User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
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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Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
***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.
Rating: really liked it
🎉🎉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!!!
Rating: really liked it
***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.
Rating: really liked it
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
Rating: really liked it
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
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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*****
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Rating: really liked it
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.*
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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 ***
Rating: really liked it
AssiduityBig 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.
Rating: really liked it
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
