Big Lies in a Small Town: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide references a sexual assault.

Anna’s mural stands as the narrative’s centerpiece, the focus of her creative energy, the outlet for her trauma, and the key piece of the puzzle linking Morgan to the past. It represents not only the town of Edenton but also Anna’s interpretation of it. As a work of art, it is already controversial for her inclusion of the Edenton Tea Party, but that controversy soon fades as the mural becomes more inclusive, capturing both the town’s Revolutionary War role as well as its more contemporary significance—its lumber and fishing industries. Anna understands the significance of the mural to the town’s pride and identity. In fact, she opens the warehouse to the public, and townsfolk gather to watch her work. When Anna suffers a sexual assault at the hands of Martin, the mural takes on a more ominous significance. It becomes the surreal product of her nightmares, displaying images that reflect her trauma. Interspersed as these images are with the previous images of the town’s history, the combination results in a harsher—and much more honest—portrayal of Edenton’s crueler aspects juxtaposed with the mask of its genial social veneer.

For Morgan, the mural initially represents her get-out-of-jail-free card, and although she does not understand why Jesse would choose her to restore it, she cannot turn down the opportunity.