Big Lies in a Small Town

In this book Diane Chamberlain creates an enthralling story about two female artists decades apart and the complicated mural that connects them. The story is perfectly paced with enough detail to bring the time periods and artwork to life without being overdone. Though the story touches on some hard-hitting topics, it is a beautiful piece of work.

This book tells the story of Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale. Morgan is a young woman paying the price for a crime she did not commit when a stranger offers a deal she cannot refuse. She must restore a mural painted in 1940 in time for a gallery opening, a task for which she is untrained. The artist of the mural, Anna Dale, disappeared in 1940 before the mural could be installed. The mural also disappeared, but somehow shows up in the hands of another artist who insists that Morgan is the only person who can restore it. Through the restoration process, Morgan begins to unravel the mystery that is Anna Dale.

The story is told in dual perspectives in dual timelines. The chapters alternate between Morgan in 2018 and Anna in 1939/1940. The chapters are relatively short, keeping the pace quick. Each chapter reveals a bit more of the Anna mystery. Chamberlain builds suspense nicely, keeping the reader engaged.

The characters are well developed and dynamic. Anna is a Northern woman in a Southern town, unable to really understand the racial climate in which she finds herself. Her artistic spirit and strong will are admirable, but they end up causing her grief. Morgan is troubled by the car accident she and her past boyfriend caused. She does not know how to move past the guilt. Restoring the mural gives her some purpose and helps her to resolve some of her feelings. As a reader, I found myself really caring for these characters.

The ending is satisfying, even though some aspects of it are a bit predictable. The plot concludes in a way that provides the answers to the questions put forth throughout the book such as what happened to Anna Dale and what connection does Morgan have to the mural.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction with dual timelines and multiple perspectives. The writing style is easy to read and the plot is engaging and fulfilling.