Oof! Tense & engaging with a fantastic premise. I love a good British thriller and this delivered!! I did find the “wrap up” a bit on the nose (over delivered) but tbh I wasn’t mad they summarized all the things I didn’t pay quite enough attention to!

Cam wakes up one morning to find that her husband has left the house. In fact, the good man that she knows and loves is holding three people hostage in a warehouse. She is as puzzled as the London police are to figure out why he is doing it. Scraps of clues, such as the handwritten note that he left her that morning, are all that she has to figure it out.
The same thing that has worked so well in Gillian McAllister’s other recent books makes this one click. .A crime happens that seems impossible, based on the goodness of the characters involved. Her writing is unusual, full of the impressions of an interrupted happy life, and it works, in a way that it shouldn't. As an American reader, I love the everyday British slang, and it pulls me into the setting.
While it's well worth the read, this didn't draw me in as much as Wrong Place Wrong Time or as much as Just Another Missing Person. While Cam is involved (it is after all her husband), she wasn’t in the warehouse. For the most part, she isn't in the middle of the action, and I think it's this that makes Famous Last Words less of a thrill. Four stars.

This is my third and far from final Gillian read- what an amazingly well done thrilling yet slow burning mystery. There were so many moving parts, and no stones left unturned and all the answers were given. I had a couple hunches that proved to be correct, but I wasn’t dissatisfied in my guessing.

Camilla’s (Cam) husband, Luke, has taken three people hostage in a warehouse shortly after their newborn daughter was born. Two people are killed, and the police cannot identify them and no one comes forward reporting them mossing. Luke escapes the warehouse somehow and we don’t see or hear from Luke for several years- and we aren’t even sure he’s still alive. Cam carries on in life as best she can, still holding out hope for their reunion. Meanwhile, Niall, is the hostage negotiator turned detective that is digging for the truth; he cannot let this case remain a cold case. This case haunts him because he feels like a failed hostage negotiator since two people ended up dead. Niall wants to find Luke just as bad as Cam does- and the truth of what really happened in the warehouse and why.

So so so good. Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC of this book- all opinions are solely my own.

Really fascinating premise and I love the writing progression and the way the story unfolded. It just sucked me in and had me totally invested in what was happening, how everyone felt and the mystery behind it all. It was hard to put down and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

It was a great concept of not only facing a crime crisis you don’t understand, but second guessing everything you know about your spouse, or for Niall, your own judgement. And then the aftermath of that.

I thought the way the writing unfolded in a reflective way was so insightful, it let you identify with the characters completely. Some of the mystery I was able to piece together as we went, and some not till the end. While the story itself was still sad to me, I really enjoyed it a ton.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

It's not often a mystery/thriller can keep me on the edge of my seat throughout the book, but this one grabbed me from the get-go and never let up. I found myself growing anxious, perplexed, heartbroken, hopeful, and jittery in turns as the story developed, sometimes feeling several at once. And, to my delight, though clues were dripped and dropped, weaved and woven, into the story, I only predicted one small part of the ending (I am so disappointed when I am able to figure out the ending, especially any twists, part-way through a book, which happens way too often for me), offering plenty of nice surprises and a very satisfying ending.

In Famous Last Words, Camilla, a book agent, and Luke, a ghostwriter, are a happily-married couple living in London with 9 month-old Polly. However, when Cam wakes one June morning and Luke is gone, she doesn't know where he is until she is contacted by Niall, a hostage negotiator, who tells her Luke has taken three hostages in a warehouse and is holding them at gunpoint. Of course, Cam is blindsided by this, and her world falls apart that day when two of the hostages end up dead and Luke disappears. The story continues seven years later, as Cam is trying to have Luke officially declared dead, so she can sell the house she and Polly live in, even if she hasn't emotionally moved on from loving Luke.

In alternating POVs-Cam's and Niall's-we delve into how both the police and his wife view Luke and his actions, as well as how those actions affect Cam and Niall and their lives, both during the hostage seige and after. We learn that both believe that Luke might still be alive. And we follow them as they, bit by bit, begin to investigate in their own ways, with their own insights, in their search for the answers to WHY?

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister follows Camilla who is a young mother who wakes up and finds that her husband Luke is gone. She’s unable to find him and then finds this obscure note he’s left her. Next we hear of breaking news about a hostage situation in which Luke is the perpetrator. This then leaves Camilla trying to figure out why this is happening and what Luke is doing.

I don’t want to give anything away on what happens next. I will say this was a very fast paced story that was hard to put down. Will not disappoint.

Cam drops her daughter off at daycare for the first time since maternity leave. Not long into her first day, cops show up and tell her that her husband has three people held hostage. This turns into a race basically of trying to figure out why. Without giving anything away, the book skips ahead seven years for the second half.

I don’t think this book is as good as her last two, but I’m not sure she will ever top those. This was a great book though that was hard to stop once I started. I did figure out some of the twists but def not to the depth they were. I almost feel like the hostage part should have been longer. Still a great book!

This book was so much fun to read! It hooks you early on making this a fairly-quick read, as I was eager to figure it out. There were unexpected twists and this kept me guessing. This was a great mystery/thriller with a love story within.

I enjoyed this one! The ending felt a little hurried and convenient, compared to the deliciously slow build and teasing development of the vast majority of the book. Still I enjoyed it, and while I saw the twists coming from a mile away, that didn't lessen my enjoyment. McAllister does a nice job laying out characters and plot and keeping the pacing clicking along. I will definitely look her up in the future.

I was so excited that I got to read an early copy from Netgallery of Gillian McAllister's new book, 'Famous Last Words'. Gillian McAllister is a phenomenal author and I have enjoyed many of her previous books! And WOW. This new book from her was an insanely good read! I was hooked from the start and all I could think about was how I wanted to finish this book. The writing is fast-paced and full of crazy twists and turns that will shock you. This book is set to come out February 2025.

Here's a blurb of what the story is about:

When Camilia wakes up, her husband Luke isn't there, and he leaves behind a cryptic note. She is shocked when police inform her that Luke was the gunman in a hostage situation. What she does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says...

Thank you so much to Gillian McAllister, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC of Famous Last Words.

This is only my second McAllister novel and I was even more hooked than reading my last. This book follows Cam, wife, and Niall, hostage negotiator as they try to unravel what happen in the siege where Luke shot and killed two hostages in 2017.

I could NOT put this book down! There were so many different ideas and plot lines that swirled in my head and again I was so surprised at how this book unfolded. McAllister is amazing at keeping me guessing throughout her books. I loved both of the narrators, the literary twist… this book is sure to be a hit. 5/5 stars!!

From the beginning, the book had a hold on me. I enjoyed the dynamic between Cam & Luke. I was able to relate to Cam's feelings about being an introverted, bibliophile new parent. I feel the author did a great job of creating sympathetic, relatable characters that you want to root for. The events ramped up early and I couldn't put the book down until I finished it and found out why the situation happened in the first place. I enjoyed the reveals that came along the way and didn't expect the various puzzle pieces to connect the way they did. The book summary on Goodreads places a lot of emphasis on the "cryptic note" Luke left behind, but I feel like the note wasn't as big of a deal as it's made out to be in the description, unless I'm not thinking enough into it. And the "final battle" did feel a little abrupt to me, but I can attribute that to me just wanting more & more, which is a good thing.

Couldn’t stop reading. Kept the story interesting with a twist for the ending. Everything I expected from this author.

Really wonderful thriller because at the heart of it is a love story that rings true over the course of the book. The characters are deep and interesting and the mystery is compelling enough to keep my interest.

As I posted on IG before I began reading, WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME was my fav book of 2022. I know this book took Gillian a bit longer to write because she also had a live baby as she was writing this book.

The book starts out in a second by second account of a hostage situation. The reader has little to no background on the man who has taken 3 people hostage.

There's then an abrupt jump to 7 years later. The characters are all so well-developed. I adore Can & her sister Libby's sister relationship. They talk the same as my sister and I do with each other. Gillian must have sisters because there's an intimate langu6only spoken and understood between close sisters who want the best for one another even when they don't sound or act like they do.

This is Gillian's 3rd book I've read, as well as countless other psychological thrillers. Ive become quite the sleuth. I suspected a lot in this book but am not going to reveal any spoilers. It was fun to discover that I did correctly pick up on the clues! Go me!

I rate FAMOUS LAST WORDS 4.5 coffee beans out of 5.

I hope Gillian is hard at work on her next book! I will certainly be telling everyone to read this, along with WRONG TIME, WRONG PLACE.

I have to confess that I read that I spent a day reading this book in one sitting. I was so hooked until the end that I really did try to put it down and do something else, but I could not figure out where it was going, so I plowed on.

I had no prior experience reading a Gillian McAllister book, so I did not know what to expect. I must admit, I don’t normally read mysteries, and I read it to clear my mind after a big 480 pager I had just completed.

This is a fun read, would make a good movie, and keeps the reader guessing until the end.

The story seems so simple. Camilla is a literary agent, marries one of her writers (Luke) and they have a baby. Life seems good, they have a house and they are a solid couple. Life drastically changes when Luke is involved in a hostage crisis.

From here Camilla’s world is turned upside down and she has no idea what is happening and why. The story is tight, interesting and very plausible. Could this happen to anyone.

I don’t want to give details, as I will ruin the reading experience. Just pick up the book and read it. It is hard to put down.

OMG, I loved this book. I stopped everything I was doing to to read this and could not put it down. There were twists and turns that I expected and those I didnt but it was fabulous. Loved every minute and love the author. She knows how to tell a story and keep you wanting more, guessing and makes you dissappointed its over.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

In Famous Last Words, Gillian McAllister masterfully crafts a gripping psychological thriller that explores the fragility of trust and the unforeseen darkness lurking beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect life. New mother Camilla is ready to return to her career as a literary agent when her world is shattered by a shocking revelation: her husband, Luke, is involved in a hostage situation in London—not as a victim, but as the gunman. With a cryptic note left behind and the authorities descending upon her, Camilla is thrust into a harrowing situation that forces her to question everything she thought she knew about the man she loves.

As events unfold, McAllister skillfully builds tension, unraveling layers of secrecy and presenting readers with a complex portrait of love, deception, and the lengths to which one will go to protect their family. Camilla’s desperate race against time to uncover the truth behind Luke’s actions drives the narrative forward at a breakneck pace. Famous Last Words is a gripping read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a deeply emotional and thought-provoking plot.

This is a total gem! It sucked me in right from the start, and I couldn’t put it down! The way it blends suspense and emotional depth is just chef's kiss. Camilla's world gets flipped upside down when she finds out her husband is involved in a hostage situation, and it keeps you guessing about what’s real and what’s not. The twists? Wow, just wow! I mean, I thought I had it all figured out, but then it just kept throwing surprises at me!

The characters are so relatable, especially Cam. You really feel her panic and confusion as everything around her spirals out of control. I loved the dual perspectives, too—it added such a cool layer to the story! Honestly, it made me think about how quickly everything can change and how well we really know the people we love. 💔

If you’re looking for a thrilling ride with unexpected twists and some emotional moments, you need to grab this one!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!