I loved Wrong Place Wrong Time but I felt like this one fell flat for me. I wasn't great but it wasn't bad. Just ok. I liked parts of it a lot but felt that the pace set early on couldn't be maintained and it felt more like an action/adventure commercial thriller than suspense/thrillers that I expect from McAllister.

I really enjoyed this!

Plot summary: Cam wakes up one regular morning to discover that her husband, Luke, is involved in a hostage taking, and then he vanishes. Seven years later, she still hasn't moved on, and a cryptic text message leads her to believe he might still be alive.

The story is told from the point of view of Cam as well as Niall, the hostage negotiator who also still hasn't moved on. I don't want to give away too much about the story because you're best off knowing as little as possible.

This was a real page turner from the first with lots of unexpected twists. Each time I thought some part didn't make sense and was sloppy, the author proved me wrong by addressing it later in the book. All loose ends were tied up in a satisfying resolution.

There was a point about 2/3 through when it dragged a bit, and the mystery was slightly unrealistic in a typical thriller fashion, but it was suspenseful and action-packed and kept me engaged. Plus, it was also full of heart.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Gillian McAllister for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is a clever and engaging suspense/thriller.

Camillas' first day back to work as a literary agent following her maternity leave turns out to be the worst of her life; her husband Luke commits an unthinkable crime, and she is left to deal with the fall out.

A novel full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. A must-read for your TBR thriller list.

A captivating and fast paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Cam lives through something completely unthinkable and while trying it out her life back together she constantly finds herself needing answers about her husband and what really happened that day in June.

What a great book! The pace was great, It grabbed me from the beginning and it kept me intrigued the entire time. I kept wondering how would the siege and the reasoning behind it would all make sense, and it was all explained and wrapped up in such a great way! I really enjoyed the fact that there was a love story mixed in with the suspense.

This is my second book by Gillian McAllister, (Wrong Place Wrong Time was the first one and I loved it), and it will certainly won’t be my last!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this arc.

Gillian McAllister just knows how to write a solid, satisfying mystery. Complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough to feel familiar and comforting. I really enjoyed reading the hostage scenario in this one (especially after reading the nonfiction book Never Split the Difference, all about how to use hostage negotiation tactics in real life) and was fully satisfied by how it all came together in the end. The vibes reminded me a lot of Wrong Place Wrong Time, just without the gimmicky backwards-time element. If you enjoyed the long span of time that book covered and the puzzle-piece-iness of how the layers of that mystery came unfolded, then I think you’ll enjoy this one too. Highly recommend to mystery lovers!

I absolutely loved Famous Last Words, and McAllister has become an auto-read for me as a thriller author. The story is intense and does not slow down until the last page - she does a great job keeping you guessing until the very end!

Cam wakes up one morning in June to find her husband Luke is not in bed beside her and has only left behind a cryptic note. She brings their infant daughter Polly to daycare as this is Cam's first day back to work after maternity leave. Suddenly, she hears of a siege with 3 hostages taking place no far away and the captor is none other than her own sweet and kind husband Luke....

This is my third novel by Gillian McAllister and unfortunately probably my least favorite of the three. I wanted to like this so much more than I did but it really never grabbed be. The plot was pretty solid and the author is truly excellent at her craft, something just didn't click with me as a reader. I definitely figured out one of the major twists pretty early on, but that didn't spoil anything for me. I don't know if I just read this at the wrong time but it was just okay for me. It's told through the POV of Cam and also of Naill, the hostage negotiator from the siege. There were a lot of characters and sometimes I wasn't sure who they were referring to and maybe that was part of it. I gave it 3.75 stars rounded to 4 because I didn't hate it but unfortunately also didn't love it I still 100% will read every book she writes, this one just missed the mark for me.

I think readers who enjoy her previous work will definitely also enjoy this and should give it a chance. I'd also recommend for readers who enjoy cat and mouse type stories with subtle love stories woven in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.

This was a solid 4 stars for me. I liked the mystery of the siege, but guessed one of the big twists. I'd expected a bit more seige and a bit less rogue policing, though. The pacing of the second half was also just a bit off. Overall though, a decent story told well.

While the beginning of this book was so fast paced and fun and I loved how she tied together some pieces in the last chapter, the middle and climax of this book ultimately fell flat for me. Some of the reasons feel clear, like the fact that the character overthinks far too much and it slows down the plot of the book. But some of the other reasons are harder to name.

I was not surprised by any of the twists either. But based on other reviews, I may be in the minority, and I could see why others would love this book (and maybe even the audiobook being better).


Regardless, thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this arc!

This is my second book by Gillian McAllister; the first one I read was Wrong Place, Wrong Time. They are very different but I liked them both. I really enjoy McAllister’s writing style. The prose is vivid and sharp, the imagery evocative of mood, and the main protagonist is well developed.

There were twists, as every good thriller has, and a fair amount of tension. However, I didn’t get that uncomfortable skin-crawling feeling that some books in the thriller genre give me. I found the story compelling, twisty, but ultimately satisfying.

I would recommend this title to thriller fans for sure, but also to folks simply looking for a fresh, fun read.

aThe morning Camilla is finishing up her maternity leave and
returning to work as a literary agent, her husband is inexplicably
missing. He's eft behind a cryptic note that makes even less
sense when she's informed he is part of an evolving hostage
situation. As Cam attempts to understand the events, things
become even more confusing, but she never stops believing in
his innocence. This book explores the intimacies of marriage,
love, parenting, sibling relationships, infertility, and the power of
secrets.


I've been in such a thriller slump lately, and 1 am so excited that
McAllisters newest novel finally broke me out of it. I'm realizing
that I need a little extra in my thrillers...some extra depth, some
extra themes, some extra relationships, some extra sub-plots,
and this one gave me that little extra I was looking for.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is such a fun, twisty read. From the opening lines to the last, it was an enjoyable experience. I saw some of the plot twist coming— others, I didn’t see coming at all, but it all came together in the end in a manner that was super satisfying.

Cam is 9 months postpartum and excited to be returning from maternity to a job she loves. Her husband Luke seems to be the picture perfect husband, but on the day she returns to work, she discovers that her husband is in the middle of a hostage standoff and her beautiful world collapses into single parenthood and infamy. But Cam knows her husband, could he be the kind of person to shoot two men in cold blood? Could she be so naive not to notice signs of duplicity?

This story is told in 2-3 different perspectives and the mystery unfolds over a period of seven years. I really enjoyed this book, and it was fascinating to read about a literary agent and a writer as the main characters.

I would like to thank William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this advanced reader copy of Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. I was so excited to snag a copy of this book as I absolutely loved the author’s book Wrong Place Wrong Time a few years ago.

Cam is a new mom and anxious about her first day back to work. Unfortunately, her day really goes off the rails when she learns that her husband is involved with a hostage situation across town, and it appears he is the gunman.

I’ve enjoyed McAllister’s novels because I’ve been able to identify and empathize with her characters in addition to enjoying a riveting plot. Unfortunately, this novel was painfully slow, with anticlimactic reveals and flat characters. It’s difficult to empathize or care about a character that you never spend any time with as the reader.

This is my second book by Gillian McAllister and it was another fast paced addicting thriller. The book starts off with Camilla's husband, Luke, taking hostages into a warehouse, 2 shots are fired and Luke is nowhere to be found. He is on the run for seven years accused of killing the hostages. The book takes many twists and turns, some I guessed along the way, I said out loud “I knew it!” (I love when that happens). I had a hard time putting this book down. After each chapter you had to keep reading to see what would happen next.

This book comes out on February 25, 2025 and I would recommend you pick it up!

Thank you William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gillian McAllister has delivered yet another addictive, mind-bending thriller with Famous Last Words. Known for her knack for blending domestic suspense with complex emotional dilemmas, McAllister doesn’t disappoint in this gripping tale of trust, betrayal, and the haunting realization that we may never fully know the people we love.

The novel hooks you immediately with its chilling premise: a new mother, Camilla, wakes up to find her husband, Luke, gone—and soon discovers he is the gunman in a high-stakes hostage situation. The stakes are sky-high, and the pacing matches, making it impossible to put the book down. McAllister masterfully teases out the suspense as Camilla pieces together her husband’s secrets while grappling with her own doubts and guilt. The dual timeline, weaving between the tense present and snapshots of their seemingly perfect past, adds layers of intrigue.

Camilla is a complex and deeply relatable protagonist. Her struggle as a new mother balancing her career, identity, and now, a terrifying crisis, makes her journey feel personal and raw. Luke, on the other hand, is an enigma—a man readers will simultaneously pity and despise as his motives unravel. The cryptic note he leaves behind is a brilliant narrative device, keeping readers guessing until the final reveal.

What sets Famous Last Words apart from a standard thriller is McAllister’s exploration of moral gray areas. Camilla is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her marriage, her role as a mother, and the lies we tell ourselves to maintain the illusion of stability. The story challenges readers to consider how far they would go to protect their family—and whether love is enough when trust is shattered.

While the novel delivers on twists and emotional depth, the ending, though satisfying, felt slightly rushed. Some plot threads were left a bit too open-ended, leaving me wanting more closure. Additionally, the sheer intensity of the story might overwhelm readers looking for lighter fare.

Overall, Famous Last Words is a thrilling, thought-provoking read that keeps you on edge until the very last page. Gillian McAllister proves once again why she’s a standout voice in the thriller genre. Fans of her previous work—or anyone craving a high-stakes domestic drama—will devour this book.

This book didn’t vibe with me in the way I thought it would. I’m a huge thriller, mystery gal and I’m a fan of Gillian McAllister but this was hard for me to get into. I almost didn’t find parts of the story believable.

Gillian McAllister delivers yet another compelling and thought-provoking novel with Famous Last Words. This book is an emotional rollercoaster, blending suspense, drama, and moral complexity into a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Famous Last Words had me grinning the edge of my seat. At no point did I see what was coming next. Absolutely unputdownable.

I have read one previous book by this author, which I liked, so I thought I would give this one a try. It was enjoyable, but not riveting. Sometimes I found myself drifting a bit. The mystery was good and the resolution was satisfying. 3 1/2 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.