This novel took me a little bit to get into but once I was hooked I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the love that Cam had for her husband even after all that time. I found some parts of the story a little confusing, but overall it was great

After reading Wrong Place, Wrong Time, I was looking forward to reading Gillian McAllister's new book. It was a solid read and kept me guessing although I liked Wrong Place, Wrong Time better.

I liked Gillian McAllister's last book, and definitely looked forward to Famous Last Words. I must say that it did not disappoint - indeed I liked it even more than her last effort. Famous Last Words has an unusual structure for a thriller, both in terms of POVs and in terms of time periods. I could see this as being off-putting for some readers, but I really liked the way it built complexity into both the mystery and the development of character. Though I slightly preferred Cam's POV, I was also very interested in Niall's sections. They complemented each other well and weren't repetitive in terms of reveals of information. In all, I liked the way this book is in many ways a "classic" thriller in terms of combining domestic life with mystery, but also goes beyond all the usual tropes.

I'm giving this three stars, but it was a DNF for me. The three stars are because I think a lot of people are going to love this, but this had some tropes that I don't enjoy reading whatsoever.

First of all, the writing is great. This author really knows how to put a story together and make you feel as if you know the characters so well. The setting is also phenomenal. There was already so much tension and the characters feel like they're responding in a very real way to a disaster.

Now my problem with the story is the child aspect of this. It really rubbed me the wrong way when the main character mentioned how basically after they had a child is such a better time than before they had a child. I didn't love how it was said. This is something that my husband and I often deal with because we've chosen not to have children and people can't comprehend why and how we must feel unfulfilled because we made that decision. That's how the book felt. It felt as if it was preaching to non-parents how life is so much better with a child. I honestly really hated that and I wasn't interested in reading about an MC who was so obsessed with her role of a mother to the point where that seemed to be her main characteristic. If I didn't know this was written by a woman, I would have thought it was written by a man because of that commentary.

The longest day of the year just became the worst day of her life. New mom Camilla is finally heading back to work—until she wakes up to find her husband missing and a cryptic note in his place. Then the news breaks: there’s a hostage situation in London, and her perfect, doting husband? He’s the one holding the gun.

Now, all eyes are on her. The police want answers. The world wants a villain. But only Camilla knows what that note says—and what she does next will change everything.

This is my second book by McAllister, and while I enjoyed it, it didn’t quite hit me with the same level of surprise as Wrong Place, Wrong Time. I spent a good portion of the book wanting to shake Camilla for not seeing what was right in front of her—lady, get it together! Some of the twists felt a little predictable, but I actually found myself more invested in the side stories than the main plot itself. That said, after bingeing 26 seasons of Law & Order: SVU, it takes a lot to pull one over on me—so maybe that’s more of a me problem than a McAllister one! 3 stars, Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC.

If you're looking for an original point-of-view in a hostage crisis, this is the book for you. Telling the story from the perspectives of the hostage negotiator and the wife of the hostage taker was unique, and I was there for it. The mystery surrounding the events never let up and had me constantly changing my mind about what may have happened until the very end. Great read!

This is a solid mystery/thriller. I did not have it figured out ahead of the ending.
It was just a bit slow for awhile, but made up for it with a surprising twist.

Absolutely loved this book. Gillian McAllister will definitely be an auto buy author for me going forward. I’ve read a lot of thrillers and I sometimes feel like they all start to blend together but this was not like any one I have ever read before. The premise of this book starts with a hostage situation playing out in London. I recommend going into this one blind like did because within the first 20 minutes of reading this I was shocked multiple times. Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for the advanced copy!

The premise of this book caught my attention and kept me hooked until the very end -- as a mom of two young kids, I related to the main character and cannot imagine being placed in her situation.

I had some issues with pacing and character development. The ending left me wanting more answers because the plot took a few unexpected turns that I didn't necessarily love -- but it was fun talking to my friends that read it as well. Would make a good book club book or a quick binge read on vacation!

This is a fantastic choice for a book club. I read Gone Girl when I was way too young, and Gillian never misses.

This book kept me guessing from the start. There were a few times I had thought I completely figured it out but then there would be an additional twist. I loved how everything came together at the end!

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the writing and the pace. I love a good domestic thriller and this one delivered.

Absolutely loved Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. Not only are we able to enjoy an extraordinarily complex and intriguing mystery, we also are given an insight into the lives of Cam and Luke, Niall and Viv, as well as many background characters, all which are very well developed. What did Luke do and why did he do it? Is he alive or dead? How will Cam go on with her life? Is Niall a failure as a negotiator or one with great insight. We are kept guessing the entire novel. It was great read and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. What a twisty, smart, intriguing, suspenseful read. The story is told from two perspectives and was very easy to follow. I recommend this book!

Wow - Gillian McAllister, I will read anything you write from now on. Famous Last Words absolutely hooked me from the very first chapter. I could not put this book down and was even talking about theories with my partner as I raced through the book. This is suspenseful, reflective, and has such a unique plot! The characters felt so alive on the page and I was genuinely so invested in their fates. The author seamlessly wrote multiple POVs that really keeps the reader engaged. I gasped multiple times as the story moved along and was so surprised!

McAllister has become one of my favorites authors! I always look forward to her releases, and this one did not disappoint!

The story opens with Cam, returning to work after being on maternity leave. Her husband is not there to wish her good luck on her first day back, or to help her drop off their infant at daycare for the first time. This is unusual, but Cam has no idea how the day will change her life. Once at work, she discovers that there is a gun man holding three hostages. When the police arrive at her place of work, she discovers that the gun man is her husband, Luke. The events of the day unfold, leaving Luke on the run and Cam more confused than ever as to what happened.

Fast forward seven years, and hostage negotiator Niall is still obsessed with Luke’s case. Told from both is and Cam’s POV, the story slowly starts piecing together to reveal exactly what happened the day of the siege.

This book had a lot of elements that I loved. It’s a bit of a love story about Cam and Luke, well also being full of mysteries that I wanted to unfold. I stayed invested in the characters and the storyline until the final page. When I got to the last 40 pages, the twists hit hard and I couldn’t read fast enough.

Highly recommend if you like this author and/or like thrillers!

It is Camilla's first day back to work after maternity leave when the day takes a turn for the worst. Her husband is involved in a hostage situation, but he isn't the hostage, he's holding others hostage. Camilla cannot believe that her husband would do this. It is unfathomable. Then she thinks back to the strange note he left her that morning. Maybe there is more to the story than she knows.

This is a good thriller with lots of twists and turns. The story is a little complicated to follow as all the pieces come together at the end. I loved the literary agent and book submissions part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of Famous Last Words.

I liked the beginning- it hooked me really quick but the middle of the story dragged. I get that we needed to know what was going on in Niall’s and Cam’s life but some of it seemed unnecessary to the plot like Cam’s sister Libby. The ending wrapped up quickly but it matched the pacing of the beginning of the book so it worked for me. Overall, decent read, I did see the few twists coming because I was looking for the breadcrumbs and the odd detail out.



Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

I am so sad that I delayed reading this book for as long as I had it. It hooked me from the first line. It plucked at my book-lover/mom/wife heart-strings. There were twists and turns (mildly predictable but still enjoyable). And all wrapped up in a satisfying resolution.

On a very normal summer day, Cam’s husband leaves early and doesn’t come home. When she heard he has taken three people hostage, her confusion quickly turns to shock and disbelief. Seven years pass without a word from her husband or a clue as to why he suddenly turned violent, yet Cam continues to hold out hope that the man she knew and loved will come back and explain himself. Niall, the hostage communicator, also struggles to let go and move on. Both Cam and Niall begin uncovering small clues, and as they work together those clues lead towards a satisfying conclusion.

I’ve only read one other book by this author (Wrong Place, Wrong Time) and I feel similarly about both - enough thrills and twists to keep the pages turning, but not quite enough to make me feel excited about getting back to the book each night. This one in particular was longer than it needed to be, which made it a little too easy to lose focus and interest. If you love mysteries and read them regularly, this one is enjoyable enough to add to your list, but I wouldn’t consider it a must-read mystery of 2025.

Read this if: you want something fun and easy that doesn’t take too much focus.

Skip this if: you are looking for an inventive or extremely gripping thriller.