I didn’t like this book as much as the first one in the series but it was ok. It centers on a missing actor actor named Sam and both his agent (Lola) and the police detective (Sue) that are involved in the case. Lola is a distinctly unlikable person and I didn’t really connect with Sue either. There are a few twists and turns as the book continues.

I had some trouble really immersing myself in this book and I’m not exactly sure why- thinking it’s because I couldn’t relate to either protagonist and Sam, who the whole story was about, felt like more of a side story than someone I got to know. There was one cool surprise twist regarding Lola that I enjoyed, but some of the other twists felt either predicable or contrived. When the villain is unveiled I had trouble getting behind the reason for that person to do the things they did. The end didn’t leave me with unanswered questions but was a bit abrupt.

Overall, this was a decent story but it just didn’t capture me the way the previous book did. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for a brilliant read.
I read Natalie's first book and was really interested in reading this and it didn't disappoint - love it when you find a good new author!
This had a bit of everything - storyline, suspense, murder, great characters, revenge and loads and loads of twise snad turs.
I was glued.
I need more by this author please.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

The author is new to me
I absolutely loved this
Twists and turns I wasn't expecting
So well plotted and unpredictable

Highly recommend

The Publicist is a thrilling and well plotted book with twists you just cannot predict. It gives a look inside a world we all know about but don't get to see.

This book had an opening that you would not want to show your grandmother. I was mildly entertained but also curious, wondering how Tambini would develop the narrative. However, as much as I tried, I could not truly get immersed in the story and it wasn’t until it reached the half-way point that I started to like it.

The protagonist, Lola, is not a character you can like. Yet, you cannot help but admire her cutthroat ways and how she has succeeded as a publicist to celebrities, protecting their reputations and spinning newspaper stories to ensure the best possible outcome. As readers get to know this character, it is revealed that she has quite a few secrets hidden and this is where you see Lola at her most manipulative. The way she treats others is simply for her own gain and protection, making her snake-like in her actions. In contrast, the leading Detective on the disappearance of Sam Stevens is surprisingly weak and I disliked how she treated her family, making assumptions that her partner knows nothing about her troubled son.

The disappearance of Sam Stevens almost becomes a sub-plot as Lola’s character grows in strength. Her manipulative actions reach far and beyond and the control she maintains is deadly. On the other hand, I thought the lack of emphasis on Sam to lessen the tension of the story. Whilst the background to this missing character added to the novel, I did find myself a bit bored by some of the relationships portrayed.

Another element that didn’t help was the frequent references to the previous book by this author. Despite this not apparently being a series, it did feel like I should have read the first book to get an idea of a previous case that Sue Fisher had worked on. It made this story less appealing and I was frustrated by how little understanding I had of this case that seems to still feature largely in this novel.

There were a few plot developments in this book that made a significant impact on me; I wish there had been more along the way. Instead, for the most part, I feel that readers were given too much insight into character motives, with little room for surprises. Indeed, the story featuring Sue’s son had me questioning whether there would be greater links to other characters in the story, so I was a bit disappointed when this did not come into fruition.

In my opinion, there was a mixture of dark crime and a bit of light-heartedness that made reading the book a bit awkward. I don’t think it helped that I didn’t warm enough to the leading women in the story and whilst Lola’s ruthlessness made it seem that she would not stop at anything, I would have preferred there to be more surprises along the way.

With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I like this book and I am surprised that not more people have picked it up to read. A quality mystery/thriller with action and a good, moving story. Entertaining to the reader throughout.

I didn't realise when i requested this book initially that it was part of a series, although it became apparent very early on in the reading, as there were many references to the previous book.

Which worried me at first, but ultimately the main plot of this book can definitely be read as a standalone, I've just missed out of possibly useful background and character building for Sue and her family.

That being said I was certainly invested in Lola, and just why it is she was upset to discover her star client was in fact not missing, and not dead as she was expecting him to be!

It's a rather twisty tale, that had been intrigued and reading on to find out as much as possible, and I never guessed even a fraction of what actually happens.

I loved seeing what sort of a publicist Lola is, and the lengths she will go to for her clients.

And there were many gasp worthy revelations along the way.

I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The Publicist will have you playing detective yourself from the first page! The second book in the DCI Sue Fisher series does not disappoint. Tambini takes us on a ride through the glitz and glamour of the celebrity world while revealing the worst in her main characters making us more interested in their motivation with each twist and turn. I have never enjoyed trying to solve the case as much as I did with this book! Natalie Tambini is a new author for me, and a new favorite!

A suspenseful book that addresses several elements, and has twists that will keep you flipping the pages. A behind the scenes look at “showbiz”.
Many thanks to Harpercollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This really kept me on the edge of my seat! Completely out of the box and super original I really enjoyed this one! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

To start this was a little slow but I really enjoyed catching up with Sue Fisher from the previous book. This can be read as a standalone however.

The case itself is very well presented and it really made me think of the people surrounding all these celebrities, how far would they go to keep things going.

A good story but not quite as punchy as I was hoping.

Whew! The Publicist absolutely had it all - suspense, murder, revenge, and mystery all wrapped up in this book. I was completely hooked and eager to see the twists and turns - which were crazy! Definitely worth the read!

This story started out a little slow. Then it picked up and then it got slow again. The writing was easy to follow and the story was easy to read. Wasn’t my favorite but I will recommend it to someone who I think would like it.

Behind the glamour and the glitz lies the darkness and the secrets. Lola Lovett's role is to ensure they remain there, and her skilful subterfuge has made her ruthless and successful,l. Still, someone knows her secrets, and when her attempt to remove the threat fails, she employs her considerable talents to save herself. DCI Sue Fisher is thrust into the world of celebrity to solve the high-profile missing person case. The location has troubling memories, and as she investigates, she finds that darkness is everywhere, even in the bright lights. I have yet to read the first book featuring this detective, but this is a new case, and the book works as a standalone read; the characters are unlikeable, and this contemporary psychological thriller explores some disturbing themes. Despite this, it's an easy escapist read, with its larger-than-life characters, scandal and snarky humour. It has good characterisation, a contemporary ethos and an addictive entertainment factor that keeps you reading.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Having read Natalie Tambini's The Nail Salon, I was eagerly waiting to read The Publicist. The events here happen four years after the Medford Nail Salon case (The Nail Salon).

DCI Sue Fisher is struggling with the past - her abuse, rehabilitation after being beaten up and left for dead, emotionally distant teenage son, finding love once again, and of course, the job. Clients causing trouble is not new to any PR guru. But in Lola Lovett's case, one client starts to threaten... saying he would reveal her secrets to the world. Now, that can't happen, can it? Lola's worked hard to achieve her dream job and she can't let a client ruin it.

The search begins. Time is running out - for Sam as well as Lola. As Sue Fisher and her team start to dig deeper into the case, they learn about Sam's turbulent past.

The mystery behind the actor's disappearance kept me guessing till the end. Plenty of twists and surprises, especially in the second half of the story. Then we have a final twist - a mind-blowing, gobsmacking, jaw-dropping twist that will make you say "WHAT THE...!!!"

This story gives one an in-depth view of how the PR world works. They not only hide their client's embarrassing moments and 'bad deeds.' They also 'tip-off' the paparazzi to follow their clients- anything to keep the clients on Page 3 for as long as possible.

Absolutely fantabulous storytelling. Natalie Tambini has made it to my list of favourite authors since I read The Nail Salon. She writes captivating and twist thrillers that will keep one on the edge of their seat - from the beginning of the story and till the end.

While this is a stand-alone novel, The Publicist follows on well from Natalie Tambini’s earlier novel, The Nail Salon, which I enjoyed enormously.
This novel is set four years later and DCI Sue Fisher is now living with her former partner Mike, though this is not really a match made in heaven. Her son Tom has grown from a truly likeable fourteen year-old into a surly and withdrawn eighteen year-old. It’s clear that Sue has plenty going on in her home when she is assigned to find missing A-List actor Sam Stevens.
Lola, personal publicist to the stars and particularly Sam, who was her first client when she started her agency, is also keen to find Sam, but not for quite the same reasons. It seems Lola has plenty of secrets and there is a chance Sam might spill the beans. The race is on.
I loved the fast pace of this story, which is told largely from Lola’s and Sue’s points of view. I read the book in one setting as clues and backstory were dripped in at just the right moments to keep me curious and interested. This has been an excellent read.

DCI Sue Fisher is back in book #2 in the series that bears her name. This time, she's searching for a missing celebrity while still nursing some scars from the first book, The Nail Salon. As in the first book, Tambini has shown us how flawed these characters could be. No one is without their dark side. As she works her way through the clues and comes closer and closer to discovering exactly where the missing man could be and why this is about so much more than money. This man's publicist raises flags each step of the way. Again, Tambini's ability to move seamlessly from character to character and keep us turning those pages is remarkable. She has quickly moved up my TBR list as well as topping my recommendation list.

After a fabulous Hollywood type of gala a very famous actor goes missing his name is Sam Stevens and his publicist seems very worried about him or at least that’s what she wants detective Sue Fisher to believe. Lola is very popular with the Hollywood elite and she knows everyone’s dark secrets and fixes them before they become public knowledge but what others don’t know is that Lola has secrets of her own. Then there’s Tyler he says he and Sam have been dating for under a year that they’re very close but find reasons to believe not all was well with their relationship and Sue Fisher should know because her relationship with her son Tom isn’t so great unlike his loving supportive attitude before the death of Zeus husband and his father Rob he now is angry rebellious and disrespectful and it doesn’t help that Sue has moved on and is now dating her coworker Mike, who I love by the way. this is the second book in the Jane Fisher Detective mystery series OMG if these books do not read like standard thrillers. Not to mention just like the first book nail salon, this book has a twisty deliciously awesome ending in one I did not guess. Throughout the book I thought I knew who did it but OMG if the author didn’t totally surprise me with the end of this book! speaking of the first book we also get to say Susie the twins is mom again and they mention the whole house and Sue has to go back to the same neighborhood to investigate her new case with Sam Stevens so I love that it is all intertwined and reads like someone’s real life except the phenomenal ending because OMG as I said I was not expecting that! If you read this book you will not be expecting it either… There’s no way! I want to thing net galley and harperCollins UK for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

"She knows all their secrets."

It's been Four years since the horrifying nail salon Medford case and DCI Sue Fisher is now investigating the case of a missing actor. Little does she know the actor's publicist, Lola is also dipping her hands into the investigation. Will Sue find the famous actor before it's too late?

I enjoyed The Nail Salon by Natalie Tambini and I expected The Publicist would pull my attention and be just as wild and disturbing. It was good but lacking in some areas.

The story would have been better for me if there was more suspense in the missing actor, Sam. We get to know Sam through backstories, and we are told he's missing. However, there is a lack of showing the reader Sam's experience and therefore decreasing the sense of urgency. It's almost as if Sam is silently in the background whereas the story focuses on the backstories of multiple characters.

On a positive note, I was captivated by all the secrets, twists, backstories, and revenge that The Publicist offered. If these are themes that you enjoy, I advise you to read this book. The Publicist by Natalie Tambini will be available for purchase in ebook form on August 18th and in paperback on August 31st.

Thank you One More Chapter for the gifted copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I enjoyed this author’s first novel, The Nail Salon, but loved this book even more. As soon as I started it, I knew it would be a book that I couldn’t put down. It’s a pacy thriller set within the glamorous world of showbiz. Secrets, lies and murder: what ore could you ask for. Highly recommend, I can’t wait for the next novel. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.