Sharon Metcalf's Reviews > Big Lies in a Small Town

What a terrific introduction I've just had into the work of Diane Chamberlain.    Her most recent novel Big Lies In A Small Town reeled me in from the beginning and was one of those books I couldn't put down.   The old adage better late than never seems quite apt as I've just discovered she has some 25 titles to her credit.     Big Lies may well be my first but I already have my sights set on at least one other.

As is so poular these days, this novel has a dual time line and it worked really well for me.  Our two main female protagonists are Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher.   The 'small town' of the title is Edenton, North Carolina.   Anna's story is set in Edenton in 1940.    She's an up and coming New Jersey born artist who has just won a government competition to paint a mural for the Edenton Post Office.   Morgan's story is set in Edenton in 2018.     She's been released from jail on parole on the  condition she completes the restoration of Anna Dale's mural which is to be hung in the foyer of a new Edenton  gallery.     There are many parallels in the lives of Anna and Morgan.    Not only are they passionate about their art, but they are each 22 when in their respective timelines and both young women have experienced major life altering events.   I thoroughly enjoyed the  way their stories were intertwined and eagerly awaited the denoument so I could piece together how their stories became linked, how these characters ended up and surprisingly I was interested in the art restoration process, something I'd never previously thought about.  With themes of mental health, family and small town dynamics, race relations in the 1940's, friendships, guilt and redemption, and of course the hint of romance this one ticked all the boxes.

My thanks to Diane Chamberlain, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.