Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

January 14, 2020

St Martin’s Press

Fiction, ARC, digital

NetGalley (9/14/19)

400 pages

12/7/19-12/29/19

Rating: 4/5

I received the digital copy of this arc book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The story is told through alternating timelines which explain how the past of one person influences the present of another person. Interesting story with details about the restoration of paintings.

In June 2018, Morgan Christopher has been an inmate attending AA meetings for a year when given an opportunity for parole. Although she was an art school drop out prior to her arrest in a complicated DUI accident, Morgan was chosen to restore a mural for a gallery opening. Lisa Williams is a busy real estate agent given specific instructions regarding conditions related to the estate. Much to her dismay, she accepts that her inheritance is in the hands of an untrained prison inmate.

Morgan feels overwhelmed and incompetent for such a major restoration of a mural for Jesse Jameson Williams, a renowned artist.
She soon realizes that her freedom and future of the Williams family rely on her ability to successfully complete this project within the narrow timeframe provided.

As Morgan learns about art restoration for the gallery opening in the Edenton, NC community, she discovers little known history regarding the 1940 unfinished mural. Anna Dale had been commissioned during the Depression to paint the mural in the local post office. She had been chosen after submitting her proposal for a government plan to honor select post offices with a themed mural.

It was December 1939 when Anna Dale who lived in Plainfield, NJ submitted her request to paint the mural for the Bordentown, NJ post office. Unfortunately the job was given to another artist but much to her surprise, she was contacted to submit a proposal for the Edenton, NC post office. Anna had endured a difficult childhood due to her mother’s health and having to live with aunt and uncle. When her mother dies Anna looks forward to working as an artist and the $720 payment for mural job.

Anna isn’t prepared for the skeptics and negativity regarding her being chosen for the job as a local artist was denied the honor. As much as Anna persevered through the pressure and harassment from locals, she was unable to complete the job. During Morgan’s research she uncovers the hidden truths from the past which provide her the importance of completing her mission.

Very interesting plot and story which was somewhat predictable yet still had you wondering until the truth is revealed.

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