This was a very good thriller. I have enjoyed Ms McAllister's books and this one did not disappoint. It was well written and had a nice twist at the end, It kept my interest and I was keen to find out if the accused man was guilty or not.
The narration was great and made likening to the book vert enjoyable.

Well done book but could have had more potential. I felt It fell a little flat. I do Have friends I told to read it because I knew They would enjoy it.

3 1/2 stars

This book was very reminiscent of The Last Thing he Told me by Laura Dave. Husband mysteriously disappears, is thought to have committed a terrible crime, wife tries to figure it out. In this story, on Camilla's first day back to work after having a baby, her husband, Luke, leaves the house early and is then the prime suspect in a hostage situation. Seven years later, he is still missing and Cam is trying to move on with her life when she gets a cryptic message. She also receives a manuscript for a book that seems to mirror her husband's experience.

At the same time, this is also the story of Niall, the hostage negotiator assigned to the case. He is a workoholic and that eventually costs him his wife. He wants to let this case die, and yet when Cam starts following clues, Niall can't help but get back on the trail. His personal story didn't really add much to the overall story, other than to add to his determination to heal himself and Cam.

I definitely enjoyed this, but it wasn't my absolute favorite.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister has a gripping premise—a new mom wakes up to find her husband missing and learns he’s at the center of a hostage situation. It pulls you in fast, and the emotional stakes are high. The idea of a trusted partner suddenly becoming a public threat is intense, and the story leans into that tension.

Camilla’s perspective as a mother, wife, and someone trying to hold it all together is raw and relatable. The book raises significant questions about trust, love, and how well we know the people closest to us.

That said, the pacing felt uneven. Some parts dragged while others moved too quickly, especially near the end. I also found myself wanting more depth from the characters, especially Luke. His motivations never fully landed for me.

It’s a solid domestic thriller with a unique setup, but it didn’t hit all the marks. If you like slow-burn suspense with emotional twists, it’s worth a read—but maybe not a re-read.

Experiencing "Famous Last Words" by Gillian McAllister as my first audiobook was truly engaging. The story centers on Camilla, a new mother returning to work after maternity leave, who discovers her husband, Luke, is involved in a hostage situation—not as a victim, but as the gunman. This unexpected twist propels the narrative into a suspenseful exploration of trust and secrets.

I found the plot captivating, the story kept me guessing and an outcome I didn't anticipate. Camilla's character resonated with me; her strength and resilience in the face of numerous challenges were inspiring. The audiobook format added depth to the experience, making it even more immersive.

Overall, I rate **Famous Last Words** 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to those who enjoy psychological thrillers that delve into complex relationships and unforeseen twists.

*** Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Famous Last Words" by Gillian McAllister is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that expertly weaves suspense with thought-provoking themes. The story follows a compelling protagonist as she navigates a web of secrets and moral dilemmas, forcing readers to question the nature of truth and the impact of our choices.

McAllister’s writing is sharp and engaging, drawing readers in from the very first page. The characters are well-developed and relatable, adding depth to the narrative and making their journeys feel all the more poignant. I appreciated the intricate plot twists that kept me guessing until the very end.

Overall, "Famous Last Words" is a captivating read that showcases Gillian McAllister's talent for crafting enthralling stories. This audiobook is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with emotional depth. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

A must-read!! When some of my favorite reviewers rated this book high, I could not wait to get my hands on it.
A big day for Cam to go back to work as a literary agent, after a maternity leave with her baby Polly. Her husband, Luke, must have left early for work, leaving a cryptic note. When she returns to work, she sees breaking news about a hostage situation. She calls and texts her husband with no response. Her fear kicks in thinking the worse has happened.
When police arrive at her door, she finds her husband is in the hostage situation, but he is the gunman. A nightmare unfolds with the unknown and fear in a phenomenal style. Most of the book is the replay of that day after her husband disappears and the hostages are found dead.
What could have led to his behavior when he is one of the kindest men she has ever met?
The hostages negotiator, Nial, plays a courageous and unwavering part. He is his own worst enemy when he recounts for years that day and above all lost his wife who would not stand by his job.
Seven years later new evidence resurfaces that will keep you glued to the pages... until the final twists pierces your imagination. Secret after secret, cryptic notes and the dark web uncover some darker evidence. Once again...a phenomenal book... I applaud Gillian McAllister!!

The book starts with a new mom returning to work after being off on maternity leave, but quickly turns into a suspenseful mystery. Camilla's life is completely upended when she finds out her husband is involved in a hostage situation and he is not the hostage. Camilla can't believe her loving, doting husband, Luke, could be a criminal. The story follow Camilla, the hostage negotiator, and others as they try to piece together how and why Luke is in this situation. There are many twists and turns in this book, but overall I felt the story was a little boring and didn't keep me engaged. The audio narrator was great. I will recommend this book at our library.

Story: 5 Stars
Audio: 5 Stars
Narrator: Emilia Fox
Available: 2/25/25

Wow, what a ride!

Very well done thriller with twists that I kinda saw coming and some I didn’t. Fun trying to figure out how the puzzle was going to come together.

Listen at 1.25 speed through Netgalley App.

***ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a lot of crappy thrillers this year, so I'm so glad to have come across this one. I enjoyed the refreshing premise. The missing spouse trope is tired (looking at you, Beautiful Ugly), but the hostage-taker spouse is a whole new thing. McAllister's writing is thoughtful without being overly sentimental, though it sometimes comes close (Yes, we get it, you love him). The inclusion of Polly and Cam's sister added a nice layer, and I found Niall likable if a bit one-dimensional.

I didn't guess any of the layers of the mystery here.

I purchased the print book and an audio CD for my library and have been sharing. Thank you for the ARC.

This investigative novel was well paced, with multiple POVs and so many layers to the story. It was enjoyable and a great book to discuss with its many layers and depth.

I solemnly swear I will read all of Gillian McAllister's backlist as soon as possible, but in the meantime, I am sure having a lot of fun reading her new releases! Famous Last Words was just as impactful on me as Wrong Place Wrong Time was, though I don’t think anything will ever top that book for me. I loved the setup of the storyline broken up from the siege and what comes next, and it takes place over the course of several years. We also have flashbacks as Camilla reflects on her husband Luke’s behavior in the weeks leading up to the siege and we get a better look at their marriage through that as well as a whole lotta questions and doubt. Another main POV we have is Niall, who is the hostage negotiator involved in the siege. I loved the juxtaposition of the two viewpoints, though at a certain point their main goals start to coincide.

Emilia Fox provided an excellent listening experience for the audiobook, but a part of me wishes there had been another narrator for Niall. Honestly, there could have been 1 more narrator on top of that, and I did think there was a bit of a missed opportunity there. That being said, the audiobook was still fantastic, and Fox’s narration was expressive and flawless. Also, holy twists Batman!!! I actually had to listen to a couple parts multiple times just to make sure I understood what I was hearing. One reason I love McAllister so much is she has the most unique and clever plots that never cease to blow my mind. Famous Last Words made me feel a lot of things and I really appreciated that Cam was dealing with new motherhood at the same time which is what the author was experiencing as she wrote this. All the stars from me!!!

Read this if you are looking for a gripping plot, bookish books, and a story that will make you clear your schedule!

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Ooh, Gillian McAllister played the long game on this mystery. I love how we follow Camilla as she tries to move on with her life and figure out what happened to her husband that day. I loved the ending; I wasn't expecting it to end that way.

Emilia Fox did a great job narrating this story. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.

Solid 4 Star Review

After having read and loved McAllister's previous novel (Wrong Place, Wrong Time), I was so excited to dive into this one.
I was hooked right away and could hardly put the book down for the first half of the story.

The one and only downfall was that it was way too slow to unfold, and once I go to the point where I had a really good idea of how the story was going to go, there was still 20% of the book left.
I did do the audiobook for this one, which had excellent narration, but I maybe it would've felt faster if I had been reading.

I appreciated the fresh story premise and relatable characters, and found myself genuinely rooting for the main character. The plot twists were a little too predictable for my taste, and there were a few too many "hurry up and tell us what happens!" moments, but overall this was a gripping thriller and I"d still recommend it to friends.

Not as good as the last novel I read by her, but still very much worth my time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Famous Last Words written by Gillian McAllister and narrated by Emilia Fox was a tale of love, loss, heartbreak, and countless twists and turns. The characters and relationships were extremely relatable. The character of Camilla was a normal woman who had was doing her best to deal with the cards she’d been dealt. There was no outrageous personality or luck on the side of the FMC which was refreshing. Emilia Fox is a spectacular narrator.

"Famous Last Words" by Gillian McAllister is an entertaining thriller. I enjoyed this book. It has a good plot and well written descriptive prose. The first part of the book is the most exciting. In the middle, the action really slows down a lot. Secrets are slowly revealed, and the ending gets exciting again. There is also a love story in here, actually two.

The book is told from two points of view: Camilla aka Cam and Niall. Cam is a mother with a 9 month old baby, Polly. She's a literary agent who loves to sink into a good book and escape. She is happily married to Luke Deschamps. Niall is with the police and he is an expert hostage negotiator. The book starts with a hostage situation.

The narrator Amelia Fox did a good job with this one. The audiobook is almost 13 hours long.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 34/8 = 4 2/8 rounded to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Audio, and Gillian McAllister for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Hold on tight! This novel will take you on a roller coaster of suspense, mystery and emotions. Filled with twists in turns after each chapter. I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook, it was so good! Thank you NetGalley. I loved the two points of views. My heart ached for both main characters in their emotional struggles as they coped with their love for their spouses. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants an excellent page turner.

What a compelling read! This thrilling book was utterly impossible to put down and as the conclusion reached a crescendo.
Such a well paced and suspenseful book! The twists were believable and not predictable.
It had excellent writing and a fascinating plot.
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is a book which kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.

Thank you HarperAudio Adult for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: On the morning Camilla returns to work from maternity leave, her world shatters when she learns her husband isn’t just involved in a London hostage crisis—he’s the gunman, leaving her with a cryptic note and an impossible choice.

My review: Famous Last Words is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that takes Camilla’s seemingly ordinary life and turns it into a nightmare filled with tension, fear, and unexpected twists. Told from the perspectives of Cam and hostage negotiator Niall, both narratives are equally compelling, adding depth to the unfolding crisis. Well-paced and unpredictable, this was my favorite read from McAllister so far—I never saw the twists coming and was completely hooked until the very end.

Genres/Themes: Fiction / Thrillers - Suspense / Thrillers - Domestic / Women

[Title] is scheduled for publication on February 25 2025, by HarperAudio Adult.

Gillian McAllister does it again!!!! She delivers a mystery that keeps the reader guessing the whole time. This book made me think a lot, what would I do if it were the main character's situation? Could I forgive someone after all that time? Could I give up hope that someone is actually innocent? This suspense thrillers throws readers into a wild ride from the beginning of the book. New mother Camilla finds out that her husband is involved in a hostage situation. But it gets worse when they claim that her husband is the one that has taken and killed two hostages. This is a journey of the 7 years after this event and finally getting some answers about what really happened that day and what really happened to her husband.