The latest Gillian McAllister book does not disappoint. Grips you from the very start, great characters and plenty of twists and turns!! How life can change in a split second!!

Camilla is all set for her first day back at work after maternity leave but Luke, her husband, is no where to be sent. She was hoping that he would be there to help with the drop off to nursery and just for encouragement but all she has is a cryptic note from him. Where is he? How could he miss this morning?

After arriving at work Camilla becomes aware of a breaking news story, totally preoccupied by her missing husband she doesn’t pay much attention. BUT then the police are at her work, asking for her ……… they seem to think that Luke is caught up in the breaking news story ……. a hostage situation. Camilla can’t believe it but it could explain why she can’t get hold of Luke. The police then tell her they think Luke is the hostage taker and he has a gun!!!! Camilla can’t believe it but is it true? How much does she really know about her husband, the father of her child?

This is a book with a great storyline and some interesting characters. I found myself hooked from the very first chapter and the twists and turns will keep you hooked to the very end. If you love Gillian McAllister books then don’t miss this one …….. a great book for anyone that loves a good suspense.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Brilliant and clever read

What a brilliant book! I raced through this and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen.

This is a story of a hostage situation but so much more than that. It is also the story of a young family who are caught up somehow in this and the story is told in the pov of both the young mother Cam and the hostage negotiator Niall. Cam and her husband Luke are clearly in love and have a baby daughter they adore. On the day of her return from maternity leave Cam awakes to find a strange note from Luke, which begins a difficult time starting with a visit from the police. Hostage negotiator Niall is in charge of the situation and clearly loves his job, sadly for him his wife decides on this day that his work means more than their relationship and she moves out.

Over the next 7 years both Cam and Niall find themselves thinking about what happened and why and the two are excellent narrators of their stories. There are lots of clues and plenty of intrigue and I found myself rooting for both of them to have a happy ending. This is a great read and I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy a good thriller with a healthy dose of romance and intrigue thrown in. The ending was climactic and not what I was expecting; I’m sure I gasped at some points towards the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

An exciting crime thriller that starts with a respectable loving husband and father taking three hostages at gunpoint. Written from the viewpoint of Camilla, the wife and Nial the hostage negotiator and an anonymous character, the story is fast paced, full of twists and turns. The clever writing and nuanced characters kept me hooked til the end. One of the best thrillers of the year.

A cross between a love story and a murder mystery, this novel sucks you in and keeps you wondering. Nothing too gruesome in the murder department but hope and patience in the love story department create a good balance. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

The gripping novel Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister will captivate you from the first page. The world is shattered for Camilla, a new mother, when she goes to work after her husband Luke commits a crime and disappears, leaving only an enigmatic, incomplete note. The disclosures that follow are a wild ride. Camilla discovers details regarding Luke's departure that cause her to re-evaluate every aspect of her marriage. The plot advances at a dizzying rate, with new surprises that will leave you speechless in every chapter. This isn't your typical mystery though. It's a good five-star book that demonstrates why McAllister is quickly rising to the top of the thriller genre.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
I give this book 4.5 stars

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work, her daughter’s first day at nursery.But husband Luke is nowhere to be seen.
Then it starts.Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London.The police arrive: Luke is caught up in it.But he isn't a hostage.
What Camilla does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind says, and the clues it might hold . . .

Another standout read from this author, just her name is enough for me to buy the book I don’t need to know what it’s about.
The plot is compelling, twisty and suspenseful and not what I was expecting. The writing style had me reeled in from the first chapters and kept me reading just a little bit more until I had finished it in record time (a sure sign it’s a winner) Told mainly from Cam (wife) and Niall (hostage negotiator) POV’s, but also interspersed with the intriguing anonymous. I loved how the book spans the siege, then 7 years later. Then 7 years after an incident and 7 years after that.
I highly recommend this gripping page turner.
With thanks to Netgalley,Gillian McCall and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my chance to read and review this book.

Another masterpiece from Gillian McAllister. I loved how the plot twists on through the story without giving anything away. It’s a real mystery and there didn’t come a point where I thought I’d worked it out. The best mysteries are those where the plot isn’t revealed until the last few pages and this book kept me guessing right until the end. I particularly liked the character of Niall because of his faith in the ultimate good of people.
A superbly written book and very well worth reading. Can’t wait for the next one.

When Gillian McAllister first announced this novel - publishing on 30 January 2025 - I had to get a copy. Like Just Another Missing Person, which I read in 2023, Gillian pulled the rug from under me again with a brilliantly constructed story that I *had* to race to the end of.

Cam and Niall - two central characters in the story - are raw, believable and are expertly written, carrying the narrative from the siege to the satisfying final moments of the book.

I fully expect to see this book dominate the list of 2025’s best books a year from now.

Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my ARC.

This new release by Gillian McAllister is nothing short of exceptional—WOW! It delivers a thrilling, fast-paced action narrative from multiple perspectives. Each character is meticulously crafted, showcasing impressive depth and realism. The storyline is packed with shocking twists and turns, ensuring that readers remain fully engaged. The unexpected conclusion cements this book as a must-read for fans of the genre and the author. Do not miss out on this outstanding five-star experience!

Famous Last Words, Gillian McAllister

Synopsis: New mother Camilla's life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally.

But after she arrives at the office, police officers storm the foyer: in the city, just near her work, a man has taken three hostages and is now in a tense standoff with law enforcement. And Luke, the person she's loved for more than a decade, the father of her child, is involved. But he is not a hostage. He is the kidnapper.

📚

I was fortunate and very grateful to have received this advance copy. Gillian McAllister is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me 🫶🏼

And I loved it!

I really enjoy books with multiple POV and this one swaps between Camilla and the hostage negotiator, Niall. Between the two of them you get to the truth of what really happened that day.

I won't say too much more to avoid spoilers, but I loved all the characters and was rooting for the main character throughout.

A twisty book full of intrigue and suspense. Fab thriller to pick up in 2025!

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

@currentlyreading__
Book 74 of 2024

Firstly thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of the upcoming ‘Famous Last Words’ which will be published on 30th January. I have recommended @gillianmauthor’s books for some time but this one has zoomed into first place for me.

Gillian has very kindly agreed to send the first chapter to anyone who comments on Instagram so if my review interests you go and request. Chapter One will reel you in and you’ll be under the spell too.

Cam Deschamps has been on maternity leave, she is sleep-deprived and due back at work. She is a literary agent and lives and breathes books. Her husband Luke is a ghost-writer but is missing from their house on the morning Cam takes baby Polly to nursery. A hastily half-finished note has been left for Cam and Luke can’t be contacted. This aside, Cam throws herself back into her work and relishes being able to have a hot drink once again.

Then there’s the sirens outside the office… There’s a hostage situation unfolding in Bermondsey and the police arrive to speak to Cam. She knows this will be about Luke but she’s definitely not prepared for what they tell her.

As always with Gillian, there’s a plot which is so intricately woven with characters you just root for from the start. Cam was so thoughtfully portrayed and I loved the time jumps - moving forward seven years after the return to work so we can see how Cam has evolved.

Without giving spoilers, this has elements of a couple of genres and I loved the fact that time had almost been suspended for Cam as our empathy for her character couldn’t be questioned.

This needs to be on your pre-order list. There’s not long to wait - immerse yourself in Cam’s quest to find the truth of what really happened on that fateful day she returned to work.


#bookworm #iamreading #bookreview #kindle #bookreviews #bibliophile #bookreview #mustread #bookobsessed #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #netgalley #gillianmcallister #famouslastwords

Brilliant! Camille ‘Cam’ Deschamps is a literary agent, her husband Luke is a Ghost-writer and they have a new baby Polly. It’s Cam’s first day back at work after her maternity leave but it’s about to become the worst day of her life. Luke had gone out that morning without saying anything, leaving a strange note. The next thing she knows the police arrive at her office telling her Luke is involved in a hostage situation and worse he is the hostage taker! Told from multiple POV’s including an unnamed voice, and some narrative from a script Cam has been sent, and in dual timelines, this is a compulsive read from the start.

Briefly, Niall is a negotiator called in to work the hostage situation but before he decides what to do there are shots fired, two people are dead and Luke has disappeared. Not your normal day then! Seven years later Luke is still missing and Cam is trying to sell their house. Niall is still determined to find him, as is Cam, but both are finding themselves up against a brick wall.

Wonderful narrative with some great red herrings and twists and turns, this is really well plotted and executed. A very clever thriller, fast paced and exciting, which kept me guessing all the way through; I had to balance myself to stop falling off the edge of the seat it was that tense! The question is what would you do for someone you love? A very entertaining novel.

Quite honestly the best book I’ve read in a while and I’ve read some excellent ones. I’m really very sorry that I’ve finished it as it swept me along and completely enveloped me in the compelling story, although it will definitely stay with me for a long time and I loved the ending.
The premise is very clever and flips everything you think you know on its head. A caring and lovely man takes three hostages in an old warehouse and he kills two of them before the negotiations can even start.
This is a powerful love story, a tale of a frighteningly real criminal underworld, the complexities of having children and the strength of the love you feel for them and so much more. Forget everything you think you know as the realities flip reverse and then again and again. Wholeheartedly recommend this one, thank you.

This is an incredibly clever and well plotted book which I thoroughly enjoyed and raced through in a couple of days.
Luke and Cam are happily married with a beautiful baby girl. One morning Luke goes out early and doesn’t reply to calls or texts. Starting to worry Cam takes their baby to her first day at nursery and makes her way to work hoping there is an explanation for Luke’s disappearance.
When a hostage situation is reported she quickly discovers her husband is caught up in it and she begins to question everything she thought she knew about him.
The book fast forwards seven years and Cam is a single mother but she still yearns for things to return to how they were before that fateful day.
The other excellent character is Niall the police hostage negotiator who feels guilty and let down, determined to solve the case that has blighted his career and his personal life.
As I said earlier this is a great book, it really was the sort of novel I couldn’t put down. The characters were all well drawn and the mystery at the heart of the story, very complex and indeed compelling.
I really wanted to know how it would all end and if Cam was right in her pursuit of the truth and her determination to believe in the innate goodness of her husband.
I definitely recommend this as a five star read and I will certainly look out for more books by this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

Another 5 star thriller by Gillian!
Straight into the story, with a fab unique storyline where you just can't guess where it's going!
I loved the connection between Cam and Niall

Definitely give this a read!

Absolutely phenomenonal. What a rollercoaster ride of twists, turns and totally unexpected reveals.
Yet again my housework suffered because I needed answers! I couldn't put it down.
One of the best authors for thinking outside of the box and coming up with brilliant plots that are precisely thought out and well written.

Try to avoid detailed reviews, you’re best off going into this with as few preconceived ideas as possible.

I loved, loved, loved, this book. I was gripped immediately and was desperate to read a few pages here and there.
I've read a few from this author now, and this is without a doubt the best yet, in my opinion.
She has such a great style of writing, it's always complex, but makes sense in the end!
The characters were great, the little hints throughout the book were great, as was the overall ending.
Definitely the best book I've read in a while, and recommended to everyone.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super original premise and I was hooked right from the start. Cam is due back to work after maternity leave when a siege hits the news. Luke has disappeared and won't answer his phone when Cam discovers that he is actually at the heart of the drama. This book had excellent pace and good twists. I really enjoy the way this author writes and would read more in future.

Famous Last Words is a cleverly written compelling mystery thriller that starts off with an almighty bang.

Told over three different timelines, it is a character driven story with enough twists to keep you guessing through out.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.