Dark and twisty, The Nail Salon is set in an affluent London suburb where owner Mel, fulfils a dual role. Not only does she file and paint nails, she is a confidant to the bored rich housewives who book appointments with her. And it’s clear in the majority of cases, beyond their extravagant lifestyles, there is often trouble in paradise.
When Anna, the fifteen year old daughter of one of these wealthy families disappears, it brings DCI Sue Fisher into the area to make enquiries. As Sue, a woman who has her own problems living with an abusive partner, investigates, some shocking discoveries are made. With each revelation the author cleverly teases the reader, taking them in one direction and then another. So many suspects are living behind those locked gates, many of them guilty of some awful things, but not, it appears, the abduction of Anna.
The characterisation is excellent – so many love-to-hate characters. It’s an addictive read with a highly believable plot that is difficult to put down and a huge twist at the end I honestly didn't see coming. A great read. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank Natalie Tambini, One More Chapter and Netgalley for an ARC of The Nail Salon in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome to The Nail Salon. A place where you can sit back relax have a manicure and confess your secrets to your friendly manicurist.

Just be careful what secrets you reveal. As this manicurist isn't as friendly as she seems.

But then neither are the customers.

In a glamorous suburb in the outskirts of London. Where appearances are everything. Yet behind closed doors nothing is what it seems.

And when a teenage girl is reported missing. All those secrets bubble to the surface. Even those of the DCI tasked to investigate.

And with a great plot and some twists and turns. This was an interesting thriller. That deals with some tough and disturbing issues along the way.

This was a twisty book that I read in one sitting. The synopsis doesn’t really tell you much, but you’ll get surprise after surprise throughout the book. It centers on a bunch of rich people in London, one a teenage girl who goes missing. Melinda owns a nail salon and is right in the middle of all the gossip and drama, but turns out she is hiding secrets of her own. You also get an alternating storyline focused on the detective, Sue, who is trying to find the missing teenager.

While focused on the lifestyles of the rich and pampered, this is by no means a light read. There are a ton of deaths, and storylines covered include multiple types of abuse, mental illness, and pedophilia. Somehow the author manages to make the book not too heavy despite all this. There are many surprises throughout the book- I could not put it down because I didn’t know what could possibly be coming next.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. I am not often surprised by twists, but it got me a few times. Definitely not a light read but a very interesting one. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Natalie Tambini's The Nail Salon had me hooked from page one. The plot centres around a mix of characters devoid of any stereotypes who find reprieve in Melanie's Nail Salon. The owner is aware of her customers' lies, secrets and betrayals and keeps each revelation close to her chest. However, her path crosses with the formidable DCI Sue Fisher, whose reputation is iron-clad with respect and reverence. However, appearances can be extremely deceptive as Sue is battling the wrath of her domestic circumstances. Told from multiple POVs, this book is fused with multiple unexpected twists and turns and delivers a memorable yet shocking ending. I must admit that this read was darker than most thrillers and police procedurals. Readers must be aware of multiple trigger warnings, including domestic abuse, animal abuse, suicide and self-harm. Do not skip this book if you're looking for an unconventional plot, gripping prose and a shocking ending.

Thank you, NetGalley & HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for providing an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

I was offered an ARC from Harper Collins Publishers and I am so glad I accepted. As described as perfect nails, perfect lives, guilty secrets. Oh what secrets are shed. This was a quick thriller that’ll keep you on your toes. Melinda, who owns the nail salon has a few secrets of her own and the twists will leave you speechless.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect with the title of this book. But I was pleasantly surprised, I managed to read this in less than a day, purely because I was intrigued.

Melanie runs The Nail Salon, dealing with celebrities and customers who are wealthy. In the evenings she spends her time helping the homeless, especially young girls, helping them turn their lives around to get off the streets.

DCI Fisher is a police officer called in to run a case of a missing teen, Anna, who’s run away. Detective Fisher has her own secrets and private battles, but everyone’s life crashing together in this page turning thriller.

The story was really well written, and ensured you wanted to keep reading. This story also made me see that appearances are just appearances, and some people only let you see what they want you to see.

This book also tackled tough subjects such as domestic violence and sexual abuse, but these were dealt with really well.

A great I’d recommend.

2.5 Stars. Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter, for this interesting ARC in return for an honest review. The concept was good, but I felt there was too much content, too many threads and twists that interfered with the momentum moving at a good pace. The characters were well-developed, but there were so many, including their family members, that I failed to become emotionally invested in any.

This was a grim, dark story. Issues included; impersonation, pedophilia, sexual grooming, child abuse, domestic abuse, porn, the dark web, abduction, human trafficking, transgender problems, drug abuse, delusions, suicide, torture, and control. It was a case where less would have been more, adding to the intensity and suspense.

The principal characters had unfortunate backgrounds that linger in their present lives. Melinda owns a nail salon in an upscale neighbourhood. It is frequented by idle, bored well-off ladies who love to gossip. Melinda is a lady of many personalities. She is popular in her salon, where clients confide in her and rumours are spread. Outside her salon, she is obsessed with helping girls who have run away from home and are living rough on the streets. She desires to give them a good home with love and the advantages they never received from their own families. DCI Sue Fisher is an effective and admired police officer trying to hide injuries from batteries by her abusive husband. She is ashamed to let her workmates and teenage son learn her secret.

A teenage girl, Anna, is missing from her wealthy family. She had previously been gone without telling her parents. Several street girls have vanished without the publicity that Anna's case is receiving, and the police are busy searching for her.

Although I thought there were too many twists, there was a great one near the book's conclusion. Anyone who enjoys a mystery/police procedure with many surprising twists should enjoy The Nail Salon. The publication is set for July 6.

New-to-me author, Natalie Tambini has crafted a fabulous thriller with all kinds of goings on! The story is well paced, evenly written and will keep you glued to each and every page! There were twists where my jaw was literally wide open! So looking forward to what I hope is a series. Well done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter Books for this ARC!

As someone who loves a good crime novel, I was instantly intrigued by Natalie Tambini's "The Nail Salon." Set in a seemingly perfect suburban community outside of London, this book quickly proves that looks can be deceiving.

The disappearance of a teenage girl leads DCI Sue Fisher and her team on a twisted journey through the interconnected secrets and lies of the community's residents. The topics tackled in this book, including domestic abuse, suicide, child abuse, animal torture, and self-harm, are heavy and not for the faint of heart. But Tambini handles them with grace and sensitivity, making the characters' experiences feel raw and real.

What sets "The Nail Salon" apart from other crime novels is its focus on the psychology and motivations behind the characters' actions. This is not a whodunit story where the killer is revealed at the end - the journey is just as important as the destination. The ending may not tie everything up in a neat little bow, but it is satisfying in its honesty.

Overall, I highly recommend "The Nail Salon" for anyone looking for a gripping, emotionally charged read. Tambini's writing will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Melinda runs a nail salon in Cobshott, Surrey. She is there for all her clients and also enjoys listening to all the gossip too.

DCI Sue Fisher is on the hunt for a missing teenager, Anna. It’s not the first time she has disappeared but as she’s from a wealthy background, it’s not long before she’s in the papers and on the news as her Mum wants her back home.

The story starts off well and I was interested in learning more about the characters. Unfortunately, there is a lot of abuse and some graphic content that did turn my stomach.

A dark thriller that was not what I was expecting at all and the ending was a great surprise.

My thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK & One More Chapter for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

In a nail salon, people often tell their most intimate secrets. And Melanie is there to hear all of them.

It's when she acts on the information that the story gets engaging. And by engaging, I mean intense! This book is not for the faint hearted: heed the trigger warnings!

We know who is committing the crimes (and we're mostly on their side), but not the why. It's interesting to see how the police narrow down the clues, after suspecting almost everyone at some point. Everyone has a back story, and we are here for it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for introducing me to Natalie Tambini. I'm looking forward to her sophomore novel, The Publicist, due out August 18, 2023.

This book was ok. I thought it was more interesting than the Publicist, but I still skipped around a lot. The nail salon is a good cover for the kidnapping scheme going around. Some suspense. Just ok.

I really liked the idea of this story but felt the detail was slightly off. The characters weren’t fully formed in that we didn’t get a proper backstory so the motivations were nebulous. However I did like the concept and the drama was well controlled. I feel this could have been a stand out book with a bit more care and judicious editing, however it deserves 3.5 stars upgraded to 4 stars for a good effort.

This is a dark, gruesome, and gritty read with lots of triggers mentioned by the publisher from the start.

It does seem to squash everything, but the kitchen sink into it, and a lot seems to be added for the shock value and diluted the storyline. Personally, I feel less is more.

I didn't hate it but I didn't love it

Really enjoyed theNail Salon.I was drawn in from the first pages.The characters come alive the story kept me guessing and had many surprises.An author to followI will be recommending this thriller.#netgalley #harpercollinsuk

It was a slow start for me to get into this book but like a roller coaster, it steadily picked up speed and once it got going, it was a great ride.

I chose this book because I thought a setting based around a nail salon was unique and intriguing. I am sure nail technicians hear a lot of juicy gossip and tidbits of information. Plus, yanno, I just love to get my nails done. lol

A teenage girl, Anna, from an affluent family has gone missing and the clock is ticking to find her. DCI Sue Fisher and her partner Mike are on the case. We are introduced to a large number of characters, many who become suspects. DCI Sue figures out early on who the killer is but when she is attacked, assaulted, she ends up unconscious in ICU and Mike continues on to not only find Anna but to nail the person who attacked Sue.

We also meet Melinda, salon owner. Melinda is not who everyone thinks she is. She knows a lot more about the lives of her clients than they know and she uses her knowledge for her advantage.

The story jumps around a lot of POV but the writing style is simplistic enough it is easy to follow. I would compare this to a fast paced Criminal Minds investigation and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this!

Be warned: this is a very graphic book with a lot of trigger warnings ~ child abuse, domestic assault, infidelity, drug use, murder, kidnapping, pedophilia, suicide, sex trafficking, torture, self-harm, violence....the list goes on. It is definitely not for the faint of heart or if you have any triggers to the above.

Four solid stars. Big thank you to the author, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for an electronic ARC to review

Wow! Great book!! This book was definitely different! It had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, serial killer, kidnapping, abuse, great police work and some really crazy twists and turns! The storyline was so very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! The characters were very interesting, some even a bit crazy! A big secret about one of the characters i was shocked and did not see coming!! I highly recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! Definitely don't miss out on this one! great thriller!

A great read. Gripping from start to finish. Who knew that a visit to a nail salon, sharing all your secrets, gossiping about your friends and neighbours could lead to murder.
This is a cleverly written bookwith twists and turns along the way. I would highly recommend, a great summer read

Wow what a rollercoaster of a thriller, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with so much packed into it. Murder, child grooming, sexual abuse, suicide, domestic abuse and so much more. If you’re looking for a book you won’t get bored of or want something action packed then look no further.

Melinda runs a nail salon, she has her regular customers who all come in for a good gossip and they all know Melinda is a safe pair of ears who they can off load their problems to.

What people don’t know is that Melinda lives a double life where she has taken it upon herself to look out for lone teenagers who are alone in London and are I potential danger. Melinda takes them home with her and adopts them into her family. She wants to give these teenagers the life she never had, a loving mother, a family home and somewhere they can feel safe. Again something she never had when she was growing up.

Melinda however has got herself into a bit of a mess with things not running quite as smoothly as she has first hoped, and when Anna is reported missing and with DCI Sue Fisher on the case Melindas world is about to implode around her.

What I love about the nail salon is that all of these characters have their own stories that are being told and it all fits together and works really well. I didn’t have a clue how this book was going to end and I loved the way it was rounded off and came together so nicely. With plenty of twists and turns this book will have you hooked from start to finish. You certainly won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review. If I could give more than 5 stars I think would!

WOW what a brilliant thriller! This kept me totally hooked from the first page. Mel Medford’s nail salon is the place to go for not only having your nails done, but for all the gossip. Everyone who goes through the door has a secret and when a young girl goes missing it’s up to DCI Sue Fisher and her team to find her and make the connections. This is a story that delves into the murky world of how so called perfect lives are actually anything but. This was dark, twisty and takes the reader on a rollercoaster of a ride. It covers some really sensitive topics and issues, including domestic violence, abuse and kidnapping. This is the first book I’ve read by Natalie Tambini but I can guarantee it won’t be the last! The Publicist by her is already on my TBR pile! Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review