Big Lies in a Small Town, an eye-catching title with an intricately woven story hidden beneath the covers. This is my first Diane Chamberlain book and after experiencing this tale, I hope to continue reading more of her work.
Â
From bestselling author Diane Chamberlain comes an irresistible new audiobook.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. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: Big Lies in a Small Town
Author(s): Diane Chamberlain
Narrator(s): Susan Bennett
Published by Macmillan Audio on January 14, 2020
Pages: 400
Length: 13 hours and 19 minutes
Genre(s): Fiction
Source: Edelweiss, Scribd
Format: Audiobook, eBook 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: 
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?
Â
World famous painter Jesse Jameson William’s decision to add a codicil to his last will and testament created new opportunities for a young convict while uncovering a decades old mystery surrounding a murder and a missing painting. The story follows two strong and independent female characters. Readers are first introduced to Morgan Christopher. She’s in prison for a crime she knew about but was not the actual perpetrator. Her story occurs in 2018. An unexpected opportunity to be free from prison landed in her lap with one condition: she needs to restore a mysterious painting to its former glory within a stipulated timeline.
Rewind to 1940, where we meet Anna Dale, a New Jersey resident who recently lost her mother. She has just discovered she is the winner of an art contest which involved the painting of a mural for the Edenton Post office in North Carolina.
The story moves seamlessly between the past and present where Anna paints and Morgan restores. It pulls the reader in from the first page. Chamberlain wove several interconnected events throughout the story (A story which covered issues of racism, rape and mental illness), while treating readers to mystery and a smidgen of romance. I enjoyed both timelines, however; I found Anna’s the most interesting. Both timelines came merged, and ultimately delivering answers to questions raised throughout the story.
Elizabeth Bennett narrated. She brought life to the characters and the story. Her tone and presentation will have listeners invested in the story. She aptly portrayed Morgan and Anna. Their personalities came alive through her narration. Her male voices were natural and distinct. Also, her performance for the secondary female characters was well done.Â
Â
| Story Evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters | |
| World Building | |
| Writing Style | |
| Pacing | |
| Cover | |
| Narrator (Audio) | |
| Enjoyment | |
| Ending | |
| Overall: | |
- Accidentally Forever: Carrie Ann Ryan - April 28, 2025
- Enchantra: Kaylie Smith - April 26, 2025
- Blog Tour: The Spring In My Heart - April 24, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
This sounds like such a fascinating historical fiction, and I like how they had two timelines there as it seems like it seemed to really work well for the story overall.
Great review!
I loved this book with its NC setting but more the strong women. It was my first read of Diane Chamberlain too. It really has an impact.
I’ve been wanting to read a book by Diane Chamberlain, and this one sounds wonderful. I really enjoyed your review, Nadene.
I have a copy of this one to read and am really looking forward to it. I read my first Dianne Chamberlain book earlier this year, The Last House on the Street, and loved it!
Wonderful review, Nadene. I love Diane Chamberlain’s books and that they always deal with important social issues, most that I am not aware of. I really enjoyed this one as well.
Thanks Carla. It’s my first time reading her work and it was a wonderful experience.
Diane is the only one that makes me like historical fiction. This and The Dream Daughter are my favorites.
i don’t generally read historical fiction, but I heard good things about this one.
I enjoyed this one and the author. I am glad to see the audiobook was well done 🙂 Great review Nadene.
That sounds like it would be a good read. I haven’t read this author before.
I usually favor one of the character’s timelines as well. Glad to hear this was a win!
I hit the jackpot with this one.