Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Gillian McAllister’s Famous Last Words is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The novel follows Camilla "Cam" Deschamps, whose world unravels when her husband, Luke, mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a cryptic note. As Cam delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding his vanishing, she uncovers secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew about her marriage and herself.

McAllister expertly blends suspense with emotional depth, creating a story that’s as poignant as it is gripping. The twists and turns throughout the novel are nothing short of brilliant, with each revelation adding layers to the story and characters. The exploration of love, trust, and the hidden complexities within relationships adds an enriching emotional weight to the thriller elements, making it a truly satisfying read.

The characters are well-developed, particularly Cam, whose emotional journey is both relatable and compelling. The plot, full of unexpected twists, will keep readers guessing until the very last page. Famous Last Words is a page-turner that will appeal to fans of domestic thrillers like those by Lisa Jewell and Megan Miranda, offering not just a thrilling mystery, but a deep dive into the human psyche.

With its clever twists, sharp writing, and emotional resonance, Famous Last Words is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts. Gillian McAllister has once again proven herself to be a master of suspense and storytelling. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

I could not put this one down! Very suspenseful. I really enjoyed the premise of the book, ​​even though I guessed at two of the major twists early on, I really liked this novel.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy.

Well, this book certainly caused a lot of late nights. It’s difficult to leave a review without giving any spoilers and that saying something. How can an author make me root for the bad guy? in true McAllister form characters are written to perfection and she’s going to have to start making her books longer so that I don’t finish them so quickly.

After loving Gillian McAllister's previous work, I was so excited for Famous Last Words, and it definitely did not disappoint! The dual POV was such an effective choice—giving us insight not only into Cam, the main character, but also into the police negotiator. I loved how the story explored how the events impacted both of them long-term. The themes of love and hope driving their motives added such a beautiful depth to the narrative.

I was completely hooked, desperate to know what happened during the incident. The ending was satisfying, though I did manage to figure out a couple of twists before they were revealed. Still, a fantastic read!

Read Completed 3/4/25 | 3.75 stars | Book #26 of 2025

No major spoilers but if you want to go in blind, proceed with caution.
Gillian McAllister’s books are so readable and this was a very enjoyable novel! She has a great way of weaving a plot together and the amount of intrigue to kick this book off really had me hooked!

Admittedly, the pacing lost me just a touch having flashed forward seven years after the events that kick off the book. I understand the reason why buuuut I could have also easily see it continue without such a big break. There’s a major point to the story that does need some time to develop, so if you take some time off, why not seven years, I guess? But it did slow that exciting pace down for me a little too much.

I really enjoyed the twists and how everything really went around and around as things started to unfold. The ending was just a *tad* confusing for me due to what it all actually was. [I didn’t really know enough about the crime families to really feel attached to them as a huge part of the events and the reveal. The names also really kind of weren’t used enough — especially as an audiobook listener — to really get a grip on who everyone was. Some of them I had no idea who they were and I didn’t really care. They were barely a part of the plot but played such a big role. (hide spoiler)]

I ended up giving this 3.75 stars because I was very interested and it was such an easy book to fly through! I really wish the ending would have stuck with me more to give it a little extra bump, but I’d still recommend it!

This book was not for me I wanted to be scared by it but to just kept dragging on that I just kept looking my spot in the book. I do want to give this author another try with the next book. But this one didn’t make my year

Love the twists and turns this book takes, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending on a somewhat positive note.

In Gillian McAllister's "Famous Last Words," Camilla Deschamps and her husband, Luke, are the doting parents of an adorable baby girl. Luke is a ghostwriter, and Camilla is a literary agent who is about to return to work after a nine-month maternity leave. Their comfortable life is suddenly upended when Cam receives devastating news. Her husband, who has a gun, is holding three hostages in a London warehouse. Luke has always been a laid-back and kind person who would never do anything to hurt another human being. What has transformed this formerly sweet man into a violent criminal?

DCI Niall Thompson, a hostage negotiator, is called to the scene to convince Luke to turn himself in. Unfortunately, the situation in the warehouse spirals out of control and Luke disappears. In the years following this disaster, Cam reverts to her maiden name and raises her child as a single parent, while Niall, who is brooding over his failed marriage, tries to salvage his career.

The author drags out this repetitive, far-fetched, and slow-moving tale for far too long. Cam looks back with sorrow at her once idyllic marriage, and Niall, who is technically off the case, is obsessed with trying to figure out why Luke behaved in a way that was so uncharacteristic of him. "Famous Last Words" has little action, limited character development, a contrived plot, and an unconvincingly neat conclusion.

I didn’t love this book. This was a slow read for me and I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters. I am sure for the right reader that this is a fantastic read! Thank you for the advanced copy!

Gillian McAllister does it again. The queen of thrillers is back. This book did not disappoint, you need to pick it up!

Gillian McAllister has a gift for coming up with plots that are different from the usual mystery/suspense. I find her writing genuinely interesting and always find myself engrossed in her stories.

First off, I loved the twisty turniness of this book. It grabbed me from page one. I had to know what happened. Camilla wakes up on her first day of returning to work after maternity leave to find her husband gone. He has left a note so she's not super worried until she hears of a hostage situation nearby. She is soon meeting with hostage negotiator, Niall, and her world turns upside down. This is a suspense thriller with a love story at his core. It's about marriage and relationships. It is fast paced and interesting. As the book switched from Camilla's POV to Niall's and back, I loved seeing how McAllister twisted these two sides of the same story together and wound up with an unexpected and satisfying ending. Camilla is a literary agent and I loved the tie in with the publish world found in this story. I had heard a ton about this author before reading, but this is my first of hers I've read. It certainly will not be my last.

I love a thriller I cannot put down, and this did just that for me! This was very well thought out, and I really enjoyed all the characters and their depth. I am never really sure of thriller endings, this was no exception, I was surprised! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this story!

Somewhere between 3.5/4 for me. I thought the premise was really interesting and captured me! Pacing was a bit off, some parts very slow and detailed in what felt like unnecessary ways but other parts that had me flipping pages sooo fast. The time I did spend reading this was enjoyable for me but I think other readers may find it a bit slow. I did enjoy the big twists and thought they were done well but some of the additional details that tied it all together in the end had some plot holes that had me scratching my head.

After months of maternity leave, Camilla will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But, when she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there, and in his place is a cryptic note.

Then it starts. Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive, and tell her Luke is involved. But he isn't a hostage. Her husband—doting father, eternal optimist—is the gunman.

What she does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says...

This book hooked me in from the very start. There were enough twists in the story that it kept me wondering about what was coming next. While I was able to guess how it was coming together at the end, it definitely kept me wondering. And I was really invested in both Camilla and Niall's storylines and enjoyed seeing them through. Great book!

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

Get ready for a beautiful and suspenseful title that grips and never lets go!

New mother Cam’s life is upended when she drops her daughter off at daycare for her first day back at work, only to learn from the police that her loving, gentle husband is the gunman in a hostage situation, his last words to her a cryptic message. Cam must decide what to do, and what truth to uncover, when her world is shattered by the man she knows, trusts, and loves.

This book is excellently written with beautiful imagery. Author Gillian McAllister weaves in realistic, heartfelt descriptions of love — both for her husband and her daughter — and loss, betrayal, and the lingering question of whether or not her good man is still good. I would call this book suspense rather than thriller, but the twists are excellent and I highly recommend.

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Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was a good book!!! Did seem to drag a little in places, but it was needed to pull the story together! Did not see the twist.

Gillian McCallister's books always have a twist that keeps me wanting to read. This book is right on par with me as Wrong Place, Wrong Time. The characters were likable and the main character was especially relatable as I would also rather be home reading than in social situations many times. She was able to put into words my feelings about books. The book was well paced with no parts that dragged for me with a very fitting ending. This author has become an automatic read for me.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I really liked how the author did not jump back and forth with multiple characters and instead focused on the main two. The storyline was intriguing and easy to follow. The twists and turns were not outlandish and very plausible. I also really appreciated how the story wrapped up but did not feel rushed.

Gillian does it again! Full of twists and a story to keep you up all night reading. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.