Gillian McAllister just doesn’t miss. This was such a cool twist on a hostage thriller, taking twists and turns you won’t see coming.

I loved the way part one ended before we jump 7 years forward. It made the impact of the events in part one more powerful, seeing the aftermath even years later. I was on the edge of my seat, needing to find out the truth along with Cam.

The twists and conclusion were so satisfying. This was such a tense, winding suspenseful puzzle of a book. And the love between Cam and Luke was just an extra beautiful addition to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Famous Last Words is a highly enjoyable domestic thriller. Set in the UK, Camilla, aka Cam, becomes privy to a quickly evolving situation involving her husband, Luke. We soon find out that Luke has taken hostages in an empty warehouse - but why? This comes as a shock to Cam, as she, Luke, and her 9 month old daughter Polly were previously enjoying the adjustment that comes with new parenthood. Gillian McAllister tells us the story by weaving two narrative together - one of Cam and one of Niall, the hostage negotiator called in to talk Luke down. As we learn more about our characters, we are able to see how their lives have played out in the years following the fateful hostage situation.

Once I started this book I was instantly hooked! I really like the character of Cam and enjoyed reading about her relationship dynamic with her sister, Libby. There were a lot of relationship/love dynamics that felt relatable and real, tidbits of clues scattered along the way, and suspense that kept you wanting to immediately start the next chapter. The only gripe I have is I definitely had trouble getting my brain to associate Cam with a girl's name. As an American, I instantly think of Cam as in "Cameron" versus Cam as in "Camilla" - which I know is much more popular a name in the UK.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author Gillian McAllister for an ARC of Famous Last Words in exchange for an honest review!

Famous Last Words
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a great, suspenseful, mysterious book. Cam’s husband isn’t home when she wakes up for her first day back to work following maternity leave. Something is definitely off as he doesn’t return any of Cam’s calls or texts. And then her whole world turns upside down. There he is. On the news. Holding 3 people hostage at gunpoint. What. The. F.?

This is told through Cam’s POV and Niall’s (hostage negotiator) POV. Taking place the day of the siege and then hopping in time 7 years later. Both Cam and Niall struggle to move on from the day that changed their lives forever. They both carry unique complicated grief. This was so well written. I love when it plays out so clearly in my mind’s eye like a movie. This had everything I want to feel while reading a book. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Feb 25 2025

This was a good, unique story. Gillian McAllister always delivers a satisfying twist or five. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It did take me quite a while to get through. I started losing interest when Niall showed up. I was more interested in Cam's POV. However, I still recommend you pick this one up if you're craving a good mystery.

Wow, This was a fast paced thriller that just hit different. I loved every second of it. I didn’t quite understand where it was going to go and I was surprised how much I liked the entire story.

Addictive and compelling! I could not put this one down!

Camilla’s whole life is about to change on a pretty ordinary day in her ordinary life. She is headed back to work after nine months of maternity leave. But her mild mannered, writer husband isn’t home when she wakes up to get ready for her first day back. Weird! But before lunchtime she will find out that her husband is not responding to her texts and calls because he is involved in a siege happening nearby. Except he is not a victim, he is the hostage taker!

I really enjoyed this book; the writing was solid, I was invested in the characters, I was suspicious of many people, and had my mind blown. Thriller lovers should put this one on their TBR!

Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on February 25, 2025

The premise of this is so interesting and I liked how we got the POV of the wife and of the hostage negotiator, however the execution fell a bit flat for me.

I was a little bored when reading, and I found myself not wanting to pick this one up to read.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book! The characters & perseverance were the heart of this story and the twists were wonderful.

3.5 stars, rounded up.
How to handle life when the man you love does something totally out of character and then disappears? Welcome to Cam's life. On the day that she is to go back to work after her maternity leave, her husband leaves before she gets up and then leaves her an eerie note. While at work, Cam is approached by the police, her husband has taken hostages.

Cam and Luke had a loving, middle class life, not one with police and guns. The day of the siege as it is called, it covered in depth and then Cam's life afterwards. How does she move on after her husband escapes and disappears. When she attempts to have him declared dead ten years later sightings of him and others around her house once again cause concern and the mystery picks up.

Finally in the end we learn why Luke's life took such crazy turn. It didn't seem terribly realistic but it did answer all the questions. My favorite part was definitely Cam and her questioning of everything in her life and not knowing what was real and what wasn't with Luke.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I’ve read Gillian McAllister’s last three novels and they have all blown me away. Her brand of intricately plotted psychological thrillers always sink their hooks into me page 1 and never lets go. Particularly impressive that all three thrillers have been wholly and uniquely their own.

McAllister describes Famous Last Words as a love story set in a hostage situation and that’s exactly it. At its core, Our introverted and bookish main character, Cam, can’t believe what her husband has shown himself to be capable of. But life, and Cam, move on as she’s forced to reconcile with the events of the past . The mystery here transpires in such a satisfying way and I really enjoyed the shifting POV between Cam and the hostage negotiator who also believes there’s more to Luke than it seems.

Famous Last Words is a fast-paced thriller with a lot of heart and emotion. If you enjoyed McAllister’s previous thrillers, you’ll absolutely love this one. Unique plot, lots of twists and timely reveals, and a satisfying end.

Book Review: Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Gillian McAllister has built a reputation for crafting intricate psychological thrillers, and Famous Last Words is no exception. This novel is a tense exploration of trust, regret, and the weight of unspoken truths, layered with McAllister’s signature blend of mystery and emotional depth.

The story unfolds as protagonist, Jen, receives a chilling text message minutes before her partner, Mark, dies unexpectedly. The message simply says, “I have to tell you something.” Mark’s cryptic last words send Jen spiraling into a labyrinth of doubt and discovery as she attempts to unravel what he was trying to say and whether it holds the key to understanding his sudden demise.

McAllister masterfully alternates between past and present, piecing together the dynamics of Jen and Mark’s relationship. The narrative delves into themes of vulnerability, the secrets we keep, and how even those closest to us can remain enigmas. Each chapter peels back another layer, revealing unexpected twists and a deep emotional resonance.

The pacing is taut, pulling readers along as Jen’s desperation grows, and the stakes heighten. McAllister’s skillful characterization ensures that even as we question Mark’s integrity, we empathize with Jen’s grief and determination. The exploration of guilt and love is as compelling as the mystery itself.

What sets Famous Last Words apart is its ability to balance heart-pounding suspense with poignant moments of introspection. McAllister doesn’t just deliver shocking revelations; she explores how they reverberate through the lives of her characters, leaving readers to grapple with questions long after the final page.

Fans of psychological thrillers with emotional heft will find Famous Last Words a rewarding read. It’s a reminder that the most gripping mysteries often lie in the words left unsaid.

Gillian McAllister is a master of the twisty thriller and does not disappoint in her latest, Famous Last Words. Luke and Cam are a seemingly ordinary couple with a happy life and new baby, until the day that Cam returns to work from maternity leave and finds out that Luke has taken three people hostage. Cam is totally blindsided by Luke’s actions and can’t believe he would do something so horrific.

Told from both the perspective of Cam and Niall, the hostage negotiator, the story unfolds with some twists throughout. I found the first section of the book to be very intense and engrossing. The remainder of the novel was a bit slower paced but we were able to get to know the main characters. I liked the character of Cam, an introvert with my dream career of an author’s agent. Cam loves to read and lose herself in novels, which is fundamental to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

4.5 stars

Camilla’s life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop off her infant daughter at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. But when she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there, and in his place is a cryptic note. Then it starts: A hostage situation is developing in London. The police tell her Luke is involved—as the gunman. McAllister returns with another page-turner that plays on the usual thriller conventions. There are some great twists and turns that kept me guessing. For fans of new takes on standard tropes.

Absolutely amazing. I loved this book. My jaw dropped and at times I had to walk away because I was so stressed. This was a fantastic read!

The synopsis sounded fast paced, but the actual pace was slow and not at all what I was wanting or expecting from the premise. I didn't feel like I could connect to the plot or any of the characters. I was expecting something quick and fun and got a slow burn romance set within hostage negotiation.

thank you William Morrow, I loved this suspense read and remain a fan of Gillian McAllister's stylish, engaging, and propulsive plots. McAllister has a knack for making me sit and think about what would I really do if I found myself challenged in truly unexpected and intense ways... would I believe that my husband didn't do the things he is accused of, would I go to great lengths to protect someone I love... what would I do and what wouldn't I do in the situations her main characters are often in. Mc Allister here offers a truly captivating plot, a husband who might have taken people hostage for no clear reason, and invites us to explore this experience through the eyes of her main character, Cam, and related secondary characters, including the hostage negotiator (who I love, please bring me more Niall and his self growth and his storyline); the premise alone hooked me but it was how the story unfolded (no spoilers here) that had me staying up to want to see where the story went, to dive into the well placed reveals, and to go on an unexpectedly romantic, to me, story about Cam and Luke. I really valued the depth given to each character, even the secondary characters, and how the plot was more than just figuring out the reason for Luke's behavior but also about how the hostage storyline impacted a range of other characters.

I also want to say that McAllister brought in secondary themes about relationships and marriage in a range of ways, I really loved how she gave Niall as a hostage negotiator a strong exploration of marriage and how themes on love and marriage and parenthood were woven in so many ways, through Cam, through her sister, through driving factors that revealed themselves as the plot progressed, and these themes make this book truly discussion worthy. I applaud McAllister as well for Cam's sister Libby and how she wrote about Libby's experiences and feelings with infertility, it was nice to see how Libby was not a criminal or bad person, not contemplating or implicated in crimes simply for struggling with infertility (looking at the whole domestic thriller genre there and pointing fingers...).

Cam is headed back to work after her maternity leave, unaware that her life is about to change forever. Her husband is missing, and all he left was a strange note. Police rush her office in search of her, letting her know that her husband, Luke, has taken two hostages. Cam can not wrap her head around the fact that her loving husband would ever do something like this.

Thoughts 💭
I love that this plays on deep and often unacknowledged fears of not really knowing someone you're close to. Cam has to come to terms with the fact that she never really knew her husband at all and is now raising their daughter alone. There is so much uncertainty. Is Luke alive? What would make him do something like this? As we investigate more into the days before the event, pieces of the big picture finally start coming together. This was such a creative story told with jumps through time. I could not wait to find out what happened and what would drive a seemingly happy person with a wonderful life to do something like this. It was a wild, thrilling ride that really made you think about things. This one is worth checking out!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a clever and twisty book! At first I had no clue where this was going, but wow…the action and secrets that are revealed just keep coming! This will be a favorite of fans of psychological thrillers. Cam is such a strong and faithful woman. The author does a fabulous job gradually developing the characters. The ending was perfection!

This book begs the question: what would you do if you found out that your husband was holding 3 people hostage at gunpoint?? New mother Camilla sees her husband on the news and simply cannot believe it. Her husband doesn't even own a gun! What follows is a twisty and thrilling book that I could not put down!

My only reasons for giving this book 4 stars are: I guessed one of the main twists and the middle of the book dragged for me a bit. However, the rest of the book was great, and I enjoyed it very much! Lots of turns and surprises throughout.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy of this book!

After a nine month long maternity leave for her daughter Polly, Cam is returning to her job as a literary agent. When she gets up, her husband, Luke isn't there and has left her a bit of a cryptic note. She doesn't think a whole lot about it, she's stressed about dropping Polly at daycare and getting back into the swing of her job. Once she gets there, she sees breaking news. There is a hostage situation unfolding and she learns that her husband is involved. But not as a hostage, he's the gunman. She is in total shock and just can't believe that her husband would do something like this. The police call in hostage negotiator, Niall to try to diffuse the situation. Things don't go as planned leaving Cam devastated and Niall wrecked with guilt. We then flash to seven years later and pick up both threads. The first section was super fast paced and had me on edge. Once we move forward, the story really changed pacing and slowed down. We learn more about Cam and how she has tried to move on. We also get to know her sister much better, who is really struggling with fertility. The sisters each try to be there for each other, while each dealing with their own problems. Niall not only has professional issues, but personal ones too, as his wife left him the day of the siege. This really cements the two issues in his mind. I loved watching them both try to get to the truth behind what really happened that day. Overall, a really good thriller with quite a few twists. The pacing was off a bit in the middle, but I was pulled back in for the ending. I really enjoy this author's writing and will definitely keep reading whatever she writes.

Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrow for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Publishes 02/25/2025.