I really enjoyed this book! Once I started reading, I did not want to stop. It is the best thriller/mystery book I have read in a while.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

I really enjoyed the book. What would you do if your husband made the news for being a hostage taker? I did feel like it was clear that he probably there was probably some sort of mistake going on, but it took a long time to get there. I liked the relationship with her sister. So many books that involve children don’t really involve childcare so so that was nice but honestly, I don’t even know if she needed to have a kid in the book. The child was not very fleshed out even though she was you know elementary school age in a good chunk of it. All in all a good mystery. I feel like you could make a second book about the hostage negotiator— she wrapped up things nicely..

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow for this ARC! *Famous Last Words* by Gillian McAllister is a gripping legal thriller that explores themes of morality, guilt, and truth. The story follows a woman on trial for murder, with the narrative weaving through intense courtroom drama and the emotional turmoil of the characters involved. McAllister masterfully builds suspense by revealing layers of secrets and lies, keeping readers on edge as they question the protagonist's innocence. Her portrayal of complex legal procedures is both detailed and accessible, adding authenticity to the high-stakes plot. With its fast pace and psychological depth, this novel is a must-read for fans of legal dramas and twisty mysteries.

Gillian McAllister has written another incredible thriller. In this novel, Camilla's life changes overnight when she wakes up to realize her husband isn't home. But it's probably fine, right? Soon we learn that Camilla's husband is involved in a hostage situation....her husband Luke is the gunman. A hostage negotiator Niall must try to talk down this man with a seemingly normal life. Why would Luke do this? What is his motive? Can he be talked down before it is too late?

What a great read. I could not put this book down I had to see how it would end. Definitely recommend this great read

This was a great read! I really enjoyed the plot and it was extremely well written. The characters were well developed, and this author is one I always enjoy reading. I will definitely recommend this to others!

So good! I thought I had it figured out, and maybe I had a few tidbits, but nowhere near what was happening!
Cam and Luke are settling in with a new daughter, life is going well. Until suddenly out of the blue, Luke kills two people and disappears. But, of course, all is not as it seems!

Famous Last Words is full of never-ending twists and turns! Camilla wakes up one morning in June a happily married new mother, until she finds the note from her husband telling her he loved their time together. The plot races from that moment to finding out her husband is holding three people hostage. However, in this story nothing is as it seems. Is Luke the bad guy, or is there something more sinister going on?

This is the best suspense/mystery novel I’ve read in quite some time.

Cam is going back to work after nine months of maternity leave (she clearly doesn’t live in America). She thinks her worst problem is that her baby still isn’t a great sleeper. Shortly after returning to work, however, she’s contacted by the police. Her kind, happy-go-lucky husband is in a hostage situation. He’s the hostage taker.

It simply doesn’t relent from then on. Told mostly from Cam’s point of view and the hostage negotiator/detective's POV, the pacing is so well done.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this book, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 25, 2025.

this one was okay. didn’t hate it but didn’t love it. the pacing is pretty good and well written but fell a little flat to me.

“Famous last words” is Gillian McAllister’s newest psychological thriller. It is dually narrated by Cam (the wife of a man who takes three people hostage) and Niall, the hostage negotiator. It’s best to go into this book blind, there are many twists and turns and it’s a very fast read. I enjoyed the story, but felt like all of the twists came in the last 10% of the book and it was a bit uneven.

Such a great, engrossing thriller. I (unfortunately) read it in one sitting...and was up until 4am doing so. The set-up was just so fascinating, and the execution didn't disappoint. Also, police surveillance is scary, and probably wasn't terribly exaggerated in this book.

A good fast-paced thriller about a young mother who is asked by the police to come talk to her husband who seems to have taken people hostage in a warehouse in London. She can't imagine her kind loving husband being involved in a hostage sistuation, even less so as the hostage taker. Niall, the hostage negotiator, is also confused when his instincts fail him in this case. But all is not how it seems and as the story unfolds with many twists, both of them realise that they need to trust their instincts. An enjoyable read.

Amazing read! Gillian McAllister never disappoints, and this book is no exception. The storyline was refreshingly unique, keeping me hooked from start to finish. A perfect blend of fun and suspense that made it impossible to put down!

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
What a book! How well do you. Know your husband?
Cam drops her daughter off at daycare not realizing how her day will tumble. The police tell her there was a hostage situation and Luke, her husband was the gunman. This is unbelievable- totally not the man she knows or is married to. What could have happened? A life of secrets culminates into a desperate situation. Can she find the answers?

I carried this book around the house (and out of the house) with me because I had to read more every chance I got. Multiple times I turned the page and had a WHAT reaction - not just with plot points, but how the story is told.

I was invested in Camilla and Niall and had to know what would happen to them. Camilla's husband, Luke, is essentially a MacGuffin, so I was wasn't rooting for any particular reveal. I just wanted answers!

Such a great book! There were sooooo many different twists and turns and I was genuinely surprised by this one! I love how it makes you keep wondering what is happening and kept me guessing. Loved it

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Gillian McAllister is one of the titans of the mystery/thriller genre, and Famous Last Words did not disappoint!

Cam's world is upended when her extroverted, fun-loving, silly husband suddenly goes viral for committing a significant crime before disappearing...Cam can't believe that her Luke could've ever committed such acts, but there's no disputing that he's disappeared and left her to raise baby Polly alone. Will she ever find out who her husband really was? Was she really that clueless about who she married? And how was hostage negotiator Niall so impossibly wrong when he read the scene?

This expansive, emotional read takes place mostly over 7 years and will leave you breathless before leaving you totally satisfied. I really felt the pain and confusion in Cam; her struggle caught between two lives; a before and an after; a with and a without. I so desperately wanted her to find answers, worried about her safety, and cheered her on in trying to find happiness in big and small ways. You'll be on the edge of your seat trying to puzzle together how it all fits together until the last 5% of the book - where so much falls into place in ways you definitely won't see coming.

An easy 4.5 star read for me, rounded up to a 5! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t read it fast enough! The plot had me anticipating what was coming next. I really enjoyed receiving and being able to review this ARC. The story bounced between Cam (whose husband is accused of a serious crime) to Niall, the hostage negotiator of said crime. Both with varying views, still trying to understand how their worlds fell apart, and how to keep loving even when it has.

Cam has the perfect life. She has a great job, an attentive husband, and a beautiful baby girl. Everything is perfect…until it’s not.

Cam is ready to go back to work after finishing maternity leave. She gets up and is ready to start the day, but Luke her husband isn’t there. On her way out the door she sees a note he has left, saying, “It’s been so lovely with you both” . Cam drops off their daughter at daycare and goes to work. Not long after arriving the police come and ask to speak with her. They tell her Luke is involved in a hostage situation and he is the gunman. Cam doesn’t believe her husband is capable of what the police are accusing him of.
The story is broken up into multiple parts starting on the day of the Siege with each part progressing by seven years as Cam searches for answers.

This book immediately grabbed my attention with its unique story line. It was exciting, fast paced, and unpredictable.

Thank you William Morrow, Netgalley, and Gillian McAllister for an advance reading copy of this book.