But when you read a bit further into the author note, Diane outlines some very positive things that have been happening within that town to address its painful (and shameful) history one that is deeply rooted in slavery and segregation. While the story itself is fiction, it interested me that Diane had used an actual small town as the setting for a novel that doesn’t always paint that town in a merry way I wondered at the possible outrage from its residents and fallout for the author. I was surprised to read in the author note that the town in which the story was set, Edenton, is an actual town in North Carolina. As the novel progressed, I really enjoyed seeing all of the plot threads begin to knit together and there were plenty of ‘ah-ha’ moments as mysteries were solved and character connections were made. Both of the main characters, Morgan and Anna, were women that I formed a great deal of empathy for and I felt quite invested in their stories. Next level fiction and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend far and wide.īig Lies in a Small Town is a dual timeline narrative, with a multi-layered plot that has anchors in both eras, as well as credible links between the characters across time. Big Lies in a Small Town is, in my opinion, her best yet. I have been a long-time fan of Diane Chamberlain, she’s an author whose books just gel with me, every time. 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? 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. Alone in the world and desperate for work, she accepts.

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. 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. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. 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. 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. North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher’s life has been derailed. Big Lies in a Small Town… About the Book:

Diane chamberlain new book 2020