tapped to do the mural.
Anna’s story is both a beautiful story of friendship and love and a sinister tale that harbors a horrible sense of foreboding.
As Morgan works on the mural, she tries to unravel the mystery of Anna Dale, while also struggling with her part in a horrible crime, for which she was sent to prison. Her story is one of redemption, second chances and hope.
As the two timelines merge, long overdue secrets are uncovered, bringing people together through art and history, in such a lovely, heartwarming way.
Once again, Diane Chamberlain delivers a well written piece of historical fiction and a suspenseful mystery, packed with great characters, touching all the right emotions. Highly recommend!
4.5 stars
September 19, 2019
NO SPOILERS....only descriptive teasers...
Diane Chamberlain knows what a good story is about. She continues to arrive at new levels of power with 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
Diane Chamberlain knows what a good story is about. She continues to arrive at new levels of power with 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
January 20, 2020
I’ve read several of the over two dozen novels that Diane Chamberlain has written. I can’t say I loved them all as much as Necessary Lies, but in my view, it’s unquestionable after reading them, that Chamberlain knows how to tell a story.
Almost eighty years separates the alternating narratives of two women artists. Anna Dale’s is told in the third person and her story takes place in 1939 in the small town of Edenton, NC, where she travels to from New Jersey. Anna has won a national contest to paint a mural representing the town to be hung in the post office. Morgan Christopher’s chapters are told in the first person and it’s 2018. She has been released from the prison term she is serving for a crime that she did not commit. Her release is made possible by a famous African American artist, Jessie Jameson Williams who designates in his will, that she should be the one to restore the mural painted by Anna Dale years ago. Each one is facing a challenge, each one is carrying a burden.
It’s a mystery of sorts and I’m not much of a fan of mysteries. However, I was taken with wanting to know the secrets that the mural held and with the story of Anna Dale, just as Morgan was. How will the women be connected ? Why did Jessie Williams choose Anna Dale’s painting to be hung in the gallery he charges his daughter to open? How did he get Anna’s mural? Why was Morgan Christopher chosen to restore the painting? The story is more than a story of a mysterious painting, it is a reflection of racism in the south in 1939, a reflection of small town life, and how the lies of the past come full circle to the truth in the present.
I’m usually more drawn to the historical part of the story in these dual narratives, but I found myself pulled in by both of the stories, by both of the artists. The short alternating chapters kept the story moving and held my interest throughout. In spite of a neat ending and that I guessed what the connection between the two women could be, it didn’t diminish my interest in the least. This novel is another example of Diane Chamberlain’s story telling capabilities.
I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
Almost eighty years separates the alternating narratives of two women artists. Anna Dale’s is told in the third person and her story takes place in 1939 in the small town of Edenton, NC, where she travels to from New Jersey. Anna has won a national contest to paint a mural representing the town to be hung in the post office. Morgan Christopher’s chapters are told in the first person and it’s 2018. She has been released from the prison term she is serving for a crime that she did not commit. Her release is made possible by a famous African American artist, Jessie Jameson Williams who designates in his will, that she should be the one to restore the mural painted by Anna Dale years ago. Each one is facing a challenge, each one is carrying a burden.
It’s a mystery of sorts and I’m not much of a fan of mysteries. However, I was taken with wanting to know the secrets that the mural held and with the story of Anna Dale, just as Morgan was. How will the women be connected ? Why did Jessie Williams choose Anna Dale’s painting to be hung in the gallery he charges his daughter to open? How did he get Anna’s mural? Why was Morgan Christopher chosen to restore the painting? The story is more than a story of a mysterious painting, it is a reflection of racism in the south in 1939, a reflection of small town life, and how the lies of the past come full circle to the truth in the present.
I’m usually more drawn to the historical part of the story in these dual narratives, but I found myself pulled in by both of the stories, by both of the artists. The short alternating chapters kept the story moving and held my interest throughout. In spite of a neat ending and that I guessed what the connection between the two women could be, it didn’t diminish my interest in the least. This novel is another example of Diane Chamberlain’s story telling capabilities.
I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
June 10, 2020
Dream Daughter was my first read by Diane Chamberlain. I was completely hooked on that book and couldn’t put it down. Once Big Lies in a Small Town came out, I had to give it a try, and I’m elated because I was totally engrossed in this story. It consumed my weekend. What a page-turner!
This story is told from two different points of view alternating between 1940 and 2018. We have Morgan, a young girl who’s been serving time for a crime she didn’t commit. Surprisingly, she catches a break after serving only part of her time. A woman named Lisa Williams has asked Morgan to restore a mural which will be part of her father’s art gallery. Lisa’s father was a famous artist and has chosen Morgan for the job. She’s given the chance to leave jail now if she can restore it by a specific date. The issue: Morgan has zero experience doing restoration. The offer is too good to pass up though. Once she begins the project, it sends her on a journey of discovering who the original artist was, and what happened to her.
I could barely believe my ears. I’d not only get out of prison but I’d live in Jesse Jameson William’s house? I felt the unexpected threat of tears. Oh God, how I needed to get out of here!
Now we switch to Anna Dale in 1940, a young girl who entered an art contest and won. The reward: painting a mural that will hang in the post office of Edenton, North Carolina. She’s so excited, but not everyone in the town shares her enthusiasm. Anna is forced to deal with jealousy, control, and racism. Will she be strong enough to overcome the hate?
“Never be afraid to try something new, Anna,” her mother would say. That’s what Anna was doing now, wasn’t it? Driving for two whole days through unfamiliar territory, landing in a tiny town where she didn’t know a soul. From somewhere in the heavens, her mother was applauding.
Diane Chamberlain is one amazing storyteller. This story is compelling and even thought-provoking at times. The constant flipping back and forth between 1940 and 2018 made me nervous at first, but it was seamless and so easy to read as the story continued. These women have interesting stories and I was equally invested in both of them. Morgan is kind, cautious, and just wants to do what’s right. Anna is very much the same, and she’s strong—consistently standing her ground. All the characters were great. The ending was unexpected too.
5*****
You can also see this review @www.readrantrockandroll.com
This story is told from two different points of view alternating between 1940 and 2018. We have Morgan, a young girl who’s been serving time for a crime she didn’t commit. Surprisingly, she catches a break after serving only part of her time. A woman named Lisa Williams has asked Morgan to restore a mural which will be part of her father’s art gallery. Lisa’s father was a famous artist and has chosen Morgan for the job. She’s given the chance to leave jail now if she can restore it by a specific date. The issue: Morgan has zero experience doing restoration. The offer is too good to pass up though. Once she begins the project, it sends her on a journey of discovering who the original artist was, and what happened to her.
I could barely believe my ears. I’d not only get out of prison but I’d live in Jesse Jameson William’s house? I felt the unexpected threat of tears. Oh God, how I needed to get out of here!
Now we switch to Anna Dale in 1940, a young girl who entered an art contest and won. The reward: painting a mural that will hang in the post office of Edenton, North Carolina. She’s so excited, but not everyone in the town shares her enthusiasm. Anna is forced to deal with jealousy, control, and racism. Will she be strong enough to overcome the hate?
“Never be afraid to try something new, Anna,” her mother would say. That’s what Anna was doing now, wasn’t it? Driving for two whole days through unfamiliar territory, landing in a tiny town where she didn’t know a soul. From somewhere in the heavens, her mother was applauding.
Diane Chamberlain is one amazing storyteller. This story is compelling and even thought-provoking at times. The constant flipping back and forth between 1940 and 2018 made me nervous at first, but it was seamless and so easy to read as the story continued. These women have interesting stories and I was equally invested in both of them. Morgan is kind, cautious, and just wants to do what’s right. Anna is very much the same, and she’s strong—consistently standing her ground. All the characters were great. The ending was unexpected too.
5*****
You can also see this review @www.readrantrockandroll.com
January 6, 2020
I got interested in this novel beacuse of the mention of mural art. The city where I live has become known to its murals on the walls of tenement houses and they always draw my attention whenever I get around the city. Also, I associate murals with the American culture, and I thought that a novel which has this art as the central point must be interesting. And I was not wrong.
I am not a fan of dual timeline, however, with this novel it went smoothly for me. The stories of two young women, Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher, set in 1940 and 2018 respectively, are connected by a mural which was hidden for decades, and the will of a famous artist forces his relatives tohave it restored and then show it to the public again. The mystery behind restoration is the core of the novel.
I admit I got invested in both stories, however, observing the life of a small town in North Carolina was more engaging for me as through Anna's eyes we are able to compare the differences between the North and the South in those days. Anna appears to be delicate and fragile but in fact she is strong and finds a way out with a little help from her friends.
My first novel by Ms Chamberlain that encourages me to add more of her novels to my trl.
*Many thanks to Diane Chamberlain, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I am not a fan of dual timeline, however, with this novel it went smoothly for me. The stories of two young women, Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher, set in 1940 and 2018 respectively, are connected by a mural which was hidden for decades, and the will of a famous artist forces his relatives tohave it restored and then show it to the public again. The mystery behind restoration is the core of the novel.
I admit I got invested in both stories, however, observing the life of a small town in North Carolina was more engaging for me as through Anna's eyes we are able to compare the differences between the North and the South in those days. Anna appears to be delicate and fragile but in fact she is strong and finds a way out with a little help from her friends.
My first novel by Ms Chamberlain that encourages me to add more of her novels to my trl.
*Many thanks to Diane Chamberlain, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
September 19, 2019
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.
North Carolina, 2018 Morgan Christopher was an art student who made a bad judgement call and ended up serving time in a women's correctional center for a crime she did not commit. Then one day she is visited by two women who tell her that she will be released from prison if she agrees to restore an old post office mural. She knows nothing about restoration but desperate to have freedom, she agrees.
North Carolina, 1940 Anna Dale has won an art contest and is chosen to paint a mural for a post office in Edenton, North Carolina. She happily accepts and considers this to be an honor and a challenge. Little does she know, but there are those who don't want a woman painting the mural, nor do they like the company she keeps while painting. Prejudice and false assumptions run rampant.
The two women's stories blend perfectly together. Usually when there are two timelines, I tend to prefer one over the other, but I loved both in this book. Both women were likable, both characters had me rooting for them. I watched Anna as she tried to complete her mural and I watched Morgan as she restored a mural which had been hidden away for years.
I was fully invested in this story and loved the journey of finding out how the book would end. This book was beautifully written and had me on the edge of my seat, not with heart pounding suspense, but with a captivating and enthralling story that I didn't want to stop reading. I could literally feel the characters emotions while reading. Chamberlain did a great job of transporting me back to 1940 in the South. There are some heavy issues dealt with in this book and she handles them with care and sill. I love how she carefully guided the reader between the two stories telling the tale of mystery, romance, love, family ties, family secrets, art, music, pain, secrets, and prejudice. There a couple of little twists and turns along the way and all felt believable and made sense.
Riveting heartfelt, thought provoking story telling. This is a MUST read! Highly recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
North Carolina, 2018 Morgan Christopher was an art student who made a bad judgement call and ended up serving time in a women's correctional center for a crime she did not commit. Then one day she is visited by two women who tell her that she will be released from prison if she agrees to restore an old post office mural. She knows nothing about restoration but desperate to have freedom, she agrees.
North Carolina, 1940 Anna Dale has won an art contest and is chosen to paint a mural for a post office in Edenton, North Carolina. She happily accepts and considers this to be an honor and a challenge. Little does she know, but there are those who don't want a woman painting the mural, nor do they like the company she keeps while painting. Prejudice and false assumptions run rampant.
The two women's stories blend perfectly together. Usually when there are two timelines, I tend to prefer one over the other, but I loved both in this book. Both women were likable, both characters had me rooting for them. I watched Anna as she tried to complete her mural and I watched Morgan as she restored a mural which had been hidden away for years.
I was fully invested in this story and loved the journey of finding out how the book would end. This book was beautifully written and had me on the edge of my seat, not with heart pounding suspense, but with a captivating and enthralling story that I didn't want to stop reading. I could literally feel the characters emotions while reading. Chamberlain did a great job of transporting me back to 1940 in the South. There are some heavy issues dealt with in this book and she handles them with care and sill. I love how she carefully guided the reader between the two stories telling the tale of mystery, romance, love, family ties, family secrets, art, music, pain, secrets, and prejudice. There a couple of little twists and turns along the way and all felt believable and made sense.
Riveting heartfelt, thought provoking story telling. This is a MUST read! Highly recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 5, 2020
Diane Chamberlain has done it again! What a fantastic book! This really is storytelling at its absolute best. Two equally compelling storylines woven seamlessly together. 2018 Morgan is in a North Carolina prison convicted of a crime she did not commit. When she is approached with an opportunity to get out of jail if she is willing to restore a 70-year-old mural, she jumped at the chance. The only problem is Morgan is not certain she has the skill set to do the restoration and there is a time crunch. The Mystery is that her working on this restoration was a stipulation in the will of Jesse Jameson a famous artist. An artist that Morgan has no known tie to. 1939 Anna is a struggling artist in New Jersey. When she enters and wins a contest to paint a mural on a PostOffice wall she temporarily relocates to North Carolina. When she reaches North Carolina she is met with much resistance and is surprised by the overt racism and misogyny. The mural was never finished and the rumor is that Anna went crazy and fled with the mural.
What a beautiful story the perfect blend of mystery and history. Both Morgan and Anna were strong sassy characters who I found quite relatable. I found the art restoration parts extremely fascinating and that is a credit to Miss Chamberlain because that is definitely not an area of interest to me. I loved how as the mural became more clear so did Anna‘s character as well as the events that took place 70 years ago. A brilliant book from an exceptional author!
This book in emojis: 🎨 🖌 🗝
*** Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
What a beautiful story the perfect blend of mystery and history. Both Morgan and Anna were strong sassy characters who I found quite relatable. I found the art restoration parts extremely fascinating and that is a credit to Miss Chamberlain because that is definitely not an area of interest to me. I loved how as the mural became more clear so did Anna‘s character as well as the events that took place 70 years ago. A brilliant book from an exceptional author!
This book in emojis: 🎨 🖌 🗝
*** Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
May 30, 2020
Assiduity
Big Lies in a Small Town is a stunning story full of mystery, opportunity and loss. It is emotionally absorbing from beginning to end with enthralling secrets and puzzles that maintain a great momentum without dropping gear. The story is told over two time periods from the perspective of two young female artists, Anna Dale in 1940 and Morgan Christopher in 2018.
Morgan is serving a sentence in North Carolina Correctional Facility for a drunk driving crime she took the blame for, to save her boyfriend. Lisa Williams and the family lawyer visit Morgan in prison and make her an offer of release on parole if she will restore a mural that has lay hidden for 78 years. The request is detailed in the Will from the celebrated black artist Jesse Jameson Williams, who has recently passed away and was planning on opening a gallery with his daughter Lisa. The ownership of the family house and Morgan’s freedom, are all tied to Morgan completing the restoration of the mural before the opening of the gallery in two months’ time. For some reason, Morgan was Jesse’s last project but this is unusual as all his previous support went to young African-American artists and she’s white. When they unwrap the mural canvas, they look on in shock and disbelief at the task ahead.
To understand the mural is to understand who Anna Dale was and what really happened to her. All that’s known is that she had mental health issues and disappeared without a trace. The consequence of a young artist winning the government-sponsored competition to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina, over an established artist from the same town, caused concerns and objections from some of the locals. The journey of Anna from the excitement of winning the competition through the inspired creativity of her mural, the development of multi-racial friendships and her confrontation with a major event, is utterly compelling. Issues of racism and abuse raise their ugly head and Anna hides secrets and clues in her painting. The idyllic community of Edenton suddenly becomes toxic and Anna and her young black art student take action that will totally change their lives.
Diane Chamberlain’s writing and storytelling are outstanding and the equal emphasis on each storyline was superb. Never once did I have a preference of one character’s exploits over the other, with each holding me taut and full of anticipation for when I would encounter them again. The location and community of Edenton came alive with a mix of beauty and prejudices, caring and hatred, selflessness and jealousies, and racial division that held threats and menace.
I will not forget this book easily and I can highly recommend it as a fabulous novel full of mystery, excitement and adventure. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Big Lies in a Small Town is a stunning story full of mystery, opportunity and loss. It is emotionally absorbing from beginning to end with enthralling secrets and puzzles that maintain a great momentum without dropping gear. The story is told over two time periods from the perspective of two young female artists, Anna Dale in 1940 and Morgan Christopher in 2018.
Morgan is serving a sentence in North Carolina Correctional Facility for a drunk driving crime she took the blame for, to save her boyfriend. Lisa Williams and the family lawyer visit Morgan in prison and make her an offer of release on parole if she will restore a mural that has lay hidden for 78 years. The request is detailed in the Will from the celebrated black artist Jesse Jameson Williams, who has recently passed away and was planning on opening a gallery with his daughter Lisa. The ownership of the family house and Morgan’s freedom, are all tied to Morgan completing the restoration of the mural before the opening of the gallery in two months’ time. For some reason, Morgan was Jesse’s last project but this is unusual as all his previous support went to young African-American artists and she’s white. When they unwrap the mural canvas, they look on in shock and disbelief at the task ahead.
“Five separate scenes, all of them a mess. The entire mural looked as though someone had attached it to the back of a car and dragged it facedown over earth and stones and mud for miles and miles. To me, the painting—all seventy-two square feet of it—looked utterly beyond saving.”Apart from the considerable damage, there are strange anomalies within each scene, an old motorbike appearing out of context and centre stage, plus a hammer with blood dripping from it, a skull visible from a house window and a woman with a knife clenched in her teeth. What is the key to solving this secret message?
To understand the mural is to understand who Anna Dale was and what really happened to her. All that’s known is that she had mental health issues and disappeared without a trace. The consequence of a young artist winning the government-sponsored competition to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina, over an established artist from the same town, caused concerns and objections from some of the locals. The journey of Anna from the excitement of winning the competition through the inspired creativity of her mural, the development of multi-racial friendships and her confrontation with a major event, is utterly compelling. Issues of racism and abuse raise their ugly head and Anna hides secrets and clues in her painting. The idyllic community of Edenton suddenly becomes toxic and Anna and her young black art student take action that will totally change their lives.
Diane Chamberlain’s writing and storytelling are outstanding and the equal emphasis on each storyline was superb. Never once did I have a preference of one character’s exploits over the other, with each holding me taut and full of anticipation for when I would encounter them again. The location and community of Edenton came alive with a mix of beauty and prejudices, caring and hatred, selflessness and jealousies, and racial division that held threats and menace.
I will not forget this book easily and I can highly recommend it as a fabulous novel full of mystery, excitement and adventure. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review.
February 28, 2021
Diane Chamberlain was on my "authors I'd like to read" for a while now because Nicole from GirlyGirlBookWorm really likes her, and us two have the similar taste in books.
This was my first read by this writer, but it surely won't be the last, because I really liked Big Lies in a Small Town.
The story follows two time lines: one set in 1940 and the second set in today's time.
This book made me realize that I actually enjoy reading books with two different time lines, and I will try to add more novels with that kind of concept in my future readings.
We follow two women: Morgan, who is the narrator of the story and her chapters are written in first person.
Then we have Anna who's story is set in 1940 and is written in third person.
Both stories take place in North Carolina, and of course, are connected.
After I finished my reading I wasn't sure who's story I liked better, and then I came to conclusion that Anna's was more interesting, but with Morgan I connected more.
This book hit the home for me, and not in a good way, because it reminded me of my not-the-happiest childhood. I often caught myself thinking about my own life and my own complicated relationship with my parents, but that is the story for another time...
The writing was very good. It was beautiful and easy to read.
I think it is important to say that this book covers serious topics like alcoholism and racism in a sententious way, and from my perspective, it was not triggering. Still, I can't speak for others.
However, there is one trigger warning readers should know about: and that's that this book talks about sexual abuse.
I loved the way the story wrapped up, and the scene at the very end once again hit home for me, but it also warmed my heart.
I really, really enjoyed reading Big Lies in a Small Town and would recommend it to readers who like historical fiction, general fiction and art.
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
This was my first read by this writer, but it surely won't be the last, because I really liked Big Lies in a Small Town.
The story follows two time lines: one set in 1940 and the second set in today's time.
This book made me realize that I actually enjoy reading books with two different time lines, and I will try to add more novels with that kind of concept in my future readings.
We follow two women: Morgan, who is the narrator of the story and her chapters are written in first person.
Then we have Anna who's story is set in 1940 and is written in third person.
Both stories take place in North Carolina, and of course, are connected.
After I finished my reading I wasn't sure who's story I liked better, and then I came to conclusion that Anna's was more interesting, but with Morgan I connected more.
This book hit the home for me, and not in a good way, because it reminded me of my not-the-happiest childhood. I often caught myself thinking about my own life and my own complicated relationship with my parents, but that is the story for another time...
The writing was very good. It was beautiful and easy to read.
I think it is important to say that this book covers serious topics like alcoholism and racism in a sententious way, and from my perspective, it was not triggering. Still, I can't speak for others.
However, there is one trigger warning readers should know about: and that's that this book talks about sexual abuse.
I loved the way the story wrapped up, and the scene at the very end once again hit home for me, but it also warmed my heart.
I really, really enjoyed reading Big Lies in a Small Town and would recommend it to readers who like historical fiction, general fiction and art.
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
December 17, 2019
Well, that is some mighty fine, creative writing here by one of my favourite authors. I loved this one!!
Big Lies is a Small Town did start off a little slow for me and I was feeling a bit worried that I wasn't quite getting where the story was going here by almost halfway. I was intrigued but at first, felt like I was being strung along a bit. Then I reminded myself that I have nothing to worry about because this is Diane Chamberlain. Well, well my patience was rewarded and around the middle of the book, the pace took off me and things started falling into place. I started piecing together this well-layered story and flew through the second half.
After reading so many books, things can get a little boring at times and I seem to lose my groove a lot and it is getting harder to find that one that is creative and a bit different from the rest. Diane Chamberlain creates a very unique and compelling story here. She brilliantly weaves the two timelines here with our main character Morgan and Anna. I was so pleased with the way everything wrapped up in the end so perfectly for me. After reading this one, I was marching around the house cheering with excitement for finding another one that kept me in my groove. I highly recommend it.
Traveling sister read
I received a copy from the publisher.
Big Lies is a Small Town did start off a little slow for me and I was feeling a bit worried that I wasn't quite getting where the story was going here by almost halfway. I was intrigued but at first, felt like I was being strung along a bit. Then I reminded myself that I have nothing to worry about because this is Diane Chamberlain. Well, well my patience was rewarded and around the middle of the book, the pace took off me and things started falling into place. I started piecing together this well-layered story and flew through the second half.
After reading so many books, things can get a little boring at times and I seem to lose my groove a lot and it is getting harder to find that one that is creative and a bit different from the rest. Diane Chamberlain creates a very unique and compelling story here. She brilliantly weaves the two timelines here with our main character Morgan and Anna. I was so pleased with the way everything wrapped up in the end so perfectly for me. After reading this one, I was marching around the house cheering with excitement for finding another one that kept me in my groove. I highly recommend it.
Traveling sister read
I received a copy from the publisher.
January 25, 2020
4.5 rounded up to 5 Stars.
This book landed on my radar via a NetGalley email. What's more, it has a bit of a personal connection. In my hometown we have one of those huge murals depicting important highlights in our city like St. Mary's RC Church with a flock of walking nuns astride it. Unlike the murals spoken about in this book that adorn post office walls, it instead hangs in a bank. I always enjoyed drinking in its history each time I waited in line to perform my banking transactions. I had no knowledge until reading this book that there had been a 48 State Art Mural Contest back in 1939. I researched it online and my city wasn't listed as one of the state winners, but I still marvel at the artistry and historical importance of the amazing mural hanging in my bank. I was a commercial art major while a freshman at college, so that's another connection I feel with this story.
The 48 States Mural Competition was conducted under the auspices of The New Deal, its images meant to provide a beacon of hope during the Great Depression. The winning murals were to be hung over the Postmaster's door. In this story, 20-ish Anna Dale won the contest to paint the mural in Edenton, North Carolina, even though she came from Plainfield, New Jersey. This caused much resentment in Edenton due to the fact that an established local artist named Martin Drapple was expected to get the gig. This forced Anna to travel to Edenton, spend some time there and discover what was important about the town to include in the mural.
This is one of those dual timeline books, but it is pulled off flawlessly and flows naturally. We have the backstory of Anna Dale from 1940 alongside the current story from 2018 of a young woman named Morgan Christopher. Morgan is in prison due to a DUI she deeply regrets. Her victim in the accident, Emily Maxwell haunts her memory each and every day of her life. Although Emily survived the accident, she suffers some degree of paralysis and will never be the same. As Morgan lies down to sleep in her cell each night, she wonders if her surly and mentally edgy cellmate just might end her life. So imagine Morgan's surprise when she receives two well-dressed African American female visitors one day with an incredible proposition. One woman is a lawyer and the other is Lisa Williams, daughter of the recently deceased Jesse Williams...a renowned African American painter that Morgan admires. In Jesse WIlliams' will, he directed that an art gallery be opened in Edenton displaying his and other works, but especially one particular piece: the mural painted by one Anna Dale. The problem is that the mural needed to undergo a restoration process, and he specified that Morgan Christopher do the job. Jesse Williams had been known to support various youth with artistic talent over the years, especially those with difficult living circumstances. Morgan couldn't understand why she had been chosen for this path; although she had been a college art student, she didn't consider herself especially gifted. More importantly, she knew nothing about art restoration. Still, her acceptance of this project would provide immediate release and probation from her prison sentence. She was honest with Lisa Williams about her artistic limitations, but it didn't seem to matter. Somehow it seemed crucial that she alone perform this task, which had a strict time fulfillment to coincide with the gallery's opening.
I found the explained technical process of the mural's restoration very interesting. It involved first carefully cleaning the entire mural in small square increments, being careful not to wipe away paint flakes. Once entirely clean, the process of "inpainting" occurs. This means carefully painting in areas that need it, with a care to mimic the artist's unique paint stroke and color style.
Another thing that really "popped" for me in this story was the shocking details in the mural that made no sense. There were things that you might not have noticed straight off, but upon close inspection inspired mystery and a sense of dread in the heart. It was often speculated throughout the book that perhaps Anna Dale at some point had lost her mind.
This book explores racism in a small, southern town setting, historical and current dueling timelines, and a slowly unraveling mystery. I have never had the pleasure of reading one of author Diane Chamberlain's books, but will look out for her offerings in the future. This was a very good and artfully written story (pun intended).
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
This book landed on my radar via a NetGalley email. What's more, it has a bit of a personal connection. In my hometown we have one of those huge murals depicting important highlights in our city like St. Mary's RC Church with a flock of walking nuns astride it. Unlike the murals spoken about in this book that adorn post office walls, it instead hangs in a bank. I always enjoyed drinking in its history each time I waited in line to perform my banking transactions. I had no knowledge until reading this book that there had been a 48 State Art Mural Contest back in 1939. I researched it online and my city wasn't listed as one of the state winners, but I still marvel at the artistry and historical importance of the amazing mural hanging in my bank. I was a commercial art major while a freshman at college, so that's another connection I feel with this story.
The 48 States Mural Competition was conducted under the auspices of The New Deal, its images meant to provide a beacon of hope during the Great Depression. The winning murals were to be hung over the Postmaster's door. In this story, 20-ish Anna Dale won the contest to paint the mural in Edenton, North Carolina, even though she came from Plainfield, New Jersey. This caused much resentment in Edenton due to the fact that an established local artist named Martin Drapple was expected to get the gig. This forced Anna to travel to Edenton, spend some time there and discover what was important about the town to include in the mural.
This is one of those dual timeline books, but it is pulled off flawlessly and flows naturally. We have the backstory of Anna Dale from 1940 alongside the current story from 2018 of a young woman named Morgan Christopher. Morgan is in prison due to a DUI she deeply regrets. Her victim in the accident, Emily Maxwell haunts her memory each and every day of her life. Although Emily survived the accident, she suffers some degree of paralysis and will never be the same. As Morgan lies down to sleep in her cell each night, she wonders if her surly and mentally edgy cellmate just might end her life. So imagine Morgan's surprise when she receives two well-dressed African American female visitors one day with an incredible proposition. One woman is a lawyer and the other is Lisa Williams, daughter of the recently deceased Jesse Williams...a renowned African American painter that Morgan admires. In Jesse WIlliams' will, he directed that an art gallery be opened in Edenton displaying his and other works, but especially one particular piece: the mural painted by one Anna Dale. The problem is that the mural needed to undergo a restoration process, and he specified that Morgan Christopher do the job. Jesse Williams had been known to support various youth with artistic talent over the years, especially those with difficult living circumstances. Morgan couldn't understand why she had been chosen for this path; although she had been a college art student, she didn't consider herself especially gifted. More importantly, she knew nothing about art restoration. Still, her acceptance of this project would provide immediate release and probation from her prison sentence. She was honest with Lisa Williams about her artistic limitations, but it didn't seem to matter. Somehow it seemed crucial that she alone perform this task, which had a strict time fulfillment to coincide with the gallery's opening.
I found the explained technical process of the mural's restoration very interesting. It involved first carefully cleaning the entire mural in small square increments, being careful not to wipe away paint flakes. Once entirely clean, the process of "inpainting" occurs. This means carefully painting in areas that need it, with a care to mimic the artist's unique paint stroke and color style.
Another thing that really "popped" for me in this story was the shocking details in the mural that made no sense. There were things that you might not have noticed straight off, but upon close inspection inspired mystery and a sense of dread in the heart. It was often speculated throughout the book that perhaps Anna Dale at some point had lost her mind.
This book explores racism in a small, southern town setting, historical and current dueling timelines, and a slowly unraveling mystery. I have never had the pleasure of reading one of author Diane Chamberlain's books, but will look out for her offerings in the future. This was a very good and artfully written story (pun intended).
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
January 4, 2020
4+ stars!
A suspenseful and captivating mystery set in a small town.
Told in the dual narratives of 1940 and 2018, the two main characters, Anna and Morgan are young artists looking to find their way. Before finishing a mural project for the small town of Edenton, Anna goes missing in 1940. Almost 80 years later, Morgan is asked to restore the unfinished mural project so it can be hung in a local art exhibit. Little does Morgan know the hidden secrets she will find while researching and restoring the mysterious mural.
I adore small town settings and this one was no exception. The atmosphere engrossed and intrigued me from start to finish. I felt as though I was right there in Edenton with the characters. I loved the dual narrative, although I felt a deeper connection to and investment in Anna’s life in 1940. The plot unfolded smoothly while moving back and forth between the timelines, leaving a large sense of mystery at the end of each chapter which made me want to keep reading. Please be warned that there are some heavy topics covered within these pages: racism, physical abuse, rape, harassment.
One issue I had was that Morgan’s romance felt cliche and unnecessary, however, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. There were parts of the ending that I found predictable, yet I still felt connected to and invested in the storyline and it left me with a good sense of closure and contentment.
If you are a fan of Diane Chamberlain, like I am, you will not be disappointed. This book showcases her usual captivating writing, unique storyline and unforgettable characters which has left me hungry for what she comes out with next.
This was a Traveling Sister read that we all enjoyed and highly recommend. Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC.
Expected date of publication: January 14, 2020.
A suspenseful and captivating mystery set in a small town.
Told in the dual narratives of 1940 and 2018, the two main characters, Anna and Morgan are young artists looking to find their way. Before finishing a mural project for the small town of Edenton, Anna goes missing in 1940. Almost 80 years later, Morgan is asked to restore the unfinished mural project so it can be hung in a local art exhibit. Little does Morgan know the hidden secrets she will find while researching and restoring the mysterious mural.
I adore small town settings and this one was no exception. The atmosphere engrossed and intrigued me from start to finish. I felt as though I was right there in Edenton with the characters. I loved the dual narrative, although I felt a deeper connection to and investment in Anna’s life in 1940. The plot unfolded smoothly while moving back and forth between the timelines, leaving a large sense of mystery at the end of each chapter which made me want to keep reading. Please be warned that there are some heavy topics covered within these pages: racism, physical abuse, rape, harassment.
One issue I had was that Morgan’s romance felt cliche and unnecessary, however, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. There were parts of the ending that I found predictable, yet I still felt connected to and invested in the storyline and it left me with a good sense of closure and contentment.
If you are a fan of Diane Chamberlain, like I am, you will not be disappointed. This book showcases her usual captivating writing, unique storyline and unforgettable characters which has left me hungry for what she comes out with next.
This was a Traveling Sister read that we all enjoyed and highly recommend. Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC.
Expected date of publication: January 14, 2020.
February 25, 2020
Storytelling is a talent and Diane Chamberlain sure must have been at the front of the queue when God was doling out talents.
A beautifully written, intriguing page turner that was extremely difficult to put down.
Great characters, suspenseful and compelling Plot and a book that draws the reader in right from the start.
I took the advice of a fellow reader and purchased this one on audible and it was flawless.
Big Lies in a Small Town, is a sweeping novel about two women connected by a painting that holds many dark secrets.
This story is told from two women’s point of view: Anna and Morgan. Anna was an artist in 1939, who created a WPA post office mural in Edenton, NC but mysteriously disappeared before completing the mural. Morgan is a former art student, current prisoner in 2018 who was offered the opportunity to restore the mural in return for an early release date from jail. As Morgan works on the restoration, she becomes intrigued about Anna begins to look for answers about her disappearance.
I think its easy to connect with the characters in this story as they are well formed and likable. The story flows seamlessly and the reader gets caught up in the mystery and suspense.
This is probably my sixth Diane chamberlain novel and I always find her stories entertaining and well written. I enjoy stories with duel time frames so this one really suited me and both time frames in this story were intriguing and compelling.
This is one of those books I could recommend to so many of my friends and know they are not going to be disappointed.
In a nut shell...….. it's Just a really good story.
A beautifully written, intriguing page turner that was extremely difficult to put down.
Great characters, suspenseful and compelling Plot and a book that draws the reader in right from the start.
I took the advice of a fellow reader and purchased this one on audible and it was flawless.
Big Lies in a Small Town, is a sweeping novel about two women connected by a painting that holds many dark secrets.
This story is told from two women’s point of view: Anna and Morgan. Anna was an artist in 1939, who created a WPA post office mural in Edenton, NC but mysteriously disappeared before completing the mural. Morgan is a former art student, current prisoner in 2018 who was offered the opportunity to restore the mural in return for an early release date from jail. As Morgan works on the restoration, she becomes intrigued about Anna begins to look for answers about her disappearance.
I think its easy to connect with the characters in this story as they are well formed and likable. The story flows seamlessly and the reader gets caught up in the mystery and suspense.
This is probably my sixth Diane chamberlain novel and I always find her stories entertaining and well written. I enjoy stories with duel time frames so this one really suited me and both time frames in this story were intriguing and compelling.
This is one of those books I could recommend to so many of my friends and know they are not going to be disappointed.
In a nut shell...….. it's Just a really good story.
October 8, 2019
3.5 STARS
A slow burn of a mystery set in North Carolina.
Two women- Morgan and Anna
Two timelines-2018 and 1940
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.
The first half of the book was slow going and a bit bogged down in the painting project details (in my opinion). There are plenty of clues that may lead you to solve the big reveal and predict the end as I did.
The last third really picks up the pace and things start happening. The character development is very well done and the conclusion connects all the dots!
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy! This one is out on January 14.2020
A slow burn of a mystery set in North Carolina.
Two women- Morgan and Anna
Two timelines-2018 and 1940
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.
The first half of the book was slow going and a bit bogged down in the painting project details (in my opinion). There are plenty of clues that may lead you to solve the big reveal and predict the end as I did.
The last third really picks up the pace and things start happening. The character development is very well done and the conclusion connects all the dots!
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy! This one is out on January 14.2020
June 2, 2022
Another wonderful story from one of my favourite authors. I just love her storytelling and unique plots.
This one is a dual timeline that alternates from 1940 small town North Carolina to 2018. In 1940, Anna is an artist from New Jersey who wins a government contest to draw a post office mural in a small town called Edenton in North Carolina. She finds some resistance from the folks there who feel that a local artist should have been given the honour to paint their mural. Before the mural can be completed Anna disappears. In 2018, Morgan is a struggling artist fallen on hard times. Morgan has recently been released from prison and has been chosen to restore the mural from long ago (that was never properly displayed.) The more she restores the mural, the more Morgan is intrigued by the long ago artist Anna and her disappearance.
An interesting story that had me reading page after page to learn the outcome of the mystery.
I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy.
This one is a dual timeline that alternates from 1940 small town North Carolina to 2018. In 1940, Anna is an artist from New Jersey who wins a government contest to draw a post office mural in a small town called Edenton in North Carolina. She finds some resistance from the folks there who feel that a local artist should have been given the honour to paint their mural. Before the mural can be completed Anna disappears. In 2018, Morgan is a struggling artist fallen on hard times. Morgan has recently been released from prison and has been chosen to restore the mural from long ago (that was never properly displayed.) The more she restores the mural, the more Morgan is intrigued by the long ago artist Anna and her disappearance.
An interesting story that had me reading page after page to learn the outcome of the mystery.
I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy.
December 13, 2019
Diane Chamberlain is a prolific author, but I’ve only read a handful of her books. For the most part, I’ve enjoyed them. In this story, we have Morgan Christopher serving prison time for a crime she didn’t commit when she’s offered a “get out of jail free” card. She’s been picked to restore a 1939 mural, designed for the Edenton post office but never hung. What makes it problematic is that despite being an artist, she has no experience with art restoration and the two things are really totally different. Plus, she’s under a deadline that makes no sense.
The story is told from the 2018 perspective of Morgan and the 1939 one of Anna Dale, the artist of the mural. The mural is definitely unique and hints at stories untold.
Chamberlain employs short chapters and alternates between the two story lines to keep the pace up and the reader engaged. Both main characters are interesting, strong women and I enjoyed both storylines. There were twists I didn’t see coming. Parts of the ending strain credibility but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment.
Chamberlain tackles the racism of the earlier time and does it in a believable fashion. Make sure to read her Acknowledgements which explains the help she was given.
This was probably my favorite of her books that I’ve read and will ensure I read more of her work. It was so compelling that I read it in a single day.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
The story is told from the 2018 perspective of Morgan and the 1939 one of Anna Dale, the artist of the mural. The mural is definitely unique and hints at stories untold.
Chamberlain employs short chapters and alternates between the two story lines to keep the pace up and the reader engaged. Both main characters are interesting, strong women and I enjoyed both storylines. There were twists I didn’t see coming. Parts of the ending strain credibility but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment.
Chamberlain tackles the racism of the earlier time and does it in a believable fashion. Make sure to read her Acknowledgements which explains the help she was given.
This was probably my favorite of her books that I’ve read and will ensure I read more of her work. It was so compelling that I read it in a single day.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
January 31, 2020
Thank you, Diane Chamberlain, for pulling me out of my two-month book slump. Big Lies in a Small Town is an intriguing read. It’s set in small-town Edenton, North Carolina, in dual timelines—1940 and 2018. Both narrators are artists, Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher. Morgan is under a tight deadline to restore a 58-year-old mural, originally painted by Anna, for an art gallery opening. The plot is rich, very rich. This is not an action-packed, fast moving novel. It takes its time, but I thought that suited the subject material perfectly. Many questions are planted in the mind of the reader early on, and the journey to answers is compelling. Despite leisurely reading and frequently stopping to consider the entire situation, I was only able to come up with one of many answers on my own, and that didn’t happen until 86%.
The core of the story centers around the restoration of a 6-decade-old mural. Though I have little interest in art, Ms. Chamberlain actually made this subject matter engaging to me. But there is so much more to this tale. It deals with the workings of a small southern town, racial prejudice, life-altering acts, friendship, discovery, and redemption. I just loved how it all evolved and came to a most satisfying ending. Another shining feature is the character development, which is simply terrific. As I indicated above, this book came along at a perfect time for me.
The author details in her acknowledgements the vast amount of research that went into writing this novel. This section, located at end of the book, is worth reading.
I discovered Ms. Chamberlain’s works only a few years ago. I’ve read five of her novels now, with my favorites being Pretending to Dance and then this one. I am one happy girl knowing there are many more left for me to dive into. Kudos to a wonderful storyteller!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Net Galley, and Ms. Diane Chamberlain for an advanced copy of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
The core of the story centers around the restoration of a 6-decade-old mural. Though I have little interest in art, Ms. Chamberlain actually made this subject matter engaging to me. But there is so much more to this tale. It deals with the workings of a small southern town, racial prejudice, life-altering acts, friendship, discovery, and redemption. I just loved how it all evolved and came to a most satisfying ending. Another shining feature is the character development, which is simply terrific. As I indicated above, this book came along at a perfect time for me.
The author details in her acknowledgements the vast amount of research that went into writing this novel. This section, located at end of the book, is worth reading.
I discovered Ms. Chamberlain’s works only a few years ago. I’ve read five of her novels now, with my favorites being Pretending to Dance and then this one. I am one happy girl knowing there are many more left for me to dive into. Kudos to a wonderful storyteller!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Net Galley, and Ms. Diane Chamberlain for an advanced copy of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
February 6, 2020
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Is Diane Chamberlain's newest novel, Big Lies in a Small Town , worth all of the buzz it's been getting? Simple answer? Heck, yeah!
Morgan Christopher has seen better days. Once an aspiring artist, she’s serving a prison term for a crime she didn’t commit. And then one day, she gets offered an unbelievable opportunity, and her life changes again.
A legendary artist whose work she admired stipulated in his will that Morgan must be hired to restore an historic WWII-era mural to hang in a gallery that he had designed before his death. She has no idea how he knew her name and she has no experience with restoration, but if she does it, she’s free. Of course, there’s a very strict deadline, one that the artist's daughter is going to ensure she meets—or else.
The mural is in worse shape than anyone imagined, and there are some strange images included. The original artist allegedly lost her mind and disappeared before the mural could be finished. , but first she has to learn how to restore the mural and ready it to be hung in the gallery. It's no easy feat, especially given the short time period she has. But failure is not an option.
Morgan becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the artist. At the same time, she is struggling with trying to start her life again, although she is wracked with guilt about what happened in the accident that led to her prison term, as well as anger at the person who left her in the lurch. How can a person who has never been really given love or respect love or respect themselves?
In dual narratives, we follow the artist’s journey in 1940 and what happened to her, and we follow Morgan’s efforts to beat the clock and the damage that time has inflicted on the mural. The artist's story is one of being a stranger in a small town, jealousy, racial tension, and struggling with mental illness.
This is a really compelling, well-told book that I really enjoyed. I definitely saw there was potential for Chamberlain to take Morgan's story down several more melodramatic roads and I was so glad she didn't do that. I did think, however, that there were a few too many coincidences for my liking.
This is the first of Chamberlain's books I've read, but it won't be the last, as many friends have spoken very highly of her. This would probably be a really good movie or television miniseries!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Is Diane Chamberlain's newest novel, Big Lies in a Small Town , worth all of the buzz it's been getting? Simple answer? Heck, yeah!
Morgan Christopher has seen better days. Once an aspiring artist, she’s serving a prison term for a crime she didn’t commit. And then one day, she gets offered an unbelievable opportunity, and her life changes again.
A legendary artist whose work she admired stipulated in his will that Morgan must be hired to restore an historic WWII-era mural to hang in a gallery that he had designed before his death. She has no idea how he knew her name and she has no experience with restoration, but if she does it, she’s free. Of course, there’s a very strict deadline, one that the artist's daughter is going to ensure she meets—or else.
The mural is in worse shape than anyone imagined, and there are some strange images included. The original artist allegedly lost her mind and disappeared before the mural could be finished. , but first she has to learn how to restore the mural and ready it to be hung in the gallery. It's no easy feat, especially given the short time period she has. But failure is not an option.
Morgan becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the artist. At the same time, she is struggling with trying to start her life again, although she is wracked with guilt about what happened in the accident that led to her prison term, as well as anger at the person who left her in the lurch. How can a person who has never been really given love or respect love or respect themselves?
In dual narratives, we follow the artist’s journey in 1940 and what happened to her, and we follow Morgan’s efforts to beat the clock and the damage that time has inflicted on the mural. The artist's story is one of being a stranger in a small town, jealousy, racial tension, and struggling with mental illness.
This is a really compelling, well-told book that I really enjoyed. I definitely saw there was potential for Chamberlain to take Morgan's story down several more melodramatic roads and I was so glad she didn't do that. I did think, however, that there were a few too many coincidences for my liking.
This is the first of Chamberlain's books I've read, but it won't be the last, as many friends have spoken very highly of her. This would probably be a really good movie or television miniseries!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
December 5, 2019
Told in alternating timelines..the story of two artists.
1939-Anna Dale, from New Jersey -a young graduate from a fine arts school, has won a contest to create a mural for a post office in Edenton, North Carolina.
2018 -Morgan Christopher a young artist out on early parole from North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women, specifically to restore the mural that Anna painted in 1940 that was ruined in some mysterious happening.
The novel is part mystery, romance, and also includes the racial climate of the 40’s in the South.
I enjoyed it!
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC
1939-Anna Dale, from New Jersey -a young graduate from a fine arts school, has won a contest to create a mural for a post office in Edenton, North Carolina.
2018 -Morgan Christopher a young artist out on early parole from North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women, specifically to restore the mural that Anna painted in 1940 that was ruined in some mysterious happening.
The novel is part mystery, romance, and also includes the racial climate of the 40’s in the South.
I enjoyed it!
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC
November 14, 2019
I think that fans of historical fiction with a touch of mysterious atmosphere will enjoy this one much more than I did. HF is very hit or miss for me, and while I found the outcome to be a bit predictable, Diane's writing is so engaging and entertaining that I can see why this story is a favorite of many readers already. Highly recommend that you give this one a try if it's on your radar, and if HF with dual narratives is your jam.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
November 21, 2019
5 BIG FAT ABSORBING STARS ALL THE WAY........
Love the story....Love the two main characters that alternate between 1940 and 2018 every other chapter....Love the secondary characters....and absolutely Love the ending!
We have good, we have evil and we have a subtle love connection....but oh the secrets hiding within a mural in process of restoration....so cool. Even though I could see some of them coming, no matter....this terrific novel has been added to my 2019 favorites shelf.
In the acknowledgements, DC writes about the charming real life very small town of Edenton, North Carolina where the story takes place and the history behind the 48 state mural competition sponsored by the Treasury Department during the Great Depression as well as making note of a most interesting Racial Reconciliation Group meeting she attended. Be sure to read all the author's notes.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the early invite to read this fine novel, and my apologies for mistakenly letting it fall into the older than 3 months category.
BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN....my new favorite Diane Chamberlain read!
April 30, 2020
I’ve been anointed into the Chamberlain world. I feel like fireworks should be going off.
This is a Fascinating mystery told in parallel from 2 artists perspective. One who painted a mural for a town post office in 1940; and one who has been released from jail to restore it in 2018.
But as the picture of the mural unfolds, it is peppered with blood, a hammer, a motorcycle that doesn’t make sense in this quiet and secretive town the mural is supposed to represent.
Chamberlain twists a story in many different and surprisingly ways.
One mystery becomes many. The ending? Well, although only a small part of the story, I was disappointed. She left it not so neatly gifted. However, this only makes me want to cling on and check out her other ones.
4⭐️
This is a Fascinating mystery told in parallel from 2 artists perspective. One who painted a mural for a town post office in 1940; and one who has been released from jail to restore it in 2018.
But as the picture of the mural unfolds, it is peppered with blood, a hammer, a motorcycle that doesn’t make sense in this quiet and secretive town the mural is supposed to represent.
Chamberlain twists a story in many different and surprisingly ways.
One mystery becomes many. The ending? Well, although only a small part of the story, I was disappointed. She left it not so neatly gifted. However, this only makes me want to cling on and check out her other ones.
4⭐️
January 23, 2020
Diane Chamberlain has written an excellent historical mystery centred around a 12 by 6 foot mural, the artist who painted it in 1940 and the young artist commissioned to restore it in 2018.
In 1940, Anna Dale, a young woman from New Jersey won a national competition to paint a mural for a post office. Edenton, the town she was assigned in North Carolina was very different from her home town with narrow minded regarding racial discrimination and how women should act and dress. At first she is welcomed into the town but when she insists on wearing trousers for painting such a huge mural and one of the art students she hires to help is an American African some of the town people are shocked at her behaviour. Her time in Edenton does not end well, the completed mural is never hung and Anna Dale is never heard of again.
In 2018, Morgan Christopher, a young artist in jail for a crime she didn't commit is given parole in exchange for agreeing to restore a mural. She has never done any restoration work before and is puzzled about why she was selected by one of her favourite artists to undertake such a huge task with a tight, non-negotiable time frame. However, she is fascinated by the unusual mural and wondered whatever happened to Anna Dale and why there are no further records of her.
Diane Chamberlain is a wonderful story teller and really hooked me in to this unusual mystery. She has captured the attitudes and complexities of small towns perfectly in both time lines. In addition to her two flawed but strong female artists she has also depicted some interesting secondary characters. I was fascinated by both threads of the story, wondering what happened to Anna in Edenton and how Morgan came to be selected to restore the mural. There are many secrets to be uncovered before all the pieces slot into place in this compelling mystery.
With many thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for a digital copy to read.
In 1940, Anna Dale, a young woman from New Jersey won a national competition to paint a mural for a post office. Edenton, the town she was assigned in North Carolina was very different from her home town with narrow minded regarding racial discrimination and how women should act and dress. At first she is welcomed into the town but when she insists on wearing trousers for painting such a huge mural and one of the art students she hires to help is an American African some of the town people are shocked at her behaviour. Her time in Edenton does not end well, the completed mural is never hung and Anna Dale is never heard of again.
In 2018, Morgan Christopher, a young artist in jail for a crime she didn't commit is given parole in exchange for agreeing to restore a mural. She has never done any restoration work before and is puzzled about why she was selected by one of her favourite artists to undertake such a huge task with a tight, non-negotiable time frame. However, she is fascinated by the unusual mural and wondered whatever happened to Anna Dale and why there are no further records of her.
Diane Chamberlain is a wonderful story teller and really hooked me in to this unusual mystery. She has captured the attitudes and complexities of small towns perfectly in both time lines. In addition to her two flawed but strong female artists she has also depicted some interesting secondary characters. I was fascinated by both threads of the story, wondering what happened to Anna in Edenton and how Morgan came to be selected to restore the mural. There are many secrets to be uncovered before all the pieces slot into place in this compelling mystery.
With many thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for a digital copy to read.
December 16, 2019
Yep, yep, yep, yeppers.
This authors books I’ve been reading like......forever.
I’m so intrigued with this plot. I’ve read books that peel away layers and layers revealing things slowly like an onion, but to see a painting being restored and cleaned and revelations being revealed, I was glued.
As most (if not all) Diane Chamberlain’s fans know, she’s a talent to be reckoned with as she can take a reader into her story and we don’t come out to breath until the final page has been read. That’s how I felt about this book.
It’s suspense.
It’s a mystery.
It’s a great plot with fabulous characters, lovely ones to the grumpy stressed ones.
You will be in tune with them all, each for different reasons.
There’s even romance......finally.
The title says it all.
Big Lies In A Small Town.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!
The ending was just 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝.
I just loved it.
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